My love index is at its maximum.

There were so many things he wanted to say, but he couldn't get them out for a moment. After holding it in for a long time, Tsukasa Tazaki finally managed to utter, "Why?"

"Why are there so many whys?"

Shiori Ninomiya leaned on the table and spoke rapidly, "We've known each other for quite some time now, and we have enough good feelings for each other. Since we've reached this point, isn't it only natural to call this relationship 'love'?"

"..."

Tsukasa Tazaki stared at her body, remaining silent.

The little cutie has a very beautiful body, well-proportioned and charming, full of vitality. Although her figure is still that of a young girl, and her slightly arched eyebrows still carry a hint of childishness, the hardships she has experienced since childhood have given her a certain mature charm of self-improvement. Her limbs are slender and delicate, but they do not appear pitiful; instead, they deeply contain a strength rarely seen in women.

He remained silent, and Shiori Ninomiya stared at him for a long time before suddenly breaking the silence with a smile: "This approach is indeed wrong, but if Shiori-chan doesn't take a little more courage, she'll miss out for the rest of her life, and I'm very clear about that."

By the time she finished speaking, her neck had turned red.

"Shiori-chan doesn't want to wallow in the bittersweet feeling of unrequited love, just like the moon outside the window..." Shiori Ninomiya said, pointing out the window, "If you just keep gazing at it, you'll never reach it no matter how much time passes."

Tazaki Tsukasa looked outside and saw a bright crescent moon hanging in the sky, its light casting a holy silver glow on the Shonan Sea.

"If you can't suppress your feelings, you have to say it!" the little cutie said decisively, her cheeks flushed red: "What begins after that will definitely be a true love story."

Tsukasa Tazaki turned his gaze back to her.

Shiori Ninomiya's heart was pounding. She initially intended to turn her face away, but ended up just awkwardly lowering her head. However, as soon as Tsukasa Tazaki looked away, she immediately looked back at him.

What is Kiki thinking about?

He's probably thinking about how to criticize what he just said.

Looking into his eyes, which were focused on a certain imaginary point, Shiori Ninomiya felt a slight pang of sadness. She thought that his eyes were so clear and unfathomable, like a mountain spring seen through a crack in a rock. Yet, despite their crystal-clear appearance, it was impossible to glean anything from them, or to discern his inner thoughts.

At what moment does one person fall in love with another?

This is a difficult question to answer clearly.

I can't pinpoint the exact time, place, or what expression I saw or what he said, but I started to like him. It began with a small, budding admiration—he was faster than me, taller, and had a beautiful smile. And so, I began to care.

By the time you realize it, you've already reached a point where you can't extricate yourself.

"Please... Kiki~"

Shiori Ninomiya smiled, then suddenly turned her head and looked out the window, saying, "Can we have a platonic relationship? You can just coax and tease me, I don't need you to say you like me, and I don't need any physical contact. As long as nothing actually happens, it won't be considered cheating for Hoshino-sensei, is that okay?"

Tsukasa Tazaki didn't speak; he was still thinking about what would happen if he agreed.

The silence, along with the soft light, filled the room, so bright that even the outline of an ear was clearly visible. A few small moths flew in through the open window, flitting around the chandelier.

Suddenly, a strong wind swept across the sea, and his thoughts drifted away with it.

Shiori Ninomiya let the sea breeze caress her hair and took a deep breath: "The air is so fresh."

Her slightly curled hair swayed gently, and her exposed neck was as white as snow, as delicate as a freshly peeled lily, appearing exceptionally clean and flawless.

Tazaki Tsukasa took a deep breath and faintly smelled the scent of shampoo emanating from her hair.

"Never mind... I'll go back first."

Ninomiya Shiori turned around and smiled slightly, tilting her head as she said, "Just think of it as me being moved by your willingness to participate in the kendo tournament, so I just lost my mind and talked nonsense for a moment. Don't take it to heart. Also, I'm sure I'm going to get angry again, but I'll hold back for now and get angry after the tournament is over."

Although she was still smiling, a deep sense of loneliness shone in her eyes, like withered reeds reflected on a calm water surface.

Tazaki Tsukasa rested his elbow on the table, looking at her with amusement: "Were you playing a game back then? Could you even build up rage points?"

“You can save up with Shiori-chan.” Ninomiya Shiori smiled weakly, her gaze unfocused: “It’s a skill I’ve developed since I was a child. I can selectively forget unhappy things and then vent them when no one is watching.”

"How can it be so amazing?"

"There's no other way."

"No other way?"

“I’ve been liked by everyone since I was little, what can I do!” Shiori Ninomiya lowered her head and scratched her hair with her fingers: “The town is so small, and I’m so cute, so everyone likes me. Whenever I’m in a bad mood, everyone rushes to my house to tell my parents. After doing this so many times, I’ve gradually learned this skill.”

Tazaki Tsukasa thought to himself that, like his passive ability to sense others' hostility, it was a talent he had developed in his childhood environment.

"Kiki, can you please not be angry with me?" the little cutie said, looking at him.

