Rosmiel was clearly delighted by the photos of the Sanctuary Flower Garden, chatting away far more eloquently than usual.
It was a heartening sight, it really was, but I found my attention drifting toward just how much our bodies were pressing against each other. It was more contact than I had anticipated, making it difficult to focus on her words. I had no choice but to wait a bit for her excitement to cool down.
Once I felt she had settled a fraction below her peak enthusiasm, I looked for a gap in the conversation to speak up.
"Um... Rosmiel-san. I'm really glad you're happy, but I feel like we’re a little too close. Do you think you could step back just a bit?"
"Oh! S-sorry! I got so caught up in the moment that I didn't even notice. Are you okay, Kaito-kun? I wasn't hurting you, was I?"
"No, I’m fine. I’m just happy that you enjoyed the photos enough to get carried away."
Rosmiel pulled away in a fluster. We had shared several similar exchanges in the past, and usually, while she acted panicked or shy in the moment, her primary concern was always whether I was alright. She never seemed particularly bothered by the physical intimacy itself.
Actually, it felt as though she didn't mind the proximity at all; she seemed to view that level of closeness as perfectly natural. I couldn't help but think that her guard was far too low around people she trusted. Her defenses were ironclad until someone crossed her threshold, but once they were in, her level of trust was staggering.
"You really do love flowers, don't you, Rosmiel-san?"
"I do. Perhaps it’s because I’m a Flower Spirit? Seeing them bloom so vibrantly and beautifully makes me feel so happy. I also love how I can sense the distinct differences in their auras. For instance, the flowers in the Sanctuary’s garden feel somewhat mysterious. I’m not sure if 'noble' is the right word for a plant, but they carry a very high-class atmosphere."
"I suppose that’s because they grow where Shiro-san lives. Though, according to her, she just adds new ones whenever the mood strikes her."
"I see, I see. Has she added anything new lately?"
"She mentioned adding about three new types. For example, the flowers right here in this photo were added very recently. Others are blooming in a different section entirely."
"Come to think of it, the Sanctuary is filled with flowers beyond just the main garden, isn't it? I’d love to hear more about—oh! S-sorry! I haven't even served the tea yet... Please, wait just a moment!"
Now that she mentioned it, she had lunged at me right in the middle of her preparations. Rosmiel moved hurriedly to finish the tea and quickly set a cup of black tea in front of me.
"Thank you. By the way, Rosmiel-san... about these photos of the Sanctuary Flower Garden. Would you like to keep them?"
"What? I-I can have them? But these are incredibly precious!"
"It’s fine. I can go see the real thing whenever I want, and I made sure to get permission for these specific photos. To be honest, Shiro-san herself probably doesn't care, but I figured the other Gods might."
"Y-yeah, that makes sense. No one besides the Supreme Gods is allowed into the Sanctuary. I’m sure there are plenty of other Gods who would give anything to see what it looks like, just like me."
Since they were such rare photos, I had intended to give them to her as a gift if she wanted them. However, given how special the Sanctuary was, I knew some might find it problematic, so I had cleared it with the authorities beforehand.
"I checked with Chronoa-san, Fate-san, and Life-san. They said it was fine to give them to you as long as I made it clear that you aren't allowed to show them to anyone else. As long as they're for your private viewing, it's not an issue."
When I had asked them individually, Chronoa-san had told me, "The photos are your property, Miyama, and the right to dispose of them is yours. However, it is possible that others might swarm the recipient in hopes of seeing them. A restriction on showing them to others is a necessary precaution." Knowing that Rosmiel had such photos would undoubtedly draw a crowd, and for someone as shy as her, that would be a nightmare. The restriction was essential for her protection.
Fate-san had simply said, "Isn't it fine for Kai-chan to do whatever he wants?" while Life-san's take was, "If Shallow Vernal-sama has permitted it, I have no reason to object... though for the sake of avoiding chaos, I agree that a restriction should be imposed."
As I explained the situation, Rosmiel gave me a joyful smile.
"Thank you. I’m happy to have the photos, of course, but what makes me even happier is how much thought you put into this for my sake, Kaito-kun."
The smile she gave me then was so genuinely happy that it was almost dazzling.
Serious-senpai: "Wait, hold on. Is the Rosmiel Route already starting? It feels like his progress is skyrocketing..."
Machina: "No, if that were the case, the title would have changed to something more specific, wouldn't it? This feels like normal operation to me."
Serious-senpai: "If you call this 'normal,' then this world is even more terrifying than I thought."