Just as Nove and Tetra decided Cornelia was an important figure and prepared to act on their respective agendas, someone forcibly shoved their way between them and the girl.
It was Tre, of course. She offered a hand for a handshake, her face lit up with a sunny, radiant smile.
"I'm Tre. Since we’re both friends with Kaito, let’s get along!"
"I-It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Tre."
"Whoa, skip the 'Lady' stuff! Let's keep it casual. You can even call me 'Big Sis Tre' if you want! Oh, and is it okay if I just call you Cornelia?"
"Ah, y-yes. Of course. Um... Tre-san."
"Mm-hm, mm-hm!"
As Tre used her natural brightness to close the distance with the bewildered Cornelia, Nove and Tetra watched with looks of mild surprise. However, they soon seemed to realize something. Nove scratched the back of her head, and Tetra gave a wry smile while shrugging her shoulders.
Before they were elite Special Advisors, they were members of Kuromueina's Family. Perhaps because of Kuromueina's exceptional guidance, they were individuals who possessed not only sharp intellects but also excellent character. Seeing Tre’s interruption had clearly given them pause for reflection.
(Ah, I really need to reflect on this. It’s just like Big Sis Tre said—she’s ultimately just a friend of Kaito’s whom we happened to run into. Sizing her up as a noble or assessing her as a business prospect is just wrong. She’s clearly overwhelmed; I’m going to end up scaring her half to death.)
Realizing she had been approaching Cornelia with her "Personnel Department Special Advisor" face on, Nove mentally scolded herself. Then, wearing a bright smile that rivaled Tre’s, she spoke to Cornelia.
"Okay, my turn after Big Sis Tre. I'm Nove. I know we both have our various positions, but this isn't a business meeting or a gala. Let’s just put all that aside for today!"
"Ah, y-yes. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Nove's reassurance that they should ignore their social standing was meant to signal that Cornelia's behavior here would not impact the relationship between the Sharon Count House and the Seditch Magic Tool Trading Company. Understanding the intent, Cornelia’s expression visibly softened with relief.
(...I was being too hasty. Even if we intend to strengthen ties with the Sharon Trading Company, the proper way is to go through the Count House via formal procedures. Using a girl I met by chance as a shortcut for business lacks sincerity. I should be grateful to Tre.)
Like Nove, Tetra found her biased thinking corrected by the pause Tre had created. Once Nove was finished, Tetra spoke to Cornelia with a gentle smile.
"...I'm Tetra. Like these two, I’d like us to get along as mutual friends who happened to run into each other."
"P-Please, the pleasure is mine."
It seemed Tetra also intended to treat this encounter as one between individuals who shared Kaito as a common friend. Cornelia, finally convinced that her words here wouldn't plunge the Sharon Trading Company into a crisis, seemed to relax her shoulders at last, returning the greeting in a more natural way.
(My, my, how impressive. As expected of Tre-dono. She likely didn't do it through cold calculation, but by throwing cold water on the situation at such an exquisite moment, she caught Nove-dono and Tetra-dono off guard, interrupted their momentum, and gave them time to reconsider.)
While looking impressed by Tre's perfect timing in cutting off the other two, Zex offered his own greeting.
"Well then, I shall do the same. It is a pleasure to meet you as a Lich who is everywhere and shares a mutual friend in Miyama-dono."
"Y-Yes. It is a pleasure to meet you too."
"Are Liches really just 'everywhere'?"
"Zex-ni-chan, your face is so scary I was worried Cornelia-chan would be frightened."
Standing tall with his skeletal appearance, Zex certainly exuded a natural intimidation. Tre and Nove wasted no time teasing him for his attempt at a casual greeting.
"Oh? And here I thought I was quite well-known as a dandy, handsome older man..."
"...Unfortunately, Zex, there are no undead here to appreciate your looks."
Watching Tetra tease Zex, Kaito recalled a conversation he'd had with Illness at the Night Market, thinking to himself, Come to think of it, Zex-san really is considered a total heartthrob in undead circles, isn't he?
Finally, once Cento and Sien had finished exchanging brief greetings with Cornelia, Kaito spoke up.
"Tre-san, are you all heading home now?"
"Yeah. Actually, we really wanted to stop by Nifty's Cafe, but you need a reservation... Glance! Glance!!"
"...Your hinting is incredibly blatant. You're actually saying the word 'glance' out loud. Well, um... I think I can get a table sorted if I ask Canaris-san. Would you all like to come to the cafe with us?"
"As expected of Kaito! Big Sis was waiting for you to say that!"
And so, it was decided that the entire party from the Seditch Magic Tool Trading Company would join them at Nifty's Cafe. Cornelia, who had only just managed to pull herself together, once again stared off into the distance with hollow eyes.
Serious-senpai: "Just when I thought she saved her from the stomach pain, she hits her with it at the very end?! I can't tell if Tre is an ally or an enemy..."
???: "Well, I don't think Tre-san thinks that deeply about it. Aside from when she's working, she's basically someone who lives purely on groove and momentum..."