Matcha Macchiato
"Uki..." Taikou stared at the porcelain bowl on the kitchen table. It was filled with matcha; those tea leaves were ground so finely into a green powdery pile.
"Whatcha doin', Taikou?" Mutsunokami, peeling yams by the sink, asked the tantou.
"Master, how do you make matcha macchiato?" Last week, she served that drink after his team returned from expedition; he wanted to make it too.
Sen, standing beside Mutsunokami, straightened. Her hands were covered in clumps of rice flour. White dango balls she shaped were plated on the side. She couldn't guide him in her state.
"They're easy to make," Mutsunokami said. "You and Sayo-kun can make them together."
Sayo hid partially behind the kitchen shoji. His blue eyes were on Taikou. As Sayo was the citadel's second sword to manifest, he witnessed many arrivals, including his older brothers. He didn't expect a new sibling after Souza and Kousetsu's appearances. All four Samonji did chores together, slept in the same bedroom, and, when persimmons were cut, the slices were now divided between Sayo and Taikou; it wasn't fair.
"Sayocchi, our brothers are returning from the Front Lines." Taikou pouted as he planted his arms and cheek on the table surface. In the folktales, Momotarō couldn't adventure as much as he did without taking a break and snacking from time to time. "...they'll want something to drink."
Sen, Mutsunokami, and Taikou turned towards Sayo, waiting for his decision.
Sayo stared at the wooden floor. If this was for the sake of their brothers, he'd join. "...I'll help."
"Well, come on in!" Mutsunokami waved him in. "The drinks aren't goin' to make themselves, y'know?"
Sayo stepped into the kitchen and stood by Taikou. The blond straightened and hopped where he stood. His yellow hair and blue and pink earrings fluttered as his feet touched the floor; Sayo blinked.
"Sayo," Sen said as she rolled pink balls of rice flour. "The teapot has warm water. Pour that in with the matcha in another bowl."
Taikou held an empty bowl. His lips were always curled, smiling like a chimp. Sayo scooped in matcha and whisked it as he poured in water. As the ingredients in the bowl mixed and turned dark green, he glared. If this drink wasn't perfect, he'd punch the matcha bag.
"Add honey and salt next," Sen said. She moved on to forming green dango balls and set a pan of water to boil.
Taikou dashed in a pinch of salt and squeezed the honey bottle over the bowl. He squealed as the liquid changed into a thicker consistency.
"Let it cool and steam milk," Sen said.
"How do you do that?" said Taikou.
"Use a modern machine!" Mutsunokami's amber eyes sparkled at the chance to show them how to use a tool. "Heat some milk on the stove first."
Mutsunokami retrieved a handheld milk frother and cooking thermometer from a cabinet.
Taikou and Sayo, standing on their tippy toes by the stove, watched Mutsunokami stick the thermometer into the pan of milk. The digital display counted upwards as the milk heated.
"...it's telling us how hot it is." Taikou's teal eyes widened.
"That's right!" Mutsunokami knelt eye-to-eye with the tantou. "Once the milk reaches fifty degrees, we can take it off the burner and put it in a pitcher."
"I know what that is!" Taikou may be the newest sword in the citadel, but he was adjusting. He went to rummage a cupboard to find a steel pitcher.
"Can you show your brother how to use this?" Mutsunokami held the frother up to Sayo.
Sayo took the mixer from Mutsunokami. He had used this device before. It was his job to take the lead; though he was the smallest Samonji sword, he had a responsibility to his family.
Taikou set the silver pitcher on the counter and Mutsunokami poured in steaming milk from the pan.
With both hands on the handle, Sayo pressed the drill into the pitcher. "...hold the pitcher. I'm going to turn this on."
If he lost foam or droplets because of this mixer, he'd punish it. He wouldn't lose a single drop for his brothers' sake.
The mixer trembled and murmured as its drill sloshed the milk; foam formed at the surface. Sayo, keeping the mixer still, slowly raised the drill as more foam bubbled.
"Sayocchi's amazing!" When did he learn to use these modern tools? Taikou had to ask the other tantou later what else he knew about this era.
"That's enough for two servings; take out the mixer," said Mutsunokami. "Taikou, tap and swirl the pitcher."
Taikou held the container's arm and made circular movements. Foam slid down the pitcher's walls with every rotation; they looked as light and fluffy as clouds.
"Tap the pitcher on the table." Sen washed her hands. The dango were skewered and rested on a tray.
