The restaurant Olivia had reserved for us was as stylish as its reputation suggested. Elis had described it as a popular spot, and the exterior lived up to the hype.
It didn't feel like a stuffy, ultra-high-end establishment. Instead, it possessed a warm, retro charm that blended perfectly with the Red Brick Townscape of the surrounding area. I personally quite liked the atmosphere.
However, one thing caught my eye: a waiter was already standing by the entrance. The moment he spotted us, he bowed low. I wondered if this was just the standard level of service for a place like this.
As I drew closer, I realized something else. Despite it being the middle of the lunch hour, there didn't seem to be any other customers inside.
"I have a reservation. My name is Olivia," she said.
"We have been expecting you. Please, allow me to show you to your table."
I could feel a heavy sense of tension and deference radiating from the waiter. Ah, I see. Since Olivia had made the reservation under her own name, the establishment was well aware that their guest was the Pope.
Olivia likely hadn't booked the entire place herself. Instead, the management had probably shifted the restaurant into an Exclusively Reserved State on their own initiative, terrified of committing even the slightest discourtesy toward her.
"Kaito-kun," Kaori whispered, leaning in close. "Do you think we’re being treated as Super VIPs right now?"
"I'm certain of it," I whispered back. "My Sympathy Magic is picking up a lot of intimidation from them..."
Kaori had clearly reached the same conclusion I had. While it was a bit surprising, it made sense once I considered the circumstances. If anything, having the place to ourselves was a relief; it meant we didn't have to worry about Olivia being recognized and causing a public scene.
As we prepared to enter, I released the hand I had been holding. For a fleeting second, a look of profound loneliness crossed Olivia's face. It was a heart-tugging sort of puppy-like cuteness.
The expression vanished as quickly as it had appeared, and she regained her usual composure. We followed the waiter inside, but that was when I noticed something troubling.
I could sense the waiter's intense nervousness, but the emotions coming from Olivia were far more extreme. She was radiating a sense of absolute, life-or-death resolve.
What is this...? Considering her personality and how she had acted so far... Ah, is that it?
She was probably convinced that if the food she’d chosen didn't suit my tastes, it would constitute an Unpardonable Great Sin. Her resolve was so heavy it felt as though she were prepared to commit ritual suicide to apologize for a bad meal. I really needed to say something to reassure her before we actually started eating.
Serious-senpai: "She really does look like she's braced herself to accept any punishment you can dream up."