At Suiren, Kaori Mizuhara’s shop in the Friendly City Hikari, Kaori served tea to Olivia during the quiet hours before opening. Once they were settled, Kaori finally spoke.
“So, how did things turn out?”
She assumed this visit was about the date with Kaito they had discussed previously. Since Olivia had mentioned sending a letter last time, the timing suggested she had received a reply and was here to report the results.
Her prediction was largely accurate—save for one fatal, utterly unforeseen development.
“Yes, I have successfully received approval from Miyama Kaito-sama.”
“Congratulations! All that hard work planning it out was worth it, then.”
“I must thank you again... On that note, I wish to consult you regarding the schedule. Kaori Mizuhara, which of your closing days next month would be convenient? The merciful Miyama Kaito-sama said he would adjust his schedule to yours.”
“...”
Upon hearing Olivia’s words, Kaori froze as if time itself had ground to a halt. When a human is confronted with something so completely unexpected, their thoughts tend to seize up before confusion even has a chance to set in.
Several seconds ticked by before Kaori’s mind finally rebooted. As her thoughts began to race, her face turned a sickly shade of pale.
“...H-Huh? For some reason, my stomach is cramping... it’s sending some serious danger signals... That’s strange, isn't it? There shouldn't be any reason for my schedule to matter in this situation... I have a bad feeling. A really, really bad feeling... U-Um, Olivia-sama? Why do you need my schedule...?”
“It is only natural, as you will be going on the date with us.”
“Ough...”
Kaori had no idea how it had come to this, but the mere facts of the matter were enough to make her head spin.
“Wait, um... L-Let me just double-check! You were making a plan for a date between you and Kaito-kun, right? Isn’t it supposed to be a date for just the two of you?”
“That was the initial assumption. However, I heard Kaori Mizuhara repeatedly expressing envious sentiments, and I am deeply grateful to you for your counsel. Therefore, as a token of my gratitude, I consulted Miyama Kaito-sama about having you accompany us, and he graciously gave his permission. As expected, the breadth of Miyama Kaito-sama's generosity is truly magnificent.”
“...”
Kaori instinctively clutched her stomach with one hand and stared up at the ceiling with far-off eyes. It was the Polished and Refined Stomach Pain Posture she had acquired with staggering speed ever since meeting Kaito.
(...Sure, I said I was envious. But that was strictly about the sweet youth I never got to have! I wasn't saying I wanted to barge in on your date with Kaito-kun!)
She screamed inwardly, but she could not let it show. No matter how friendly they were, Olivia was overwhelmingly her superior in terms of status. There was no way she could refuse a proposal that clearly stemmed from one hundred percent pure goodwill.
Since Olivia had decided it and Kaito had already given his consent, there was no turning back. Above all, the thought of rejecting Kaito’s consideration right in front of the fanatically devoted Olivia... it was too terrifying to contemplate.
Escape was impossible. Kaori’s participation was now an established fact.
“...Um... well... I just want to ask, just in case... If I go, it will be two women—you and me—and only one man, Kaito-kun. Isn't that, well...”
“Hm? Is that not the most standard format for a date?”
“That’s right! I forgot that's common in this world!”
Kaori had tried a final, desperate sliver of resistance, wondering if Olivia would really be okay with her tagging along... but in this world, polygamy was the norm. It was not at all unusual for a man to go on a date with multiple women at once.
“...Alright... then... this day would work...”
“Understood. I shall relay this to Miyama Kaito-sama.”
Realizing there was no way out, Kaori provided her preferred dates while maintaining her far-off eyes. A hollow smile played on her lips as she began to think that she should probably go buy some new clothes or get her hair cut soon.
Serious-senpai: “As expected of the Supernova of the Stomach Pain World...”
Machina: “A Date Between My Beloved Child and My Beloved Child?! This is a total win-for-me scenario! There’s no doubt this will become a Precious Scene Full of Healing Components just by watching... Olivia is a bit in the way, I suppose... but well, she faithfully reveres My Child, so I’ll overlook it.”