My love index is at its maximum.

For a moment, Kuriyama Sakura didn't know whether she should envy Tazaki Tsukasa or Hoshino Hanami.

The more I think about it, the angrier I get.

The minister couldn't resist stretching out his foot and, taking advantage of the fact that the only member wasn't paying attention, stomped hard on his foot.

Ouch! That hurts!

The only member jumped up, clutching his foot, while the minister walked blissfully towards the entrance of the breakwater.

A black and white tabby cat is taking a nap.

Perhaps it had become familiar with people, because even after Kuriyama Sakura squatted down, the cat showed no intention of getting up. Feeling the alluring afternoon mood of the seaside town, she gently stroked the large cat's body.

Not long after, Yui Kichikawa returned with a man. The man was a middle-aged man around forty years old, with a dignified, flat face. His nose and eyes were sharply defined, and his entire body was tanned to a light black.

You can tell at a glance that he is a fisherman.

"Hello, my name is Nakano, and I am the president of this farm."

The middle-aged man greeted Tsukasa Tazaki, then turned to Yui Kichikawa: "This must be the male lead in the promotional video. He's very photogenic."

Yui Kawakawa nodded, and Tsukasa Tazaki smiled politely.

"Kiki, I'm back."

The little cutie ran in from outside holding an ice cream, and President Nakano's eyes lit up instantly when he looked over.

She wore a white short-sleeved shirt with the front tied in a knot, and a skirt. The girl looked lively and cute, with her big, playful eyes full of spirit and vitality.

To be more precise, it would be—super energetic.

President Nakano looked back at Yui Kikawa: "I now truly believe from the bottom of my heart that 1000 million views can really be achieved."

“Then let’s proceed according to the original plan.” Yui Kichikawa raised her wrist and glanced at her watch. “If we delay any longer, it will get dark.”

"okay."

President Nakano nodded, took out his phone, and stood aside to make a call.

Tazaki Tsukasa, biting into the ice cream her little cutie had bought, looked at Kichikawa Yui with a puzzled expression, "What's with the 1000 million views?"

The blonde girl briefly answered "Sponsorship conditions" before turning to talk to Shiori Ninomiya about the upcoming filming assignments.

Not long after, a container truck pulled up on the breakwater, and the driver poked his head out and waved to President Nakano: "Hey, President! Are you stopping here?"

"That's enough, stop there!"

At the same time, a group of elderly men and middle-aged people also entered the farm, talking loudly as they walked over.

"Um... I heard we're going to help shoot a commercial?"

"Yes, I heard that the tourism association and the fisheries association have both issued notices to offer voluntary assistance."

"Oh? Really?"

Someone stared wide-eyed, asking incredulously, "Seafood isn't selling well this year, so why would those useless bastards at the Fisheries Association spend money to hire someone to shoot an advertisement?"

"I don't know. I heard it doesn't cost any money, just some help."

"That's fantastic news! Hey, don't push me..."

A large group of people noisily approached Tazaki Tsukasa and his group. President Nakano picked up a megaphone, stepped forward, and put one hand on his hip: "Listen up, everyone. This is an opportunity, a chance to save our Oma-dae tourism and fishing industries this year. Get serious. In a moment, just go straight into the water and catch fish. Don't ramble on and don't stare at the cameras, understand?"

"Understood."

"President Nakano, please rest assured~"

"Alright, next step~" President Nakano turned around and faced the container truck: "Open the gate and release the fish!"

The container truck raised its rear cargo box and opened the rear water valve. The rushing water and the tuna carried in the water shone with an amazing luster in the sunlight.

Tazaki Tsukasa stared in disbelief at the scene.

The entire truckload of tuna were all of average size, but all of them were alive. This extravagant gesture made him suspect that Kikawa Yui had cheated, secretly using her family's money to bribe high-ranking officials in the fisheries association.

"Ninomiya, we can begin."

"...I'm a little nervous. What should I do?"

Shiori Ninomiya looked up at Tsukasa Tazaki, her eyes pleading, "So many fish, it must have been really hard to get them. What if the photos don't turn out well... wouldn't that be a waste of a lot of money?"

"Don't worry." Tsukasa Tazaki gently patted her shoulder, comforting her, "The original footage needs to be edited before it's broadcast. Just act like you're catching fish in a country stream. As for how it's edited later, that's Kikawa-kun's business."

He's right.

Yui Kichikawa encouraged him, saying, "The clip you'll use in the final cut is less than a minute long, so don't worry."

