We stepped into a chic, quiet cafe. After finding a table and getting the staff's permission, I set a magic tool down and activated it.
"What’s that magic tool for, Kaito-kun?"
"Oh, it's a portable version of the one we use at the Nifty shops. It creates a barrier that inhibits recognition and ensures our conversation can't be overheard."
"I see. Since Kaito-sama’s majesty is great enough to dazzle both heaven and earth, you naturally draw the public's eye. It’s only right to take such precautions. I remember how much attention you gathered the last time we walked together... Your greatness truly radiates from you with every step."
Actually, I was pretty sure all those eyes had been on Olivia-san... My goal in using the magic tool now was specifically to keep people from noticing her. Between her saintly aura and her sheer beauty, she turned heads regardless of her status as the Pope.
"...Anyway, weren't we going to discuss our thoughts on the play?"
"Oh, right! It was such a wonderful story! The ending was the happy end I’d been hoping for, and since the protagonist was so young, it had a real sense of youth to it... Man, it makes me wonder where my own blue spring went."
Kaori-san's eyes sparkled as the conversation turned back to the theater. She clearly had a deep love for romance stories and seemed delighted to have someone to share her impressions with. Being able to geek out about something you loved was always fun; I often lost track of time talking about pets with Sieg-san, so I knew the feeling well.
"...I have been curious for some time, but what exactly is this 'youth' that Kaori-san mentions so often?"
"Well, it's a bit hard to explain... In the world Kaori-san and I come from, we used the term 'youth' to describe your teens. In this context, she’s referring to that kind of young, fresh romance."
"Y-Yeah. It's hard to put into words, even for me... To you, Olivia-sama, even my current age probably looks like childhood, so it’s tricky to define... but it’s something like that, I guess?"
"I see. Is it impossible to experience this 'youth' starting now?"
"U-Umm... Is my youth still ahead of me? Well, now that you mention it, I guess it’s not strictly impossible. It’s just that most people associate it with being a teenager..."
This was a genuinely difficult question. After all, Olivia-san was over a thousand years old. From her perspective, the difference between a teenager and someone in their twenties was probably negligible. Trying to explain youth in a way that made sense to her was a tall order—honestly, Kaori-san and I only had a vague grasp of it ourselves. It was hard to offer a concrete definition.
"Well, a lot of it comes down to your mindset, so I think everyone can have their own interpretation. If I had to try, I'd say it's a period of being young, immature, and emotionally sensitive."
"I see. Thank you for the guidance. So the definition is somewhat ambiguous. Since there are passages in the Holy Scriptures that leave the final interpretation to the reader, I can accept that explanation."
She was probably misunderstanding the nuance just a bit. Comparing it to the Bible felt like a slight leap, but explaining it any further would have been a nightmare. If she was satisfied, I was happy to leave it at that.
"Speaking of which, that lover's hand-holding we did at the theater felt quite a bit like youth too. You were really impressive, Kaito-kun. I was actually worried if I could transition into it smoothly while we were already holding hands, but you were so natural... I guess experience makes a big difference?"
"Oh, right. Actually, I've been looking for a moment to bring this up... I'm sorry. I overheard you two talking on our way to the theater."
This was the opening I had been waiting for.
"W-Wait, Kaito-kun, you heard that!?"
"Yeah. Thanks to Shiro-san's blessing, I can pick up on conversations through magic power wavelengths. I couldn't find a good time to mention it, so it ended up feeling like I was eavesdropping. I'm sorry."
"Having you hear all that is... incredibly embarrassing. But I totally understand why it would be hard to say something right then! Honestly, if you'd told me you were listening while we were still out there, I would have panicked and messed everything up... So maybe it worked out for the best? Still, it’s so embarrassing... Wait, Olivia-sama, you’re taking this quite well."
When I looked over at Olivia-sama, she was indeed composed. Her expression was perfectly calm, and she even wore a gentle smile.
"...Indeed. Before Kaito-sama and his wisdom that sees through heaven and earth, believing that secrets could even exist was my first mistake. While I am ashamed of my own shallowness, there is ultimately nothing I would wish to hide from the magnificent Kaito-sama. I should have explained the circumstances from the beginning and prayed for your mercy, which is like the sun itself. Even now, as I look at you, Kaito-sama, you possess such a masterful presence... The brilliance of intelligence in your eyes is enough to pierce the three worlds..."
"...I feel like I’ve come to understand Olivia-sama a lot better today. Her face looks normal, but this is the pattern where she’s actually terrified and in a total state of confusion, isn't it?"
"...Yeah, it is."
She appeared calm on the surface, but the fact that she had slipped into Overwhelming Praise Mode meant she was definitely panicking.
Serious-senpai: Although people say she doesn't have many expressions, Olivia’s emotional shifts are actually quite easy to read if you know what to look for.