My love index is at its maximum.

"Tazaki..." someone shouted, "Aren't you going to introduce him to us?"

"Yeah, at least show your face."

Facing the curious gazes of her students, Hoshino Hanami shyly shrank behind Tazaki Tsukasa, resting her face against his back without daring to lift it up.

My heart was pounding, my palms were sweating, and my cheeks were burning.

She really has that youthful innocence.

"She's shy and doesn't like being bothered. I'll introduce her to you next time."

Tazaki Tsukasa smiled, bowed to his classmates in apology, and left the classroom hand in hand with his girlfriend.

The two went up to the fifth floor.

“Every school building in Kitagawa Academy is connected by an elevated walkway. We are now going up to the fifth floor. After passing through the elevated walkway, we will reach the main building, where the cafeteria and library are located.”

Tazaki Tsukasa enthusiastically introduced the school to her one by one, and in front of the elevated corridor on the fifth floor, they ran into Shigawa Yui.

The blonde girl stared intently at their clasped hands, her brow furrowing slightly.

“This is Yui Kichikawa,” Tsukasa Tazaki said, turning his head to introduce her to JK Hanami. “She’s a friend I’ve known since I was very young.”

Hoshino Hanami nodded shyly, her face obscured by her long hair and mask.

"Who is she?" Qichuan Wei clenched her fists, her clear blue eyes blazing with anger.

"My girlfriend."

Tazaki Tsukasa replied, then walked around her toward the main building.

[Tazaki Tsukasa, are you trying to annoy me with this?! The Kikawa Stock Index has fallen 10 points; current stock price: 33]

I heard the sound of a foot kicking the wall from behind me.

Hoshino Hanami turned her head and stared at Tazaki Tsukasa with a deep smile: "She seems to care a lot about Tazaki-kun."

"Hanami-kun, you need to understand one thing: there are many girls in this school who consider me their dream girl."

"I'll have to keep a closer eye on you from now on."

"Look, this is our school cafeteria. The lemonade they sell is cheap and delicious. The library is right above the cafeteria. The librarian there, Ms. Shimamoto, is a very kind teacher. Ah, don't get me wrong, I'm just giving an objective evaluation."

After leaving the cafeteria, Tsukasa Tazaki led her around the library, relieved to see that Professor Shimamoto wasn't there. They then walked through the corridors of the main building to the clubhouse building.

"This is the club I joined, the ATF club, a book-reading and tea-drinking club with an unclear purpose."

Pushing open the door, I immediately saw two girls quietly studying. The other girl was packing her bag while muttering, "Tsukasa Tazaki isn't here today, I have to hurry home to prepare for my sister's birthday. After tonight, my sister will belong to me alone!"

"cough~"

Tsukasa Tazaki coughed lightly.

My sister-in-law jumped up instantly, just like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

Looking back, she immediately pulled out her phone with ecstatic joy and pointed the camera at the two holding hands: "Tsukuru Tazaki, you're dead!"

Kuriyama Sakura rested her chin on her hand, looking at her younger sister with an expression akin to caring for someone with intellectual disabilities. Tazaki Tsukasa was surprised to find that she was bare-legged today, not wearing her ever-present black stockings. Meanwhile, Ninomiya Shiori gripped her pen tightly, her gaze complex as she looked at the girl beside him.

"This is my homeroom teacher's younger sister, Hoshino Shikami. She's very cute, isn't she? She's just a little silly."

Tazaki Tsukasa said with a smile, and then introduced the three of them: "This is my girlfriend, Hoshino Hanami from Aota Girls' High School."

?

Hoshino Hanami?

This name sounds familiar.

The sister-in-law's expression instantly froze, as if she were stuck in an endless swamp, unable to move.

"I won't disturb your studies any longer, goodbye."

The door closed gently, and the activity room became completely quiet.

After staring blankly for a long time, Hoshino Shika silently took out her phone and made a call.

"Hey, Grandma, Shikami is going back to Kyoto."

"Those two are bullying me so much, waah~"

……

The two strolled around the playground a few times, and many students along the way secretly took photos with their phones. One can imagine that tonight, the school forum will be filled with new evidence that "Tsukuru Tazaki of Class F is a scumbag who plays with girls' feelings."

After leaving school, I went straight to Yotsuya Station and took the tram to see the Tanabata Festival at Senso-ji Temple.

As soon as they stepped into the crowded carriage, Tsukasa Tazaki couldn't wait to put his arm around Hanami Hoshino's waist and pull her into his arms.

"I'm very happy today." Hoshino Hanami took off her mask and glasses, and her smile was both affectionate and a little mischievous, making her very cute.

The tram sped along, and Tsukasa Tazaki held her even tighter.

