My love index is at its maximum.

He lacked romance and charm, and had no special talents other than farming and herding cattle. His most memorable experience in life was spending three years in high school in Sapporo. The only thing he could call an interest was a habit he retained from joining the kendo club during his three years of high school—he would pick up any pretty sticks he saw on the roadside and swing them a few times.

It's hard to say whether this can be considered a hobby.

"Shiori, tell Dad quickly, is that boy you mentioned last time going to participate in the National Kendo Tournament?"

"Uh……"

"I've looked at that photo you sent me so many times, he's really handsome! I can't quite put my finger on his charisma, your dad is too uncultured to describe it, could you, Shiori, help me?"

Shiori Ninomiya rubbed her sore nose: "A perfect young samurai, his eyes shine when he's fighting, his moves are grand and powerful. When he's quiet, he's gentle and refined, with a melancholy look in his eyes."

"Yes, yes, Dad, I think so too. He's just like Kenshin Himura. You know, I loved watching Rurouni Kenshin when I was in high school. Is he going to participate in the kendo tournament? If so, I'm going to secretly go and be a fan of his!!!"

"dad……"

"Shiori, what's wrong? Hey, don't cry. Did Daddy say something wrong?"

There is no such thing as Kenshin Himura in this world... The words stuck in her throat, but she couldn't get them out. Shiori Ninomiya rubbed her red eyes and choked out, "Shiori-chan misses home."

The father comforted his daughter for a few words before reluctantly hanging up the phone.

Shiori Ninomiya tidied up her desk and watered the tomato plants in the pot on the balcony.

They picked up their luggage and headed out.

Head south from Otsuka towards Yotsuya.

The air was filled with the aroma of buttery bread, the scent of hydrangeas, and the smell of water splashed on the asphalt.

The newly opened music store was playing the latest popular songs.

These smells and sounds, like a materialized phantom, crashed into my body and quickly disappeared away from me. Even though I was right there in them, the actual distance between us was probably still as far as the distance between Tokyo and Hokkaido.

How will Kiki spend her summer vacation?

Is it a private time just for the two of you with Hoshino-sensei?

I'm so envious.

Shiori Ninomiya dragged her suitcase as she walked, lost in thought. The streets of the residential area were deserted in the early morning, with crows, up early to forage, perched on the blue-painted iron roof of the garbage station.

That said, the Kendo Club's attempt to sign up for the national tournament is such an overconfident act that Kiki would probably only earn her a "futile" evaluation.

It certainly is.

That guy has absolutely no sense of empathy for girls.

Just like writing a diary, it was all in vain in his eyes.

It's all in vain.

Whether you're in Tokyo alone, studying hard, working to earn money, or praying for Kiki and her mother's health at the shrine...

It's all in vain!

Shiori Ninomiya walks onto the pedestrian overpass in Yotsuya, gazing at the blue sky across the way, while trams roar past beneath her.

The weather lived up to its name as the height of summer, a dazzlingly sunny day. She leaned on the railing, absentmindedly watching the halo of sunlight cast on the railway tracks, the halo slowly moving along the arc of the rising sun, gradually illuminating every inch of the track.

When the light reached her feet, she couldn't help but recall the first day of high school.

I still vividly remember the silly way I looked on that day, smugly wearing my new uniform and full of anticipation for my new life.

What a fool!

The little cutie cursed like that.

A gust of wind lifted strands of hair, brushing against my cheeks.

The pain brought a thin layer of tears to her eyes.

The next gust of wind dried her tears.

As she walked down the overpass, Shiori Ninomiya walked dejectedly toward school.

The rooftops of the Yotsuya residential area were faintly illuminated as if they had been secretly soaked, and the sunlight above the rooftops was somewhat uncomfortable.

At a traffic light before the school's uphill section, she saw Yui Kikawa walking from the east.

This childhood friend of Kiki's, I feel a little sorry for her.

Sigh, never mind...

I'm not much better off myself; we're in the same boat.

Turning around, out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Kuriyama Sakura walking from the southern port area.

Shiori Ninomiya felt quite grateful to this young lady.

How can someone who is alone in a foreign land not feel warm inside when they are willing to set aside their pride and sincerely play with you?

And she and Kiki are really alike; they're only interested in things that interest them, and nothing else...

Wait, that's not right.

Shiori Ninomiya's heart started racing.

Based on her understanding of Kuriyama Sakura, she knew that the club captain would never be interested in something like kendo club training. And for her to be interested, unless…

The little cutie turned her head and looked towards Shinjuku in the west.

Under a sky of breathtakingly blue, a young man carrying a suitcase strolled leisurely into view.

Wearing a white short-sleeved T-shirt, black sweatpants, green tennis shoes, and a New York Yankees baseball cap, he looked clean, handsome, and stylish.

Shiori Ninomiya shouted loudly, "Kiki~"

Tsukasa Tazaki took off his hat, smiled at her, and said, "Good morning."

