Shiro-san spoke with such casual certainty that Olivia-san completely froze. Judging by her face, she was struggling to wrap her head around what she had just been told.
After a short while, her thoughts finally seemed to catch up. With an expression that was roughly sixty percent confusion, twenty percent humility, and twenty percent embarrassment, Olivia-san timidly spoke to Shiro-san.
"...Um, Shallow Vernal-sama. May I have permission to speak?"
"Granted."
"Thank you... It is with the utmost humility that I must contradict Shallow Vernal-sama's words, but I swear that Miyama Kaito-sama and I are not romantically involved. While I am honored to be counted among his acquaintances, our interactions have been strictly proper, and no impure emotions have ever played a part."
"Hmm. I see. So you mean you'll 'start making your move' from now on."
"...Shallow Vernal-sama?"
This was Shiro-san at her most famously oblivious. She seemed to understand, yet missed the point entirely. Since Olivia-san couldn't exactly talk back to her Goddess, she shot me a series of desperate glances, clearly at a loss for how to explain herself and seeking help.
"Shiro-san, that's not what she meant. Olivia-san is saying she doesn't have those kinds of feelings for me yet. I'm sure she feels a certain level of friendly affection, but... right?"
"Ah, no, it is remarkably difficult to agree with that statement... I cannot lie in front of Shallow Vernal-sama... but, um... I-I do still possess a sense of shame..."
Wait, what? I had jumped into the conversation intending to throw her a lifeline, but Olivia-san looked even more troubled than before. I might have chosen the wrong words.
I suspected that using the word "affection" had been particularly poorly judged. Even if it wasn't quite "romantic love," if we assumed Olivia-san did have favorable feelings for me, it wouldn't be surprising if the earnest Pope felt that agreeing with my words would be an act of lying to Shiro-san.
"...W-What am I to do? Agreeing is lèse-majesté, denying it is lèse-majesté... yet remaining silent before the two of you is also lèse-majesté... Perhaps I should simply be subjected to a severe punishment this instant?"
"Olivia."
"Yes!"
"Let us speak over there for a moment. Kaito-san, please wait here for a few minutes."
"Eh? Oh, okay. Understood."
Shiro-san intended to speak with Olivia-san alone. Somehow, I caught a "leave it to me" look in her eyes.
Shiro-san was Olivia-san's direct superior, so leaving it to her was the logical choice. I felt a bit... no, a fair amount... actually, quite a lot of anxiety about it, but Shiro-san's emotional growth had been remarkable lately. I was sure she would handle it well... or so I hoped.
Once they were far enough away that Kaito couldn't hear, Shallow Vernal addressed the apprehensive Olivia.
"I will not consider it lèse-majesté right now, so I permit you to speak honestly. To confirm: you hold more than a small amount of affection for Kaito-san, correct?"
"O-Of course, I find him likable as a person, and I cannot deny that I have come to rely on him personally. Recently, in the hours when I am not at prayer, I often find myself thinking of Miyama Kaito-sama. I even have frequent, insolent thoughts about wanting to see him, and I lose my composure whenever he is near... but it truly is only to that extent."
"...Isn't that just love?"
Olivia was an extremely earnest person, and because Shallow Vernal had granted her leave to speak honestly, she had voiced her thoughts exactly as they were.
The fact was, if asked whether Olivia held favorable feelings for Kaito... she did. However, as someone with extremely little interpersonal experience to begin with, she couldn't distinguish whether it was a feeling of adoration born from respect or a feeling of romantic attraction.
"I see. You have had extremely few opportunities to interact with others until now. Well, I am not one to talk, but it means your heart is still immature."
"It is as you say. I have no excuse."
"Then, Olivia. I shall give you a task."
"Yes, anything!"
"At any time after the Founding Anniversary Festival—the specific date does not matter—you are to invite Kaito-san on a date. You must devise the plan yourself; there are no other restrictions. This is a necessary step for you to understand your own emotions more deeply."
"...Y-Yes... Um, so if I am to entertain Miyama Kaito-sama..."
"Go on a date."
"...U-Understood."
Olivia was confused, but Shallow Vernal's will was absolute to her. It might have been her imagination, but her body temperature seemed to have risen slightly. If Shallow Vernal had commanded it, she would simply carry it out.
"Oh, and I will also inform you about the Super WIN System and the transfer of your memories."
"...Super WIN? M-My apologies for my lack of study. What on earth is that...?"
"I shall explain."
After receiving a detailed explanation from Shallow Vernal and learning that her memories of this event would be carried over into the original timeline, Olivia once again looked like a cat that had been launched into deep space.
Serious-senpai: "I-I didn't see that coming... To think that a date for Olivia would be confirmed right in the middle of Shiro's date... Not even the eyes of Serious-senpai could have predicted this..."