Her typical cool demeanor had all but vanished, replaced by such obvious flustering and delight that even a bystander could tell exactly what she was feeling. Kaori watched Olivia with a heartwarming gaze as she enjoyed her own portion of the meal.
(Only Kaito-kun could make Lady Olivia fluster like that. He really is something else. But hey, she managed to achieve one of her goals, so I suppose it’s all for the best... Oh, this canapé is delicious.)
Since Kaori had been a major collaborator in drafting Olivia’s Date Plan, she celebrated her friend’s successful achievement of one goal, while knowing full well that several others remained on the itinerary.
She figured it must be quite a struggle for Olivia, given it was her first date ever, so she offered both her worry and her support... but at this stage, Kaori viewed it as someone else's affair. Although she was technically part of the date, she fully intended to remain in the Standpoint of a Spectator.
However, that assumption was fragilely shattered by Olivia’s words once she recovered a few moments later.
"...Well then, next is Kaori Mizuhara's turn."
"Wh-Wha!?"
The words were spoken as if they were a simple matter of course, but to Kaori, they were a total bolt from the blue.
"...Wait, Lady Olivia? Me... too?"
"Yes. After all, Kaori Mizuhara is also on a date with Kaito-sama."
Crucially, while Kaito intended to clear up the misunderstanding later, it had not been dispelled yet. Olivia remained firmly convinced that feeding one's partner during a meal was a mandatory part of date etiquette.
Consequently, she naturally believed that Kaori, as a fellow participant in the date, was required to perform the act as well.
(W-What should I do? Me too? She means that, right? The 'Aahn' thing. No, no, that’s way too embarrassing... but then again... it’s not like I haven’t wanted to try it at least once. If that's the case, is this my chance?)
Kaori had been transported to the Otherworld during the prime of her youth, and having spent her time traveling the world while putting romance on the back burner, she had zero Romance Experience.
And yet, she harbored a certain longing for it. She often read romance magazines and went to see the occasional play... and now, with Olivia having gone first, the situation made it much easier for her to follow suit.
Besides, the person she was with was Kaito—the man she was currently most interested in, despite what she might say. She felt no particular aversion to the idea of feeding each other.
"Th-Then, since we're already doing this... if you’re okay with it, Kaito-kun, would it be alright if I... did it too?"
"Of course. To be honest, I'd be quite happy if you did."
"Urgh, y-you really are..."
Inside, her heart was racing, but Kaori desperately tried to maintain a cool facade out of her Pride as an Older Woman. Kaito gave his consent with a gentle smile.
(Ugh, I can feel his composure. This boy is definitely used to these kinds of situations. Also, his face is closer than I thought... Ugh... dammit, he's so cool.)
She was the only one who believed she was keeping it together. With flushed cheeks and restlessly darting eyes, Kaori picked up a canapé and brought it to Kaito’s lips.
She didn't lose consciousness like Olivia had, but the act of feeding him required her to be close, which filled her with an intense sense of bashfulness.
"Thank you. Now, Kaori-san, your turn."
"Ugh, auu... I-I'll accept."
Just as he had with Olivia, Kaito offered her some food in return. Kaori’s face turned an even deeper shade of red as she leaned in to eat it.
(...I can't even taste it!? Also, the way he's lightly placing his hand beneath my chin to make sure I don't spill anything is making my heart race so fast... This is so embarrassing!? But wait, this is actually really heart-throbbing... I usually like to act like the big sister, but being led like this... actually, I might really like this...)
She had been startled by the sudden turn of events, and performing such an unfamiliar act was mortifying; even now, she was so tense that the flavor of the food was almost entirely lost on her.
And yet, the act itself wasn't half bad—in fact, it brought with it a ticklish sense of happiness.
(Sigh... seriously, if he keeps doing things like this... I'm really going to fall for him. Though, I guess it’s probably already too late for that...)
Embracing an indescribable mix of embarrassment and happiness, Kaori couldn't help but let a wry smile escape her lips.
Serious-senpai: "She has no Romance Experience and is a bit of a Precocious Girl, but she isn't as psychologically complex as Alice. She’s the classic older woman who’s vulnerable to romantic leads... Hmph... The damage... These two are being far more lovey-dovey than I expected..."