30M and 25F: Which approach is more effective for asking her out?

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​There is a woman (25F) I (30M) am interested in, and we know each other from a school setting. I am trying to figure out the best strategy to ask her out without making her uncomfortable.

​I am weighing two different approaches:

​Direct approach: Telling her directly that I find her attractive and asking her out on a date.

​Indirect approach: Asking her about her past practical training experience (since she went somewhere I am interested in) to break the ice, treating her to a meal as a thank-you, and seeing if we click.

​What are the pros and cons of each method, and which one tends to be better received in dating?