I take a sip of hojicha and eat a cookie. I also like black tea. but Japanese tea is good too…… and as a Japanese, I feel relaxed drinking it, making me feel at home.
Olivia-san’s skill at brewing tea may be one of the reasons for it, but the taste of this hojicha is pleasant on the tongue.
[……Come to think of it, Olivia-san. How did you feel about actually facilitating a wedding?]
[Let’s see. There really is a difference between having the knowledge about it with actually doing it. I had the procedure in my mind, but timing and aspects like the atmosphere of the place couldn’t be inferred from book knowledge alone.]
[Ahh~~ Indeed, I don’t think I would have known things like the atmosphere of a wedding until I’ve actually attended one.][Yes, but thanks to the High Priestess’ precise guidance, we were able to proceed without any problems.]
After a pause there, Olivia-san took a sip of hojicha and let out a sigh. Then, after seemingly thinking about something, she spoke.
[……It really is as Miyama Kaito-sama said, actually experiencing something was a big deal. I feel that I have gained experience, and that I have grown in a small, but definite way.]
[I think that’s a very good thing, but how should I say this…… There’s a part of me that worries that Olivia-san might be trying too hard…… I think you need some time to take a breather, like right now.]
[I see, I’m learning a lot.]
[I’m sure I could at least be a good person to talk to, so I’m always willing to keep you company if you ask, you know?]
[ ! ? ]Olivia-san, hearing my words, vigorously stood up all of a sudden. Her expression was a mixture of surprise and perplexity.
Ah~~ Olivia-san was humbling herself to me quite a lot, so perhaps, saying that would make her feel obliged instead?
[I wonder if she’s feeling strangely obliged when it comes to me……]
[T- That isn’t the case!!!]
[Whoa!?]
[Ahh, m- my apologies.]
It was the loudest her voice had been today…… No, since the time I had met her. It was unexpected and quite surprising to hear Olivia-san speak that loudly.
[The time I spent talking with Miyama Kaito-sama, for me, is irreplaceable. M- M- My thoughts do end up strangely heading towards worldly thoughts sometimes, but never do I feel displeased about it, and rather, I’m feeling happy instead…… A- Anyhow, I would be honored if I could have the opportunity to talk with Miyama Kaito-sama in the future.]
[I- Is that so…… It makes me happy to hear you say that. Well then, let’s have tea together again.]
[Yes!]
If anything, Olivia-san’s ability to assert herself this much may be a major growth compared to the past. At least, she seems to be enjoying her time with me, so I’m really happy about that.
When it comes to Olivia-san, there are times when I have to be forceful with her, so I was a little worried that I might have caused her to shrink away from me.
While I had such thoughts in mind, Olivia-san glanced at me with some hesitation on her face. It’s just my hunch, but I somehow felt like she had something she wanted to say, but was being reserved about it.
[Olivia-san? If you have something you want to say, please don’t hesitate to say it.]
[……W- Well then, this might be very rude of me to say this, but I have a question I’d like to ask.]
[A question? Yes, if I can answer it……]
[I would like to know Miyama Kaito-sama’s preferences.]
[Preferences?]
……Preferences about what? It’s Olivia-san asking this, so I’m sure she isn’t talking about my type of women or anything like that.
[……Errr, when you just say preferences, I think I have a lot of them, but what preferences were you talking about?]
[My apologies. I would like to ask you about your preferences in teacakes. On an occasion like today, if I could offer such……]
[I see……]
Arehh? Doesn’t this feel like a good time to bring that out? With this flow, I can introduce Japanese confectioneries naturally without hurting Olivia-san.
[I may have wanted to eat cookies this time, but when you drink Japanese tea, Japanese confectioneries would be a great match to it, so I like them.]
[Japanese confectioneries…… I’ve read about them. I found it mentioned in the book about tea, but I haven’t gotten around to learning about it yet.]
[Errr, they’re something like these.]
I take out various types of Japanese confectioneries from my magic box and put them on the table. Incidentally, I bought these Japanese confectioneries at a store Neun-san had introduced me to.
As a confectionery store that was opened by someone who used to play the role of Hero and has since been passed down from generation to generation, it has quite a lot of authentic Japanese confectioneries.
[What gorgeous pastries…… Their aroma isn’t very strong.]
[You can try them if you like.]
[Well then, if you’ll excuse me…… It has a very elegant taste. Manjuu filled with red bean paste…… No, it tastes a little different. There’s a hint of fruit…… Perhaps it was made as such for the fragrance, but even though its colors are different, there’s no difference in taste…… I see……]
She somehow started examining them like a gourmet. Speaking of which, Kaori-san said that Olivia-san can easily notice subtle differences in the taste of miso soup, so perhaps, her sense of taste is quite acute.
Just like that, with a serious expression on her face, Olivia-san started mumbling to herself as she ate the Japanese confectioneries little by little, and watching her exuding such diligence made me smile a bit.
<Afterword>
Serious-senpai : [It feels like it’s the first time they’ve eaten something with white bean paste huh…… Also, this saint-looking woman is adapting more and more to the Japanese diet…… In a way, could you describe it as some sort of gap moe?
