Hearing the words Shiro-san just naturally said, Olivia-san stiffened, and from the expression on her face, I got the impression that her mind was unable to catch up with what had just been said.
After a little while, Olivia-san’s mind seemed to have finally caught up, and with an expression that was a mix of 60% confusion, 20% apologetic and 20% embarrassment, she timidly called out to Shiro-san.
(T/N: Japan and their contradictory word, Kyoushuku/恐縮 again. The 1st 20% mentioned there is Kyoushuku, which could either mean “apologizing for inconveniencing someone”, “feeling shame” or “expressing gratitude”. I usually translate this word based on context, but I can’t really do that in this sentence, so just keep in mind that Olivia may be feeling apologetic here, feeling ashamed or was quite thankful with Shiro’s idea.)
[……Ummm, Shallow Vernal-sama. May I have permission to speak?]
[I allow it.][My gratitude…… Ummm, I’m very sorry to seem to disagree with Shallow Vernal-sama’s words, but I swear that Miyama Kaito-sama and I aren’t in a romantic relationship. I’m humbly grateful for the friendship we have, but it’s a friendship that is maintained with proper decorum, and there are no impure emotions involved.]
[Fumu. I understand. So you’re saying “you’re making your approach hereafter” then.]
[……Shallow Vernal-sama?]
This right here, Shiro-san fully exhibits her established reputation as a natural airhead. She’s acting as if she understands what’s going on, but in reality, she doesn’t understand anything. Meanwhile, Olivia-san can’t knowingly deny Shiro-san’s opinions, so she seems to be at a loss as to how to explain herself, as she keeps on glancing at me, seemingly asking for help.
[Shiro-san, that’s not what she meant. Olivia-san was saying that she doesn’t have any kind of favorable feelings towards me at the moment. Of course, as a friend, she does have some level of affection towards me…… right?]
[Ahh, no, such a statement is something very difficult for me to agree with…… and I can’t tell falsehoods before Shallow Vernal-sama…… but, well…… I- I do feel the emotion called bashfulness……]
Arehh? I joined the conversation with the intention of assisting her, but Olivia-san just appeared even more troubled now than before. By her wording, I suppose I may have said something that wasn’t quite right.I’m getting the feeling that the part about “any kind of favorable feelings” was particularly mistaken. Assuming that Olivia-san has favorable feelings towards me, even if it can’t be called romantic feelings, it’s not surprising that the earnest Olivia-san would consider agreeing with my words earlier to be an act of lying to Shiro-san.
[……W- What should I do, agreeing is disrespectful, but denying it is also disrespectful…… but keeping my silence before the two esteemed beings is also disrespectful…… As expected, should I not now be severely punished for what I have done?]
[Olivia.]
[Ha!]
[Let’s talk over there for a while. Kaito-san, you stay here for a few minutes.]
[Eh? Yes, alright.]
Seemingly having the intention of speaking with Olivia-san alone, Shiro-san’s eyes somehow seemed to convey the thought “Leave it to me”.
Shiro-san can be considered Olivia-san’s immediate superior, and it does seem like it would be better to just leave this matter to her. It’s just, I’m a little…… no, I’m fairly…… I’m considerably…… well, anxious, but Shiro-san’s emotional growth has been quite remarkable, so she should be able to handle this conversation well…… or so I’d like to hope.
Shallow Vernal, having moved to a position where they can’t be heard by Kaito, called out to the apologetic-looking Olivia.
[I won’t deem your words disrespectful at this moment, so I give you permission to honestly speak your thoughts. Just to confirm, but you have some level of favorable feelings for Kaito-san, is that correct?]
[O- Of course, I do hold a favorable opinion of Kaito-san as a person, and I can’t deny that I personally rely on him to some extent. These days, when I am not praying, I often think about Miyama Kaito-sama, and disrespectful such thoughts may be, there are many times when I feel the desire to meet him, so even though I lose my composure a little in front of Miyama Kaito-sama, that’s really about it.]
[……Isn’t that love already?]
Olivia is an extremely earnest person, so when Shallow Vernal declared that she was given permission to honestly speak her thoughts, Olivia expressed her feelings as she truly felt them.
As a matter of fact, when it comes to whether Olivia has positive feelings towards Kaito…… She does have them. However, her lack of interpersonal experience makes it impossible for her to determine whether she is feeling admiration based on respect or she’s feeling romantic feelings prevailing over affection.
[I see, you’ve had extremely limited opportunities to interact with others until now. Well, this isn’t something for me to say, but it seems like you’re still immature in matters of the heart.]
[It is as Shallow Vernal-sama says. I have no words to respond to it.]
[Well then, Olivia. I have one task for you.]
[Ha, by your word!]
[It can be done at any time after the Founding Festival. You are to invite Kaito-san on a date. The content of your date is something you must think about, but other than that, there are no restrictions. This is a necessary step for you to understand emotions more deeply.]
[……Y- Yes…… I shall entertain Miyama Kaito-sama……]
[You are to go on a date with him.]
[……U- Understood.]
Olivia was puzzled, but for her, Shallow Vernal’s will was absolute. She isn’t sure if it was just her imagination or not, but even as she felt like her body temperature was rising a little bit, if Shallow Vernal ordered her to do something, she would just do it.
[Ahh, I’ll also tell you about the SUPER WIN SYSTEM and inform you about carrying over your memories.]
[……SUPER WIN? I- I apologize for my ignorance. What in the world is that……]
[Let me explain.]
And just like that, after receiving a detailed expression from Shallow Vernal, Olivia, upon learning that this timeline’s memories would be carried over to the original timeline, once again had an expression akin to a cat cast out into space.
<Afterword>
Serious-senpai : [I- I hadn’t expected this…… Not even this Serious-senpai Eyes had seen a scenario of Olivia’s date being confirmed while he’s on a date with Shiro……]
