The opening act for the Hidden Talent Show was none other than Olivia-san, a revelation that sent a ripple of confusion and unrest through the venue. It was only natural; she certainly didn’t fit the mold for this kind of event, and no one even knew if she possessed any "hidden talents" to begin with.
That said, compared to when we first met, Olivia-san had recently begun showing an interest in all sorts of things, actively seeking out new experiences. It wasn't entirely impossible that she had picked up a special skill along the way.
Still, given that she was the very first performer, she likely hadn't entered of her own volition but was participating at Alice’s request.
"Talk about a curveball," Fate-san remarked. "By the way, is Oli-bin’s power level going to be okay here?"
"Ah, this world has been calibrated so Olivia-san can exercise her abilities much like she does in the Friendly City," Alice explained. "Also, I forgot to mention this earlier, but each performance is limited to five minutes. You’re more than welcome to finish early, but exceeding the limit results in a forced termination, so keep an eye on the clock."
"I see... Well, I wonder what Oli-bin has in store for us?"
Fate-san’s curiosity mirrored my own. I couldn't help but wonder what kind of talent Olivia-san would choose to unveil.
As the thought crossed my mind, a massive square block—something resembling a slab of white marble—materialized behind Olivia-san on the stage. Standing before it, she gave a graceful bow and spoke into the amplification magic tool on the dais.
"I am Olivia, Pope of Shenism and City Representative for the Friendly City Hikari. On this auspicious occasion, I have been granted the awe-inspiring opportunity to offer entertainment in the presence of both the Great Shallow Vernal-sama and Kaito Miyama-sama. Though my skills are humble, I shall dedicate the faith within my heart... to Shallow Vernal-sama and Kaito Miyama-sama."
After a momentary pause for prayer, Olivia-san produced a sculptor’s chisel and mallet. They glimmered with the distinct hue of orichalcum. She leveled them silently, faced the giant block of stone, and suddenly began carving with a ferocity that defied belief.
It was like watching a video playback at ten times the speed. The marble block was whittled away, its shape shifting rapidly under her touch. What emerged was a relief of the Bell of Prayer used in Shenism—and beside it, a sculpture of Shiro-san and me standing side-by-side.
The quality was staggering. Every detail, from the fine textures of our clothing to the intricate scrollwork of the bell, had been rendered with obsessive care. It depicted the two of us holding hands before the prayer bell, and the pristine white marble lent the entire piece a sense of profound sanctity.
"Whoa... Oli-bin is amazing!" Fate-san cried. "Since when did she have a skill like that?"
"Yes, it makes sense when you think about it," Alice replied. "Apparently, she wanted to offer prayers to Kaito-san, but no statues or reliefs existed for her to use. So, she decided to make her own. Given her incredibly earnest personality, she apparently spent an eternity practicing in a special subspace with manipulated time until she reached that level of mastery."
The realization that she had mastered an entire craft just to manufacture her own prayer icons was a testament to the sheer intensity of the hardcore devout. Come to think of it, she had expressed great interest in an interior Bell of Prayer during our date, so she might have decided to start her "DIY" project then. And being the serious person she was, she must have practiced like a woman possessed.
Having completed her masterpiece in the blink of an eye, Olivia-san offered one last silent prayer before turning to us with a bow.
"And there you have it!" Alice announced. "Top batter Olivia-san’s hidden talent was sculpting! Now, judges, please present your scores!"
Then came the evaluation. I was so thoroughly impressed and caught off guard that I raised my paddle for a 5 without hesitation. Chronoa-san, Kuro, Lilia-san, and Canalis followed suit, all holding up their 5s. The very first act of the night had achieved a perfect score.
"Wow, a perfect score right out of the gate! In terms of unexpectedness and the 'gap' between her image and her talent, that really hit home. Since she’s the motif, let’s get a comment from Shallow Vernal-sama... Shiro-san, what did you think?"
When Alice turned the spotlight on Shiro-san, Olivia-san’s posture on stage stiffened with visible tension. She hadn't seemed to care about the points at all, but it was clear that Shiro-san’s and my personal opinions were everything to her.
"...It is a magnificent sculpture. Let us display it somewhere prominent within the castle," Shiro-san declared. "I particularly find the composition of Kaito-san and me holding hands to be marvelous. Olivia, you have done exceptional work."
"!" Olivia-san gasped. "It is the pinnacle of honor! To receive such praise from Shallow Vernal-sama... I feel as though my entire life has been rewarded. I offer you my most heartfelt gratitude..."
Shiro-san was clearly very satisfied, nodding with approval. For the devoutly religious Olivia-san, this was the greatest possible reward. Tears began to stream down her face as she offered a prayer to Shiro-san right there on the dais.
Well, she looked incredibly happy, so I suppose it was a success.
However, a nagging thought continued to prick at the back of my mind. If Olivia-san had practiced sculpting because she had nothing to use for her prayers to me... does that mean there’s already a statue of me standing somewhere in the Central Cathedral? No... I think it’s best if I don't think about that.
Serious-senpai: "Talk about the power of faith... mastering professional sculpting just to make your own icons. And since she was carving Kaito and Shiro, her standards for quality must have been through the roof. She probably spent actual centuries training in that time-manipulated space..."