After waiting a short while, Olivia seemed to regain her composure, allowing Kaori to step away with a look of relief.
"I am terribly sorry for keeping you waiting," Olivia said. "I offer my deepest apologies for committing such a grave act of lèse-majesté—one that deserves to have my name etched in the history books of the three worlds as a master criminal for making Miyama Kaito-sama wait."
"No, you're exaggerating," I replied. "Please, don't worry about it. More importantly, were you two eating?"
At a glance, she still seemed flustered and on the verge of panic, but for Olivia, this was basically business as usual, so it wasn't a problem. Just as I had decided while waiting for her to recover, I steered the conversation toward a different topic, ignoring what I’d overheard earlier.
"Yes. I have been dining while Mizuhara Kaori explained several things to me. We finished our meal some time ago, but we ended up talking for a while. There were many dishes I hadn't encountered even at Mizuhara Kaori's shop. It was quite refreshing, and I feel I’ve learned much today."
"The meal actually ended quite a while ago," Kaori added. "I was the one who kept her here because I wanted to see how the other guests were reacting. Since I was involved in the menu's planning stages, I couldn't help but be curious..."
"Ah, I see. I can certainly understand that. So, how was it? What were people saying?"
"A lot of people seemed to find the dishes novel, but from what I saw, they were very well-received. Raz-sama and her group even stopped by and said everything was delicious, so I'm quite relieved."
That made a lot of sense. Kaori had been incredibly helpful with the catering for this party. She had collaborated with Illness and the others to develop the menu, creating prototypes and fine-tuning them to suit the palates of people in this world. It was only natural for her to want to see the results of her hard work.
"I'm glad it's a hit. Actually, I was thinking of grabbing a bite myself. Out of everything you've tried, Olivia, do you have any recommendations? If something stood out, I'd love to try it."
"Eh? I... I am to make a suggestion to Miyama Kaito-sama? By doing so, I would be influencing the very contents of Miyama Kaito-sama’s meal!" Olivia gasped. "W-what a monumental task! I feel a weight of responsibility comparable to the time Shallow Vernal-sama entrusted me with the original Friendship Treaty!"
"Again, you're exaggerating... Just don't think about it too much. Just tell me what you enjoyed eating, Olivia."
I felt like someone would scold me if I ever equated my "I wonder what I should eat" dilemma with the Friendship Treaty. Still, this brand of excessive humility was very much her style. I had learned by now that being a little pushy was the best way to handle Olivia, so I decided to gently insist.
"I suppose... if I were to speak from my own personal preference, I found the galette to be quite delicious."
"A galette? If I recall correctly, that’s the one made with potatoes and whitebait... small fish, right?"
"Yes. The flavor was not particularly assertive, but I enjoyed its simple, warm quality. The saltiness and the light taste of the small fish complemented each other perfectly. It was very pleasant."
"Olivia prefers lighter flavors that highlight the natural taste of the ingredients," Kaori explained. "She's not a fan of heavy sauces."
"That is true. Relatively speaking, I do find myself drawn to more delicate flavors... Ah, um, was that of any help?"
A galette is a type of crepe typically made with buckwheat flour. While it isn't exactly Japanese, the theme of the party was simply "Otherworld Cuisine," so it fit right in. According to Kaori, they were simple and highly versatile, making them easy to adjust and perfect for a party.
"Yes, thank you. Since you went to the trouble of recommending it, I’ll try the galette, Olivia."
"Ah... yes! If it suits Miyama Kaito-sama’s palate, nothing would make me happier. Oh, no—it’s not as if I were the one who cooked it, but..."
When I gave her a smile, Olivia’s face brightened with joy. Though she wasn't the most expressive person, she was an open book compared to Shiro or the recently encountered Jane. Her shifts between happiness and panic were actually quite easy to read. Her earnestness remained as steadfast as ever, but as we spoke, I realized she had become considerably more flexible—or perhaps just more expressive—than when we first met.
Serious-senpai: "By the way, the galette is a traditional French dish, specifically from the Brittany region. Kaito is a bit mistaken; a dish made with buckwheat isn't the only thing called a galette. 'Galette' is actually a general term for 'round, flat cakes,' so versions without buckwheat do exist. The Galette des Rois, or 'King's Cake,' is also famous. This is an almond cream puff pastry eaten to celebrate the New Year in France. A small ceramic figurine is hidden inside before baking, and it's divided among the family. The person who finds the figurine is said to be blessed with good luck for the rest of the year."