With the drinks served and the food set to arrive at any moment, Olivia sat in quiet contemplation. She had been the one to reserve the restaurant, and she knew every detail of the menu by heart.
Specifically, she had chosen a dish perfectly suited for an act she believed was a mandatory part of any dinner date: feeding her companion.
(The appetizer will be semi-dried tomato and cheese canapés. I’ve gathered that this establishment serves them atop thinly sliced baguettes. They are reportedly sized for a woman to eat in a single bite... Since it is a dish intended to be eaten by hand, even someone like me, who hasn't fully mastered the refined use of a knife and fork, should be able to guide it accurately to Miyama Kaito-sama’s mouth. Yes, the appetizer is undoubtedly the best time to strike.)
Olivia’s personality was earnest to a fault. Although she had never actually visited this restaurant before, she had thoroughly researched every dish, right down to the specific ingredients.
She had intended to select a menu that aligned with Kaito’s tastes while allowing her to achieve her goal, but her primary gambit rested on the appetizer.
(I have already simulated this in my mind. The proper etiquette for feeding a date is to eat at least one bite yourself first, then offer the next to your partner. From that standpoint, the appetizer is ideal. With any other dish, since I would have already taken a bite, I would have to use the same utensil that had just been in my mouth to feed Miyama Kaito-sama... Th-That’s impossible! That would involve far too much distraction; I have no confidence in my ability to remain composed! Y-Yes, it must be the appetizer...)
Olivia had undergone rigorous image training leading up to today’s date, but she had ultimately concluded that an indirect kiss with Kaito would be too extraordinarily embarrassing and should be avoided at all costs.
Yet, despite reaching that conclusion, the fact that she had visualized the act over and over suggested that, deep down, a part of her might actually want to try it.
Regardless, Olivia had narrowed her focus to the appetizer as her moment to act. However, she had woefully underestimated the reality of feeding someone by hand.
"The appetizers are here. Are these tomatoes and cheese?"
"Yes, they are semi-dried tomato and cheese canapés. Please enjoy them by hand. We have provided hand towels here for whenever you need them; please feel free to use them as you like."
As the staff member explained this to Kaito, Olivia's tension neared its absolute peak. Her heart was hammering in her chest, and she felt her body temperature rising.
(It is fine. This is nothing unusual. This is a staple of dating, a common experience for lovers everywhere... No, wait, it’s not as if I am Miyama Kaito-sama’s lover, but this is an essential act for the successful completion of the date. I must not... get the timing wrong...)
Naturally, her tension was palpable to Kaito as well. However, sensing Olivia’s nerves in this situation, he merely assumed she was worried about whether he would enjoy the food. He had yet to grasp her true intentions.
Following her mental script, Olivia carried a single canapé to her mouth to check the flavor. Once she confirmed Kaito had also eaten one, she finally spoke.
"Miyama Kaito-sama, for today’s date, I have done my best to study the necessary etiquette. I shall certainly see our dining experience to a successful conclusion."
"...Eh? Ah, yes. Well, good luck then."
"I will!"
From Kaito’s perspective, he was a bit bewildered as to why she was so fired up over just eating lunch, but his expression shifted to one of realization after seeing her next move.
Olivia picked up a canapé with one hand, supporting it with the other, and offered it toward Kaito with a face flushed deep red.
"P-P-P-Please... help yourself!"
"..."
Kaito hesitated for a moment. Based on his past experiences, he suspected Olivia was operating under a slight misunderstanding—that she believed feeding him like this was a mandatory ritual.
If she had asked him beforehand, he would have likely corrected her to spare her the nerves. But since she was already taking action despite her obvious embarrassment, pointing out the mistake now would surely cause her an unbearable amount of shame.
Deciding the best course was to play along for now and clarify the misunderstanding later, Kaito gave her a gentle smile.
"Thank you. Well then, I’ll happily take you up on that."
"Y-Yes—!?!?!?!"
Kaito acted exactly as Olivia had hoped, but she was immediately hit by a massive miscalculation.
Because she was feeding him a bite-sized snack by hand, it was inevitable that her fingers would come into brief contact with his mouth.
It was only for a split second, but the warmth of his breath against her skin and the faint touch of his lips sent a jolt of electric pleasure through her. Olivia’s mind instantly short-circuited, and her thoughts went entirely white.
Serious-senpai: "Unlike Alice, she actually goes through with things even when she's dying of embarrassment. That's what makes her so troublesome..."