Once the wedding reception party drew to a close, I escorted Olivia-san back to the Friendly City. Truth be told, she has the ability to move instantly to the Central Cathedral from anywhere in the world, so there was no real need for me to walk her... but it just felt like the natural flow of things, given that I’d picked her up earlier.
Not that anything special was supposed to happen. I should have just dropped her off at the Cathedral and been on my way.
"Well then, Olivia-san. Good work today. Perhaps we'll meet again soon..."
"Ah, Miyama Kaito-sama..."
"Hmm? Is something the matter?"
She called out to me reflexively. When I tilted my head in confusion, Olivia-san looked at me with an expression of profound distress. Wait, what was going on?
"...I have something I wish to say to you, Miyama Kaito-sama."
"O-Okay... what is it?"
"My deepest apologies, but please wait a moment... uttering these words requires considerable resolve. I need a little time to steel myself."
"U-Understood."
Seriously, what was happening? She needed resolve just to speak? Was I about to get a confession?
...No, that didn't seem right. This didn't have the sweet air of a confession. Olivia-san looked as if she were facing a ghost, and the wave of emotion I felt through Sympathy Magic was one of staggering determination, as if she were marching into a decisive battle.
"Sss... haaa."
Watching her take deep, heavy breaths to steady herself made me tense up. My spine straightened involuntarily. After repeating the cycle several times, Olivia-san closed her eyes for a few beats... and then snapped them open.
Such fierce resolve... it was as if she were prepared to die right then and there. I didn't know what was coming, but I felt like I had to meet her intensity with a resolve of my own.
In the heavy silence where time seemed to stretch thin, Olivia-san finally spoke.
"Miyama Kaito-sama!"
"Y-Yes!"
"W-W-Would a c-cup of tea... b-be acceptable!?"
"Oh, sure. I'd love—wait, what!? That!? You built up that whole 'marching to certain death' atmosphere just to say that!?"
I couldn't believe it. She was just inviting me for tea. I wanted the stress of the last few minutes back. Why on earth did she need that much courage? Couldn't we have just settled this with a simple "Would you like some tea?" and a "Thank you, I would"?
"...This is a matter of grave importance. I am essentially changing your schedule to suit my own whims... If I were to mention this at an inconvenient time for you, it would be a lèse-majesté worthy of being paraded through the streets and torn limb from limb..."
"As if I’d let anything that terrifying happen just because I turned down an invitation to tea! It's not lèse-majesté in the slightest!"
"I-Is that so? Then I am truly relieved."
Olivia-san let out a long sigh, her hand clutching her chest. She had clearly been terrified. She was just... too serious.
In fact, she might have been the most serious, stiff-headed person I had ever met.
"Anyway, I’ll gladly accept. It’s a bit late, but... should we head to a cafe?"
"No. Anticipating such an occasion, I have prepared everything beforehand. Please, come to my room... the Pope's Chamber."
"Ah, okay."
If my memory served me correctly, the Pope's Chamber was more like a prayer room. Was that actually her private quarters? If so, I doubted it would have even a hint of a lived-in feel.
After all, the last time I’d been there, there was no furniture at all—just an overly luxurious chair they’d put out specifically for me.
"...Olivia-san, just to be sure, do you have regular tables and chairs?"
"There is a desk and a chair for your use, Miyama Kaito-sama."
"What about for you?"
"I shall remain standing, so there is no issue."
"..."
My bad premonitions had a habit of coming true. Olivia-san might have been fine with it, but I certainly wouldn't be.
However, it was late enough that most furniture stores would be closed. It couldn't be helped. I had to play my trump card.
"...Alice, sorry, but could you sell me a decent table and a set of chairs?"
"Eh? Um?"
"Sure thing, understood. Honestly, this is what happens when someone takes being serious way too far. I'm glad I'm at least a little bit irresponsible."
"I suppose you have a point. Here's the payment..."
I used Alice as my final resort. While a bewildered Olivia-san watched, I quickly finished the transaction, stowed the furniture in my Magic Box, and then smiled at her.
"Well then, Olivia-san. Shall we?"
"Eh? Um, Miyama Kaito-sama... that just now was..."
"Shall we?"
"Ah, yes. Certainly."
If I tried to explain it now, we’d probably just end up in another argument where she insisted she couldn't possibly accept such a thing, so I decided to just push through.
But just as we were about to enter the Cathedral...
"...M-My deepest apologies. I was so tense about speaking to you that my legs are shaking... P-Please wait just a little longer..."
Just like Alice said, being serious to a fault really was a problem. I found myself... quite glad that I was a bit irresponsible.
Serious-senpai: "Her devotion is so massive she was terrified just because she might disrupt Kaito's schedule... Wait, is this going to turn into a sweet scene? Because if it is, I'm already over it..."