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

In the slightly noisy environment, I quietly sat down at the empty table.

Horikita's gaze returned to the center of the café, watching Sakamoto carrying a tray, flitting among the customers like a butterfly flitting among flowers, his movements precise and elegant, without the slightest hesitation.

"Doesn't the school prohibit students from working part-time?"

Horikita Suzune's voice broke the silence between the two, her gaze fixed on Sakamoto.

"Why is he here?"

Ayanokouji did not answer immediately.

He was silent for a moment, as if pondering, before slowly speaking:

"Perhaps he obtained this position by using some special rules."

He paused and added,

"Anyway, some of the rules at this school seem to be very problematic."

Upon hearing this, Horikita turned her head, her cold eyes sharply fixed on Ayanokouji:

"You mean... Sakamoto might have figured out the rules?"

Ayanokouji did not answer directly. His gaze calmly met Horikita Suzune's sharp eyes, seemingly acknowledging her statement, or perhaps waiting for her to continue asking questions.

Horikita Suzune's expression shifted to one of slight confusion.

Ayanokouji's words struck a chord with her doubts.

This highly educated high school, which outwardly proclaims "merit above all else" and boasts top-tier teaching resources and environment, has shown signs of decline since the start of the school year—

The mysterious S-point system, the seemingly lenient yet strangely insidious school rules, and Sakamoto openly working at an off-campus café—

There was an indescribable sense of incongruity about it all.

Is this really just a state-run key high school?

The students in Class D were lazy and lacked a sense of purpose in class, which was completely out of step with the school's "elite" image.

Sakamoto, an elegant, exceptionally capable student in Class A who always seems to break the mold...

Did he really know the hidden rules of this school?

Horikita Suzune was about to speak, pressing Ayanokouji for his opinion on "rules"—

"Horikita-san! Ayanokoji-san! What a coincidence!"

A clear, pleasant voice, filled with surprise, suddenly broke the slightly heavy atmosphere between the two.

Ayanokoji and Horikita Suzune turned their heads at the same time.

Kikyo Kushida was standing beside their table, her face beaming with a bright and enthusiastic smile, her purplish-red eyes sparkling.

Her short brown hair fell smoothly over her shoulders, and she exuded youthful energy.

Do you come here often?

Kikyo Kushida asked with a smile, her tone as natural as if it were a chance encounter.

Ayanokoji replied expressionlessly:

"I just happened to want to come today."

Horikita Suzune's face darkened the moment she saw Kushida Kikyo appear.

She got it.

Ayanokouji's sudden invitation to the coffee shop today wasn't because he wanted to come, nor was it because he "didn't have the guts to go in alone."

All of this was driven by the smiling Kikyo Kushida behind the scenes.

This woman, who kept saying she wanted to be friends with "everyone," even took advantage of Ayanokoji, a "lone wolf," in order to get close to her.

A strong sense of rejection welled up inside me.

Horikita Suzune lowered her head, avoiding Kushida Kikyo's passionate gaze, her cold profile tense.

She hated the feeling of being manipulated, and hated being forcibly pulled into social situations.

She just wanted to be alone, to focus on her studies, and to ponder the mysteries of the school.

Being alone suits her better.

However, Ayanokouji's words about "rules" and Sakamoto had piqued her curiosity.

The school's hidden secrets, the key that Sakamoto might hold... these questions captivated her, making it impossible for her to get up and leave immediately.

Horikita Suzune fell silent.

She kept her head down, struggling between rejection and curiosity.

"Really? I came alone. What a coincidence to run into the two of you!"

Kikyo Kushida seemed oblivious to Suzune Horikita's coldness, and continued to speak with a cheerful smile.

She very naturally pulled out the empty chair next to Horikita Suzune and sat down.

Ayanokouji gave a curt "hmm," which was his response to Kushida's "What a coincidence."

His gaze swept over Horikita Suzune's lowered profile, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Given Horikita's personality, upon seeing Kushida appear, especially after realizing she had been "set up," she should have immediately left with a cold expression.

The silence at this moment was somewhat unusual. Was it because of Sakamoto? Or because of the "rules" he had just mentioned?

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat subtle and awkward.

Kikyo Kushida's enthusiasm seemed to have hit an invisible wall.

Horikita Suzune's silence exuded a chilling aura that kept strangers at bay, while Ayanokouji's indifference made the air seem to freeze.

At this moment of slight stalemate—

"Is that Kushida-kun? What a coincidence!"

Another pleasant female voice rang out, carrying a hint of surprise and joy, breaking the slightly stagnant air around the table.

The three people at the table looked in the direction of the sound at the same time.

