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In the coffee shop, the lingering shock from Sakamoto's miraculous save had not fully subsided; the air was filled with the rich aroma of coffee and low murmurs of admiration.
Yamauchi Haruki, Ike Kanji, and Sudo Ken sat around their table, the atmosphere somewhat subtle.
Yamauchi Haruki's cheeks still bore a faint flush of embarrassment; he picked up the "recovered" coffee in front of him, trying to hide his inner discomfort and the disappointment of being ignored by chugging it down.
"Hiss—! Hot, hot, hot!"
The scalding coffee entering his mouth made him wince and nearly drop the cup again, drawing merciless laughter from Ike Kanji and Sudo Ken.
"Hahaha! Yamauchi! Why are you in such a hurry! You just got the coffee back, and you want to spill it again?"
Sudo Ken slapped the table, laughing so hard he doubled over.
"Shut up! Sudo!"
Yamauchi Haruki, flushed with anger, put down the cup, wiped his mouth with forced composure, and said,
"I was just testing the temperature! This heat is nothing! If only I hadn't been careless just now…"
"Oh, come on!"
Ike Kanji rolled his eyes, carefully blowing on his own coffee,
"If it weren't for Sakamoto-kun, your coffee would have fed the floor! And you're still bragging!"
"Hey! Ike! Whose side are you on?!"
Yamauchi Haruki glared.
"I'm not on anyone's side! I just feel bad about my points!"
Ike Kanji looked at the prices on the menu with a pained expression,
"The most expensive coffee… Yamauchi, if I listen to you again, I'm a pig!"
The three bickered and teased each other, their awkwardness and shock seemingly dissipating in their unique "foolish" interactions, leaving only their heartache over points and a lingering awe for Sakamoto's brief, stunning display.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the coffee shop by the window, at the small round table for two that they were forced to share, the atmosphere was completely different.
Shiina Hiyori and Kamuro Masumi sat in silence.
Two chairs faced each other, separated by a small round table, which was empty.
Their gazes, after Sakamoto left, finally withdrew from his tall back and inevitably fell upon each other.
Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds.
Shiina Hiyori's violet eyes were calm and unruffled, like a deep pool.
Her slender fingers unconsciously caressed the strap of her shoulder bag; the novel inside still seemed to retain the warmth of the library.
The silver-haired girl's thoughts raced as she looked at the purple-haired girl in front of her.
She wasn't here for coffee.
That eager, searching, and tracking posture, that shock and complexity that flashed in her eyes when Sakamoto resolved the crisis, was identical to her own.
She was also looking for someone.
Her target was likely the same as his.
Kamuro Masumi was also silent, but a more complex emotion surged in the depths of her purple eyes.
She looked at the silver-haired, purple-eyed girl opposite her, whose demeanor was so calm it bordered on indifferent.
She was too quiet, so quiet that she didn't seem to be enjoying her coffee.
Her gaze was sharp and focused, and she had also followed Sakamoto-kun in.
Who was she?
Why was she also so interested in Sakamoto-kun?
What was her purpose?
The two exchanged glances, and the air was filled with a silent tension called 'suspicion'.
They didn't know each other, nor did they know which class the other was from.
But at this moment, an unspoken understanding grew in the silence—the other person was definitely not just here for coffee. Their goal was likely the same.
But should she expose her?
Shiina Hiyori lowered her eyelids slightly.
There was no need. It was perfectly normal for someone to be curious about and track the dashing and mysterious Sakamoto-kun.
Exposing the other person would only alert them and might even reveal her own intentions.
Kamuro Masumi also pursed her lips.
She also didn't want to cause any complications. Sakamoto-kun had too many mysteries, and an additional observer might even provide a different perspective?
After a brief silence, Kamuro Masumi took a deep breath, breaking the stalemate first.
She raised her head slightly, her purple eyes looking at Shiina Hiyori, her voice maintaining a deliberately calm tone:
"Hello, my name is Kamuro Masumi, Class 1-A."
She proactively introduced her name and class, her posture open, yet with a subtle hint of a test.
Shiina Hiyori's purple eyes lifted slightly, meeting Kamuro's gaze.
The other person had spoken first.
Class A? Sakamoto-kun's classmate?
A Class A student could see Sakamoto-kun in class, so why follow him all the way here?
This didn't make sense.
Unless there was some special relationship between her and Sakamoto-kun?
Or did she have another purpose?
Shiina Hiyori nodded slightly, her posture elegant, her voice soft and ethereal:
"Shiina Hiyori, Class 1-C."
Class C?!
Kamuro Masumi's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.
Class C, the Class C that Ryuuen Kakeru was in?
That Ryuuen Kakeru, who had conspired with Sakayanagi just yesterday afternoon, vowing to deal with Sakamoto-kun and crush Class A?
A strong suspicion instantly surged in Kamuro's heart.
Was this Shiina Hiyori a spy sent by Ryuuen Kakeru?
Her sharp purple eyes scrutinized the silver-haired girl in front of her.
Her calm gaze indeed didn't seem like that of an ordinary student.
Ryuuen Kakeru sending a girl to be a spy? That seemed a bit illogical.
Would a guy like Ryuuen Kakeru trust a girl who looked so 'frail'?
Or did she have another identity?
Shiina Hiyori keenly caught the fleeting suspicion in Kamuro's eyes.
It seemed that the people in Class A didn't have a good impression of Class C.
This Kamuro Masumi reacted so strongly after hearing that she was from Class C. Was she wary of Ryuuen Kakeru?
Or was she wary of herself?
The two fell silent again.
But this time, the silence was heavier than before, and the air was filled with invisible suspicion and probing.
Just then—
A familiar figure appeared again at the coffee shop counter.
Sakamoto-kun had taken off his black Waiter's apron and changed into a simple, neat cashier's uniform—a dark vest paired with a white shirt, with a burgundy tie at the collar.
This attire not only didn't conceal his demeanor but instead made him appear even more tall and straight, with smooth shoulder and back lines, like a front desk manager at a high-end hotel, exuding a professional yet understated elegance.
He walked steadily to the cashier's counter and stood still, smoothly adjusting his tie, his gaze calmly scanning the situation inside the coffee shop.
Shiina Hiyori's and Kamuro Masumi's gazes were instantly drawn to him.
Kamuro Masumi watched Sakamoto-kun standing behind the cashier's counter, her heart uncontrollably speeding up.
He changed clothes, is he going to take orders now?
Should I go directly?
What should I say?
"Sakamoto-kun, I'd like a latte"?
Would that be too deliberate? Would he recognize her?
He should remember the convenience store incident, right?
Kamuro's fingers unconsciously tightened on the hem of her clothes, a hint of hesitation and indescribable nervousness flashing in her purple eyes.
However, just as Kamuro was still struggling internally and hesitating—
Shiina Hiyori, sitting opposite her, had already stood up without hesitation!
Her silver hair traced a smooth arc with her movement.
Her purple eyes were calm, her posture composed, as if she were simply doing something perfectly natural.
She didn't spare Kamuro a glance, walking straight towards the cashier's counter.
Her target was clear—Sakamoto-kun!
Kamuro Masumi watched Shiina Hiyori's unhesitating, almost matter-of-fact back, her pupils instantly dilating.
An indescribable emotion suddenly surged in her heart.
What was that feeling?
Was it surprise at the other's decisiveness?
Was it annoyance at her own hesitation?
Or was it a sense of being preempted?
She watched Shiina Hiyori walk directly towards Sakamoto-kun's back, watched Sakamoto-kun seemingly notice someone approaching, slightly raising his gaze, his eyes behind his black-rimmed glasses calmly meeting Shiina's...