JK Hanami, dressed in a white shirt and pleated skirt, exudes a captivating charm, especially her slender figure, which can be described as the epitome of feminine beauty, flawlessly perfect.

"Tazaki, tell me the truth."

Hoshino Hanami gazed into his eyes, her tone gentle: "You made me wear my school uniform on our date, did you know what I really wanted to do?"

Her eyes, clear as crystal, made my heart race.

Tazaki Tsukasa, inhaling her fragrance, gazed at the scenery flashing past the car window: "This only proves that the teacher and I are thinking the same thing. We both want to walk hand in hand on campus and let everyone know about our relationship."

"You are such a likable student."

Hoshino Hanami wrapped her arms around his neck, inhaling the faint scent of sweat on his neck with ecstasy: "Take me home tonight."

Tazaki Tsukasa's heart skipped a beat, the sound unusually loud.

"Didn't you say we had to wait until August 8th?"

"I can't wait."

"Yes, madam!"

Hoshino Hanami smiled brightly. "Of course, I might change my mind. You'd better behave yourself in the time to come."

What constitutes a good performance?

"What do you say?"

Does this count?

Tazaki Tsukasa gently traced her lips with his fingers and kissed her.

Bathed in the purple light of a summer evening, the tram sped forward, carrying the kissing lovers to Asakusa.

Tanabata was introduced to Japan in the 8th century AD.

However, Takashi Tazaki doesn't know when the date changed from the seventh day of the seventh lunar month to the seventh day of the seventh solar month, and the meaning of the festival has also changed long ago. The Japanese Tanabata Festival has nothing to do with romantic love, but is a festival to pray for the skill of the Weaver Girl, the progress of life, and the health of family members.

On this day, many places will also hold Qixi Festivals.

This doesn't necessarily mean that the Japanese value Tanabata (the seventh day of the seventh lunar month) that much, since various festivals can be seen everywhere during the summer.

Summer festivals and fireworks displays are held hundreds of times a year in the Tokyo metropolitan area alone. Large-scale events, such as the Hachioji Festival, attract millions of participants. Smaller events, such as summer festivals, might only have a few dozen participants from a single street.

When we arrived at Kaminarimon Gate of Senso-ji Temple, it was already completely dark. The shops on both sides had displayed ornamental bamboo at their entrances, with wind chimes and short notes left by guests containing their wishes.

The two walked hand in hand on the stone path illuminated by lanterns.

The Tanabata Festival wasn't crowded, but the small space of Senso-ji Temple made it feel like a sea of ​​people. Mask stalls, balloon shooting, goldfish scooping... shouts rose and fell, and children would occasionally roll on the ground, begging for takoyaki.

Hoshino Hanami's usual mature and composed image crumbled completely that night.

"Next, cotton candy! Tazaki, I want cotton candy!"

"...You should finish the candied apple in your right hand and the takoyaki in your left hand first."

"Ah, here's some takoyaki for you."

"...I just ate a bowl of fried noodles and two grilled corn cobs for you!"

"I don't care if I want to eat cotton candy right now."

"Ok."

Tazaki Tsukasa had no choice but to take the half-eaten takoyaki from her hand, and then took out money to buy Hoshino Hanami a skewer of cotton candy.

"Tazaki, he's wearing a mask!"

Halfway through her cotton candy, Hoshino Hanami ran over to the mask stall, her eyes sparkling as she stared at the masks.

Tsukasa Tazaki was somewhat surprised.

As a local native, my girlfriend shouldn't be that happy about this kind of festival, right?

Shouldn't she have participated in this many times since she was a child?

Hoshino Hanami, wearing a very common fox mask, looked at him and said, "Hey, do you think this looks good?"

"It looks good, it looks good," Tsukasa Tazaki replied while eating takoyaki.

"Hey, what's with your attitude?"

"No, I just think it's too ordinary... No, I'm just kidding! I'm joking, don't step on my foot!"

"Hurry up, let's go scoop up the goldfish!"

"Wait a minute, there are so many people, don't get separated!"

"Tazaki, look at this!"

"Tazaki, come over here quickly!"

JK Hanami's eyes sparkled as she shouted at the temporary stalls lining both sides of the shopping street. To a stranger, she might just appear to be a well-developed high school girl. Her gleeful and excited demeanor even startled a group of elementary school students, a stark contrast to her usual image as a poised and confident female teacher standing on the podium.

"Hey, there's a shooting game! Tazaki, come play with me!"

When Tsukasa Tazaki walked over, she was holding an air rifle and aiming intently, with a group of children watching nearby.

The targets of the shooting are gifts of all sizes; if you hit one, you can take it home.

"boom."

Missed.

"Ah, what a pity, just a little bit short."