My love index is at its maximum.

"I understand." Tsukasa Tazaki nodded solemnly. "Your wife gave birth, right?"

Kuriyama Sakura elegantly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear: "I don't want to listen to your nonsense. It's time to go back to Tokyo."

On their way back to the guesthouse, the two continued to chat about random, unrelated topics.

"Did I look cool while fishing just now?"

"It reminds me of Hemingway's 'The Old Man and the Sea'."

"I am honored to receive such high praise from the Minister."

Stop being so vain.

"We're heading back to Tokyo soon. I think I had a pretty good weekend. What do you think, Minister?"

"It's alright. These four days are like the words of Yasunari Kawabata: delicate, sentimental, and beautiful day and night."

"Kuriyama-san, you seem like a literary girl right now."

"Wasn't I like that before?"

"I guess so... By the way, my DNA has been activated, and there's a song I absolutely have to sing for you."

"I'm all ears."

"The wind today is so... oh dear!"

The sky had darkened, with only the clouds drifting in the wind still retaining the crimson glow of the setting sun. Faint rays of light streamed down from the west, painting the young men and women on their way home in a complex shade of purple.

……

Back in Tokyo, July was fast approaching.

Enveloped in the last heat of the rainy season, Tokyo’s beauty speaks for itself. All the buildings and trees are spotless and gleaming, as if they have just been washed clean, with clearly defined shadows everywhere.

On June 28th, Tsukasa Tazaki completed all the filming for the promotional video, and the subsequent post-production editing was all done by Kikawa Yuichi alone.

Being a hands-off manager feels pretty good.

Especially for someone like Kuriyama Sakura who was just coasting through the whole thing, her affection for the blonde girl even increased by 1.

During a PE class that day, the tall PE representative, Tang Ze, pulled Tazaki Tsukasa into a corner. All the students in the class who were doing aerobics looked over, pointing and whispering amongst themselves.

Then, the sports commissioner fulfilled his promise.

I bow deeply in apology.

Tsukasa Tazaki is a real man!

On June 29, Tsukasa Tazaki went to Kinokuniya Bookstore in Shinjuku and bought several cookbooks on top-class cuisine. He planned to spend the next month practicing his cooking skills and strive to reach the master level by August.

The next afternoon, when she was watching in the ATF club activity room, she was seen by Shiori Ninomiya.

My little darling borrowed a book and insisted on doing everything exactly as written, word for word. She wanted to follow the instructions exactly, including choosing a cutting board, sharpening a knife, cleaning fish, and so on.

She also said that once she learns it, she will invite everyone to her home.

I work at a convenience store after school.

"Good evening, Tazaki-kun."

As soon as he stepped out of the store, Sachiko Tono greeted him warmly.

Tsukasa Tazaki nodded in greeting: "Good evening, I'll go change my clothes first."

After I changed my clothes and came out, the proprietress was just about to leave with her bag.

Today's widow is still going for a glamorous and mature style, wearing a white lace-trimmed bodycon skirt that accentuates her curves, with her beautiful legs encased in white suspender stockings and pointed high heels.

She had long, permed hair with bangs covering half of her face, and her lips, painted with red lipstick, looked exceptionally sexy.

Seeing that the sexy and alluring proprietress was about to leave again, Tsukasa Tazaki said irritably, "Is Sachiko-nee going on another date?"

"Yeah yeah……"

As she reached the door, Sachiko Tono turned back to Tsukasa Tazaki, both amused and exasperated. She pinched his cheek hard with her well-maintained, fair fingers: "So you're allowed to date high school girls all day, but I can't? Or do I, as the store manager, need your approval, a mere employee, to do whatever I want?"

Her tone and demeanor were very much like those of a young woman, her whole being exuding a melancholy air of unfulfilled desire.

"I respect Sachiko-nee the most..."

Tazaki Tsukasa smiled guiltily, trying his best to use his good looks to get away with it.

Sachiko Tono poked his forehead and complained, "I really don't know what terrible things I did in my past life to end up with an employee like you."

"You promised to wait for me to grow up, so don't go back on your word, Sachiko-nee."

