My love index is at its maximum.

A sudden breeze stirred, causing the tall oak trees at the school gate to sway.

Tsukasa Tazaki stood under the tree, looking up at it.

The setting sun managed to squeeze through the gaps in the leaves, casting a few rays onto his cheeks.

Leaving the school and walking onto the overpass above the railway tracks, Tsukasa Tazaki leaned against the rusty railing and drank a can of cola. As if abandoned at the end of a summer day, with a feeling of resentment, he stood alone gazing at the sunset, listening to the sound of the trams passing by below the overpass.

The two railway tracks reflected the light of the setting sun, gleaming as they disappeared straight into the green slope.

Back at the convenience store, Tsukasa Tazaki ate dinner, changed into his work clothes, and went to work behind the counter.

The pencil moved swiftly across the paper.

Sachiko Tono wrote down a string of meaningless numbers, then glanced up at his short hair: "This look is quite energetic."

Tsukasa Tazaki, holding a book in his hand, said, "I think so too."

"It just lacks a bit of gentleness and artistic flair, so it doesn't look quite right to me."

"It will grow longer again in three months."

"That's good."

Sachiko Tono turned back and continued writing, her expression very focused and serious.

Carbon particles slid across the paper fibers, meticulously tracing the words. Amidst the rustling sound, she asked, seemingly casually, "Where's that high school girl named Shiori-chan? She used to come to the store to see you every day at six o'clock sharp, but I haven't seen her for a week. Did you two have a fight?"

"That's it."

"This won't do." Sachiko Tono looked up abruptly. "Isn't she your girlfriend?"

A headache-inducing topic...and even more complicated to explain, like dividing ten by three, the result is endless.

Tazaki Tsukasa looked at the numbers she had written down and changed the subject: "What is Sachiko-nee writing?"

You mean this...?

The widow, who had been focused on making money lately, was suddenly distracted. "I'm analyzing the market trends of various cryptocurrencies."

Tsukasa Tazaki frowned, puzzled, and asked, "Why are you suddenly interested in this?"

"I've heard that many people have made money trading cryptocurrencies, and I'd like to try it too."

"Where did you hear that from?" Tsukasa Tazaki asked warily. "Could it be that the young master of that bank told you?"

"Don't think so badly of them." Sachiko Tono twirled her mechanical pencil back and forth for a moment, gently biting her lower lip. "I have a few close friends who've been trading Bitcoin lately, and they say they've made a lot of money. I don't really understand this stuff, what do you think, Tazaki-kun?"

"In any investment, some people will always lose money while others will make money."

"So you're saying this stuff can actually make money?"

"Didn't you hear me say that some people also lost money...?"

"As long as I can make money, that's good."

"Just give it a try, don't invest too much money." Tazaki Tsukasa looked into her eyes, his expression serious. "Cryptocurrencies currently have very few practical applications, and the currency itself has almost zero value; it's purely hyped up. Just use some pocket money to play around and learn about it, but whatever you do, don't invest too much. That way, even if it crashes, you can cut your losses in time."

Sachiko Tono pondered for a moment, a knowing smile appearing on her lips: "When Tazaki-kun gets serious, he actually has quite the manly air about him."

Did you even listen to what I said?

"Listen carefully."

Sachiko Tono stood up from the counter, picked up her bag, and walked towards the door: "I'm going on a date. Good luck to Tazaki-kun too!"

The crisp, clear sound of high heels clicking away echoed from near to far.

Tazaki Tsukasa looked up from his book as the proprietress had just left the counter. She wore a white chiffon blouse, tight-fitting cropped jeans, and bare feet in black pointed high heels. Her long, black hair was styled in a bun, and her curvaceous figure exuded a mature woman's unique sex appeal.

"A date?" he asked, puzzled.

“That’s right.” Sachiko Tono’s face was clearly mocking, her full red lips parted slightly: “Dating a bald, pot-bellied middle-aged man.”

Tsukasa Tazaki's face turned green.

"Oh, is Tazaki-kun feeling unwell?"

Sachiko Tono turned back behind the counter. Before he could speak, the charming widow leaned against him, pressing her body tightly against his back, making him look like a balloon and slightly deformed.

Her delicate, youthful hands, as smooth and tender as a young girl's, slid down the curve of his body and pinched his legs hard.

"Ouch..."

This time, Tsukasa Tazaki's face really turned green.

It hurts.

"That's for disrespecting your boss and taking advantage of him all the time."

Sachiko Tono released her grip, smiled smugly, and her delicate nose was quite beautiful.

Tsukasa Tazaki gritted her teeth: "Go home early, don't stay out too late."

"Hey, Tazaki-kun, do you want me to borrow a school uniform?"

"why?"

"When I'm with the middle-aged man, I'll have him wear your school uniform so you can feel involved too."

