Olivia-san appeared to have regained her composure for the most part, so I figured it was time to continue our trek toward the cafe. However, I soon noticed her wearing a pensive expression.
"Is something wrong, Olivia-san?"
"Oh, no. It’s just... while it wasn't a planned stop on our itinerary, being hugged by Kaito-sama was a momentous event for our date. However, reflecting on it now... I feel that Kaori-san should also be entitled to the same experience. Of course, Kaito-sama's wishes are paramount, but..."
"Wait, what!?" Kaori-san interjected, clearly blindsided. "You’re dragging me into this now? I... I mean, a hug is way too embarrassing out here! It’s not that I’d hate the idea, but I’d need to work up some serious courage first. It's just too much..."
Caught off guard, Kaori-san stammered her response, stealing bashful glances at me all the while. Her reaction was incredibly endearing—exactly as she said, she didn't dislike the idea; she was just shy.
Olivia-san was likely trying to be fair. Since we were all on a date together, she wanted Kaori-san to share in the same milestones. It was her way of being considerate. She had done something similar when we first started the lover's hand-holding, too.
"Hmm... you make a fair point," Olivia-san mused. "An embrace is indeed a gesture of a completely different rank—something typically reserved for a much later stage. If performed carelessly, one might risk falling into a daze or losing consciousness, as I nearly did. Perhaps we should save it for another time? What do you think, Kaito-sama? When the moment is right, would you be willing to embrace Kaori-san just as you did me?"
"Eh? Yeah, sure. If Kaori-san is okay with it, I don't mind."
"...Huh? Wait, did we just make a formal commitment to hug later?" Kaori-san looked a bit dazed by the sudden turn of events. "Setting that aside... Olivia-sama, was it really that intense?"
Whether or not a hug was a "high-rank" act was debatable, but it was certainly a step up in terms of physical intimacy. Kaori-san seemed more interested than she was letting on. Her love for romance stories probably made the prospect of a hug quite alluring.
"Indeed. I realized there is an immense chasm between knowing of it and experiencing it firsthand. Kaori-san, I’m sure you felt a significant shock when your fingers first intertwined with Kaito-sama's. However, even that does not compare... The warmth and the sheer sense of peace that comes from being enveloped by his arms... it was truly staggering."
"T-That much? Wow... I see..."
Hearing Olivia-san's passionate testimonial, Kaori-san turned to me with a look of profound internal conflict. The desire to know what it felt like was clearly wrestling with her natural bashfulness.
"...Well, do you want to try it?" I asked.
"Ugh... I mean... I am curious. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to know what it's like. Besides, in the West, people do it as a greeting all the time, right? So part of me thinks it shouldn't be a big deal, but... no, I just can't do it here! It’s too embarrassing!"
"I get it. We are right in the middle of the street."
"Exactly. So... let's just say I'm putting in a reservation!"
"A reservation?"
I tilted my head, confused by her choice of words. Kaori-san explained herself with a face that was turning an ever-deeper shade of crimson.
"Yeah. I definitely want to try it, but doing it in public is too much. So, next time... somewhere private, where no one else is watching. Like, say... at my shop before we open for the day. If—and only if—it's okay with you, Kaito-kun... I’d like to experience it then, purely for... you know... future reference."
"Oh, sure. If you're fine with that, I'm okay with it too. In that case, we'll save the hug for later. Shall we head to the cafe?"
"Yeah! Let's do that!"
I let out a small, wry chuckle as I watched Kaori-san practically march forward, her voice forced and overly energetic to mask her embarrassment. Still, hugging Kaori-san in a closed shop before opening... wouldn't that look even more suspicious? Well, if that's what she wants, I guess I'll go along with it.
Serious-senpai: "A man and a woman embracing in a closed shop... That's not a reservation, that's a secret tryst!!"