Since the city focused so heavily on tourism, it wasn't just the scenery that was attractive; stylish shops lined the streets as far as the eye could see. There seemed to be a high concentration of general stores, though plenty of other businesses filled the gaps.
Take the bakery in that red-brick building, for example. It had a wonderful atmosphere and smelled delicious. Well, now wasn't exactly the time to stop for bread, but still...
"Should we start with a general store? That feels like a safe first stop."
"Certainly."
"Y-Yeah. I'm fine with that too."
Something about that response felt off—or rather, it seemed like Kaori-san was more nervous than I had anticipated. I’d expected Olivia-san’s anxiety to be the main hurdle, but while she was clearly on edge, her movements were relatively steady and natural.
In contrast, Kaori-san was stiff and jittery.
"...Kaori-san, are you nervous by any chance?"
"I'm terrified... Kaito-kun, don't look down on me. I might act like a mature adult, but I’ve lived my whole life with zero romance experience. Even though we're basically just out for fun, just thinking of this as a date has me on pins and needles. Hehe, you can laugh if you want, but please don't be disappointed in me."
"It's okay. One of my lovers has gone hundreds of millions of years without any romance experience, and she’s even the one who proudly calls herself a Romance Bottom-tier..."
"Wait, really? Someone like that actually exists?"
"The Phantasm King, specifically."
"Stop using examples that are impossible to comment on! If I say anything to that, it’ll sound like I’m insulting the Phantasm King-sama herself!"
Kaori-san panicked at the mention of Alice, but the outburst seemed to help her relax her shoulders a bit.
Right then, Olivia-san chimed in, looking genuinely puzzled.
"...Mizuhara Kaori, I have a question. In terms of romance experience, I have lived for over a thousand years without any. Does that mean I also fall into the category of a Romance Bottom-tier?"
"Oh boy, how do I even answer that... Well, I think being a Romance Bottom-tier is more about a person's personality than the actual number of years they've spent alone."
"I see. What is your impression, Kaito-sama? I have been constantly distracted by stray thoughts and making a spectacle of myself since we met... Am I a Romance Bottom-tier in your eyes?"
Just like Kaori-san, I found myself facing a very difficult question. "Romance Bottom-tier" was a label Alice used for herself to describe her low resistance to romantic events.
If I were being honest... yeah, I thought Olivia-san fit the description pretty well. She was such a pure one—serious, earnest, and definitely a sheltered girl. She was pathologically shy about showing skin and got incredibly flustered just by holding hands.
But could I really look her in the eye right now and say, "That's right, you're a Romance Bottom-tier"? Obviously not. I could say it to Alice because she’d take it as a joke, but Olivia-san would likely take it to heart. I had to be careful with my words.
"Not at all. You just haven't had many chances for romance yet, so it’s only natural to feel overwhelmed. Like I said before, having knowledge is one thing, but actually experiencing it is another. You can just take it one step at a time."
"Ah... Y-Yes... Um... Then... I look forward to your future guidance and encouragement."
When I gave her a gentle smile and spoke as softly as I could, Olivia-san nodded, her face flushing crimson. Wait, hold on. Did that just sound like I was hitting on her? I hadn't meant it that way, but I couldn't think of a better way to put it. I guess this will have to do for now...
Serious-senpai: "As expected of the master flag architect. Look at that smooth operator... Seriously, stop! Don't go spreading more romance flags! That careless kindness of yours is exactly what invites a massive sugar development later on!"