Kaori remained blissfully unaware of the hole she had dug for herself as the planning for the date continued.
"For the evening, you wanted somewhere with a beautiful view... preferably on high ground, correct?"
"Right. Somewhere we can sit side by side and watch the sunset together... Gosh, that sounds so nice. I wish I’d had a youth like that."
"Hmm? Could you not simply experience it now?"
"Ah, no, youth is more of a... No, never mind. It’s hard to explain, so let’s just drop it."
In Kaori’s mind, "youth" referred specifically to one’s teenage years. However, this world was home to many long-lived species, and since Olivia herself was over a thousand years old, conveying that nuance was an exercise in futility.
Furthermore, through the eyes of an immortal, someone of Kaori’s age was practically an infant. Yet Kaori still retained the sensibilities of a human; in her own mind, she was nearing thirty—a fairly significant age. Their perspectives on time were simply fundamentally different.
"A-Anyway, you’ll watch the sun go down in a scenic spot to set the mood, and then the two of you will have dinner at a slightly upscale restaurant. It would be even better if it had a view of the night skyline."
"I see. Choosing a cheap establishment for Kaito-sama’s meal would be an act of lèse-majesté, but I have heard he does not care for excessive extravagance either. Somewhere moderately high-end would be most appropriate."
As was typical for these two—both being total amateurs in the realm of romance—the plan they settled on was very safe and conventional. Regardless, the general flow of the day was decided.
All that remained was to select the specific shops to reserve, so Kaori and Olivia pored over various magazines together.
On a clear morning, I was sorting through the mail Anima had brought me when I found a letter from Olivia.
It was remarkably thick—so much so that I thought it might contain a small book—but when I opened it, I realized it was a single letter spanning at least a hundred pages.
A bit overwhelmed by the sheer volume, I started reading. The first page was entirely dedicated to an apology for sending a letter so suddenly and an expression of gratitude for me actually taking the time to receive it.
From the second page onward, it was nothing but unrelenting praise. No matter how many pages I flipped, she did nothing but extol my virtues. I couldn't reach the actual point of the letter at all.
Even though it was written down, I recognized the "voice" behind the words. It was that praise-killing state Olivia fell into whenever she panicked. She must have been incredibly nervous while writing this.
Giving up on reading every word, I skimmed the gushing compliments in search of the actual subject matter. Finally, just past the halfway mark, I found what looked like the main point.
"...Accordingly, I would like to request the honor of a date with Kaito-sama, if it is at all possible. I understand that you have your own schedule, so I do not wish to force the issue, and I will adjust the date and time to suit your convenience. While this is one of the trials bestowed upon me by Shallow Vernal-sama, I also hope to use this opportunity to express, even in some small way, the deep gratitude I feel for you every day..."
The text continued to ramble on after that, but I understood the gist. She wanted to go on a date with me on Shiro-san's orders.
Hmm... I wonder if this is related to that. I have a feeling this might be connected to what Shiro-san and Olivia were discussing during the Hydra Kingdom Founding Anniversary Festival. Olivia is serious to a fault, so Shiro-san probably meant it as casual advice—something like "You should go hang out with Kaito sometime"—and Olivia interpreted it as a formal mandate for a date.
Still, if it was about that conversation, she certainly took her time. Knowing her personality, she probably spent the interval overthinking things or studying how dates work.
Well, in any case, I have no problem going out with her... Wait, what’s this?
"Furthermore, Mizuhara Kaori has also expressed a desire to participate in this date. For my part, I wish to grant the wish of a woman who has offered me counsel so many times. If Kaito-sama is willing, would you permit her to accompany us?"
Kaori is joining the date too? I guess this is an invitation for a group outing, then. Honestly, I have no problem with that either. Spending the day with Kaori and Olivia sounds like it would be quite fun, so I’ll send back a reply of acceptance.
...That being said, there are still about fifty pages left. What’s in the rest?
Puzzled by the massive stack of paper remaining after the conclusion of the main topic, I flipped the page. From there until the very end, it was an incredibly long-winded series of messages expressing her profound thanks for me having read the letter.
Serious-senpai: "Kaori, the beginning of the stomach pain... Seriously, I can only imagine what her state of mind will be when Olivia tells her they're going on a date for three after Kaito accepts..."