While Kaori was already making her move, Olivia sat with a grave expression, her mind racing even as her eyes remained fixed on the stage. Olivia truly had zero experience with dating, and in many ways, she remained a sheltered girl. However, her nature was fundamentally earnest; she had approached this date as she did all things—by studying the relevant reference materials and literature with meticulous care.
(Mizuhara Kaori mentioned that a scene where the characters' relationship progresses would provide the ideal atmosphere. While "a good atmosphere" is a concept far too abstract for me to judge with certainty, even an inexperienced novice like myself can recognize the progression of a relationship. According to my research, the transition in a play of this nature generally follows three distinct stages: the initial meeting, the deepening of friendship, and finally, becoming lovers. To describe the initial meeting as a "progression" feels somewhat forced, yet for a story about the process of falling in love, the actual moment they become lovers would be the climax... By then, it would surely be too late. Therefore, logic dictates that the transition to a lover’s hand-hold should occur during the phase where their friendship deepens. However, that phase covers the broadest range of time...)
Perhaps it was simply her personality, but she was attempting to calculate the exact, optimal moment for their fingers to interlace with the same rigor one might apply to a divine ritual. Naturally, even while her mind worked through these permutations, she was still paying close attention to the performance; she was not so distracted that she failed to absorb the plot.
The play was currently in its opening act, portraying the scene where a village youth first encounters a spirit dwelling within a tree worshipped as a local deity.
(Based on the advice I received from Mizuhara Kaori and the various reference books she suggested, the key to appreciating a romance lies in empathy and emotional immersion. By finding common ground with a character’s circumstances, one increases empathy; by analyzing a character’s inner thoughts, one achieves emotional immersion. Only then can the narrative be truly appreciated. Thus, to determine the correct timing for my move, I must first reflect upon this story and find the points where our paths align.)
Had Kaori—the one who gave the advice—known what Olivia was thinking, she likely would have cried out in exasperation, "Wait, no, you’re being way too serious about this!" For Olivia, however, this was a matter of utmost sincerity.
To find the perfect moment to initiate a lover's hand-hold, she sought to reach a plane of deeper understanding with the narrative.
(A youth leads a spirit who knows nothing of the world beyond her forest, teaching her all the wonders she has never known... These circumstances do feel somewhat familiar. Kaito-sama guided my ignorant self, leading me by the hand when I knew nothing, and thanks to him, my world has expanded beyond anything I once imagined. Looking back, I realize now how small the world I lived in truly was. I understand now how foolish it was to use my faith and my duties as excuses to remain satisfied with knowledge that lacked lived experience.)
Fortunately, the story on stage was one Olivia found easy to relate to, and she succeeded in drawing parallels to her own life almost immediately.
She found much in common with the heroine. Like her, the spirit possessed a somewhat rigid personality, burdened by her mission to protect her village. This made it quite simple for Olivia to project her own emotions onto the character.
(...I see it now. The introductory meeting is concluding, and the plot will now shift toward a gradual deepening of their bond. After that, some manner of trouble or hardship will inevitably arise, which they will overcome before finally being united. While there is a possibility of a tragic conclusion, Mizuhara Kaori—a Happy End Absolutist—strongly recommended this troupe, assuring me that their plays always end in joy.)
Ultimately, Olivia had been the one to choose this specific play, but her decision had been heavily influenced by Kaori’s romantic expertise. And as Kaori always demanded a happy ending, Olivia’s prediction was correct: the youth and the spirit would indeed find happiness together.
(Therefore, the moment I must take action is... during the coming scenes, once their bond has strengthened to the point where they begin to view one another as romantic interests. To succeed, I must perceive the shifts in their emotions with absolute precision... I must concentrate even harder than before...)
While Olivia remained trapped in this cycle of intense, earnest calculation, one wonders if she realized the trap she was setting for herself. By empathizing so deeply with the spirit heroine, she was naturally beginning to wonder, "What would I do in that situation?"
And when she reached that point, imagining who she would see as her own partner in that scenario was inevitable. It was also a certainty that such vivid imaginings would bring back the same overwhelming confusion that had plagued her during her prayers earlier that day.
Serious-senpai: "You know, even if you group them both as 'romance novices,' Olivia is totally different from Alice. In Olivia’s case, it feels like she’s going to maintain that sharp, serious expression while charging at full speed toward total self-destruction..."
???: "She’s the type to put her own feelings on the back burner while pursuing a goal. She’ll probably only realize what she’s done and die of embarrassment after she’s already committed to the act."