"angry?"

"I'm angry that I suddenly rambled on. I know I shouldn't have, but I won't apologize for it."

"Okay, I'm not angry."

"Kiki is awesome!"

The little cutie cheered and closed her lips very smoothly, just like a beautiful strawberry jelly.

Tazaki Tsukasa tilted his head back and looked closely into her blinking eyes.

Because of her age, her appearance is more cute than beautiful. She's petite, giving the impression of being slender and well-proportioned. She has a lively personality, loves to laugh, and when she does, she reveals her pearly white teeth. She's charming, intelligent, and has a cheerful and outgoing personality; talking to her is a very pleasant experience.

Tazaki Tsukasa naturally had feelings for her.

She even worried that if she didn't pursue it, she would really disappear.

"oops……"

Shiori Ninomiya suddenly patted her forehead. "It's so late, I should go back now."

"Are you going back already?" Tsukasa Tazaki stood up and leaned closer to look at her face. The light shone on her supple skin, giving it a shell-like sheen.

"Otherwise what?" the little cutie retorted. "Why is Kiki keeping me here?"

"Just chatting is fine too."

"Can Kiki understand how I feel?"

Tsukasa Tazaki crossed his arms and said with a smile, "Of course I understand."

"Since you understand, then tell me. Here, tell me." Ninomiya Shiori suddenly said in a questioning tone, and before Tazaki Tsukasa could answer, she muttered to herself, "See, you can't say anything now. You're such a carefree person. You would never understand me."

Tsukasa Tazaki walked around the table to her side, and heard her whisper, "I'm so sad, really, I was so stupid."

"You didn't even give me a chance... how am I supposed to explain myself?"

"I'm not saying anything more, I'm going back to my bed and crying by myself..."

As she said this, her wide, puppy-dog eyes shone with a strong "please protect me" light.

Tsukasa Tazaki leaned closer to her: "Can I touch your face?"

"Eh?"

Shiori Ninomiya looked at him blankly: "Why..."

"So cute!" said Tsukasa Tazaki. "I can hardly contain myself."

“It’s okay, Shiori-chan.” Ninomiya Shiori nodded vigorously, then said with a serious expression, “But even with Kiki, you can only touch her once.”

"why?"

"You can only touch it once!"

"what?"

"Hurry up, before I change my mind!"

"Oh, here it comes."

Tazaki Tsukasa stretched out his index finger and poked the girl's milky white skin on her cheek. The moment his finger touched her, the girl's face turned bright red all the way to her ears.

So bouncy!

The slightly sunken finger was immediately bounced back softly, poking it back and forth a few times, just like a trampoline, and the touch from the fingertip was very comfortable.

Shiori Ninomiya held his fingers and asked, "How does it feel?"

"It feels very comfortable." Tsukasa Tazaki turned his gaze back to her face.

The little cutie gritted her teeth, stubbornly meeting his gaze. The light reflected in her moist eyes, making them shimmer slightly, indescribably beautiful, and even Tazaki Tsukasa's heart was stirred.

He recalled the last scene of the promotional video they had recently filmed, where the tuna girl chased after the train on the platform, crying out in a simple yet desperate voice, "When I'm here, please come see me once a year!"

Even if it's fake, he doesn't want this scene to repeat itself.

Well... whatever.

I'm very happy to be with Shiori-chan.

As long as I can see her happy, I'm willing to do anything.

A sea breeze blew in, bringing Tazaki Tsukasa's thoughts back to the room. As he felt the refreshing coolness, his expression gradually became serious.

“Then let’s have a Platonic love affair,” he said seriously. “I will not touch you until I can keep you by my side forever.”

The little cutie tilted her head slightly and said with a smile, "But you've already touched it."

"This doesn't count." Tsukasa Tazaki withdrew his hand. "From now on!"

"Haha~" Shiori Ninomiya quickly regained her energy and playfully tempted, "How about you hug me first, and then we can start over?"

"no!"

Tsukasa Tazaki shook his head firmly.

Once you've done something the first time, you'll automatically find countless reasons to convince yourself to do it again the second time.

This kind of mistake should not be made lightly.

It's like cheating; once it happens the first time, then...

Ok.

It's best not to dwell on things that expose your own shortcomings.

"That's all we can do~" Ninomiya Shiori smiled hysterically, staring into his eyes and asking, "So am I now your official little wife?"

Tsukasa Tazaki asked her, both amused and exasperated, "Why do I get the feeling that you sound arrogant?"

"Of course!"

Shiori Ninomiya snapped her fingers coolly and said cheerfully, "Who is Kiki? He's the undisputed academic superstar of the best elite high school in all of Japan, and also a super aloof and handsome guy. How can I not be proud that Shiori-chan managed to win him over?"

"Mmm-hmm." Tsukasa Tazaki nodded in agreement. "Keep praising me, I love hearing it."

"Haha~ Next time, next time."

Shiori Ninomiya smiled and took a few steps back, then bent down to him earnestly: "Shiori-chan is very happy today. She's going back to bed to giggle to herself."