"...Ito?"

Chongzong was stunned for a moment before he realized.

In an instant, all the things that had happened between him and Ito Yunai flashed through Chongzong's mind like scenes from a movie reel.

She was the class monitor, someone who wasn't inherently bad but had done many strange things.

Chongzong collected himself and greeted her.

"...Long time no see, Ito Yunai."

"Yeah, Sugi-senpai, it's been a while."

Ito Yunai took a step back and nodded slightly towards Chongzong.

There was a subtle pause in the air.

"How have you been lately?"

Ito Yunai asked.

"I've been alright."

"Is there something you want?"

Not wanting to waste too much time here, Chongzong got straight to the point when Ito Yunai didn't indicate her purpose.

This direct approach caught Ito Yunai off guard, leaving her unsure of what to say.

"If there's nothing, then I'll go ahead."

Chongzong's words further heightened Ito Yunai's panic.

In her desperation, she didn't think it through and blurted out.

"Well, um, I came to give you something!"

"What something?"

As soon as she said it, Ito Yunai regretted it.

She had wanted to steer the conversation in her direction, but within just two minutes of meeting, she had lost control.

But even so, she still wanted to salvage the situation.

"...Let's go somewhere else to talk, Sugi-senpai?"

As she said that, Ito Yunai tugged at the shoulder strap of her backpack.

It was as if she was hinting to Chongzong that she had something to give him in her bag.

Chongzong looked around and saw people coming and going near the library.

He didn't know what Ito was planning.

But it wasn't suitable to discuss it here.

"Well, sure. There's a café nearby, is that okay?"

But if he let Ito Yunai decide the location, considering what had happened in the past, Chongzong felt there was a certain risk.

They couldn't be on her home turf.

So, although Chongzong agreed to Ito Yunai's suggestion, he inserted another location.

If Ito Yunai insisted on a specific place, it would show that she had other considerations.

He had to be more cautious now.

"Okay, that works."

"Then please lead the way, Sugi-senpai."

Without much thought, Ito Yunai agreed to Chongzong's request.

This made him let go of some of his guard.

—Maybe I was overthinking.

Around the library, the slight rustle of pages being turned inexplicably calmed his heart.

"Alright, this way."

After more than ten minutes, Chongzong and Ito Yunai settled in a quiet corner of a café.

Knowing the sensitive nature of their conversation, Chongzong intentionally chose a seat out of the sight of others.

"So, what is it that you want to give me?"

Without any small talk, Chongzong got straight to the point.

Seemingly accustomed to Chongzong's straightforward style, ItoYunai did not feel unhappy or surprised, but could only manage a bitter smile.

Then, ItoYunai placed the backpack on the table and pushed it towards Chongzong.

"Open it yourself."

ItoYunai said to Chongzong as he looked on.

"...Hmm."

Although he said that with his mouth.

Before opening the zipper of the backpack, Chongzong intentionally or unintentionally touched it.

He didn't completely trust ItoYunai.

The sensation in his hand was that of something hard and smooth.

When he finally unzipped it, Chongzong also deliberately kept the opening facing himself.

In the end, when he opened the backpack and saw what was inside, he realized that he had been overly cautious.