Sayo set two tall tinted glasses on the table; one was pink, the other blue. He used these when he made tea for Souza and Kousetsu; he'd have to tell Taikou about that later if they made drinks together again.
Taikou poured the matcha portions evenly into each cup.
Sen held the pitcher and, with a small spoon, scooped the foam into each glass. Taikou, eyes wide, marveled at the white froth piling over the green layer of matcha. It occupied a third of the cup. So, that was how foam was made so light, it rested atop liquid.
"And we're done!" Mutsunokami patted Taikou and Sayo on their backs. "Next time, we can make latte art."
"Really? Can we make it look like anything?" said Taikou.
"Of course you can, with enough practice." Mutsunokami had seen online latte art that looked like a monkey's face. He poked the pink glass.
"Master, the third team has returned," Konnosuke announced.
"The enemies were vanquished." Nikkou stepped into view of the kitchen entrance. He was followed by Nansen, Sanchoumou, Norimune, Souza, and Kousetsu.
"Is anyone tired?" Sen, holding a tray of dango, stepped towards the team. Their Front Lines outfits were spotless and neat, their skin were absent of cuts and bruises. "Dango is ready."
"How considerate of the little bird," Sanchoumou said.
"Treats are always appreciated by this old man," said Norimune.
"Kousetsucchi, Souzacchi, we made drinks for you." Taikou picked up the pink glass with matcha macchiato and took one step towards his big brothers. He pouted at Sayo.
Mutsunokami whispered into Sayo's ear. "Give your brothers the drinks together."
"Oh..." Sayo took the blue glass off the table. If he waited too long, all his efforts would disappear before him as the bubbles popped within the foam.
Each tantou stepped toward a big brother.
"O-Taikou, what's this?" Souza knelt. His grey and pink clothes encircled him and touched the wooden floor.
"We learned to make this with Master and Mutsucchi," said Taikou.
Sayo, still looking down at the drink, stood in front of Kousetsu. This wasn't his idea, yet he had to take responsibility for what he made. He titled his head up and raised the glass.
"...this is for you, Brother."
"I greatly appreciate it, O-Sayo." Kousetsu accepted the drink.
Souza tilted the glass up. The foam brushed his lips and started popping. Then, the subtly sweet, earthy matcha flowed warm on his tongue. After riding on horseback and slaying the revisionists' army, he needed something refreshing. In this body, he had so much more experiences than what he had as a sword in a collection.
"Thank you, O-Sayo, O-Taikou," Kousetsu said. The world was filled with sorrow, but little moments like these made this existence easier. He smiled faintly. His blue glass had faint traces of foam on the rim.
"Can you place my dango tray in the living quarters, Nikkou?" Sen said. "Then, we can review your team's mission in my study."
"Understood, Master." Nikkou took the plate of food.
"I prefer fish," Nansen muttered, but he'd accept the dango.
"Let's enjoy the food." Souza stretched a hand out. "Come with us, O-Sayo, O-Taikou."
"Mm!" Taikou bounced up and down. "Let's go, Sayocchi!"
Taikou grabbed his younger brother's hand. Sayo squeezed his sibling's palm; unlike Souza and Kousetsu's hands, Taikou's was small enough to be embraced by his fingers.
Taikou grinned and turned back to Mutsunokami and the sage. "Thanks for all your help!"
"Any time." Mutsunokami chuckled and waved goodbye as the tantou and third team left the kitchen. "Oh, I forgot about my sweet potato fries!"
"There is no rush," Sen said.
"Well, when it's done, I'm goin' to leave bowls of them all over the citadel and bring some to you." Mutsunokami headed back to the sink. Beside it was a single skewer of dango on a dish. "What's this doin' here?"
Sen stood beside him. As they were alone in the kitchen, she brushed her arm against his.
"Thank you for helping, Mu-chan." So many things happened everyday at the citadel; she couldn't do everything by herself.
So, the dango was for him.
"Oh, what're you goin' on about, Sen-chan?" Mutsunokami grinned and wrapped an arm around her waist. "It was nothin'. Aren't you goin' to meet Nikkou soon?"
"I will." Before she left, she looked up at him and Mutsunokami leaned forward to kiss her forehead.
I couldn't find out if Souza and Kousetsu use a nickname for Taikou, as they do for Sayo. Souza refers to Taikou as Mr. Monkey once during internal affairs.