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Hoshinomiya Chie picked up the coffee cup, a gentle and appropriate smile on her face, and spoke softly, as if just making casual conversation:
"Student, your movements are very skilled. Have you been working here for a long time?"
Her gaze, with a hint of just the right amount of curiosity, fell on Sakamoto-kun, like an ordinary customer satisfied with the Waiter.
Sakamoto-kun paused slightly, turned to face her, his posture natural.
His eyes behind the black-rimmed glasses calmly swept over Hoshinomiya Chie's face:
"Hoshinomiya-sensei, thank you for your attention. It's currently working hours; please allow me to answer you later."
The smile on Hoshinomiya Chie's face froze for an instant.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the cup handle.
How did he know her identity? And why did he expose it so directly?
In her memory, she didn't seem to have met Sakamoto-kun directly before.
Yet, her attire and demeanor were simply those of an ordinary, gentle and elegant adult female customer.
This Sakamoto-kun... is indeed not simple.
Her attempt at probing was probably as transparent as glass in his eyes.
She quickly adjusted her expression, put on a gentle smile again, and nodded:
"Ah... okay, I apologize for interrupting. Please continue your work."
Sakamoto-kun nodded slightly, turned smoothly, and continued his work.
Hoshinomiya Chie watched his retreating figure, but her heart was in turmoil.
In their first encounter, not only did she fail to glean anything, but her identity was easily seen through by him, and she was left aside in a nearly "polite dismissal."
In another corner of the cafe, Kamuro Masumi also put down her coffee cup.
She was still sitting in her usual spot today, her gaze following Sakamoto-kun's figure.
Sakamoto-kun's performance was as flawless as ever; that composure and elegance seemed ingrained in him.
The sense of security that arose from Sakamoto-kun's formidable strength seemed to have solidified a bit more in her heart.
She was about to get up and leave when her gaze inadvertently swept in Hoshinomiya Chie's direction.
That brown-haired, gentle lady... Kamuro-san frowned slightly.
She seemed to have seen her somewhere before.
Not a student, but seemed to be a First Year teacher.
But she couldn't recall which teacher it was at the moment.
What did the teacher want with Sakamoto-kun?
Kamuro-san looked at the slightly stiff smile on Hoshinomiya Chie's face, and then at Sakamoto-kun's calmly departing back.
It should be... nothing major, right?
Perhaps the teacher was concerned about the student working outside school?
She didn't think much more, picked up her bag, and left the cafe.
As soon as Kamuro-san's figure disappeared from the cafe entrance, Ishizaki Daichi, sitting in an inconspicuous corner on the other side of the cafe, immediately lowered his head and rapidly tapped on his phone screen.
He had a hint of roguishness and seriousness on his face as he quickly sent a message.
The message content was concise and clear:
[Target has left the cafe.]
On the second floor of the shopping center, in front of a sportswear store's display window, Ryuuen Kakeru was casually examining the sneakers in the window.
His phone vibrated in his pocket.
He pulled out his phone, glanced at the message on the screen, and a smirk slowly formed at the corner of his mouth.
Kamuro Masumi... has left the cafe.
Very good.
Ryuuen put away his phone, and a sinister glint flashed in his eyes behind his glasses.
He no longer looked at the display window, turned around, and strode towards the exit.
His footsteps were steady and powerful.
The bait had been cast, the net was spread.
Now, he just had to wait and see if Sakamoto-kun, this unfathomable fish, would willingly swim into his carefully laid trap.
Hoshinomiya Chie sat alone in the corner of the cafe, the liquid in her coffee cup already slightly cool.
Her mind repeatedly replayed the brief encounter with Sakamoto-kun just now.
The surprise and frustration of having her identity exposed had not fully subsided; she had initially thought Sakamoto-kun's phrase "I'll answer you later" was just an excuse, and she would probably sit there for a long time.
However, to her surprise, not long after, that tall figure reappeared at her table.
Sakamoto-kun had already shed his black Waiter's apron and changed into the distinctive burgundy uniform of Koudo Ikusei High School.
The well-fitting uniform accentuated his tall and slender figure, and his eyes behind the black-rimmed glasses were calm and unperturbed.
He stood there, his posture straight, his demeanor serene.
It was as if the elegant Waiter who had moved gracefully through the cafe just moments ago was an illusion.
At this moment, he was simply a student arriving for an appointment.
A hint of surprise flashed in Hoshinomiya Chie's eyes.
He changed so quickly?
Did his work shift end so soon?
This subtle shift in context and identity deepened her confusion.
Sakamoto-kun bowed slightly, his posture still elegant and proper, his voice clear and calm:
"Hoshinomiya-sensei, thank you for waiting. May I ask, what can I do for you?"
His gaze calmly rested on Hoshinomiya Chie's face, directly stating her identity and purpose without any pretense.
Hoshinomiya Chie took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart.
She put down her coffee cup,
"Since I've been exposed, I'll play along with the plan."
A gentle smile reappeared on her face as she diligently played the role of a teacher concerned about her students: "Hello, Sakamoto-kun. I am Hoshinomiya Chie, the homeroom teacher of Class B."
She frankly admitted her identity, "I happened to pass by here today, saw you working, and came in to sit down. As a teacher, I am very pleased to see a student from my school being so serious and responsible outside of school."
She paused, and continued in a gentle tone: "However, Sakamoto-kun, as you know, school rules generally do not encourage students to work part-time. Although… I heard you got this opportunity through a special method."
"I'm just a little curious, how do you balance academics and such 'work'? After all, the academic pressure in Class A should not be small."
Hoshinomiya wanted to lead the direction of the conversation, so let's see how Sakamoto would respond.
Sakamoto's expression remained unchanged, his gaze behind his black-rimmed glasses as calm as water: "Thank you for your concern, Hoshinomiya-sensei. Within the rules, there is a trajectory for its operation. Academics and work are different paths within the framework of rules, and by following their internal logic, they can run in parallel without conflict."
Sakamoto's answer was very calm and impenetrable, which made Hoshinomiya Chie feel an invisible pressure.
She looked at Sakamoto's calm face, and the desire to investigate grew stronger in her heart, but she also realized more clearly that it would probably be harder than climbing to the sky to get any substantial information from this young man.
Hoshinomiya Chie picked up the already cold coffee, took a small sip, and the bitter taste spread on her tongue.
She looked at the young man in front of her, who was like a puzzle, her eyes deep, "Sakamoto-kun, you seem to have a very unique understanding of 'rules'."
Sakamoto did not answer, but just looked at her calmly, waiting for her to continue, or… to end this conversation.