Central Cathedral, Founder's Room, Olivia quietly sharpened her thoughts. The unexpected event of receiving a gift from Kaito had shaken her emotions, leaving her unable to focus on her prayers for a time.
However, with a mind as resolute as steel, Olivia managed to seal away her distractions————- or rather, she succeeded in transforming all the embarrassment and turmoil she felt toward Kaito into a profound sense of gratitude.
(Rather than seeking complete emptiness of thought, I must fill my heart solely with pure gratitude for Miyama Kaito-sama. For preparing for our date, there is no better mindset than this. In my immaturity, I had been trying to simply erase my distractions. But that itself was a mistake...... To sublimate a troubled heart into a flawless sense of gratitude is what truly deepens faith. Surely, Miyama Kaito-sama gifted me these clothes to teach me that lesson.)
The outfit Kaito had given her————- a white long dress paired with a dark brown, slightly thick cardigan. To accommodate Olivia’s extreme embarrassment over revealing too much skin, Kaori had helped purchase black tights and dark brown boots...... This attire, leaving almost no skin exposed except her hands and face, accentuated Olivia’s naturally pure and elegant aura. Together with her glimmering silver hair, her appearance exuded a unique sacredness befitting Olivia. Clad in this outfit, she adopted a slightly different posture for her prayers.
Instead of kneeling as usual, Olivia prayed while standing. This was to avoid even the slightest chance of soiling the clothes Kaito had given her.
(There’s approximately 30 minutes until the appointed time. Considering Miyama Kaito-sama’s personality, he will likely arrive at the Cathedral about 15 minutes early. Since the arrangement involves him visiting me, it would be best for me to wait here rather than going to greet him. I have ensured perfect communication with every single priest, so no matter whom Miyama Kaito-sama speaks to, he will be guided here without issue. Therefore, I can simply continue praying until his arrival.)
About 15 minutes later, sensing the presence of Kaito and Kaori approaching, Olivia ceased her prayers and turned to face the door directly.
How could one best describe the situation? If Olivia’s carefully cultivated state of mind was like a glass castle, crafted with time and care into a work of art...... then Kaito’s words were akin to a sudden meteor crashing into that castle.
Simply put, Kaito’s casual compliment had utterly obliterated Olivia’s composure.
(......Cute? Miyama Kaito-sama called me cute......
Her thoughts were instantly wiped blank, her mind filled with the endless echo of Kaito’s word “cute”. It goes without saying that it took quite some time before Olivia’s thoughts could recover.
<Afterword>
Serious-senpai : [This is that, isn't it? By spending those ten days beforehand intensely deepening her faith in Kaito, she's essentially raising her own affection for him. Which means...... isn't she now even more vulnerable to Kaito's compliments than before?] Ŗ