My love index is at its maximum.

Tazaki Tsukasa looked at her soft, beautiful features: "Are you really going to reject me?"

The sound echoed through the empty corridor, like a loud voice speaking down from a mountaintop where the wind blows from all sides.

"no……"

Kana Shimamoto lowered her eyelids, her face slowly flushing: "Can you at least give me some more time to think about it? Besides, we can't let anyone else find out."

“No problem.” Tsukasa Tazaki nodded. “I told you we could talk more after you finish that box of skincare products.”

She held onto the door, took a deep breath, said "thank you," then pushed open the door and gracefully gestured to Tazaki Tsukasa, "Tazaki-san, please come in and sit for a while."

"I'd be happy to."

"Remember my warning!"

A pure, lotus-like smile bloomed on Tsukasa Tazaki's face: "I promise I won't lay a hand on you, unless you're willing!"

I can't be bothered with you~

Shimamoto Kana kicked off her high heels, both amused and exasperated, and went inside to turn on the lights.

Tsukasa Tazaki squatted down in the entryway and opened the shoe cabinet, intending to change into a pair of indoor shoes.

As soon as the cabinet was opened, what appeared before him were pairs of women's shoes reflecting the dim light, as colorful as irregular seashells scattered on the beach.

Traditional brown mules, trendy black peep-toe heels, brown platform ankle boots, strappy wedge sandals, over-the-knee snow boots, blue high heels studded with rhinestones… all kinds of shoes for all seasons are available, and the storage space next to the shoe cabinet is piled high with shoe boxes. A rough count reveals at least thirty pairs.

Tsukasa Tazaki paused for a moment, then looked up and asked, "Are you a shoe fetishist or a hamster with a collecting obsession?"

"Can't I spend my money however I want?"

Kana Shimamoto stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at him defiantly: "I'm going to take a shower, so don't do anything weird."

"Is there any leftover food in the kitchen?"

"No..." Shimamoto Kana asked疑惑地, "You're hungry again so soon after you finished eating?"

Tazaki Tsukasa honestly replied, "I could eat three big bowls of rice just listening to the sound of beautiful older sister taking a bath!"

"...Sigh!"

Kana Shimamoto sighed with a headache, took her change of clothes, and went into the bathroom.

She took off her clothes, slowly stretched out her body in the bathtub, and lathered her skin with shower gel, washing every inch of her skin one by one.

Recalling the two kisses at the restaurant, Kana Shimamoto gently stroked her lips with her fingers and smiled contentedly. Then, as if just realizing what had happened, she blushed and buried her face in her knees, giggling.

This feeling of inner comfort and peace is quite nice.

She thought to herself, "I can't let go so soon, I'll just keep him hanging for a while."

As for whether he will launch a domineering counterattack...

Actually, I'm kind of looking forward to it.

Kana Shimamoto gazed at her beautiful body, her eyes sparkling, as the bright, soft light poured down, completely enveloping her graceful figure.

Tsukasa Tazaki changed into indoor shoes and stood in the living room, carefully examining the apartment.

The room was on a high floor with a wide view; Tokyo Tower was not far away from the balcony. The living room was very spacious, there were two bedrooms, and a small bar. The furniture was elegant, clearly belonging to a wealthy and stylish family.

The living room has wooden floors covered with a soft wool carpet with a unique pattern.

Tazaki Tsukasa sat down on the sofa in the living room and picked up a book from the coffee table to flip through. On the coffee table was a very worn-out desk calendar, with only a few numbers showing the date as July 11, 2015 on the dusty pages.

There was nothing else—no photographs, no paintings, no markings whatsoever.

Twenty minutes later, the bathroom door opened, and Shimamoto Kana, wearing a simple nightgown, came out. Her fresh and clean appearance was truly refreshing.

Tsukasa Tazaki turned to look at her.

When Shimamoto Kana dried her hair, put her glasses back on, and looked back at him, he still didn't look away.

"How can you stare at a girl like that?"

Tazaki Tsukasa said, "I'm jealous of the hot water you used for your shower just now."

She tilted her head slightly and smiled gently, "Weirdo!"

“It’s not strange,” Tsukasa Tazaki said. “It’s just that tonight is so wonderful that it feels a little unreal.”

Kana Shimamoto walked to his side and placed her hand on his forehead.

"Hmm, it doesn't seem like a fever," she said. "Go home and get a good night's sleep, and try to have sweet dreams."

"Are you really not letting me stay the night?"

"Dame dame~" Shimamoto Kana still smiled charmingly, though her cheeks were slightly flushed. Before Tazaki Tsukasa could speak, she said in a relaxed and natural tone, "What if you sneak into my room in the middle of the night? I'm a weak girl who has failed sports since I was a child, and I can't stand being abused by Tazaki-kun."

