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

"Never mind... Consider this just a greeting, a warm-up."

"Next time, within the rules, I'll have some fun with you."

Based on the limited information previously provided by Nagumo

It seems that not long after,

The school will organize some large-scale competitive activities that cross grades and classes.

That's the real stage for competition.

and,

He also possessed "resume" information about other core members of the classes.

Especially Ichinose Honami's "secret" in Class C...

The period of dormancy is merely a prelude to a more precise strike in the future.

Sakamoto Tsuyoshi had just finished assisting with some of the student council's paperwork and was preparing to leave the administration building.

"Saka... Sakamoto-san! Please wait a moment!"

A slightly panting voice came from behind.

Sakamoto stopped and turned around.

Then Ichinose Honami came running after her.

With a sincere and bright smile on his face, the previous gloom seemed to have been swept away.

She stopped in front of him, bowed slightly, and spoke with gratitude in her voice:

"I heard from Kanzaki-kun that this incident was all thanks to you, Sakamoto-kun! If you hadn't stepped in and investigated the truth in time, Class C and Class D would have continued to misunderstand each other for who knows how long... You really helped a lot!"

She looked up.

Her eyes, reflecting the setting sun, shimmered with light.

"And... thank you for helping me with the Shiraha incident before... Sakamoto-kun really helped me twice! I'm really... really grateful!"

Sakamoto looked at the girl's sincere smile:

"Ichinose-san, you flatter me. This is just my duty, or perhaps it was just a coincidence. There's no need to worry about it."

His tone was gentle.

Then he asked:

"As for Ichinose-san, have you been troubled by the rumors?"

Honami Ichinose's smile faltered slightly.

She pursed her lips, seemingly choosing her words carefully.

Hesitation was evident in his eyes.

"I...I'm fine..."

She tried hard to maintain her smile.

But the change in his eyes did not escape Sakamoto's notice.

Sakamoto did not press further and did not continue the topic.

He gracefully raised his right hand.

Gently remove the glasses from the bridge of your nose.

In the golden afterglow of the setting sun,

He didn't use any cloth, but only the pads of his index and middle fingers, wiping with incredibly delicate, gentle, and slow movements, like wiping a work of art.

Gently rub along the curved surface of the lens.

The movements are gentle and focused.

A sliver of light flowed through his fingers.

Then it disappeared with the movement.

The entire process took only a few seconds, yet it was handled with extreme solemnity.

It was like performing a sacred ritual.

After making this gesture, Sakamoto did not immediately put on his glasses.

His eyes, usually hidden behind his glasses, were clearly visible in the afterglow.

He slightly curled the corners of his mouth.

He smiled at Ichinose.

"Time flows like a river, never ceasing day or night. Today's troubles will eventually become the foundation of tomorrow."

"Look ahead, Mr. Ichinose, and don't let fleeting clouds obscure your vision. Goodbye."

Having said that, before Ichinose Honami could recover from her smile,

Sakamoto put his glasses back on and instantly regained his composed demeanor.

He nodded slightly to her.

He then turned around.

He left with a calm and graceful gait.

They quickly disappeared at the end of the campus path as dusk deepened.

A gentle evening breeze carried the warmth of summer.

Honami Ichinose stood there, staring blankly in the direction where Sakamoto had disappeared.

That brief, gentle smile just now,

It contains an invisible power.

Let her keep those secrets buried deep in her heart, secrets she dared not touch.

It seemed to have become less heavy.

She exhaled softly, and a bright and determined smile returned to her face.

"Yes! I'll keep trying! Thank you... Sakamoto-san!"

First Year Summer Vacation: Chapter 091: First Year and Sakamoto

After causing a ripple, the storm surrounding the rumor incident eventually subsided.

The students in Class C and Class D did not question or pester Class B excessively.

The incident has been clarified, and the rumors have been stopped.

Excessive scrutiny may trigger new and unnecessary conflicts.

Everyone tacitly chose to put the matter behind them and refocus their attention on their daily studies and lives.

Time slips away quietly in the midst of peaceful daily life.

Classes, quizzes, club activities...

Studying once again became the main theme of first-grade life.

In this peaceful atmosphere,

Sakamoto's figure remains the most dazzling presence.

From its sudden and unexpected debut at the start of the school year

He has now become a legendary figure known to everyone on campus.

His name had already spread to every corner of the first grade and had also attracted the attention of older students.

Some people regard him as an unattainable academic genius.

Some people considered him an eccentric and strange person.

Some people regard him as an idol they strive to emulate.

Sakamoto himself was not affected by this reputation.

He maintained his composed demeanor as he walked through the campus.

They practiced various unbelievable yet highly effective "secret techniques".

In his studies, he still maintains an absolute advantage of full marks in all subjects, which no one can shake.

In terms of interpersonal relationships,

He also established overt or covert connections with some people in various first-grade classes.

Within Class A, Masumi Kamuro and Sakamoto seem to have the closest relationship.

She would occasionally invite Sakamoto to dine with her or go to a coffee shop for a chat.

There was no particular purpose; I simply enjoyed the time I spent with him.

Ran Morishita, on the other hand, became very interested in Sakamoto's "secret technique".

She still didn't know Sakamoto's full name.

But she began to consciously collect and record Sakamoto's extraordinary and seemingly useless fancy moves, and tried to understand the "principles" behind them.

This became a new and unique hobby for her.

Kohei Katsuragi was deeply moved when he learned that Sakamoto had joined the student council.

He regarded Sakamoto as a role model and goal, and worked harder to learn and work, trying to narrow the gap between himself and Sakamoto in terms of rules and practices.

He would occasionally ask Sakamoto for advice, and Sakamoto would give him some directional guidance.

Perhaps the one who has changed the most is Sakayanagi Arisu.

She completely suppressed those confrontational little actions.

I developed an even stronger interest in Sakamoto.

All of this change began in mid-June.

The chance chess game that took place inside the library.

That day,

Sakayanagi Arisu was alone in a quiet corner of the library, fiddling with a chess set.

Immersed in one's own world of thoughts.

This is her area of ​​expertise and passion.

Just then, she saw Sakamoto.

He was sitting quietly by a bookshelf not far away, intently flipping through a thick book.

A thought instantly arose in Sakayanagi's mind.

She smiled and approached Sakamoto.

An invitation was sent:

"Sakamoto-kun, what a coincidence! Would you be interested in playing a game of chess with me?"

She has great confidence in her chess skills.

She admitted that in real-life strategic battles, she might be slightly inferior to Sakamoto.

But on the chessboard, a purely intellectual battlefield, she firmly believed that she would never lose.

Sakamoto looked up from the pages of his book, adjusted his glasses, and calmly replied:

"It's my wish, but I don't dare to ask for my ear."

The chess game begins.

In the initial stage,

With her superb skills and rich experience, Sakayanagi Arisu quickly took the initiative on the field.