A tall, graceful girl stood a few steps away, a gentle smile on her face.

She had long, flowing pink hair that shimmered softly under the café lights. Her face was beautiful, with clear, bright eyes that exuded a natural charm.

She wore the uniform of Advanced Education High School, her posture was elegant, and she exuded a unique temperament that was both lively and cheerful, yet also intellectual.

Kikyo Kushida reacted instantly, her face immediately breaking into an even brighter smile as she waved enthusiastically:

"Ichinose-san! What a coincidence!"

She then turned to Ayanokoji and Horikita Suzune, introducing them in a lighthearted tone:

"Ayanokouji-san, Horikita-san, this is Ichinose Honami from Class B!"

Honami Ichinose's gaze fell on Ayanokouji and Suzune Horikita, a gentle and friendly smile on her face, and she gave a slight bow:

"Hello, I'm Honami Ichinose from Class B. It's nice to meet you all."

Her gaze lingered for a moment on Horikita Suzune's lowered profile, as if she sensed the subtle change in the atmosphere, but her smile remained warm and sincere.

Horikita Suzune kept her head down, showing no reaction, lost in her own world.

Ayanoko nodded expressionlessly.

"Hello."

Kikyo Kushida warmly invited Honami Ichinose to sit down:

"Ichinose-san, please have a seat! Let's have a chat!"

The hustle and bustle of the coffee shop seemed to be shut out at this moment.

The atmosphere became even more complicated around the small round table in the corner.

Ayanokouji and Horikita Suzune, the "lone wolves" of Class D; Kikyo Kushida, who has many friends; Honami Ichinose, the leader of Class B; and Sakamoto, who is like the eye of a storm in the center of the café...

The small café seemed to be filled with important figures from the first year of high school.

First Year Enrollment: Chapter 039: Sakamoto Takes His Seat

The sudden arrival of Honami Ichinose made the atmosphere around the small round table even more subtle.

Kikyo Kushida warmly invited Honami Ichinose to sit down:

"Ichinose-san, please have a seat! Let's have a chat!"

She seemed completely oblivious to Horikita Suzune's oppressive aura and Ayanokouji's indifference, or rather, she selectively ignored them.

Honami Ichinose gracefully sat down in the empty seat, her long pink hair falling smoothly over her shoulders. With a gentle smile, her gaze swept over the three people at the table:

"What a coincidence. Kushida-san, who are these two...?"

"Ah, let me introduce you!"

Kikyo Kushida immediately chimed in.

"This is Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, and this is Suzune Horikita. They are both students in our Class D."

"Hello, I am Honami Ichinose from Class B."

Honami Ichinose smiled and bowed again.

"Very happy to meet all of you."

Ayanokoji nodded expressionlessly.

"Hello."

Horikita Suzune kept her head down, radiating an aura that kept strangers at bay.

Kikyo Kushida completely ignored Horikita's silence. She turned to Honami Ichinose and started chatting naturally:

"Ichinose-san, we're famous people, aren't we? I think we met on the day of the opening ceremony..."

"It was at a club recruitment information session organized by the student union!"

Honami Ichinose smiled and replied,

"You greeted me first that day and asked me a lot of questions about the club! Kushida-kun is so enthusiastic and cheerful, it's hard not to remember you!"

She paused, her tone filled with genuine appreciation.

"And I heard you're quite active in Class D now, helping your classmates with a lot of things, that's really impressive!"

"No, no! I just want to make friends with everyone! Ichinose-san is amazing, isn't she already a leader in Class B? Everyone says you're a really nice person and very capable!"

"I wouldn't dare call myself a leader,"

Honami Ichinose smiled modestly, "It's just that we're working together to make Class B even better."

"correct!"

Kikyo Kushida seemed to suddenly remember something, clapped her hands, and had a hint of smugness on her face.

"I saw you guys were having such a good chat, so I took the liberty of ordering coffee for you! It should be ready soon!"

Her gaze swept over Ayanokouji and Horikita Suzune, then turned to Ichinose.

"I've already ordered mine."

Honami Ichinose smiled and responded to Kushida's gaze.

Ayako remained expressionless and silent.

Horikita Suzune remained silent.

Kikyo Kushida's enthusiastic introduction and order arrangement were like gliding on ice.

Although it flows smoothly, it cannot conceal the chill beneath.

She tried to steer the conversation and create a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

But Horikita's silence and Ayanokoji's indifference made this effort seem somewhat futile.

Honami Ichinose clearly sensed the awkward atmosphere; her gaze shifted.

"This coffee shop is indeed very popular; the ambiance is nice, and the coffee smells delicious. However..."