"...You know him?"
Masahiko Michikyo had originally been about to voice a sharp critique of Kyogoku Makoto's poor attitude, but seeing that everyone else at the table looked perfectly normal, he could only swallow the complaint that had reached his lips.
If he gave a bad evaluation at this point, it would easily affect their impression of him as well.
Since his goal was to get close to them, Masahiko Michikyo instead asked cautiously, intending to discuss anything else after he had clarified the situation.
"Ah, he seemed to be in a bad mood today." Ran Mouri looked at Kyogoku Makoto's retreating back and commented curiously.
"He's a waiter at the inn where we're staying." Sonoko Suzuki answered Masahiko Michikyo, equally puzzled as she watched the departing figure. "I heard he came back to help out during summer break. He seems to be the innkeeper's son."
"You really did your homework." Ran Mouri glanced at Sonoko Suzuki's expression. "When did you ask? I didn't even notice yesterday."
Kyogoku Makoto had found them to tell them about Tangze's situation. The two girls had been too immersed in worry to pay attention to such things.
"Tangze told me." Sonoko Suzuki naturally turned to Tangze, who had exchanged a few words with Kyogoku Makoto earlier. "You seem to know him pretty well already."
"Oh? Right, you knew he was helping out here today?" Ran Mouri remembered to ask as well.
Everyone's attention shifted to Tangze, and Masahiko Michikyo turned his head too, now able to openly observe Tangze's movements.
If this restaurant had been deliberately chosen by him, Masahiko Michikyo would have to reconsider how he classified Tangze and adjust his approach.
After all, when Tangze had greeted Kyogoku Makoto, he had not only accurately called him by name, but had also seemed