The Princess's Tea Party

== Synopsis ==
At the Academy, Himawari asks Kawaki if he'll be protecting Kae again that day, startling him. He deduces she eavesdropped on him. She promises to keep his secret mission quiet, and explains he's been acting different since starting at the Academy. Himawari offers to help him, but he refuses. Kae's class-mates noticed how little she eats compared to everyone else, attributing it to her refined upbringing. Osuka brags about her personal chef, and bosses Neon about her tea, which she delivers with a drone. Because her parents are executives at the Kaminarimon Company, she has access to many prototypes. Eiki remains suspicious of Kawaki. Kae excuses to herself to have a proper meal alone. Kawaki warns that if she insists on keeping up appearances, she'll never hit it off with anyone. Kae decides to host an event to let her make many friends at once. Osuka is planning to host a tea party, and denies wanting friends when Neon suggests that's the case, claiming she wants to emulate her mother. At the classroom, Kae invites everyone to a tea party that weekend. Ehō passes on it, and Osuka is frustrated on being upstaged. At night, Kawaki recalls Naruto's and Shikamaru's instructions to protect her at the party, and decides to figure the tea party out as it unfolds. Himawari startles him, saying that's not an option, and stresses the importance of proper tea party etiquette, saying he needs her help. Kae decorates a cake by herself, despite Batora's opinion of it being unnecessary. Kae wants to be a perfect host, like her mother used to be, recalling her advice to do things her own way. The next day, Kae's class-mates are impressed by the tea party, but are puzzled by Kawaki's presence. Kawaki's unconvincing answer when Eiki questions his attendance requires Himawari to cover for him. When he claims his favourite sweet is taiyaki, the kids are surprised that Kae doesn't know what it is. Kawaki struggles to remember Himawari's instructions, drawing attention to himself, but she aids him quickly. Osuka tries to downplay her enjoyment of Kae's tea. When she mentions her parents' actor friends attending tea parties at her house, Himawari mentions Gaara as a friend of her parents who visits them, who their class-mates find even more impressive, frustrating Osuka. Kae and Himawari bond over having leaders for fathers. Kae asks Kawaki why he decided to attend the Academy, and recalling Himawari's advice not to talk anything violent, claims that he could have his fill of taiyaki by earning money as a shinobi. They laugh, being more at ease with Kawaki's awkwardness when they previously found him scary. When Kae leaves to get the cake, a few of the kids comment on how exhausting the formality of the party is. Kae's servants serve the cake, which Osuka secretly injected with spicy mustard. Kawaki smells it, and thinking it's an assassin's poison, rushes over, knocking over the tables to stop Kae from eating it. He also knocks over Batora. Eiki, covered in cake, starts fighting Kawaki. Kae tells them to stop, and asks why Kawaki did it. He can't answer her without exposing his mission. She feels sad, having put so much effort in the cake, and is hurt when Kawaki is dismissive of it. He leaves to cool off, and Osuka is pleased the party was ruined. Neon goes to the restroom. Himawari admonishes Kawaki, telling him to apologise, but to him, if she hates him, that's ok. She realises Kawaki did it because of the mission, and he explains there was something in the cake. Himawari realises it was just a prank with mustard, not an assassination attempt. They deduce it was Osuka, but Himawari wants evidence before accusing her. They check with Batora that the freezer where the cake was stored was closed, but they spot a small open window. Kawaki realises something, and tells Himawari to get to Kae before him. Osuka berates Kae for the incident, who feels she can't react emotionally because of her status. Other students think Osuka is going overboard with it. Himawari arrives, showing everyone the cake had mustard hidden in it. Kawaki arrives with Neon's drone, exposing Osuka as having ordered her to do it, having already questioned Neon, who confessed everything. Osuka tries blaming everything on Neon. Kae yells at her to apologise to Neon and everyone. She's fine with Osuka being upfront with disliking her, but can't forgive forcing Neon into doing something she doesn't want to do. Osuka starts to cry, and Neon attempts to console her. Kae tries to compose herself, but her outburst has endeared her to everyone else. Himawari and Kawaki advise her not to suppress herself. Kawaki says they should give the party another try, and brings in a lot of taiyaki, which Kae tries and enjoys. He apologises for before. Kae is happy it turned out ok, recalling her mother. Osuka promises it's not over between them. Himawari gets Kawaki to admit she helped him, so he won't refuse her help again with the mission. However, he won't let Himawari risk herself.
== Credits ==