"I'm going to have dinner with my girlfriends now. If I'm lucky, I'll have enough money to open a coffee shop for you in two months."

Sachiko Tono waved her hand, turned around and walked out of the store.

"Go home early, and contact me immediately if you encounter any trouble."

"Okay, Uncle Tazaki!"

Tazaki Tsukasa watched her leave, then began tidying the shelves alone. He returned to the counter, listening to music while doing his homework on the counter. As he wrote, he took out his notebook and meticulously wrote down the events of the past few days in fine handwriting.

I got home at 9:30 p.m.

Sweep the floor with a broom, wipe the tables and chairs with a rag, then take off your shirt and do sit-ups and push-ups on the floor. After completing the whole workout, go into the kitchen to prepare a late-night snack.

I made a vinegared salad with wakame seaweed and shrimp, and stir-fried a plate of snow peas with olive oil, garlic, and a small amount of Cantonese sausage.

I sat in a chair, engrossed in reading while having a late-night snack.

Finally, open the system, spend 100,000 coins to purchase the [Archery (Master)] skill, turn the calendar page down, June ends, and July officially begins.

【Ding】

[July loan deductions: 330000]

Current available funds: 957250

Compared to the debt situation at the beginning of last month, it's much better. Tazaki Tsukasa went directly to the trading market to check the exchange options that were refreshed this month.

[Oral popping candy: 100]

[A massive firework display: 10000]

Baking (Proficient): 50000

[Shorthand (Master): 100000]

【Intelligence: 100000】

As is customary, the introductions of each product are presented one by one in order.

[Mouth-exploding candy: Commonly known as popping candy, it is a highly entertaining snack. The carbon dioxide in the small candies vaporizes when heated in the mouth, creating a propulsive force that causes them to bounce around in the oral cavity, amplifying the sensory stimulation.]

Tsukasa Tazaki understands the principles, so why emphasize verbal application?

Can sugar be used in other parts of the body?

Tsukasa Tazaki decided to buy some to play with, solely for its entertainment value. As for any sensory stimulation, he was a respectable person and had no idea what kind of stimulation it involved.

[A gigantic firework display: A super, super gigantic firework display, just for one person!]

It's clearly a romantic gesture prepared for the official wife.

Baking skills will be skipped; you can tell what it is just by looking at the name.

[Shorthand (Master): All information observed by the eyes can be efficiently recorded in a short time.]

Good skills, but not in high demand.

Keep the funds for now, and buy again at the end of the month.

【Intelligence: 100000】

[Do you confirm the purchase?]

[Selected items purchased, cost: 100000]

【Ding】

[Intelligence 8→9]

Current available funds: 857250

Now I can rest assured. No matter how talented Kuriyama Sakura and Kichikawa Yui are, the first place in the final exam can only be mine.

Tazaki Tsukasa opened the secondary trading market with satisfaction.

There are four redemption options, two of which are always available: real money and loan products. The other two redemption items have also been updated.

[Super Recovery (Passive Skill): 100000]

【Beauty Cream (10): 10000】

They each clicked on the introduction and took a look.

[Super Recovery: When the body suffers a non-direct, fatal injury, it can recover on its own within a certain period of time. Each time it recovers, the muscles build up stronger fibers than before. (Special reminder: Life is only once; never take risks.)]

Tsukasa Tazaki sighed with emotion.

I don't know what use these amazing skills are for an ordinary high school student like myself.

【Beauty Cream (10): Literally, it delays aging by twenty years in one use. (Note: One use per person; exceeding this limit will have no effect.)】

Got it.

I'll find an opportunity to give it to the boss's wife first, so I won't feel guilty when I'm facing her.

As for the other girls, we'll send them over gradually.

I turned off the lights and got into bed.

Tsukasa Tazaki sent a message to Hanami Hoshino.

[On Qixi Festival (Chinese Valentine's Day), please make sure you wear Deer-Look's school uniform and go on a date with me!]

Chapter 171 The Unexpected Popularity of the Promotional Video

"Da, da, da..."

A series of crisp and loud footsteps echoed down the corridor of the teaching building, quickly silencing the previously noisy atmosphere in Class 1F.