Soon after, Olivia-san arrived, and inside Kaori-san’s restaurant was a strange combination of Olivia-san, the Founder of the Friendship City, Neun-san, the First Hero, and otherworlders me and Kaori-san.
I was curious about the relationship between Neun-san and Olivia-san, and like me, Kaori-san was also curious, alternately looking at Olivia-san and Neun-san.
[It’s been a while, Olivia-sama.]
[Kujou Hika…… Excuse me, it was Neun now, right? It’s been a thousand years, hasn’t it. Long time no see.]
They first greeted each other briefly. The two of them haven’t met in a thousand years because Neun-san doesn’t stop by the Friendship City and doesn’t participate in the Festival of Heroes, so they’d probably have a lot of things they’d like to talk about.Especially since Olivia-san is the head of the city that honors the First Hero, so she’d probably have lots of thoughts……
[Well then, if you’ll excuse me…… Mizuhara Kaori, my apologies for coming before your opening today. And once again, Miyama Kaito-sama, it’s a pleasure to see you like this again. I apologize for being somewhat late in coming to greet you.]
[Eh? Ah, no, hello, Olivia-san.]
———is what I was thinking, but after giving her a brief nod, she immediately dropped the subject and came over to us!? To say even a few words to Kaori-san, I suppose it’s to be expected of the earnest Olivia-san.
[Seeing you safe and sound today makes me very happy. When Miyama Kaito-sama visits us, I feel as if the air in our Friendship City becomes a little brighter.]
[I- I think that’s an exaggeration……]
[No, that isn’t the case at all…… Ahh, come to think of it, I have heard that the tea brand Miyama Kaito-sama has launched is doing very well. I’m very happy to hear that. Indeed, being a person of Miyama Kaito-sama’s caliber, you can achieve significant results in any field they enter.]Olivia-san’s shining eyes were full of respect as she spoke, and I felt that her expression was richer than before.
She seems to be visiting Kaori-san’s restaurant often and getting along well with her, and that combined with the fact that she seems to be getting more human, she seems to be changing for the better.
However, I can sense slight nervousness from her. When Olivia-san is nervous, she tends to praise me more than usual, so there might be some underlying reason for this.
[……That’s completely different from the time and passion she showed for us. Rather, the reason why she purposely said her greetings to Kaito-kun last was because she was going to talk with him the longest huh…… I guess that’s just the usual Olivia-sama.]
[I’m rather surprised. I thought she was a taciturn person who hardly spoke, but she’s more talkative than I imagined.]
[No, when it comes to people other than Kaito-kun, she’s exactly as Neun-san imagined, calm and composed, expressing herself in a matter-of-fact way. It’s only when it comes to Kaito-kun that she seems like a different person, with more vivid expressions and emotions.]
[I see.]
[……However, she seems to be a little more nervous than usual today. Is it because she’s meeting up with Kaito-kun here?]
Kaori-san seems to know quite a bit about Olivia-san, possibly because Olivia is a regular customer at her restaurant, and it seems that just like me, Kaori-san sensed Olivia-san’s nervousness.
[She’s nervous? She seemed pretty casual and lively with the way she speaks though……]
[Hmmm, but she seemed to speak more than usual, like she’s being conscious of something…… Ahh…… I see now……]
[Did you realize something?]
[I certainly did, but the circumstances about that are complicated, so I’ll close my mouth here…… Sorry.]
It seems that Kaori-san had an idea why Olivia-san was like this, but she doesn’t intend to speak, leaving the details unclear.
Although I’m wondering about this answer myself, I decided to just ask Olivia-san in front of me.
[Olivia-san, if there’s anything troubling you, please feel free to let me know. I might not be able to be of much help, but I’m always here to help……]
[Thank you very much. Miyama-sama’s kindness shines brilliantly like sunlight cutting through overcast skies. I do indeed hold the desire to touch such a compassionate light, and the gentle Miyama Kaito-sama will definitely receive me with warmth…… but please accept my apologies. This isn’t exactly a problem, as it’s more of a matter of consciousness, so I’d appreciate it if you’d be understanding for now. Once I’ve firmly gathered my resolve and assumptions, I will let you know.]
[Ah, yes. I understand.]
While still showering me with her usual exaggerated praises, Olivia-san mentioned that she can’t talk about what’s troubling her at the moment, but will do so later. It doesn’t seem too serious though, as Kaori-san, who seemed to know the circumstances, is just smiling kindly, so it would probably be alright…… I do feel curious, but I’ll refrain from delving any further.
<Afterword>
Serious-senpai : [Ahh, her date plans for Kaito haven’t been finalized, so she can’t ask him out on a date at the moment, but I guess she was feeling nervous thinking about the time when she does ask him out huh……]