"Then I'll go!"

Shiori Ninomiya suddenly rolled up her sleeves, her lips slightly pursed. She waded into the water, splashing through the sand, when suddenly a fish darted past her, startling her with the spray.

"Ah~"

"Damn it... How dare you scare Shiori-chan! You're not getting away with this, Uo-Uo!"

The little cutie raised an eyebrow and chased after the tuna.

Yui Kikawa stared intently through the viewfinder, the camera following the girl who was shouting and laughing as she caught fish.

She was bent over, her buttocks sticking out. A pair of beautiful legs encased in white stockings peeked out from under the hem of her pleated skirt.

Tazaki watched for a while, then leaned closer and asked, "What's with the 1000 million views?"

"To attract sponsorships, the returns must satisfy them."

"That's just a worthless promise..."

Yui Kikawa raised her head slightly, her icy gaze fixed on Tsukasa Tazaki: "Then why don't you go and get sponsorship yourself?"

“Uh, don’t misunderstand, I’m not saying it’s impossible,” Tsukasa Tazaki quickly explained. “But 1000 million units is not an easy thing to do, you should lower your requirements a bit.”

"I have confidence in my work."

Qichuan Yui said arrogantly, pointing to the other side of the breakwater: "Go over there, face the camera and walk towards me. I want to shoot a scene of the male and female leads meeting for the first time."

"Ok."

Tazaki Tsukasa reluctantly walked to the other side of the breakwater.

The trees planted along the seawall released the fragrance of tender leaves, their green hue permeating the scent of the sea. Several couples sat side by side on the grass, an elderly woman walked her dog, young people sat on motorcycles smoking, and Kuriyama Sakura petted a cat.

A peaceful and serene summer evening.

I wonder if everyone else besides the minister was just extras arranged by Yui Kikawa beforehand...

The boy walked aimlessly toward the camera with his hands in his pockets.

"Gotcha!"

A cheer came from the water, and he turned his head to look, the camera angle following.

The energetic girl held the tuna tightly in her arms, her hair clinging to her cheek like waterlogged plant roots. The tuna struggled and writhed, its tail fins slapping out sprays of water that shimmered in the sunlight.

“kiki~”

As if gazing at her beloved little dress, the little cutie stood in the water and shouted loudly, "Look here, look here! Shiori-chan caught a fish!"

Their eyes met, and Tsukasa Tazaki's heart skipped a beat.

Those vibrant eyes, like sunlight piercing into water and then scattering, made me feel as if I were a fish under the sun.

Chapter 166 Setting Sail

So cute...

Kuriyama Sakura murmured something, it was unclear whether she was praising the Hokkaido girl or the cat on her lap. After watching for a while, she put the cat down, walked over to Kichikawa Yui, and whispered, "How was the effect?"

"Very good, you have a very strong sense of the camera."

Kikawa Yui bent over slightly, her eyes fixed on the viewfinder: "Shiori has a natural charm. Even in a crowd, people's eyes will immediately focus on her. She's perfect for being in front of a camera."

"What about the other one?"

"Him?" Yui Kichikawa pursed her lips and cursed, "A self-righteous idiot!"

Kuriyama Sakura nodded, quite satisfied with the blonde girl's answer.

The two gifted girls reached a consensus on this matter.

Shiori Ninomiya used all her strength to carry the tuna back to shore, then plopped down on the beach, panting heavily.

The tuna hopped around a couple of times and then stopped moving.

"Eh?"

"Yuyu, what's wrong?"

The little cutie picked up the tuna again, pouting, "Fish, move! Move a little!"

"The fish is beyond saving..."

Tsukasa Tazaki smiled and squatted down next to her, handing her a towel: "Dry your hair first, then go change your clothes."

"I'm tired... Kiki, can you help me wipe myself?"

Ninomiya Shiori released the tuna and said weakly, "My arm is completely numb."

Her shirt, hair, and face were covered in sand. She looked filthy. Tsukasa Tazaki held up a towel with both hands and ordered, "Put your head over here."

"Kiki is the best~"

Shiori Ninomiya, bracing herself against the sand, suddenly darted over, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.

The joyful smile that naturally appeared on his lips was truly captivating.

Tazaki Tsukasa took a towel and carefully wiped the dirt off her face and dried the water droplets from her hair.

"Will Kiki think that my image doesn't resemble that of a gentle girl?"

"Yes."

"What should I do?"

"There's nothing we can do, little cutie, let it just stay like this forever."

"Little cutie? Are you talking about me?"