"Senpaku, I am Sakamoto. What brings you here?"

Time passed slowly in the agonizing silence of the shrine. The morning's lessons finally came to an end.

"Jingle Bell--!"

The bell that signaled the end of get out of class rang crisply.

The teacher on the podium had just announced the end of get out of class and closed the lesson plan.

"Wow--"

Almost at the same instant, Sakamoto, who was sitting by the window, stood up like an arrow released from a bow!

His movements were as fast as lightning, yet they possessed an indescribable fluidity and elegance.

He strode forward, heading directly towards the classroom door with a clear goal in mind.

His steps were steady and powerful, and his shoulders and back were straight as a pine tree.

He walked through the crowd, like Moses parting the sea, and the students around him instinctively made way for him.

His calm and composed demeanor made it seem as if he wasn't leaving the classroom, but rather heading to an important meeting that had been arranged long ago.

The entire process was smooth and efficient, without any delays.

From the moment the bell rang until he disappeared through the classroom door, only a few seconds passed.

Masumi Kamuro suddenly raised her head.

Sakamoto, where is he going?!

Going to the cafeteria for a meal? No, the cafeteria is on the other side. Besides, the speed and manner in which he left didn't seem like he was going to eat at all.

To do something even more unexpected?

Curiosity, like a vine, quietly wrapped around me, overpowering the hesitation in my heart.

Kamuro didn't hesitate for almost no time. She quickly grabbed her phone from the table, and before she could even pack up her books, she stood up abruptly!

"excuse me!"

She whispered something to the classmate next to her, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible urgency.

She quickly squeezed out of her seat and chased after him towards the classroom door!

In the corridor, Sakamoto's tall figure had already reached the corner and was about to disappear from sight.

Kamuro's heart suddenly raced!

She quickened her pace, her purple hair fluttering slightly as she ran.

She decided to follow them!

Let's see what this mysterious and unpredictable Sakamoto does when no one is watching!

Perhaps... this will allow her to understand him better?

Perhaps... this can help her make the final decision?

First Year Enrollment: Chapter 023: Tracking Sakamoto

The lunch break bell on the third day of school sounded like a signal to thaw a frozen river, instantly igniting the bustling atmosphere on the campus of Gaoyuyu High School.

In the classroom of Class C, the tense atmosphere that had lasted all morning suddenly relaxed. Students stood up one after another, and the sounds of laughter and the clatter of desks and chairs filled the air.

They were bored out of their minds that morning, but for the sake of next month's class points, they all behaved like excellent students in class.

Longyuan was very pleased with this. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before their Class C jumped directly to Class B next month!

Hiyori Shiina remained quietly seated in the corner by the window, her long silver hair gleaming softly in the midday sun.

She closed the mystery novel in her hand, but deep in her violet eyes, there was not the ease of being out of class, but rather a hint of barely perceptible distress.

Long Yuanxiang's order felt like an invisible shackle, weighing heavily on her heart.

Observe Sakamoto?

This task sounds simple, but carrying it out is like searching for specific stars in a fog.

Her only connection with Sakamoto was that brief but wonderful encounter at the library yesterday.

They exchanged contact information, talked about Chandler and Marlowe, and he helped her retrieve the copy of "Goodbye, My Love."

That's all.

They weren't even friends; they were just two readers who happened to brush past each other in the world of mystery.

Her understanding of him was limited to his elegant, almost inhuman manners, his deep, calm eyes, and his unique understanding of detective novels.

As for his daily whereabouts, habits, and what he did during his lunch break, she knew nothing.

Longyuan really gave her a tough challenge.

Hiyori Shiina sighed softly, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the spine of the book.

Where should we begin?

library?

canteen?

Or should we just wander aimlessly around campus and try our luck?

It felt like searching for a suspect in a mystery novel who had no leads whatsoever.

Just as she fell into deep thought, her eyes slightly lost in thought—

Outside the window!

A tall, imposing figure in black swept past like a gust of wind!

The speed was extremely fast; the hem of the burgundy school uniform was lifted by the wind in a barely perceptible arc, and the black-rimmed glasses reflected a fleeting glint in the sunlight.

Sakamoto!

Hiyori Shiina's eyes widened instantly.

It's him!

It was definitely him! That unique stride, as if he had measured the distance, that composure that even while running—she would never mistake him!

Where did he go?

