The Fourth Class Is Modern Chinese (Continued)

No, no, no. The only thing that sounded like an incantation was Assam, which sounded like Eloim Essaim.[Note] They said so much, and you gave up right from the start, Hikigaya-kun...

Note: An incantation used to summon demons.

"Mm... then I'll leave the tea to Yukino! Let's order different kinds and share!"

"O-okay... that's fine... Which one should we get...?"

Yuihama dumped the entire responsibility on Yukino, making her, who had been perfectly composed a moment ago, furrow her brow and stare intently at the menu.

Ahh—this girl, seriously. The moment Hikigaya-kun asked her for something, she got all earnest...

"I'll call the waitress..."

After waiting a while, I figured she would never decide at this rate, so I informed the two of them and raised my hand.

At my level, even raising my hand in a café did not make me particularly noticeable. If anything, it gave her more time to deliberate.

Just as I thought that, I was noticed.

(Illustration 007)

The waitress behind the register suddenly looked our way and hurried over.

"Sorry to keep you waiting... Ah."

The waitress efficiently set three glasses of water on the table. She fell speechless upon seeing me, and I instantly lost my words as well.

Her white shirt and black slacks were neatly pressed, and she wore a simple half-apron around her waist. Above it was a head of slightly wavy black hair. Beneath that were eyes carrying a hint of surprise, along with a warm, cheerful smile.

She was my middle school classmate, Orioto Kaori.

"Isn't this Hikigaya? What are you doing here?"

"Oh, uh. Um, I'm a customer..."

"Whoa—Hikigaya comes to places like this too?"

She giggled as she took the ordering terminal from her apron pocket.

This girl was still the same...

She probably did not