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Hoshinomiya Chie held the cup of coffee that had long gone cold, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the icy cup wall.
She looked at the young man in front of her, wearing a burgundy school uniform, dashing and handsome.
His calm and composed demeanor seemed as if all her probes had hit a smooth and hard ice wall.
First encounter, identity exposed; second probe, problem resolved.
This Sakamoto was utterly unyielding.
The sense of frustration in Hoshinomiya Chie's heart became clearer, but at the same time, a stronger stubbornness arose.
She couldn't just give up like that.
Since the direct approach of asking about rules and information didn't work, she would try another direction.
Information about Sakamoto that she had collected earlier flashed through her mind.
One detail caught her attention: although Sakamoto was outstanding and his behavior attracted attention, his interpersonal relationships seemed quite distant.
Class A students held him in awe, but no one seemed to be truly close to him.
He was always alone, a lone wolf.
Perhaps she could cut in from here? As a teacher concerned about students' mental health.
Hoshinomiya Chie put down the coffee cup, a gentle smile reappeared on her face, her eyes filled with concern, and she asked softly: "Sakamoto-kun, we just talked about studying and working, and you seem to handle both with ease. However, as a teacher, I am also very concerned about whether students' campus life is happy. For example… have you made like-minded friends? In an environment like Koudo Ikusei High School, mutual support and encouragement among friends are also very important."
Hoshinomiya's gaze fell on Sakamoto's face, as if she really was just an ordinary teacher concerned about students' social interactions.
Sakamoto's gaze behind his black-rimmed glasses remained unchanged.
"Hoshinomiya-sensei, you're too kind. The way of friendship lies in mutual understanding. Just as stars each have their own orbits, their convergence brings forth brilliance. I believe that letting things take their natural course is the way to get along."
Sakamoto's answer carried a philosophical mystique.
He neither denied having no friends nor admitted to being lonely.
The smile on Hoshinomiya Chie's face almost froze again. Could he even circumvent this?
She was secretly annoyed.
She took a deep breath, deciding to play her last card.
She recalled what Ichinose Honami had mentioned about Sakamoto's performance during the Student Council interview.
"Speaking of which," Hoshinomiya Chie said, her smile unchanged and her tone naturally shifting the topic, "Ichinose-san from our class mentioned you to me a few days ago."
She observed Sakamoto's reaction; his expression remained calm, without the slightest fluctuation.
"She said that during the Student Council interview, your performance was very outstanding and left a deep impression on her."
Hoshinomiya Chie's tone carried admiration, "Ichinose-san is cheerful and sincere with people, and she's quite curious about you too. I wonder, Sakamoto-kun, what do you think of Ichinose-san's performance during the Student Council interview?"
Hoshinomiya tried to lead the conversation towards Sakamoto's evaluation of Ichinose, hoping to glean his attitude towards other excellent students, or even towards Class B, from the side.
Sakamoto tilted his head slightly, seemed to think for a moment, then calmly said: "Ichinose-san is enthusiastic, approachable, good at communication, and possesses the charisma required of an excellent leader. In the Student Council interview, her performance already revealed her brilliance. In the future in Class B, I believe she will be able to put her strengths to good use."
Sakamoto's evaluation of Ichinose was objective, positive, and even carried a hint of admiration.
However, his tone was flat, as if stating an objective fact, without any personal emotional coloring.
Hoshinomiya Chie was utterly speechless.
No matter what she asked, from what angle she approached, Sakamoto could respond in such an impenetrable and philosophical way.
She felt all her probes were like fists hitting cotton, not only ineffective, but also making her seem like a clumsy performer.
But at the same time, a thought arose in her mind with absolute clarity: This Sakamoto is definitely not simple!
This composure beyond his age, this precise control over language and emotions, this impeccable ability to respond… He must be the one who possesses and sells s system information.
Only such a person could achieve such a level.
Just as Hoshinomiya Chie's mind was in turmoil, almost unable to maintain the gentle smile on her face—a faint electronic sound rang out.
Sakamoto's phone in his school uniform pocket lit up, emitting a continuous vibration.
Sakamoto lowered his head slightly, his gaze sweeping towards his pocket.
Hoshinomiya Chie's spirits lifted. A phone? A message? Who was contacting him at this time?
Could it be… his "client"? Or perhaps his hidden confidant? This might be a breakthrough.
"Excuse me, Hoshinomiya-sensei."
Sakamoto looked up, his gaze behind his black-rimmed glasses calmly directed at her, "I need to check a message."
"Ah, no problem, go ahead." Hoshinomiya Chie immediately nodded, a look of understanding on her face.
Sakamoto smoothly pulled out his phone from his pocket.
His fingers were slender, and he unlocked the screen with a decisive motion.
His gaze fell on the phone screen, reading the new message.
Hoshinomiya Chie stared intently at his face, trying to catch a hint of change in his expression.
However, Sakamoto's expression remained calm and unruffled, like a deep pool, without the slightest ripple.
His lips didn't curl, his brows didn't furrow, and his eyes showed no fluctuation whatsoever.
It was as if the screen only displayed an unimportant spam message.
But the next second, Sakamoto made a move that surprised Hoshinomiya Chie.
He quickly put away his phone, without the slightest delay: "Hoshinomiya-sensei, please excuse me. Something urgent has come up, and I need to leave now."
Urgent matter? Hoshinomiya Chie's heart leaped.
What urgent matter? Was it related to the content of the message?
She subconsciously pressed: "Urgent matter? Do you need help?"
"No need to trouble the teacher." Sakamoto politely declined, his posture still elegant, but his steps as he turned to leave were a little faster than usual, carrying a rare, almost hurried, implication.
And, he seemed to have entered the cafe's kitchen again?
Hoshinomiya Chie watched Sakamoto's back quickly disappear from her sight, and the smile on her face finally vanished completely.
She picked up the cold coffee and took a large gulp.
The cold and bitter liquid slid down her throat, but it couldn't extinguish the unwillingness and doubt in her heart.
Today… she gained nothing.
No, perhaps not nothing.
At least, she was more convinced of Sakamoto's identity.
And that unexpected interlude at the end, that "urgent matter" that made Sakamoto leave so "hurriedly."
Perhaps, it would be a new clue.
Hoshinomiya Chie put down the coffee cup, a complex light flashing in her eyes.
She looked in the direction where Sakamoto had disappeared, and murmured to herself: "Sakamoto-kun… we will meet again."