"...Sachiko-nee, you've gone too far!"

"Haha... I'm off, I'm off." Sachiko Tono walked to the convenience store entrance before turning back with a smile and saying, "I'm having dinner with some girlfriends to discuss investing in cryptocurrency. Those girlfriends are all older, horny women, so I won't take you."

"Remember, don't invest too much money," Tsukasa Tazaki reminded him again. "If you make a profit, stop in time; if you lose money, cut your losses promptly."

"I know."

Sachiko Tono waved her hand and swayed away.

Tsukasa Tazaki looked away and continued reading the book in his hands.

[Once you pass through the long tunnel that marks the border of the prefecture, you enter the snow country.]

Under a vast expanse of white night sky, the train stopped in front of the signal station.

The cable TV was playing a popular J-POP music program, and fluorescent lights cast a white glow on the small counter. My gaze lingered on those two lines of text, unable to read any further.

I closed the book and glanced out the window. The sky was somewhat dim, but I could see crimson clouds when I looked up.

When school ended, one could still enjoy the soft and beautiful sunset on the horizon. Now, the dark blue night sky has gradually enveloped the entire city of Tokyo, with only the warm lights still shining in the cubicles of the mixed-use buildings.

A flock of crows flew past the traffic light poles around the corner and headed towards the port area.

Pick up the landlady's pencil and write a line on the title page of "Snow Country".

From today onward, no emotional outbursts, no looking back. Be a calm and rational person. You must become the most resilient fifteen-year-old in the world! Please understand that not all fish live in the same sea, and you cannot possess all the fish at the same time.

"Hey handsome, I'd like an A set meal of oden."

Tsukasa Tazaki closed the book and slowly looked up.

The moment I saw the light in her eyes overlap with the light above her head, it was like seeing a dazzling firework blooming in the summer festival night sky.

"Wait a mininute."

He flashed a business-like smile, then walked to the prepared food section and skillfully prepared oden.

"Excuse me, could you please add another order of kelp rolls, cabbage meatballs, and bamboo shoot rolls?" Shiori Ninomiya followed them to the deli section.

Tsukasa Tazaki added the dishes according to her request, skewered them with bamboo sticks, and placed them on the counter: "There is salad dressing, ketchup, and chili sauce in the dining area. You can add whatever flavor you like."

Shiori Ninomiya blinked: "Suki-kun, thank you."

“It’s Tasaki,” Tsukasa Tazaki corrected her.

"Ugh...it's so hard to pronounce."

"But you can't just change someone else's name."

"Okay... then let's just call her Kiki."

As they were talking, Shiori Ninomiya immediately leaned her face closer, almost touching Tsukasa Tazaki's shoulder, her expression very serious, her eyes shining as she gazed intently at his face.

She asked, "Does that mean Kiki can't be called either?"

Tsukasa Tazaki nodded reluctantly: "Okay."

"Kiki is amazing!"

The little cutie raised both hands and let out a cheer.

[Enough already! Shiori Ninomiya's stock index rose 20 points, current share price 170]

Back at the counter, Tsukasa Tazaki continued flipping through the book he couldn't get into earlier, while Shiori Ninomiya sat in the dining area with an eco-friendly lunchbox, talking on her phone with Kanae Kasuga.

Occasionally, the sounds of laughter and conversation from the Hokkaido girls drifted over, but the content was not easily discernible.

Tsukasa Tazaki erased the words he had just written on the title page of "Snow Country" with an eraser.

The book was borrowed from the library, and it wouldn't be polite to scribble on it... He thought to himself, took two cans of coffee from the refrigerator, and sat down on the high stool next to Shiori Ninomiya.

"Here, please."

The little cutie propped herself up on the table with one hand and turned her head to look at him: "When did you get your haircut?"

"Tuesday."

"You look quite energetic. Let me see you from the side."

Tsukasa Tazaki turned his face away and paused for five seconds.

"Hmm, she looks much more cheerful now, she doesn't have that artsy vibe anymore." Shiori Ninomiya nodded and smiled, then snapped her fingers coolly: "But her expression and eyes are still cold, she's definitely the Kiki I know."

Tsukasa Tazaki stared intently at her face, lost in thought.

It had been a full week since I last saw her. Her unusually lively expression, her dark eyes that seemed to belong to a single individual, and the vibrant life force emanating from her body—all of these made me miss her.

Shiori Ninomiya maintained the same pose, the corners of her mouth slowly curving into a lovely smile. Whenever she smiled, the light falling on her would lose its sharp edges and become gentle and approachable.

She said, "Your eyes look strange right now."

"What's strange about it?" Tsukasa Tazaki asked.

"It's like seeing a pig that stands out from the crowd."

“That pig is black and skinny…” he said, “but not as cute as you.”

"But after reading the Japanese translation of that article, I absolutely loved that maverick pig."