My love index is at its maximum.

Kuriyama Sakura nodded slightly: "Such a person is only suitable to appear in dreams. He can take you to experience the most beautiful romance. If you meet him in real life, it would be nothing short of a disaster. In the words of Dazai Osamu: He comes from the sea of ​​people, only to bring you empty joy."

A false hope...

The little cutie hugged her knees underwater, repeatedly chewing on the bitter taste.

"Arrogance?" Yui Kichikawa turned around and looked at Sakura Kuriyama, asking calmly, "Based on my observation of him, he is not a polite person, but he is definitely not an arrogant person either."

“To be unconventional is the greatest arrogance.” Kuriyama Sakura recalled the time she spent with Tazaki Tsukasa and slowly organized her thoughts: “Not being unconventional, but choosing the path that most people take and continuing to move forward, is the wise way to live. Only a few people can always behave properly, hold firm to their beliefs, ignore the looks of others who think they are fools, and live their own lives amidst a chorus of criticism.”

Kikawa Yui nodded thoughtfully: "You are quite similar to me."

“Perhaps,” Kuriyama Sakura said with a smile. “When I was confused before, I always thought of myself as a weak, lonely, pitiful girl. Looking back now, I realize that from that time on, I was actually a willful, aloof, arrogant girl who thought the world was full of idiots.”

After saying that, the minister came out of the bath and walked towards the changing room.

Water droplets kept sliding off the graceful young girl's body.

The little cutie also climbed out of the bathtub, changed her clothes in a daze, and returned to the dormitory in a daze.

The lights were on indoors, and several students were huddled under the covers playing on their phones.

The air conditioning was on full blast, and perhaps because I had just come out of the hot water, my mouth felt dry after a while.

Shiori Ninomiya put on her shoes and planned to buy a bottle of water from the vending machine at the entrance.

The training ground was very quiet as night fell. The moonlight fell on the ground like snowflakes, making the asphalt road surface shine white, which was reflected in the twinkling lights of fireflies on the roadside lawn.

After walking for a few minutes, a vending machine surrounded by moths came into view.

The little cutie stopped and stared blankly at Tsukasa Tazaki, who was reading a book by the light of the lamp.

The surroundings were pitch black, with only the vending machine emitting a solitary light. The pale, indifferent light was projected into the deserted world, outlining the boy's body and exuding a captivating, intoxicating, and irresistibly lonely aura.

Was it all just wishful thinking?

Shiori Ninomiya crossed her arms and didn't dare to take another step.

I feel a bit frustrated, and there's nothing I can do. Like the wind blowing by, it has no shape or weight; if I like it, I can't hold onto it, and if I hate it, I can't punch or kick it away.

The moonlight flowed by, and the sounds of the ocean waves mingled with the chirping of summer insects, and I could almost hear the croaking of frogs.

A firefly was blown away from the lawn by the wind and floated in front of the Hokkaido girl.

Compared to the fireflies in Hokkaido, the fireflies here emit a brighter glow in the summer night. The little girl reached out to catch them several times, and the tiny light flickered and flowed between her fingertips, but she could never touch it.

An honest lifestyle is about acting according to your body's desires: eating only when you're hungry and not lying when you're in love.

The lamplight illuminated the pristine white paper. Tazaki Tsukasa stared at the passage for a long time before closing the book and rubbing his eyes.

The book is Gabriel García Márquez's *Love in the Time of Cholera*, which is very good. It tells a love story spanning more than half a century, as well as a period of Colombian history under the shadow of war and cholera.

Tsukasa Tazaki plans to recommend it to the little cutie later.

After all, compared to Garcia's other masterpiece, "A Hundred Years of Fame," a love story that is accessible to everyone is obviously more suitable for a vibrant young girl to experience.

The chirping of insects filled the air, and the starry sky twinkled overhead.

He stood up and stretched.

Through the beech trees in front, one can see the night view below the mountain.

Kamakura's nights are not as dazzling as Tokyo's, but they are warm, peaceful, and just right.

Turning to go back, Tsukasa Tazaki paused for a moment.

Shiori Ninomiya stood a few meters away, quietly watching herself.

She was wearing a light pink loose T-shirt and a beige short skirt that reached her knees, with her hair loosely draped over her back.

As the wind blew, the beech leaves rustled against each other, making the girl look delicate, relaxed, and incredibly beautiful.

"What brings you here?" Tsukasa Tazaki asked with a smile.

The little cutie spoke softly, "I'm thirsty."

What would you like to drink?

"The purified water is ready..."

Tazaki bought himself a Coke, and the two sat down on a wooden bench next to the vending machine.

The little cutie kicked off her slippers and stepped barefoot onto the smooth floor.

The ten toes are arranged cutely together, as delicate as beans just peeled from their pods.

I want to touch it, to hug it.

The thought flashed through Tsukasa Tazaki's mind, but it was quickly extinguished by the cool touch of the Coke can. He pulled the tab, gulped down a few mouthfuls, and then pressed the water-covered aluminum can against his forehead to continue cooling down.

