"Tap!"
A very faint, almost imperceptible tapping sound rang out.
The tray, which had been resting steadily on the corner of the table, instantly spun as if endowed with life!
"Secret Technique — Spinning Top Catch."
Sakamoto's clear voice was like a declaration piercing through time.
As he spoke, the four elegant Chinese characters "Gyroscope support" and the English cursive "SPINNING TOP CATCH" suddenly appeared in the air within half a meter around him, like a holographic projection.
The edge of the tray precisely cut into the trajectory of the falling coffee cup at an incredible angle!
The bottom of the falling coffee cup perfectly touched the edge of the spinning tray!
No collision.
No overturning.
The cup of hot coffee, along with the delicate bone china cup, landed steadily and lightly in the center of the spinning tray, as if by magic.
The liquid in the cup sloshed violently under the tremendous inertia, seemingly about to spill over the rim.
However—
Sakamoto's left hand, as if it had been waiting for a long time, naturally lifted, fingers spread, palm facing down, and gently, as if comforting a startled butterfly, hovered over the spinning tray!
"Secret Technique Added — Still Water Palm."
The second declaration rang out.
In front of his palm, the light and shadow characters "Shisui Palm" and "STILL WATER PALM" reappeared, spreading out like ripples on water, complementing the previous "Spinning Top Catch."
An invisible, gentle airflow seemed to emanate from his palm!
The tray's spinning speed suddenly slowed, becoming steady and graceful.
The violently sloshing coffee surface in the cup was instantly calmed, as if smoothed by an invisible hand.
The dark brown liquid surface was as smooth as a mirror, without even a single ripple.
The floating textual light particles quietly dissipated, as if they had never existed.
The entire process flowed like water, as fast as lightning!
From Yamauchi's shaking causing the coffee to spill, to Sakamoto's step back, tray flick, cup catch, and liquid stabilization, it was all done in one smooth motion!
It was as fluid as a meticulously choreographed dance! That composure, that effortless grace, that precise control over force, angle, and timing, shocked everyone present!
"Whoosh—!"
After a brief silence, the coffee shop instantly erupted in uncontrollable gasps and discussions!
"Oh my god! What just happened?!"
"Secret technique?! Did he just shout 'secret technique'?!"
"Words! I saw words floating in the air! Was I seeing things?!"
"Spinning tray to catch a cup? Palm to calm the coffee? Is that something a human can do?!"
Yamauchi Haruki, Ike Kanji, and Sudo Ken were completely dumbfounded!
Their mouths were wide enough to fit an egg, their eyes as wide as copper bells, staring intently at the tray in Sakamoto's hand, steadily holding the coffee cup, and the calm, dark brown liquid within the cup.
"Hey, hey, hey…"
Yamauchi Haruki's voice trembled as he pointed at Sakamoto,
"Who is he? Which family's waiter has such amazing skills?!"
"I, I think I've seen him."
Ike Kanji rubbed his eyes vigorously, stammering,
"He seems to be that guy from Class A, Sakamoto?!"
"Sakamoto?!"
Sudo Ken suddenly reacted, "Is that the Sakamoto who performed 'hovering sit' in the cafeteria?!"
"Yes, yes, yes! That's him!"
Ike Kanji excitedly slapped the table,
"Sakamoto from Class A! That popular guy! Why is he working as a waiter here?!"
The surrounding chatter instantly became clearer:
"Sakamoto! It's Sakamoto from Class A!"
"It really is him! That impossibly elegant guy!"
"His reputation is well-deserved! That move just now was simply divine!"
"Why is he working here? An elite from Class 1-A?"
"Who knows, maybe he just likes to experience life?"
Yamauchi Haruki's face flushed red then pale as he listened to the surrounding discussions.
He had, of course, heard of Sakamoto's reputation, those incredible rumors, which he had always thought were exaggerated, even thinking that the other person, like himself, was someone who liked to boast and create hype.
But now, having witnessed that miraculous scene with his own eyes, he only felt a burning pain in his face!
That huge sense of disparity was like being doused with ice water!
But Yamauchi was Yamauchi after all! His "confidence" was deeply ingrained!
He suppressed the shock and embarrassment in his heart, suddenly stood up, straightened his back, and tried to put on an "everything is under control" expression, speaking loudly to Sakamoto:
"Ahem! That… Sakamoto-kun, right? Just now… thank you for helping out!"
He deliberately raised his voice, trying to attract attention,
"However! Even if you hadn't intervened, I could have handled it myself! This kind of minor situation, I, Yamauchi Haruki, don't even bat an eye at it!"
However, no one paid him any attention!
Everyone's gaze, including Ike Kanji and Sudo Ken, was fixed on Sakamoto, their eyes filled with admiration, curiosity, and scrutiny.
Yamauchi Haruki's "bold words" were like a stone thrown into the ocean, failing to stir even a ripple.
Sakamoto seemed not to have heard Yamauchi's "thanks" and "declaration."
