"You might like him," Kaja defended blithely, holding her tongue forcibly to keep from reacting to the slightly-painful hand-squeeze. Best friend or not, sometimes Zuma could be such a brat. A lovable brat... but a brat nonetheless. "I like him well enough, and I think I have pretty good taste."
A cursory glance over the tea house picked out their third quickly enough, and the firebender waved off the helpful serving staff, making her way over to the table with the princess in tow. "There you are," she greeted cheerfully, and promptly hauled Zuma forward a little. Gently! But firmly still. She'd keep control of this situation if it killed one of them. "Zuma, this is my friend Taro - he's treating us to tea. Taro, this is Her Royal..." A pause, because here was usually where she addressed Zuma by some affectionate, teasing moniker. "...Highness, Princess Zuma."
And no, she wasn't above stroking her best friend's ego just a little bit, to keep her pleasant.