Three Days Apart, and Even the Point Scavengers Have Gotten Stronger. Yes, I'm Talking About You!

That night, Ryuen, Ishizaki, Kaneda, and the others returned to their dormitory, but they noticed Sakayanagi seemed to be talking with Hachiman Hikigaya in the first-floor lobby.

Ryuen chose to avoid them for the time being.

Because probably every student knew that Sakayanagi Arisu had feelings for Hachiman Hikigaya.

Interrupting them in a situation like that would probably get someone blacklisted.

Ryuen naturally did not care if Sakayanagi held a grudge against him. Wanting Class Advancement and refusing to let Hachiman Hikigaya leave his class were both things that could earn Sakayanagi's displeasure.

But he did not like being resented over something that could have been avoided.

At the same time, he had received a message from Horikita.

Horikita had set the meeting time rather late, but when it was nearly time, Ryuen did not go to the appointment. Instead, he wandered around the school for a while, and only after about twenty minutes did he head to the Leblanc Cafe where Horikita had arranged to meet.

The clerk was a slightly hunched middle-aged man wearing glasses.

Yet the coffee he brewed retained a rich aroma even after it had gone cold.

Ryuen said that because, upon entering the shop, he saw Suzune Horikita and Hirata sitting on one side. There was a cup of coffee in front of each of them, while two more cups sat across from them in the booth.

Clearly, they were not for one person to drink two cups, but had been ordered for people who had not yet arrived.

"..."

Ryuen felt that something was off.

"I can take this as you inviting me for a drink, right, Horikita?"

Ryuen sat down with Kaneda.

Albert, who had come with them, stood off to the side, looking like a bodyguard. His large build gave outsiders