His expression was calm and unruffled, as if he had merely brushed away a speck of dust.
He turned slightly, facing Yamauchi, and gracefully placed the tray with the perfectly intact coffee gently back onto the table in front of Yamauchi.
"Please be careful, fellow student."
His voice was clear and calm, showing no hint of emotional fluctuation,
"Hot drinks spill easily, unsettled hearts are hard to calm."
This sentence seemed to carry a certain magic, instantly quieting the previously noisy coffee shop.
Sakamoto's gaze calmly swept over the students who were still chattering, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears:
"Students, coffee has been served, please enjoy. Lunch break is precious, do not let the clamor disturb your leisure."
His voice was gentle, as if he were the true owner of this coffee shop.
The surrounding chatter seemed to have been paused, quickly dying down.
The students all withdrew their gazes, refocusing on their coffee and conversations, though the admiration and curiosity in their eyes remained difficult to conceal.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the coffee shop by the window, at a small round table for two.
Shiina Hiyori and Kamuro Masumi, as if drawn by a magnet, had simultaneously entered the coffee shop the moment Sakamoto resolved the crisis, and were forced to sit at the same table due to the scarcity of empty seats.
At this moment, their gazes had not left the tall, black-haired young man standing by the Class D trio's table.
In the depths of Shiina Hiyori's violet eyes, ripples of unceasing thought arose.
That miraculous save, that absolute control over the laws of physics, that composure in the face of crisis, once again updated her understanding of Sakamoto.
He was like a mystery novel that never ended, each page hiding astonishing puzzles and answers.
Ryuuen's task seemed even more complex and interesting than she had imagined.
Kamuro Masumi, on the other hand, unconsciously clenched her hands, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
The "magic" at the convenience store, and now the "secret technique" at the coffee shop…
Sakamoto, how many unknown facets did he still possess?
Why was he working here? For points? Or for another purpose?
Would such a dashing man truly be defeated by Sakayanagi's and Ryuuen's schemes?
The two sat in silence, their gazes occasionally meeting in the air, then quickly shifting away, landing on Sakamoto.
Sakamoto seemed not to notice the gazes from the corner.
He adjusted the lapel of his black apron, his movements fluid and elegant.
Then he turned and walked steadily towards the coffee shop's back kitchen, as if the thrilling rescue just now was merely an insignificant interlude in his elegant daily life.
first year o enrollment: Chapter 026: Sakamoto in the Back Kitchen
In the coffee shop, the lingering shock from Sakamoto's miraculous save had not fully subsided; the air was filled with the rich aroma of coffee and low murmurs of admiration.
Yamauchi Haruki, Ike Kanji, and Sudo Ken sat around their table, the atmosphere somewhat subtle.
Yamauchi Haruki's cheeks still bore a faint flush of embarrassment; he picked up the "recovered" coffee in front of him, trying to hide his inner discomfort and the disappointment of being ignored by chugging it down.
"Hiss—! Hot, hot, hot!"
The scalding coffee entering his mouth made him wince and nearly drop the cup again, drawing merciless laughter from Ike Kanji and Sudo Ken.
"Hahaha! Yamauchi! Why are you in such a hurry! You just got the coffee back, and you want to spill it again?"
Sudo Ken slapped the table, laughing so hard he doubled over.
"Shut up! Sudo!"
Yamauchi Haruki, flushed with anger, put down the cup, wiped his mouth with forced composure, and said,
"I was just testing the temperature! This heat is nothing! If only I hadn't been careless just now…"
"Oh, come on!"
Ike Kanji rolled his eyes, carefully blowing on his own coffee,
"If it weren't for Sakamoto-kun, your coffee would have fed the floor! And you're still bragging!"
"Hey! Ike! Whose side are you on?!"
Yamauchi Haruki glared.
"I'm not on anyone's side! I just feel bad about my points!"
Ike Kanji looked at the prices on the menu with a pained expression,
"The most expensive coffee… Yamauchi, if I listen to you again, I'm a pig!"
The three bickered and teased each other, their awkwardness and shock seemingly dissipating in their unique "foolish" interactions, leaving only their heartache over points and a lingering awe for Sakamoto's brief, stunning display.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the coffee shop by the window, at the small round table for two that they were forced to share, the atmosphere was completely different.
Shiina Hiyori and Kamuro Masumi sat in silence.
Two chairs faced each other, separated by a small round table, which was empty.
Their gazes, after Sakamoto left, finally withdrew from his tall back and inevitably fell upon each other.
Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds.
Shiina Hiyori's violet eyes were calm and unruffled, like a deep pool.
Her slender fingers unconsciously caressed the strap of her shoulder bag; the novel inside still seemed to retain the warmth of the library.
The silver-haired girl's thoughts raced as she looked at the purple-haired girl in front of her.
She wasn't here for coffee.
That eager, searching, and tracking posture, that shock and complexity that flashed in her eyes when Sakamoto resolved the crisis, was identical to her own.
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