So, how was I going to handle this? Recapping the situation: while I was calling out to the frozen Olivia-san, she had suddenly lunged forward to embrace me, only to pull away moments later with a look of pure dread.
I could tell her reaction was the result of sheer panic following an unexpected turn of events. In her state of confusion, she had likely thought something along the lines of, Kaito-sama hugged me, so I must hug him back.
This certainly wasn't a choice made by a calm mind. If it were, she wouldn't have pulled away with a pallor that suggested all the blood had drained from her face.
I was unsure how to address her, but I knew I didn't have much time. Olivia-san looked as if she might drop into a dogeza in public at any second. Honestly, given her personality, if a dogeza were enough to satisfy her, I’d be lucky—I wouldn't put it past her to try and commit seppuku to apologize.
I had to hurry. I needed to act before she made her move.
"U-Um, I am so terr—"
"Olivia-san!"
"—Hah-hih!? W-What is it, Kaito-sama?"
It was a narrow escape, but by raising my voice, I managed to cut Olivia-san off and prevent her from speaking further. I couldn't give her another opening.
She undoubtedly felt a crushing weight of responsibility for the hug; she was surely convinced she had committed an act of lèse-majesté against me.
"Thank you. You were returning my hug, weren't you?"
"Eh? N-No, I..."
"Actually, I should be the one to apologize for hugging you so suddenly. You seemed so confused that I thought it might help you settle down, but it looks like I only flustered you further. I hope it wasn't too unpleasant?"
"There is absolutely nothing for you to apologize for, Kaito-sama! I could never find being embraced by you unpleasant. Rather, it was an immense honor... a moment of profound bliss..."
"Is that so? That's a relief. Actually, I feel the same way. I was happy when you hugged me back. We might have both been a bit flustered, but I'd say things turned out well in the end."
"...Eh? Ah, i-is that how it is? If you say so, Kaito-sama, then it must be true."
I was pushing my luck and being quite forceful, but the fact that I had initiated the physical contact worked in my favor. It made it easy to lead her to the conclusion that since neither of us was upset, there was no problem. I had to keep her moving at my pace. Olivia-san essentially viewed my words as absolute law; if I declared this a positive outcome, she wouldn't dare argue.
"Besides, we're on a date. Hugs are bound to happen. Didn't the books you used for reference mention things like that?"
"T-True, there were descriptions of characters embracing... I suppose I had a preconceived notion that such things were reserved for the very end of a story, but now that you mention it, the timing shouldn't matter..."
"It was a bit impulsive on both our parts, but since there’s no harm done... shall we just call it a good experience for both of us?"
"Ah, yes. If it pleases you, Kaito-sama, then I have no objections."
I’d done it—I managed to bulldoze through her guilt. As long as I insisted this was a "good result," she wouldn't start obsessing over great sins and lèse-majesté.
"...Kaito-sama was not displeased... that is so honorable and happy... W-Wait, distracting thoughts again!?"
"Olivia-san?"
"M-My apologies. I am fine."
"Glad to hear it. Well, since we've stopped for a while, let's head to the cafe."
I called out to Olivia-san, who had a look on her face as if she were wrestling with a memory. She hurriedly insisted she was fine and took hold of my hand again.
She was diligent enough to return to a proper lover's hand-holding grip, though her flushed cheeks made it clear she was quite embarrassed.
At any rate, I was just glad Olivia-san didn't end up performing a dogeza in the middle of a crowded street.