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

His gaze, behind his black-rimmed glasses, calmly looked at her:

"Sakayanagi-san, watch your step."

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze seemingly sweeping over the spot above where Sakayanagi Arisu had just stood—there, a dead branch was swaying precariously.

The moment Sakamoto steadied Arisu Sakayanagi, a soft "crack" sounded, and the branch broke off and fell, landing right where she had almost fallen.

"in addition,"

Sakamoto continued calmly, his gaze returning to Arisu Sakayanagi's shocked face.

"Dry branches often fall from above, making this area unsafe. We recommend leaving as soon as possible."

He released his grip on the cane with a natural and fluid motion, as if he had just done something ordinary and simple to help others.

First Year Enrollment: Chapter 044: Sakamoto Exchanging Contact Information

Sakamoto's precise, almost precognitive move and warning instantly froze the atmosphere.

Only the faint "crack" of the fallen branch echoed in the silent air.

Kamuro Masumi stared wide-eyed at the suddenly appearing Sakayanagi Arisu.

A look of surprise and embarrassment flashed across his face at first—

He "told" Sakamoto about it, only to find out that the person in question was actually eavesdropping from behind!

This feeling was incredibly awkward.

But then, a strange sense of confidence welled up inside me.

The one caught was Sakayanagi.

She colluded with the people in Class C to target her classmates.

What is there to be ashamed of?

Thinking of this, Kamuro Masumi subconsciously straightened her back and met Sakayanagi Arisu's gaze with confidence and without any hesitation.

Sakayanagi Arisu's feelings at this moment were even more complicated.

The feeling of just the right amount of strength from when Sakamoto had steadily supported him still lingered in his arm.

The experience of being forcibly pulled back from the brink of absolute loss of control left her with lingering fear.

This was the first time in her life that she had been so embarrassed and out of control.

All of this was observed by Sakamoto and Kamuro Masumi.

What alarmed her even more was that Sakamoto had clearly discovered her following him long ago.

They might even have already foreseen the danger posed by the withered branch above her head.

This terrifying ability to observe and control sent chills down her spine.

She quickly took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her turbulent emotions, and tried her best to restore her usual elegant yet slightly aloof expression.

Only her slightly rapid breathing and pale face betrayed her earlier panic.

She gripped her cane tightly, turned to Sakamoto, and tried to keep her voice steady:

"Thank you, Sakamoto-san. It was my own carelessness."

She gave a slight bow, her posture remaining graceful.

But that deliberately maintained elegance seemed somewhat fragile at this moment.

Her gaze then shifted to Masumi Kamuro, her tone revealing neither joy nor anger:

"Kamuro-kun, what a coincidence."

Kamuro Masumi met her gaze without flinching:

“It’s quite a coincidence, Sakayanagi-san.”

The two girls' gazes clashed silently in the air, neither willing to yield.

An awkward and tense atmosphere permeated the air.

"Thank you for the information, Kamuro-kun."

Sakamoto's calm voice broke the silent standoff.

He seemed completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere between the two.

His gaze, behind his black-rimmed glasses, swept over them indifferently.

"It's getting late. If there's nothing else important, please go back to your dorms and rest."

His tone was casual, as if he wanted to end the conversation.

It felt as if the thrilling betrayal, the surveillance, the near fall, and the rescue that had just occurred...

These were all insignificant little incidents.

After saying that, he nodded slightly and prepared to turn and leave.

"Wait! Sakamoto-san!"

Kamuro Masumi suddenly called out to him.

At this moment, the heavy secret in her heart had been lifted.

Although being caught by Sakayanagi was slightly embarrassing, it was more of a sense of carefree abandon and inexplicable courage.

She was no longer afraid and looked at Sakamoto with unwavering eyes.

"Um, can we exchange contact information?"

"If anything else happens in the future, I'll be able to contact you promptly."

A deep, indescribable stirring within her heart, coupled with a desire to get closer, drove her forward.

Sakamoto paused slightly, turned around, and looked calmly at Kamuro Masumi.

Without the slightest hesitation, he nodded decisively:

"can."

He smoothly pulled his phone out of his school uniform pocket, unlocked it, and

He handed it directly to Kamuro Masumi, his manner completely open and honest.

Masumi Kamuro quickly took the phone and took out her own, then started operating it rapidly.

While typing her number, her gaze inadvertently swept over Sakamoto's phone's contact list.

The list is extremely concise, containing only a handful of names.

The name at the very top of the list instantly caught her attention—

Shiina Hiyori.

She knew that name.

It was that girl from Class C with long silver hair in the coffee shop.

She also seems to pay close attention to Sakamoto.

She's actually Sakamoto's contact person?

And he's the first one?

A girl from Class C was actually the first person to have Sakamoto's contact information?

This is...too strange.

A great deal of doubt and vigilance instantly rose in Kamuro Masumi's heart.

But she remained outwardly calm, quickly completed the number exchange, and handed the phone back to Sakamoto.

"All right!"

She tried to make her voice sound calm.

At least... she's the second one now.

We can explore Shiina Hiyori's story later.

"Thank you."

Masumi Kamuro seemed to have accomplished a great task, and let out a slight sigh of relief.

Without looking at Arisu Sakayanagi beside her, she hurriedly said to Sakamoto, "Then I'll go back first."

He turned and walked away quickly, his figure disappearing around the corner of the dormitory building.

Only Sakamoto and Sakayanagi Arisu remained at the scene.

The air became quiet and subtle once again.

Sakayanagi Arisu stood still, her short silver hair gently swaying in the evening breeze.

She looked in the direction where Masumi Kamuro had left, her eyes filled with a constantly shifting expression.

Finally, she seemed to have made up her mind and turned to Sakamoto, who was preparing to leave.

"Sakamoto-san."

Her voice seemed less condescending than usual, carrying a hint of complexity.

"If you don't mind, could we exchange contact information?"

She made this request with a sense of uncertainty.

Having just experienced Kamuro's betrayal and his own embarrassing pursuit, would Sakamoto be willing to exchange contact information with her?

His reaction at this moment is the best test of his true attitude.

However, Sakamoto's reaction once again surprised her.

He stopped and looked at Sakayanagi Arisu, his expression showing no hesitation or wariness, simply nodding calmly.

"can."

The same crisp and decisive response, the same open and honest actions—

He took out his phone again, unlocked it, and handed it directly to Sakayanagi Arisu.

Sakayanagi Arisu was slightly taken aback, as if her little scheme had crashed into an invisible and soft wall.

He just agreed like that? So casually?

This person doesn't look like someone who has just learned that their classmate has colluded with outsiders to harm them.

This calmness, ironically, caused Sakayanagi Arisu, who had originally felt justified in plotting against the other party, to feel a strange and subtle sense of guilt.

She composed herself, took the phone, and began operating it with graceful movements.

Similarly, her gaze quickly swept across the contact list.

As expected, just like Masumi Kamuro saw, the list was extremely concise.

At the very top is Hiyori Shiina.

Next up is Masumi Kamuro, who was just added.

Hiyori Shiina?

The name—Sakayanagi Arisu quickly scanned the list of students in Class A in her mind, confirming that this person was not among them.

Not from Class A? Then who could it be? Which class?

What is his relationship with Sakamoto?

Countless questions flooded my mind in an instant.

However, she maintained a calm demeanor, quickly entered her number, and handed the phone back to Sakamoto.

"Thank you."

"Then, farewell."

Sakayanagi Arisu bowed slightly, said no more, leaned on her cane, and turned to walk towards her dormitory building.

Sakamoto watched the two leave one after the other before putting away his phone, as if nothing had happened.