The bright sunlight fell on his handsome profile, and every gesture he made exuded the charm of a beautiful young man. What a wonderful sight it was!

"Ah~!"

The little cutie, whose heart skipped a beat, let out a joyful shout, dropped her luggage, and ran over as fast as she could.

Like a lively little deer frolicking in a spring forest, she crashed headfirst into Tsukasa Tazaki's arms, grabbed his collar with both hands, and screamed at the top of her lungs, "Ahhh~ Kiki!"

I like you so much!

Chapter 185 Tazaki Tsukasa is a very honest but principled LSP

Her fair little hands gripped his collar, savoring the faint scent of his sweat. The little cutie looked up and exclaimed, "I love you so much!"

[Oh no, Shiori-chan is really going to fall for her! Shiori Ninomiya stock index rose 50 points, current stock price: 240]

[Initiate the share issuance process]

[Shiori Ninomiya's shares have been increased by 10000.]

Tazaki Tsukasa paused for a moment, his expression a mixture of surprise and certainty.

Although he had heard her say countless times that she wanted to win him over, this was the first time he had heard her say it so directly. He lowered his head, and their eyes met. In the depths of her dark eyes, it seemed as if a life core was surging forth.

"Kiki~ What brings you here?"

The little cutie's face, flushed with excitement, was filled with an involuntary smile. Realizing that her initial desire to experience it had gradually transformed into genuine enjoyment, she felt a bittersweet mix of emotions, including a touch of regret.

Tazaki looked at her and couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth: "You can hear the sound of what you need by tilting your ear, and you can see the shape of what you need by squinting your eyes."

“Like a slogan.” Shiori Ninomiya’s eyes were filled with light, and she couldn’t help but chuckle.

The lovely girl living in the snow country, along with her straightforward warmth and undisguised joy, are all vividly expressed in this moment, giving people a profound, powerful, yet peaceful, warm, and comfortable feeling.

“It’s not a slogan,” Tsukasa Tazaki said with a shake of his head and a smile. “It’s about expressing a living soul through language.”

Shiori Ninomiya blushed, took a step back to look at him, and asked happily like a puppy wagging its tail, "Kiki, did you hear the call of my heart?"

Tsukasa Tazaki nodded quickly.

The most deceitful Tokyoite once again shamelessly deceived the innocent and naive country girl.

A smile quickly bloomed on Shiori Ninomiya's face, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. The bright summer sunlight shone on her face, making that blush of happiness even more vibrant and alluring.

"Don't listen to his nonsense."

Kuriyama Sakura had unknowingly moved to stand beside the two of them, mercilessly mocking Tazaki Tsukasa: "He only shamelessly borrowed what Murakami Haruki said!"

Shiori Ninomiya let out a regretful cry of "Oh!"

"Minister... you should at least consider the occasion when you speak."

Tazaki Tsukasa glared at Kuriyama Sakura, annoyed: "Can you please not spoil this romantic scene where a young boy and girl are expressing their feelings for each other?"

That scumbag shouldn't have brought it up; just mentioning it made Kuriyama Sakura furious. At the sun-drenched crossroads, the department head stood with his arms crossed, his cheeks slightly puffed out in anger, his gaze instantly sharpening: "Once we get to Kamakura, you'd better explain yourself properly!"

Tsukasa Tazaki shrank his neck.

Just as I was about to ask for an explanation, a prompt popped up in front of me.

Is Shimamoto-sensei fun? What a jerk! Kuriyama Sakura stock index drops 20 points, current price: 170.

Tsukasa Tazaki: "..."

No wonder she suddenly lost her temper.

So it was jealousy... no, it was realizing that his teacher-student relationship with Kana Shimamoto had deteriorated.

To avoid the torture he would face once he got on the train, Tsukasa Tazaki decided to start breaking the ice early. He didn't expect to melt her away, but if he could just make her a little more docile, that would be a success.

"Miss Kuriyama..."

Tazaki Tsukasa looked her up and down, feigning confusion as he asked, "Why are you dressed like this today?"

A white, fitted blouse with V-shaped ruffles from the neckline to the chest, adorned with a red ribbon bow at the collar—a very elegant and charming look! The lower half is a simple, jet-black mini-skirt, the hem ending just above the thigh. Black stockings, just past the knee, reveal about seven or eight centimeters of fair, wavy lace at the top and hem, vividly conveying a sexy allure.

The clash between elegance and sexiness, coupled with her commanding presence, creates a unique and alluring eroticism.

Tsukasa Tazaki is a very honest old pervert.

He wouldn't lie to himself.

At this moment, the minister made him want to do something aggressive to her. For example, to forcibly pull her into his arms despite her resistance and give her a passionate kiss until she was too weak to walk.

But at the same time, he is a lecherous old man with principles.

If Kuriyama were 25 years old this year, or if her relationship with Hoshino Hanami wasn't so good, he would definitely have done it.