A Honkai: Zhongli x Star Rail

The Astral Express drifted through the tranquil void, its engines humming softly as the crew settled into a rare moment of peace.

In the parlor car, a new event was unfolding.

Zhongli stood at the head of the room, his usual calm demeanor unwavering. Before him, an assortment of teapots, cups, and leaves were neatly arranged on the table.

March 7th, Pom-Pom, Himeko, and Welt sat nearby, watching with varying degrees of interest.

Zhongli cleared his throat. "Today, I shall introduce you to the art of tea-making."

March grinned. "This is gonna be fun!"

Pom-Pom adjusted their conductor's hat. "Pom-Pom is ready to learn precision brewing."

Welt chuckled, adjusting his glasses. "I imagine this will be a more relaxing experience compared to our usual activities."

Zhongli gave a slight nod. "Indeed. Tea is not merely a drink—it is a reflection of balance, patience, and appreciation for the present moment."

March leaned in eagerly. "So, where do we start?"

Zhongli gestured toward the table. "First, we must select the proper leaves. Each type carries its own unique properties, from taste to aroma."

He lifted a small container, revealing osmanthus leaves, their delicate fragrance filling the air. "This is a personal favorite of mine—osmanthus tea. Floral, smooth, and deeply nostalgic."

March inhaled the scent, her eyes widening. "Wow, it smells amazing!"

Pom-Pom sniffed. "Pom-Pom approves."

Zhongli set the container down and moved on. "Now, the water. The temperature must be precise—too hot, and you scorch the leaves. Too cold, and the flavors do not fully develop."

He demonstrated, heating a kettle to just the right temperature before pouring it over the leaves in slow, deliberate motions.

March watched in fascination. "It's like you're conducting something."

Zhongli chuckled. "In a way, one could say that tea-making is its own form of artistry."

Himeko leaned back, smirking. "Alright, enough theory—let's see how the students do."

Zhongli gestured toward the table. "Very well. Each of you shall prepare a cup."

March clapped her hands together. "Alright! This'll be easy!"

Pom-Pom, ever serious, nodded. "Pom-Pom will ensure absolute precision."

Welt smirked. "Let's see how this goes."

And thus, the tea trials began.

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March vs. The Tea Leaves

March 7th's first attempt was… chaotic.

She poured a mountain of leaves into the pot, clearly ignoring the balance Zhongli had demonstrated.

"More leaves means stronger flavor, right?" she said cheerfully.

Zhongli's eyes narrowed slightly. "March, balance is key. You must not overwhelm the tea with excess leaves."

March waved a hand dismissively. "Relax, it's just a little extra!"

Then she overheated the water.

The moment she poured it over the leaves, an overwhelmingly strong aroma filled the room—so intense it made Himeko and Welt cough.

Pom-Pom jumped back. "Pom-Pom does not approve!"

March coughed as well, fanning the air. "O-okay… maybe I overdid it a little."

Zhongli sighed, shaking his head. "Tea is a lesson in restraint, March. Perhaps… less is more."

March pouted. "Fineee, I'll try again."

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Pom-Pom's Obsession with Perfection

Pom-Pom, meanwhile, had taken the exact opposite approach.

They had carefully measured each individual leaf to the smallest fraction of a gram.

Their water temperature? Exactly as Zhongli had instructed.

Their steeping time? Timed to the millisecond.

As they poured the tea, they nodded in satisfaction. "Pom-Pom has followed the instructions perfectly."

The crew took a sip.

It was… technically correct.

But it lacked depth.

Zhongli set his cup down. "An admirable effort, but… sometimes, one must also rely on intuition rather than exact precision."

Pom-Pom frowned. "Pom-Pom does not understand."

Himeko smirked. "Basically, tea-making isn't just about rules. It's about feeling the process."

Pom-Pom huffed. "Pom-Pom will… consider this."

March whispered to Welt, "Did we just break Pom-Pom's understanding of reality?"

Welt adjusted his glasses. "Possibly."

---

Welt's Surprise Weakness

When it was Welt's turn, he followed the steps smoothly—until he took his first sip.

The moment the strong, aged black tea touched his tongue, his entire expression changed.

His normally composed demeanor shattered.

March gasped. "Oh my gosh, Welt?! What's wrong?"

Welt set his cup down very carefully. "…This is far stronger than I expected."

Himeko burst out laughing. "Wait, you—Mr. Coffee Guy—can't handle strong tea?! "

March looked delighted. "I knew it! We found your weakness!"

Welt cleared his throat. "It's not a weakness. Simply… unexpected."

Zhongli chuckled. "Perhaps you would prefer something lighter next time."

Welt exhaled. "Yes. That… would be appreciated."

March smirked. "New rule: No strong tea for Welt."

---

The Verdict

Once everyone had completed their tea, Zhongli gave his final assessment.

March's tea was too chaotic.

Pom-Pom's was too precise.

Welt's was unexpectedly overwhelming.

And so, the winner of the tea-making contest was… no one.

March groaned. "Ughhh, I thought I had it!"

Pom-Pom nodded solemnly. "Pom-Pom must revise their methods."

Welt simply accepted his fate.

Himeko chuckled. "I'd say we all learned something today."

Zhongli smiled. "Indeed. But remember—tea is not about perfection. It is about the experience."

March sighed dramatically. "You sound way too wise for a tea contest."

Zhongli chuckled softly. "Perhaps. But wisdom, like tea, is best when shared."

The room fell into comfortable laughter, the scent of tea lingering in the air.

Despite the chaos, it had been a good day.

And perhaps, in time, they would all come to master the art of tea.

…Except for Welt.

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Chapter 13 Preview: Pom-Pom's Great Express Cleanup

After the tea-making lesson, Pom-Pom declares a full Express cleaning day!

March and Dan Heng are assigned to storage duty.

Himeko and Welt must fix the parlor's broken furniture.

And Zhongli?

Zhongli is tasked with teaching Pom-Pom the art of tidying through balance and discipline.

Can the former Geo Archon survive Pom-Pom's perfectionism?

And will March actually clean anything?

Find out in the next chapter!

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Author's Note: ☕ (⁠´⁠ε⁠｀⁠ ⁠)