Why are you leaving in such a hurry?

What's important?

A series of questions, like pebbles thrown into a still lake, instantly dispelled Shiina Hiyori's confusion!

opportunity!

This is absolutely a fantastic opportunity to observe Sakamoto and understand his true self!

She could complete the task assigned by Longyuan and also satisfy her deep-seated curiosity about this mysterious "book friend"!

Hiyori Shiina no longer hesitated!

She stood up quickly, her movements light and fluid.

She didn't even have time to put the book back in the drawer; she just stuffed it into her shoulder bag and quickly walked out of her seat, chasing after the book towards the classroom door!

The corridor was already packed with students heading to the cafeteria or activity areas, and the noise was deafening.

Sakamoto's figure had already disappeared around the corner.

Shiina Hiyori's eyes narrowed slightly as she quickly determined the path Sakamoto had taken, relying on the sense of direction she had just caught a glimpse of.

Her slender figure moved through the crowded flow of people like a fish, her long silver hair leaving faint trails behind her.

Sakamoto's pace is too fast!

Even as Shiina Hiyori quickened her pace, she could only barely catch a fleeting glimpse of his back at the far end of the corridor.

That smooth and effortless speed made it almost impossible for Hiyori Shiina to keep up.

She chased after it all the way, passing through the noisy corridors of the main teaching building, bypassing the lush green courtyard in the central atrium, and heading towards the outermost part of the area.

The midday sun was a bit dazzling, and the air was filled with the aroma of food and the boisterous noise of youth.

Hiyori Shiina was slightly out of breath, and a faint blush rose on her fair cheeks from running.

Her purple eyes were fixed on the front, not daring to relax for a moment.

Sakamoto's figure was like a ghost, always disappearing around the next corner just as she was about to catch up.

Finally, following the faintly visible wine-red figure, she arrived at the shopping center in the service area.

The area is lined with shops: restaurants, convenience stores, bookstores, cafes...

The variety of signs is dazzling, and the flow of people is even denser.

Hiyori Shiina stopped in front of an elegantly decorated coffee shop, slightly out of breath, her purple eyes scanning her surroundings anxiously.

What about people?

Sakamoto's figure... vanished!

She stood under the sign of the coffee shop, which was well-known on campus for its carefully selected coffee beans and elegant atmosphere.

At this moment, through the bright floor-to-ceiling windows, you can see that the room is full of students of all kinds, some talking in hushed tones, others engrossed in their books, and the air seems to be filled with the rich aroma of coffee.

But now, none of that matters.

Hiyori Shiina's heart sank.

She lost track of him?

Unwilling to give up, she looked around again, her sharp gaze sweeping over every passerby and the entrance of every shop, trying to catch a glimpse of that familiar figure once more.

No... still no...

Just as her brows furrowed slightly, a hint of annoyance and disappointment flashing in her purple eyes—

Her gaze inadvertently fell upon a lush cherry blossom tree diagonally opposite the coffee shop.

There, a girl was also standing.

The girl had long, smooth purple hair with slightly curled ends that fell over her shoulders.

She was also breathing slightly heavily, her fair face showing a hint of bewilderment and the same urgency as mine.

She was looking around in a bit of a panic, her eyes scanning her surroundings anxiously, as if searching for something.

The moment Shiina Hiyori's gaze fell upon her—

The purple-haired girl seemed to have noticed something and suddenly turned her head!

Their gazes, reflected in the afternoon sunlight and the café's glass, met unexpectedly and precisely from a distance of several meters—

They've converged!

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

Who is she?

Why are you here too?

Is she also...looking for someone?

Countless questions flashed through Shiina Hiyori's mind in an instant.

The purple-haired girl—Masumi Kamuro—was also stunned in place.

Two girls who don't know each other are chasing the same mysterious figure when the target suddenly disappears, and they end up in front of this coffee shop.

As if by fate, they unexpectedly stopped, their eyes met, and the air instantly became subtle and full of suspense.

Sakamoto has vanished without a trace, and the suspense remains unresolved.

First Year Enrollment: Chapter 024: Sakamoto in the Cafe

Inside the café, the rich aroma of coffee and soft background music create a relaxed and elegant atmosphere.

Students sat in twos and threes on comfortable sofas or high chairs, chatting quietly or reading intently, enjoying a moment of tranquility during their lunch break.