The morning classes finally concluded, signaling the arrival of the lunch break.
Nagumo Miyabi let out a long sigh, his tense nerves relaxing slightly, but the sense of vigilance from being invisibly watched had not completely dissipated.
That unbelievable scene after the first class in the morning still lingered in his mind.
He even couldn't help but meticulously check his desk and the corners of the classroom, suspecting whether Sakamoto had left behind any miniature cameras or similar devices—
Of course, he found nothing.
He tried to explain to the classmates who cast curious glances his way, downplaying it as "a certain overly enthusiastic First Year junior completing a peculiar task assigned by the Student Council," telling everyone not to mind it.
However, his rare, almost undignified look of shock at the time had already been seen by everyone, making his pale explanation seem like an attempt to cover up the truth.
Many people whispered privately, wondering how Vice President Nan Yun, who had always united the second year and was known for his nonchalance and control, could be "shocked" in such a way by a First Year newcomer.
Although the newcomer's entrance was indeed unusually bizarre.
The various rumors about Sakamoto thus gained an even more mysterious aura.
However, despite the discussions, Nagumo's authoritative position in the second year remained unshaken; most people were simply watching the spectacle.
Asahina Natsume, who had been observing him, saw this and proactively walked forward, a relaxed smile on her face, attempting to alleviate his somewhat paranoid state:
"Miyabi, don't think so much about it. Shall we go to the cafeteria for lunch together?"
Nagumo thought for a moment, then nodded.
During lunchtime, Sakamoto-kun should go eat by himself, right?
And he had explicitly said he didn't need him to follow him constantly.
It should... be fine, right?
He felt a little relieved,
and walked out of the Class 2-A classroom side-by-side with Asahina.
However,
the moment he stepped out of the classroom door,
it was as if a nightmare had returned—
that tall, black, statue-like figure,
stood silently in the shadows by the door, as if he had calculated the time and place perfectly,
almost merging with the wall.
It was Sakamoto-kun!
Nagumo's heart gave a sudden leap,
and he almost let out a gasp.
Sakamoto-kun bowed slightly, his voice steady and clear:
"Vice President Nagumo, good afternoon. Lunch break has arrived, and I have prepared more suitable meals for you and Senior Asahina. Please follow me."
His gaze also turned to Asahina,
his manners impeccable.
Asahina looked at Nagumo's instantly stiff and changing expression,
and couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.
Nagumo had already vaguely explained the cause of this "interview period" farce to her that morning,
and at this moment, she only found the scene before her absurd and highly entertaining.
"Oh my, it seems your 'little assessment' is going quite 'smoothly,' Ya."
Asahina's tone was light, with obvious teasing,
"This Sakamoto-kun is truly... outstanding in execution."
She actively reached out, half-pushing and half-supporting the still somewhat dazed Nagumo:
"Come on, come on, don't disappoint the junior's 'painstaking efforts.' I'm even looking forward to it!"
Sakamoto-kun, like the most professional attendant,
quietly followed half a step behind the two, his posture flawless.
And this scene,
happened to fall into Ryuuen Kakeru's eyes, who had just strolled into the second year academic building corridor.
Ryuuen was using his lunch break,
to personally investigate the atmosphere in the second year area, making some preliminary preparations for the post-First Year Midterm Exam layout.
He hadn't expected to see such a "splendid" scene as soon as he came up—
that Sakamoto-kun, who was unfathomable in his heart and even his biggest imaginary opponent,
was now following a pair of unfamiliar second year students step by step,
his attitude so respectful it was almost humble!
Who were that blond boy and brown-haired girl?
Ryuuen narrowed his eyes. To make Sakamoto-kun act like this... could they be the true core figures of the second year?
The blond boy's aura indeed didn't seem like that of an ordinary student.
A startling conjecture instantly burst into Ryuuen's mind:
Could that test paper... not have been a setup at all?
But rather, Sakamoto-kun had genuinely reached some kind of cooperation with certain high-level figures in the second year?
