We arrived at our destination—the trading city of Lufan in the Arclesia Empire—via Olivia’s teleportation magic. Although I had visited once before, I’d only gone straight to Elis’s chocolate shop that time, so I hadn't seen much of the city.
As I’d thought during my previous visit, the streets were lined with charming red-brick buildings. It was easy to see why this was such a popular tourist spot.
"I’ve seen it in magazines, but it really is beautiful," Kaori remarked.
"It is. I’ve only been here once myself, and I didn't have the time to look around back then, so I’m really looking forward to it... Uh, Olivia, are you all right?"
"Y-Yes! There is no problem. I showed you an unbecoming sight earlier, but I am fine now. I have resolved the agitation in my heart by simply choosing to ignore it for the time being."
Was that really a resolution? Regardless, Olivia seemed even more nervous than I’d expected. I realized I might need to take the lead to some extent.
However, Olivia was the one who planned this date, so I wanted to stick to her itinerary as much as possible.
"...So, Olivia. Where shall we head first?"
"Whatever Miyama Kaito-sama’s heart desires."
That was unexpected. She’d essentially handed the reins over to me at the very first step. As I stood there feeling slightly bewildered, Kaori spoke up with a wry smile.
"Ahaha, that's just like Olivia... or rather, she’s being a woman of few words... Kaito, we agreed to go window shopping until lunch. Both Olivia and I have seen the shops in magazines but never visited them in person, so we thought we'd just wander the streets and duck into any place that looked interesting."
"Ah, I see... Well, since we’re on a main thoroughfare, shall we just follow the road?"
I see. Since it was more about browsing whatever caught our eye, Olivia probably felt that the choice of where to stop—the right to pick the shops—should belong to me.
My questions were answered, and I was ready to get moving, but then I felt a wave of hesitation from Olivia.
"Olivia?"
"Ah... um, Miyama Kaito-sama! Despite my lack of experience, I have studied various reference materials regarding dates. According to them, on a date, it is proper etiquette... to... to hold... hands with one's companion. Therefore, um..."
I roughly understood what she was trying to get at. Whether or not holding hands was actually "etiquette" was one thing, but if she’d been studying romance novels and date features in magazines, it made sense that she’d see it as a requirement.
I could have told her it wasn't a strict rule and that we could just keep walking, and she likely would have agreed. But seeing her struggle to voice her request through her sheer nerves and embarrassment made me feel that would be the wrong move.
I was absolutely certain she didn't dislike me; there was no way she'd find holding hands unpleasant. Based on her usual behavior, I knew she held me in high regard.
She was likely thinking, I'm embarrassed, but I want to hold hands on our date.
"We wouldn't want anyone to get lost in an unfamiliar place, so shall we hold hands as we walk?"
"Ah... Y-Yes!"
I offered the suggestion with a smile, and though her expression didn't shift drastically, her face noticeably brightened. Olivia was the type whose emotions didn't always show on her face—her cheeks might flush, but the actual expressions were usually subtle.
Of course, compared to Shiro, she was practically an open book. I had no trouble reading her.
When I reached out, Olivia took my hand tentatively. For such a petite person, her hand was tiny, soft, and smooth, with a slightly cool temperature.
Actually, Olivia had incredibly beautiful skin. Part of it might have been because she almost never left the Great Cathedral, but it was snowy white without looking sickly. There was a sacred quality to it... She truly was a Saint.
With that thought, I turned to Kaori and offered my other hand.
"Well then, Kaori, shall we hold hands too?"
"Th-That's right. It only makes sense to follow the trend... Ah, no, I'm not nervous! I-I'm an adult with plenty of life experience. H-Holding hands is a walk in the park for me."
She was clearly flustered, but it would have been petty to point it out. At any rate, with me in the middle, we set off on our date once more.
Serious-senpai: "Ugh... this guy is dangerous. Even in Romance Bottom-tier Mode, she’s got the drive to actually make a move and approach him herself. Unlike Alice, she’s got initiative... and the Danger of Sugar is high!"