It was a cold, wet day in St. Gloriana's Girls' College. The windows shook and rattled with every fresh gust of wind, all while the rain pounded a steady drumbeat on the roof. It was days like this, Orange Pekoe mused, that made one grateful for a warm, dry room with a roaring fire. She sipped at her tea carefully, feeling its warmth slowly diffuse through her.

Next to her, Darjeeling let out a sigh, the sound audible even over the crackle of the fire. She set her empty cup down, fine bone china clinking gently against the saucer.

"More tea, Darjeeling-sama? This particular batch really is quite good. It was a gift from Miho-san, in thanks for that small matter over the summer." Pekoe lifted the teapot slightly, half-smiling.

"Thank you, Pekoe. That would be nice," Darjeeling acknowledged. She made no move to lift up her cup, though, and Pekoe had to get up and lean over slightly to fill her commander's cup.

As Pekoe sank back into her seat, she exchanged a glance with Assam, the only other person in the room. Darjeeling had invited both of them over for tea in her sitting room, as was her usual habit. Darjeeling herself, however, had been acting most unusually the whole afternoon. She had been quiet, taciturn, and somewhat lost in thought, not saying anything beyond the most perfunctory replies. She hadn't even quoted a single saying the whole time! Pekoe was used to Darjeeling's eccentricities, but even she was starting to get worried.

Darjeeling turned to Pekoe at that precise moment, almost as if she had heard what Pekoe was thinking.

"Pekoe, could you be a dear and get my scarf from the commander's office? I'm feeling a little chilly today."

"Of course, Darjeeling-sama."

As the sound of Pekoe's footsteps faded away, Assam glared at her commander.

"Oh, don't give me that look, Assam. You know just as well as I do that Pekoe wasn't fooled. That girl may look like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, as the English say, but you underestimate her at your peril," Darjeeling said, a wry expression on her face.

Assam simply continued frowning. Ignoring Darjeeling, she picked up her own cup of tea and took a cursory sip, before putting it down forcefully enough that the tea threatened to slosh over the rim.

"Tell me, Darjeeling, what's gotten you so worked up? You haven't been yourself the whole afternoon. It's obvious that it's something to do with Pekoe, what with sending her off on an errand that even a five-year old could see was an excuse, but I honestly can't see what the problem could be."

Darjeeling didn't answer immediately. Instead, she leaned backwards, letting herself slump slightly in the armchair. For someone of Darjeeling's usual bearing, this was practically flopping down and curling up into a ball.

Eventually, just as the silence was beginning to stretch out uncomfortably, Darjeeling spoke.

"Do you perhaps remember our first year in the senshadou team, Assam?"

Assam was even more uneasy now. She had known Darjeeling ever since they had joined the senshadou team together as raw first-years. They had been through thick and thin together, with Assam always content to be Darjeeling's silent shadow, supporting her from the background. In all their time as friends, Assam had never seen Darjeeling so...disheartened, for lack of a better word. She picked up her teacup again, taking a reflexive sip to calm herself before answering.

"Yes, I remember it well, Darjeeling. Is there any particular incident you're thinking of?"

"Do you remember the transition from Ceylon-taichou to Earl Grey-taichou?"

"What transition? Ceylon-taichou left without any warning, or even before naming a successor. Earl Grey-taichou simply wasn't ready when she had to step into the role, and it took her nearly half the term just to get things back to where they were before... Ah. I see."

Darjeeling sat up, her expression sharper.

"Exactly. We will be graduating soon, and I have decided that Pekoe is to be my replacement as commander of St. Gloriana's senshadou team. She is the best candidate for the job, but I must admit to being somewhat concerned whether she can handle it."

Assam set her tea down, looking straight at her old friend.

"Darjeeling, you're worrying too much. You've trained her well over the last year, and she's taken to it like a natural. Trust me; she is ready."

Darjeeling grimaced, shaking her head slightly.

"Nevertheless, one can never be wholly sure of these things. Pekoe is good, yes, but I have always been there to reassure and guide her. Once I leave, will she be able to manage? It would be most unfair to subject Pekoe to what Earl Grey-taichou had to go through, and a clear dereliction of my duty to St. Gloriana's team as well."

Assam frowned. While she didn't agree completely with Darjeeling's assessment, her commander did have a point.

"If that's how you feel, why not test Orange Pekoe's skills yourself? That way, you can hand the team over with a light heart when she performs to your satisfaction."

Darjeeling's face lit up, and she smiled for the first time that afternoon.

"As usual, you have hit on the solution to my problem with complete accuracy, my dear Assam. Yes, giving Pekoe certain tasks to complete is a wonderful idea. Twelve seems like an ideal number, don't you think? It has a most illustrious precedent, after all. In fact, I can already think of several excellent options..."

"Now hold on, Darjeeling. Isn't that going a bit too far? I was thinking of something like getting her to command an exhibition match or two, not —"

Darjeeling held up her hand, gesturing for silence.

"No, no, Assam. I have made up my mind. Now hush, I think I hear Pekoe returning."

Orange Pekoe entered the room, scarf clutched in one hand while the other closed the door softly behind her. From the sound of things, she was interrupting a polite disagreement between her two seniors.

"Here's your scarf, Darjeeling-sama."

"Thank you, Pekoe. Now as I was saying, Assam, clotted cream is the only proper condiment for consumption with buttered scones, and strawberry jam an inferior substitute. I don't understand why you insist on persisting in your erroneous beliefs."

Orange Pekoe eyed both of them suspiciously for a few seconds, but soon put her crewmates' strange behaviour behind her with a mental shrug. Something was brewing, but she'd find out what it was soon enough. Until then, she might as well enjoy the company and the tea. She'd been Darjeeling's loader long enough to know that Darjeeling would bring it up when she was good and ready, but not a moment before. Besides, her commander was behaving normally again, and that meant all was well. For now, Pekoe would relax and forget her cares for a little while longer.