Chapter 177: Operation Whirlwind (Part 2)

"Greetings," the impassive young lady seemed to remember me, offering a mere nod before bypassing me to continue towards the cafeteria.

"Wait, please... I have something to say," I grumbled under my breath, feeling the sting of being disregarded by a lady for the first time. It wasn't the best feeling, admittedly. After all, I wasn't the center of the universe for women to revolve around me. Yet, given the circumstances, even if she paid me no mind, I found myself compelled to approach her.

"Miss Tachibana, might you spare a moment? I would like to invite you to dine with me," I ventured, employing a rather clichéd tactic. Nonetheless, for a first-time attempt at initiating conversation, I considered it a decent effort.

As she continued on, disregarding my invitation, I realized it was time to deploy my trump card.

"Miss Tachibana, might I entice you with an offer to savor some Mapo Tofu? I recall enjoying it immensely at the cafeteria previously," I remarked, hoping to pique her interest.

Indeed, the mention of Mapo Tofu halted her in her tracks, prompting a moment of hesitation before she resumed her path.

Had my attempt faltered? Even the allure of her favored dish failed to sway her? My spirits dipped momentarily, considering her known fondness for Mapo Tofu.

"What are you still doing here?" she halted again, turning to glance at me. Her gesture was clear: why wasn't I following?

Was there a breakthrough? A faint smile crossed my lips as I quickened my pace to join her side. The Mapo Tofu had indeed worked its charm.

"Do you also delight in Mapo Tofu, Miss Tachibana? No wonder, despite its fiery heat, it's utterly delectable," I mused, aiming to extend our interaction until the operation in the cafeteria commenced, marking the success of my mission.

"Is that so?" she pondered briefly, her gaze clouded with curiosity. Just as she seemed poised to speak further, a sharp gunshot shattered the silence. Who dared to interrupt at such a critical juncture?

A bullet struck her squarely in the abdomen, her uniform stained with blood. Cursed fate! Just as success loomed within reach, all was now jeopardized. Should I discover the shooter, retribution would be swift.

"Zhang Fan, are you alright?" Hinata's voice reached me, along with the presence of Noda, Fujimaki, and Matsushita. It seemed the gunshot had drawn their collective attention.

"Step back!" Matsushita's warning came just before another shot rang out, this time thwarted by Tachibana's active defense mechanism. Her invincible shield rendered the sniper's bullets ineffective, demonstrating her formidable power.

"Please, leave this place," she implored, then proceeded towards the others. With Tachibana safely out of harm's way, the rest of the warfront opened fire. Amidst the cacophony of gunfire, her advance remained unimpeded, the bullets mere trifles against her defense.

"Damn it, Yui, haven't you started yet?" Noda bellowed in frustration. The impotence against Tachibana's shield was maddening. The situation grew dire as she neared.

"More time is needed!"

"Hold fast, everyone." Encouragement flew back and forth, yet no amount of moral support could enhance their firepower. Tachibana was on the verge of breaching their defenses.

"Cease fire! Leave it to me," I suddenly declared, halting the onslaught.

"What's the plan, Zhang Fan?" Hinata inquired, puzzled by my intervention. Did I possess a strategy?

"Just watch," I grimaced, loathe to resort to violence. It seemed Tachibana now regarded me as an adversary.

Approaching her, I decided to appeal to reason rather than force.

"Miss Tachibana, might we delay for just a few moments? A brief pause is all I ask," I ventured, meeting her gaze.

"Adherence to school regulations is essential," she responded, her expression unchanging. A firm believer in rules, indeed.

"Understood, but surely you grasp our predicament," I reasoned.

"This is unwise," she countered, hinting at a deeper meaning. Was she alluding to more than just the operation's folly?

At a loss for words, I watched as the operation in the cafeteria unfolded successfully, the massive fans whirling into action and scattering the meal tickets into the air.

"It's done, Zhang Fan. Let's depart," Hinata urged, rallying the others to retreat as if the battle had never occurred.

Indeed, the mission was straightforward, but Tachibana's unwavering stance left me contemplative. Understanding her, I felt a deeper connection. A future conversation, I decided, was imperative.

As the meal tickets danced in the breeze, I plucked several from the air: two for Mapo Tofu, one for meat udon, and another for omelet rice. It seemed a dinner invitation was in order after all.

"Brilliantly executed! I commend everyone's effort," Yui proclaimed, gathering us for a post-mission feast on the cafeteria's second floor. Despite the success, Hinata couldn't help but wonder why Tachibana had spared me during their confrontation. Was there a special bond between us?