Chapter 4: Chadō

Hana could barely believe her own request. Neither could the automatons, so it seemed. They stood in silence facing her for what seemed like several seconds. Lights along their shoulders flashed in sequence among them, implying they were silently communicating to one another while Hana stood there waiting.

“You wish to serve us? Would that not be taboo, or impossible?” asked RAM-71.

“I don’t think so. And all are welcome in this tea room.” Hana replied.

“We do not wish to be a burden to the young tea master,” chimed one of the workers.

“It is no burden at all. I just need to brainstorm and get ready really quick!” said Hana.

“If you need a moment, please allow us to disinfect and cleanse ourselves from our work,” said RAM-71.

Hana nodded and quickly crawled back into Shinrin-Yoku. Equipment and decor was not fully in place yet so she needed to hurry so that everything was correct. Inside the tea room, she quickly found her remaining storage bins and her cherished tea pot.

Time was still on her side as she had a few minutes to prepare while the automatons cleaned themselves. Water was set to heat. Ceremonial items were set to display: the kakejiku hanging scroll mounted, floor lamps set to dimmed light, a single lily from E’twobe placed in a ceramic vase.

Up the ladder and into her living area she went. Clothing was not an interest of hers back on Earth so it was easy to unpack what few items she had. One kimono set. Four pairs of shoes. House slippers. Five pairs of pants. Seven shirts. Three jackets. Two coats. Anything beyond that would be purchased at the standard requisition shop on the colony.

Undressing quickly, she went to her living quarters and started her shower. Exposing her skin revealed multiple small scars along her arms, lower back, upper thigh and stomach. Once the water was a desirable temperature, she stepped in to cleanse the travel scent and sweat from her body. The water compressor beeped, signaling the steam was ready. Hana entered the chamber and sealed the door. Gusting succinct bursts of pressurized sanitation water misted over her body, followed by warm air blasts. Hana wiped the remaining drops from her face and chest before the last quick spray of clean water misted over her and then was blown away.

It was quiet. She stood there with a hint of wetness clinging to her skin and closed her eyes.

“Center yourself,” she said as she pressed one hand to her heart and the other to her womb.

With that, she was ready and began to prepare herself.

Minutes passed as Hana finished her preparations. Soon she was dressed in her pastel green kimono and had her hair pulled back in a simple bun. Decorations were in place. Hana glanced at the carefully arranged tokonoma where a scroll hung, inked with the calligraphy for “tranquility”. Below it, a single white camellia rested in a slender vase, its petals just beginning to unfurl. Satisfied, she stepped back and turned her attention to the utensils. The iron kama was already over the brazier, the water within beginning to whisper its quiet song of boiling. Once she felt ready, she inhaled and stepped out to find her guests.

The automatons were gathered near a sterilization obelisk near Shinrin-Yoku, taking turns cleaning themselves. RAM-71 was currently being sprayed. After a moment, the spray stopped and the bursts of air began. Hana watched the ritual that was nearly identical to her bathing experience. RAM-71 turned its hands outward and extended its neck to expose all hinges and joints to the air. Droplets of cleansing fluid ran down its matte steel frame leaving behind trace lines. The dampened metal accented the curves of the automatons’ piston chambers and humanesque forearms. Hana approached them and felt herself blush.

“Friends, I am ready for you. Please make your way to the machiai at your convenience,” Hana said.

With that, she bowed and made her way back to Shinrin-Yoku to greet them.

Once Hana reached Shinrin-Yoku, she gave the space one final survey. After a moment, she heard the heavy metallic footsteps of the automatons enter the machiai. It was time. Hana’s future was here and the first moment of her new path was finally here.

“I am serving tea to automatons… Here we go!” she said and clapped her hands.

Hana slid open the nijiri-guchi. Gears whirred and churned nearby. Footsteps approached. And then the automatons were there, cautiously crawling into the chashitsu. Hana marveled at the nimbleness of the enormous quarter-ton beings that were entering.

Hana bowed to each of them as they entered and crawled to their designated seating areas. Double-hinged joints allowed them to sit in a manner that resembled how humans would be seated, and all five of them sat properly without instruction. This made Hana believe they’d all contemplated ceremony etiquette while sterilizing themselves.

Soon they were all in place.

“Welcome, friends,” siad Hana.

The automatons bowed in return. The smaller one to RAM-71’s left spoke.

“We are honored for you to host us, Hana-sama. This is the first moment of its kind among our people. We wish to be as respectful as possible to commemorate this experience for all automatons.”

This revelation heightened Hana’s anxiety drastically, but she didn’t let it throw off the ceremony. Though it was now a culturally important moment for both humans and automatons, she couldn’t lose her poise for the guests.

“I am honored as well and will do my best to serve you in a way that you may receive.”

They bowed once more. Hana looked to RAM-71.

“Question- you have liquid sensors for testing purification standards correct?”

“Yes.”

“When you consume liquids to check the standards, do you register a sensation that humans would associate with taste, or emotion?” she asked.

“No, the tests only register data, not feedback.” said RAM-71.

“Do you have any way to ‘taste’ substances?”

“No.”

This was going to be a challenge but Hana didn’t lose faith. She’d brainstormed a dozen solutions at that point.