Tsukasa Tazaki shrugged, indicating that he was innocent.

"Stop pretending to be innocent!"

Kana Shimamoto chuckled irritably, took a can of beer from the refrigerator, and went to the balcony to gaze at the scenery outside the window.

Tsukasa Tazaki followed behind her, standing beside several lush potted ornamental plants, overlooking the Tokyo night view.

Tokyo's night sky is always breathtakingly bright. Directly ahead lies the iconic Tokyo Tower, to the right, the brightly lit Shinjuku district, and to the left, the bustling Minato Ward. Car headlights flow between streets, converging into a dazzling river of light.

Kana Shimamoto leaned casually against the railing, sipping her beer while watching the aviation warning lights flashing atop the skyscrapers of Nishi-Shinjuku in the distance.

Those giant building complexes, which are over 200 meters tall, will take on different forms depending on the time and weather.

Every morning, the glass curtain wall of the building is always the first to reflect the sunlight. On stormy, windy days, the buildings appear and disappear like islands in the sea, amidst the waves.

For the past six years, Kana Shimamoto has always gazed at this landscape with the thought of seeing when they will collapse.

But on this night, looking at the unchanging scenery before her, she suddenly realized that she still harbored a longing for something distant and beautiful.

"Tazaki..."

Kana Shimamoto suddenly murmured, her tone neither loud nor soft. Tsukasa Tazaki turned his head to look, his right hand being held by her left, that hand like a little rabbit seeking warmth, cautious yet yearning.

Slender, delicate fingertips, warm, moist palms.

"what's up?"

"No, you should go back."

“Okay.” Tazaki Tsukasa smiled understandingly and waved the book in his hand: “I’ll borrow this book to take back and read as well.”

Kana Shimamoto glanced at the book cover: "You like reading Haruki Murakami's books?"

"I wouldn't say I like him, it's just that this guy named Tsukuru Tazaki has a similar name to me, so I'm a little interested."

"take it."

"And this set of keys..."

"Hey, that's my spare key!"

"See you at the training camp, Mr. Shimamoto!" Tsukasa Tazaki grabbed his books and keys and dashed out the door.

"..."

Kana Shimamoto had a bad feeling.

Starting today, he will probably be visiting this apartment where he lives alone quite frequently.

"What a troublesome little guy."

With a wry smile, Kana Shimamoto finished the rest of her beer in one gulp.

As I was getting ready to go back to my room to sleep, a small cloud drifted into view from the east. The soft edges of the cloud were tinged with the colors of the city lights, as beautiful as a gorgeous skirt that had been dyed with colorful dyes.

It's so beautiful.

Kana Shimamoto sighed, returned to the living room, and threw the old calendar on the coffee table into the trash can. She took a new desk calendar from the drawer, turned the date to July 24, 2021, and carefully placed it on the table.

She clasped her hands together and bowed to the calendar, then smiled gently.

……

Tsukasa Tazaki got home after 1 a.m.

I brushed my teeth, took a shower, changed into my pajamas, went back to bed, and read "Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage" for a while before quickly becoming drowsy.

Tazaki slammed the book shut, stared at the ceiling, and pondered for a while what would happen during the kendo club training camp, and what the future held for those three high school girls.

But thinking about it was no use; he couldn't even predict what would happen tomorrow.

Maybe my legs will be broken by that adorable girl.

I got out of bed and drank a glass of water.

Turn off the lights, roll back into bed, and close your eyes to sleep.

This long and wonderful night has come to an end.

Chapter 182 "Tsukasa Tazaki, Who Has No Status in the Family, and His Older Sister"

July 21st marks the official start of summer vacation.

Tsukasa Tazaki woke up promptly at six o'clock, ate a simple breakfast, changed into his workout clothes, and went out for a morning run alone at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

Da'ai's excuse for staying in bed today is that he's going shopping with his sister later, and he wants to go back to Xiaoying's family in the afternoon to play with her.

She's become increasingly lazy ever since we started dating!

On a July morning in Higashi-Shinjuku, you can see many girls with bright blonde hair and bare legs peeking out from under miniskirts. In the light of the rising sun, they seem tired as they walk along, yawning.

Whenever they encountered Tsukasa Tazaki, they would greet him very warmly.

Occasionally, someone will slip you a small card.

I'm used to this treatment.

Tsukasa Tazaki ran into Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden without looking back.

While running around the artificial lake, I was thinking about whether I should sneak into my daughter's room at six o'clock every morning to make her get up and exercise, or else I wouldn't give her breakfast!

After completing the tenth lap and after careful consideration, Tsukasa Tazaki reluctantly abandoned his bold idea.

There is only one consequence of doing this—he will also be unable to get out of bed.

There are two situations where you can't get out of bed.