I sipped my Hojicha and took a bite of a cookie. While I enjoyed black tea, Japanese tea hit differently—it had a familiar, grounding quality that always put a Japanese person like me at ease.
Perhaps it was partly due to Olivia-san’s skill in brewing it, but the flavor of the Hojicha felt incredibly soothing as it washed over my tongue.
“By the way, Olivia-san, how did it feel to actually officiate the wedding?”
“It was as I suspected; there is a vast gulf between theoretical knowledge and practical application,” she replied. “I had the procedures memorized, but timing is dictated by the atmosphere of the venue—something no book could ever truly prepare me for.”
“That’s true. There are some things, especially regarding the mood of a place, that you just can’t grasp until you’re standing right there.”
“Indeed. However, thanks to the Archbishop’s accurate guidance, I was able to proceed without any issues.”
Olivia-san paused to take a breath and another sip of her tea. She wore a contemplative expression for a moment before speaking again.
“In the end, I felt that the actual experience was just as significant as you said it would be, Kaito-sama. I have gained true experience; I can feel myself growing, however slightly.”
“I think that’s wonderful. Still, Olivia-san, I can’t help but worry that you might overexert yourself. I think it's important to have moments like this where you can just take a breather.”
“I see. That is a valuable lesson.”
“I can at least be someone for you to talk to, so if you ever want company, just let me know and I’ll be there, okay?”
“...!”
At my offer, Olivia-san practically bolted out of her chair with a sharp clatter. Her face was a chaotic swirl of shock and bewilderment.
Wait, did I mess up? She’s so formal with me that maybe an offer like that just makes her feel pressured or apologetic.
“Maybe you’d find it hard to truly relax your mind if you're stuck with me...”
“N-No such thing exists!”
“Whoa!”
“Ah... M-My apologies.”
That was the loudest I’d heard her speak all day—no, probably the loudest I’d ever heard her, period. Her sudden outburst caught me completely off guard.
“The time I spend talking with Kaito-sama is irreplaceable to me,” she stammered. “I-It is just that, strangely, extraneous thoughts occasionally flood my mind. It is by no means unpleasant; rather, it makes me feel happy, so to speak... A-Anyway, if I may have future opportunities to speak with Kaito-sama like this, it is an honor far beyond what I deserve.”
“I-I see... I’m happy to hear you say that. In that case, let’s definitely have tea again.”
“Yes!”
In its own way, the fact that Olivia-san could assert herself this much was a sign of significant growth compared to before. At the very least, she seemed to genuinely enjoy the time spent with me, which was a relief. Given how stiff she could be, I’d been worried that my occasionally forceful suggestions might be making her cower.
As I pondered this, Olivia-san’s expression shifted to one of hesitation, and she kept flickering her gaze toward me. I had a hunch she had something on her mind but was holding back out of modesty.
“Olivia-san? If there’s something you want to ask, please don’t hold back.”
“...T-Then, though it may be terribly rude, please allow me to ask a question.”
“A question? Sure, if it’s something I can answer...”
“I would like to know your preferences, Kaito-sama.”
“My preferences?”
Preferences for what? Knowing Olivia-san, I was certain she wasn't asking about my "type" in women.
“Um, I’m sure there are many kinds of things you're referring to, but preferences regarding what, exactly?”
“Pardon my lack of clarity. I meant your preferences for tea sweets. I thought that if I knew them, I could better serve you on occasions like today...”
“I see...”
Wait, isn't this the perfect opening? With the conversation flowing this way, I could naturally introduce Japanese confectionery without making her feel like her cookies weren't good enough.
“I was in the mood for cookies today, but since Japanese confectionery also goes perfectly with Japanese tea, I’m quite fond of those as well.”
“Japanese confectionery... I have heard the name. There were mentions in the books regarding tea, but I had not yet progressed far enough in my studies to learn about them.”
“Well, they’re something like this.”
I reached into my Magic Box and pulled out several varieties of Japanese confectionery, arranging them on the table. These were from the shop Noin-san had recommended—a place originally founded by a former Hero-role and passed down through the generations. Their sweets were the real deal.
“They are quite elegant... though the scent is not very strong, is it?”
“Please, try some if you like.”
“Then, if I may... Oh, this is a refined taste. The bean paste of the manju... no, the texture on the tongue is slightly different. A trace of fruit... perhaps for the aroma? Some colors differ, but the taste is consistent... I see...”
She began to analyze them with the intensity of a seasoned food critic. Come to think of it, Kaori-san mentioned that Olivia-san could immediately notice the subtlest variations in the flavor of miso soup. Her sense of taste was likely incredibly acute.
Watching her mumble to herself while nibbling the sweets with a dead-serious expression was so characteristic of her that I found it a little heartwarming.
Serious-senpai: “Looks like that was her first time trying white bean paste... It’s quite the sight, seeing a woman with a saintly appearance adapt so seamlessly to a Japanese-style diet. Is this what they call a gap?”