“Is it true that your kind are programmed to experience positive sensations that emulate emotion when you are praised or complete a task to a successful standard?” she asked, remembering chats among humans back on Earth.

RAM-71 tilted its head.

“That is true. We receive a positive feedback loop for achieving success on tasks or being told by humans that they are satisfied with us. It is a programming tool that was implemented to motivate processing efforts to achieve optimal results.”

Hana clapped with excitement and skipped slightly, forgetting her poise in the midst of potentially solving her problem.

“I have an idea. I will narrate your experience, telling you what the drink tastes like, and I will praise you all through the entire ceremony, so that you may feel the positive feedback loop in a manner that is similar to drinking tea,” she said.

The automatons perked up.

“You will praise us? Continuously?” asked one of the metallic guests.

“Yes! You listen so well. Thank you.”

Hana felt herself blush with strength and optimism as the five guests all sat up straighter at her words. The blue lights on their shoulders hummed as they communicated internally. This could work.

“Now, I will begin Chakaiseki- the cleaning of the utensils.”

The brazier crackled softly as Hana lifted the hishaku and dipped it into the kama, the ladle’s bamboo shaft smooth in her hand. Steam curled upward, fragrant and fleeting. Her fingers found the silk fukusa at her waist, and she began the ritual cleansing of the utensils — the natsume holding the powdered tea, the bamboo chashaku, and finally, the chawan. Each movement was deliberate, each gesture a silent offering of respect.

“You are all such great workers. You help make this colony outpost a success. We are fortunate to have you as neighbors.”

Her voice had changed slightly, as though she was inhabiting a more formal, dignified person. Blue lights continued to whir as she worked.

“The host cleans the tea bowl, tea scoop, and whisk using a silk cloth called a fukusa.Each action is meticulous and follows a choreographed routine, emphasizing purity and respect for the utensils. This ritual cleansing is not just for hygiene but also symbolizes spiritual purification.”

The automatons all watched her labors with intent and Hana realized they may not have ever seen anything related to this ceremony before.

“ As I work, I want you to focus on the feedback and sensors across each part of your body. Take your time. Become aware of each sensor. Each time you focus on a sensor, that is a completed task. This should give you a few hundred small tasks to achieve in the next thirty seconds.”

Blue lights hummed again. Hana blushed again, knowing the guests were experiencing something similar to joy or satisfaction.

“We are going to be drinking matcha. Matcha is a finely ground powder of green tea specially processed from shade-grown tea leaves. It has a savory ‘umami’ flavor.”

Hana’s hand hovered briefly over the natsume before she lifted its lid and scooped a portion of vibrant green matcha into the waiting tea bowl. The powder fell soundlessly, a small mound of jade against the dark ceramic. With the hishaku, she poured hot water into the bowl, the stream catching the light for just an instant before disappearing.

She picked up the chasen — the bamboo whisk — and began to mix the tea, her wrist moving in controlled, fluid motions. The matcha bloomed into a frothy, emerald pool, the aroma filling the space between them. When it was ready, Hana turned the bowl carefully and placed it before RAM-71 first, bowing deeply.

“Otemae chodai itashimasu,” she murmured. “Please accept this tea.”

She bowed and RAM-71 bowed in return as it accepted the drink.

“Please observe your bowl and its decoration.”

Ceramic art, streaks of gold, brushed leaves and more all faced the inquisitive metallic recipients. Hana looked out at the vastness of stars visible from her window.

“Think of the artisans across humanity for thousands of years who created art to share emotion and messages with other humans. Now, artisans are sharing messages with you, the automatons. And you are doing so well receiving this. Well done.”

Blue lights strobed even faster.

“Now please turn the bowl a half rotation so that the imagery faces away from you, and take your first sip.”

RAM-71 drank.

“You did that so well for me. Thank you. You are very good at this.”

RAM-71’s eyes turned blue and also began to whir.

One by one, Hana repeated this ritual with each automaton, the rhythm of the ceremony settling them into a shared tranquility. Each automaton shared in the feedback loop of the other, sharing in the positive affirmation. In time, the matcha was all gone.

“Well done. That is your final task for this project. Project completed.”

The automatons all sat up in unison. The blue lights stopped blinking and turned on fully for five seconds.

“You all did so well. Good work. Please take a moment to contemplate this ceremony and the unity of our kind towards a shared future.”

The blue lights stayed solid then began to slowly pulse.

“We are sharing this experience with all automatons,” said RAM-71.

“Many are contemplating the nature of tranquility. Some are contemplating the chemical make-up of matcha. Many are contemplating the graciousness of Hana-sama, the human who first shared this experience with our kind. She will be honored among our kind for all time.”

Warmth rushed to Hana’s face as embarrassment, happiness, and something else entirely washed over her entirety.The automatons rose and fully bowed to her.

“Oh… You didn’t have to- I wasn’t asking or expecting that. I am honored. I look forward to being your friend.”

She bowed once more, then the automatons began to take their leave. Silence and starlight filled the room and then Hana was alone. Unsteady breaths began as the completed task faced her. Waves of emotion lapped against the shores of her heart. Tears formed and began to flow. She jumped small jumps and shook her fingertips at her side as the tears ran down her face.

Shinrin-Yoku’s first ceremony was complete. Hana’s life on Colony Outpost 1117 had fully begun.