Had all his previous deductions been wrong?
This thought made his heart tighten.
But he quickly dismissed it. Sakamoto-kun didn't seem like the type to do such a thing.
Yet, how could this scene before him be explained?
Driven by strong doubts and a desire to investigate,
Ryuuen silently followed the trio.
Sakamoto-kun led Nagumo and Asahina all the way to the student cafeteria.
At this time, the cafeteria was bustling with noise, it was peak dining hour.
Nagumo's mind was still a bit muddled; everything before him was beyond his common sense.
Was this really the Koudo Ikusei High School, known for its strict rules and fierce competition?
Why did it feel like the style had suddenly changed into some strange theatrical performance?
Asahina, on the other hand, was completely in spectator mode,
smiling brightly, anticipating the next development.
Sakamoto-kun led them to a relatively quiet, unused long dining table,
gesturing for the two to sit opposite each other.
Then,
the performance that gradually quieted the entire cafeteria and left everyone dumbfounded,
began.
Sakamoto-kun, from an unknown place, produced a neatly folded, high-quality dark red velvet cloth.
With a flick of his wrist, the velvet cloth unfolded as if alive,
precisely covering the entire dining table,
instantly elevating the ordinary cafeteria table to the feel of a high-end restaurant.
This wasn't all.
The next moment, Sakamoto-kun, as if performing magic,
pushed out a dining cart covered with a silver dome from the side.
He elegantly lifted the dome.
In an instant, an enticing aroma filled the air,
and the dishes presented on the dining cart were astonishingly exquisite—
pan-seared foie gras with fig sauce, slow-cooked Wagyu ribeye, lobster bisque, asparagus salad arranged like a painting... each dish was of top-tier restaurant quality, something that absolutely could not appear in a school cafeteria!
"These meals,"
Sakamoto-kun introduced calmly, while elegantly arranging the dishes on the table with dazzling speed and precision,
"were personally cooked by me last night after obtaining permission from the cafeteria kitchen, and preserved using special methods, hoping to present the best flavor to the Vice President and Senior Asahina today."
Each time he placed a dish,
he clearly announced the dish name and a brief description of its preparation,
his voice not loud, yet it strangely cut through the cafeteria's clamor,
reaching the ears of the increasing number of surrounding students.
Nagumo's expression had already shifted from shock to numbness,
and finally to a bewildered "Who am I? Where am I?" state.
One person? One night? Made all of these?
This was beyond human capabilities, wasn't it?!
Asahina, on the other hand, had sparkling eyes, and couldn't help but exclaim softly:
"Wow... Sakamoto-kun, you're too amazing!"
The surrounding students had already gathered,
whispers turning into undisguised gasps and discussions.
"Is that... Vice President Nagumo and Senior Asahina?"
"Is that Waiter the First Year Sakamoto-kun? The perfect-score freshman?"
"These dishes... are these things we can have at our school?!"
"He just said... he made them himself? You must be joking!"
"This plating, this aroma... Michelin stars couldn't be much better, could they?"
"Are they... having a candlelight dinner in the cafeteria?!"
Yes,
after arranging eight exquisitely portioned dishes, enough for two and ensuring no waste,
Sakamoto-kun finally placed a delicate silver candelabra in the center of the table.
He gently snapped his fingers.
"Puff."
The three white candles on the candelabra,
lit up in response,
flickering with a warm and hazy glow.
The dim candlelight softly illuminated the dining table,
and also reflected on Nagumo's stunned face and Asahina's eyes filled with surprise and laughter.
Sakamoto-kun stepped back,
his body slightly leaning forward,
making an impeccable gesture, like a head chef in a high-end restaurant.
"'Candlelight Lunch for Two.'"
"Pardon the informal service, please enjoy your meal."
Candlelight flickered,
delicious food lay before them,
and the atmosphere became strangely romantic.
Asahina, through the warm candlelight,
looked at Nagumo, who seemed to have his soul extracted, and finally burst out laughing.
This atmosphere, this grandeur... it was simply incredible!