Olivia’s analysis of the story was not incorrect; the play was unfolding exactly as she had predicted.
It is progressing just as I foresaw, she thought. The two leads have left their village and entered the city, and now they are becoming aware of one another. This is the moment their relationship evolves—the perfect timing for me to strike. Now that I have the timing, all that remains is to interlace our fingers and... interlace our fingers with... with Miyama Kaito-sama...
In truth, the mere thought of holding hands in such an intimate way—interlacing their fingers—had been incredibly embarrassing for Olivia long before they even arrived at the theater. She had steeled her resolve, determined to execute the date perfectly, but that didn't mean her bashfulness had simply evaporated.
Now that it was time to actually do it, the feeling of self-consciousness only intensified.
N-now that it is actually time to act, I am hesitating... It is merely a change in how we hold hands. And yet, the warmth from the hand of the great Miyama Kaito-sama—who sits like the sun in the heavens—brings a sense of bliss that an immature being like me simply cannot resist. I can no longer maintain my composure. Even now, as I try to push it from my mind, the heat radiating from his palm seems to seep into the very depths of my heart. I cannot stop these worldly thoughts from bubbling up. This scene in the play is almost exactly like... like Miyama Kaito-sama and me—W-what on earth am I thinking!?
Her confusion was clearly reaching a peak; Olivia found herself projecting her and Kaito’s images directly onto the protagonist and heroine of the play. Once she had made that connection, she couldn't stop imagining herself and Kaito experiencing every event the characters endured.
I-I am being so disrespectful to Miyama Kaito-sama! To imagine ourselves in a romantic relationship is the height of wretchedness!! Well... no, I suppose I must admit that we are currently on a date, so there are similarities. But this date is strictly a trial ordained by the Great Shallow Vernal-sama! It isn’t as if I harbor actual romantic feelings for Miyama Kaito-sama... I mean, I... I cannot say for certain that I do not, but...
While her experience was lacking, Olivia was not entirely oblivious to her own heart. Her profound faith in Kaito acted as a shroud, preventing her from clearly identifying her feelings, yet beyond mere religious devotion, she could not bring herself to deny that she felt love for the man who had kindly guided her by the hand and shown her a world she had never known.
A-anyway, I must stop thinking about this! I need to focus solely on the original plan: interlocking our fingers. H-however, a sudden move might startle him. Perhaps I should wait for a better—n-no! I must not shrink back! This—now—is the best possible moment!
For a fleeting second, she considered delaying her move out of sheer embarrassment and hesitation, but Olivia was a woman of action despite her modesty.
She forced down the excuses rising in her heart and moved at the precise moment she had deemed optimal. Since it was her first attempt, her movement was naturally stiff; under normal circumstances, her intent might have been lost entirely. Fortunately, Kaito had overheard the earlier exchange between Olivia and Kaori. He sensed her intention immediately and shifted their hands into the lover's hand-holding position.
...Ah! This... this is... lover’s hand-holding. W-what is this indescribable feeling welling up inside me? My face is burning... are my cheeks twitching? N-no, this will not do! I must remain strong. I cannot show such a pathetic side of myself to Miyama Kaito-sama! Oh, but... this happiness... it will not subside. Calm down... I have to stay calm...
Interlacing their fingers allowed her to feel the warmth of Kaito’s palm far more directly than she had anticipated. She felt a surge of bliss, and her face threatened to break into a wide, uncontrollable grin.
To any observer, it was the picture of pure happiness, but the inexperienced Olivia could not quite label the sensation rising from the core of her being. She was simply bewildered by her thumping heart and her skyrocketing body temperature.
She stole a glance at Kaito, only to find him looking back at her. Their eyes met. Even in the dim lighting of the spectator seats, she could tell that he was smiling gently. Her heart gave a violent throb, and she involuntarily caught her breath.
How noble and divine... He possesses a radiance that could extinguish every light on that stage, yet his smile wraps around my heart with such warmth. It is truly the only thing worthy of being called Heavenly Beauty. It is only natural that my heart would race after being blessed with such a look from Miyama Kaito-sama. And that smooth transition with his fingers... he is truly refined in every single gesture...
As was her habit when her mind short-circuited, Olivia plunged into a vortex of confusion, burying her embarrassment under an internal avalanche of praise while maintaining a perfectly stoic mask.
Serious-senpai: "Guh, she is tough to deal with. Even when she is dying of embarrassment, she still takes action. Just when you think she will lose her nerve and run away, she does a 'Suppress and GO'..."