Olivia’s mind remained a whirlpool of confusion, her spinning thoughts showing no sign of slowing down. Kaito, bewildered by her sudden catatonic state, called out to her several times, but he received no reply.
It wasn't that she was intentionally ignoring him; her cognitive faculties had simply ground to a halt. When her brain finally rebooted a moment later, she threw herself into a bow so deep and frantic that her forehead nearly slammed against the desk.
"M-M-M-My sincerest apologies! I was so blindsided by this development that I committed the unpardonable blunder of failing to answer Kaito-sama's call immediately. I have committed a Great Sin for which even immediate execution would be a mercy; I have no words of excuse. Please, bestow upon me whatever punishment you deem fit!"
"It’s really not a 'Great Sin,' so please, just calm down. For starters, could you please look up?"
Watching her panic, Kaito offered a wry smile and encouraged her to lift her head. This was hardly the first time she had overreacted to some perceived slight against him, so he had grown somewhat accustomed to her theatrics.
"H-How magnanimous... As I thought, Kaito-sama's heart is as vast and clear as the boundless heavens. Your compassion is truly that of a saint... It is only natural that one who has received the Blessing of Shallow Vernal-sama would possess a heart overflowing with such divinity..."
"Deep breaths, Olivia-san..."
The stream of hyperbolic praise was a sure sign that she was overwhelmed. Kaito recognized the symptoms and tried his best to soothe her. In truth, the panic only served to make her vocalize those thoughts; even in her calmest moments, she harbored the exact same reverent opinions in the privacy of her mind.
Once she had settled slightly, Kaito withdrew a beautifully wrapped gift from his Magic Box and set it before her.
"Anyway, here is the outfit. I’d be really happy if you wore it the next time we go out together, but please, don't feel like you have to."
"Ah, um... I am g-greatly honored, but... I have achieved nothing of note that would entitle me to receive such a treasure from Kaito-sama’s own hands. Is it truly permissible for me to accept this so freely?"
"Of course it is. This doesn't have anything to do with merit or anything like that. It's just that I wanted to give you something... and, well, I really wanted to see what you’d look like in these clothes. So, really, I'm doing this for my own satisfaction. Please, just take them."
"H-Hahih!"
From Kaito’s perspective, he was simply trying to provide an out so she wouldn't feel obligated. His explanation successfully persuaded her to take the box, but the logic he used triggered an outcome he hadn't quite anticipated. While Kaito’s primary goal was to get her to accept the gift without hesitation, his "follow-up" reason—that he wanted to see her in the outfit—ended up being the only thing she heard.
Olivia understood his kindness, but her mind was currently fixated on one specific phrase: "I wanted to see you wearing these clothes." The words echoed through her head like a divine commandment.
(Kaito-sama... wishes to see me in this attire? A... a request? W-What is this feeling!? My soul is in such a flutter I can hardly think straight. I feel as though I’m walking on air... I know I must purge these distractions, I know, but I’m just so ha—no! No! Expressing my gratitude to Kaito-sama must come first!!)
Lacking experience in matters of the heart, Olivia was utterly lost in the tide of her own feelings. It wasn't an unpleasant sensation; on the contrary, waves of joy were crashing over her. However, her inability to manage these newfound emotions left her in a state of visible agitation.
"...Kaito-sama, you have my eternal gratitude. For our... d... da-da..."
"Da-da?"
"...On our date, I shall most certainly wear this ensemble!"
"Ah, great. I'll be looking forward to it then."
Clinging to the box as if it were a holy relic, Olivia conveyed her deepest thanks. Yet her internal turmoil was betrayed by the deep crimson staining her cheeks and her earlier stammering.
(W-What is wrong with me? To show such unseemly behavior before Kaito-sama... How many times must I fail to even say the word 'date'!? This will not do. My heart is in complete disarray... Before I can resume the Rite of Gratitude toward Kaito-sama, I must once again hone my spirit to a razor's edge...)
She was the head of the faith, Pope Olivia... and this marked the exact moment she began a session of Unimaginable Ascetic Training.
Serious-senpai: "Her emotional maturity is still a work in progress. She was basically a sheltered princess until she met Kaito, so she’s overwhelmed by her own innocence... I have to say, her Heroine Power is actually pretty high, isn't it?"