Inside the Otherworld Restaurant Suiren, tucked away in a corner of Friendly City Hikari, the proprietor Kaori Mizuhara was working at her prep station in an uncharacteristically cheerful mood.
It was still before opening hours, leaving the dining area empty save for a single guest. This early visitor sat with refined grace, meticulously wiping her hands with a damp towel before speaking.
"I must apologize for intruding before you've officially opened."
"Think nothing of it, Olivia-sama," Kaori replied with a wave of her hand. "It's a simple enough favor."
"You have my gratitude. Lately, I've begun to feel the weight of my lifelong indifference toward such matters. While I understand the theory behind brewing black tea, I lacked the confidence to execute it properly, which led me to seek your expertise. It pains me to trouble you, but I could not bear the thought of wasting the leaves bestowed upon me by Miyama Kaito-sama. I appreciate your assistance."
"Leave it to me! To be honest, I don't drink black tea all that often myself, so I'm no grandmaster, but I can certainly handle a kettle."
"Even so," Olivia insisted, "your skill far exceeds my own."
The guest was Pope Olivia. Lacking the confidence to properly brew the original tea blend she had received from Kaito, she had sought out Kaori, an acquaintance with proven culinary talent.
Kaori saw no reason to refuse. Olivia was a regular and they had become quite close; being naturally good-natured, Kaori had agreed immediately. She was now using the lull between the end of her lunch shift and the start of dinner service to brew the tea for the Pope.
"By the way, forgive my ignorance, but is what you are doing now preparation for the evening shift?"
"Eh? Oh, no, I’m making some tea snacks. I don't have cookies or scones on hand, but I thought I’d whip up some Japanese-style sweets using bean paste. After all, you really need a little something to go with the tea."
"Japanese-style sweets? I see. I don't believe I've ever seen those on your standard menu."
"They aren't really suited for a casual diner," Kaori explained. "Even if there’s a niche for them, they’re labor-intensive and require some pretty specific ingredients."
Olivia nodded, watching the efficient preparation with interest, then tilted her head curiously. "Oh? But you happened to have the ingredients on hand today?"
"Ah... these were actually for my personal stash. I’ve always had a soft spot for Japanese-style sweets, so I often make them around this time to eat once the night shift is over. I have plenty of supplies, though, so please don't be shy. I’m actually quite proud of how they taste!"
"I see. That is certainly something to look forward to. Come to think of it, Mizuhara Kaori, I would like to ask you something for my own reference..."
"Yes?"
"What do you believe is the most effective way to invite a man on a date?"
"Pffft—! Wh-where did that come from? You nearly gave me a heart attack!"
Never imagining such words would come from Olivia, Kaori nearly fumbled the cooking utensil in her hand, staring back with a look of pure astonishment.
"The truth is," Olivia continued, "by order of the great Shallow Vernal-sama, I have been entrusted with the monumental task of inviting Miyama Kaito-sama on a date and ensuring he thoroughly enjoys himself. However, I am embarrassed to admit that I possess neither knowledge nor experience in such matters. It has been a source of significant distress. While I have already sent a formal request to Duchess Lilia Albert for her counsel, I wished to hear your perspective as well. To be blunt: what sort of date plan and invitation would allow a man to truly enjoy himself from the bottom of his heart?"
"If I had the answer to that," Kaori muttered under her breath, "I wouldn't be perpetually single."
"Hmm? Does being single have some relevance to the question? Ah, I see. Have I caused a misunderstanding? I am not asking about a marriage proposal, merely a standard date."
"It’s no use," Kaori thought. "She’s too serious for her own good... How on earth am I supposed to handle this hellish question?"
Kaori was indeed single, and at an age where the topic of marriage was beginning to loom. Furthermore, her "time without a boyfriend" was exactly equal to her age. Her life had been a whirlwind since before being summoned to this world; between her travels across the globe and opening her own shop, she’d had no time for romance.
It was only now, having finally found a modicum of stability, that she’d even begun to consider such things. Unfortunately, she had no real-world experience to draw upon for Olivia’s benefit.
However, faced with the Pope’s expectant gaze, Kaori found she couldn't bring herself to just turn her away. She began desperately scouring her memory for any useful tidbits she might have picked up from romance novels or magazines.
Serious-senpai: "Is this that thing? Another Stomach Pain Flag for Lilia +1...?"
???: "Well, everything was going a bit too smoothly with the tea, wasn't it?"