Shiori Ninomiya unscrewed the bottle cap and looked at him strangely: "Why are you reading here?"

"My room has been illegally invaded by my aunt." Tsukasa Tazaki gave a helpless wry smile, holding the can of Coke: "Tonight, your Kiki might be sleeping on the veranda counting stars."

"You can come to my bed!"

Shiori Ninomiya stopped drinking water and stared at him with wide eyes: "If Kiki is willing, Shiori-chan won't refuse."

Those dark eyes were bright and sparkling, so beautiful.

Tsukasa Tazaki's gaze was drawn to it, and he became somewhat mesmerized.

"Hey, why aren't you saying anything?" The little cutie winked smugly. "Kiki changed her mind, didn't she!"

"Oh no, Shiori-chan's eyes are really beautiful."

"All they do is sweet talk, they don't do anything practical." The little cutie tossed her hair and muttered, "Tokyoites love to lie, they're not reliable at all."

"I think this is a slander against Tokyoites!"

"Where is the slander?"

Tazaki Tsukasa rubbed the water droplets on the aluminum can with his fingers, lazily explaining to her, "The saying 'Tokyoites love to lie' originated from Kawabata Yasunari's *Snow Country*, used by Komako to criticize the scumbag Shimamura. Kawabata Yasunari was born in Osaka, a true Kansai native. It's common knowledge that Kanto and Kansai people often belittle each other. So… the claim that they love to lie is most likely Kawabata Yasunari's malicious denigration of Tokyoites, and shouldn't be taken as fact!"

"Haha~" Shiori Ninomiya laughed immediately, and lightly punched his shoulder with her little hammer: "Kiki always has so many reasons to defend herself. I wonder if you will feel ashamed when you think about these words in the future."

No way.

"Shameless!"

“It’s not that I’m shameless.” Tsukasa Tazaki shook his head and defended himself: “Generally speaking, the people who need my explanation are usually the ones I care about. When I think back on these experiences in the future, I will only feel comfortable and warm, so why would I feel ashamed?”

"Is Shiori-chan someone Kiki cares about?"

“I care about it very much.”

The little cutie raised her hand and snapped her fingers in her signature cool way: "So, can Kiki grant Shiori-chan one of her wishes?"

Tell me about it.

"A firefly was teasing Shiori-chan just now..." The little cutie pointed casually and said in a cute but fierce way, "Kiki, you have to help me get revenge and make all those fireflies revolve around Shiori-chan!"

Following her fingertip, countless fireflies gathered and danced beneath the dim beech tree.

The leaves swayed incessantly in the wind, and the green specks of light bounced playfully in the breeze, just like marbles we played with as children.

Tsukasa Tazaki scratched his head and said with a troubled expression, "This request is too outrageous."

"That's how people in our area make their demands!"

"very scary."

The little cutie made a digging motion with her hands: "Those who can't do it will be dragged into a potato pit and buried!"

"I'll give it my best!"

Tsukasa Tazaki placed the book on the bench and then took her hand.

It is gentle and delicate, without a trace of roughness.

I don't know how a girl who grows potatoes all year round can have such smooth and delicate hands, like top-quality Kobe beef.

While Tazaki Tsukasa was thinking about these unromantic things, the little cutie holding his hand had her heart pounding like a lively rabbit, as if it might jump out of her chest at any moment.

I dare not look up.

I dare not speak.

She just stared at her feet, being led by him onto the lawn, into the dark depths where the moonlight couldn't reach.

The sound of the wind could be heard more clearly.

When I looked up, the darkness of the summer night seemed even deeper, and the fireflies swayed, leaving surprisingly clear trails in the pitch black.

"Watch closely."

Tsukasa Tazaki smiled gently and extended his left index finger.

The affinity passive effect applies to all creatures. With so many fireflies here, there's bound to be a few that develop a friendly attitude towards you.

Under the watchful, anxious gaze of the little cutie, a tiny green light traced a beautiful trail and rested on his fingertip. It lingered there for a moment before flying eastward.

The trajectory of that light still lingers in the girl's heart.

"Wow, that's amazing!"

Shiori Ninomiya raised her face and smiled warmly: "How did you do that?"

Those jet-black eyes gleamed with a bright light within the darkness, like a black lake. I wanted to swim in those clear, pure eyes, to swim naked in that black lake.

Those eyes shimmer with the nourishing glow of love...

A strange mix of anticipation and warmth filled Tazaki's heart. He raised an eyebrow and smiled confidently: "Tazaki, who is about to become the most amazing sixteen-year-old boy in the world, is a miracle."

He's hopelessly handsome!

The little cutie's nose felt sore, her vision blurred, and she felt a little short of breath.

Tazaki Tsukasa couldn't help but reach out and gently stroke her head: "This is only one, far from enough."

More and more fireflies swayed in the depths of the dark beech forest, and countless shimmering lights hovered around the two of them, connecting to form a river of light, illuminating the entire summer night dream.

Shiori Ninomiya's gaze swept around several times before she slowly reached out her hand.

A shimmering point of light detached from the river of light and landed on her slender, fair fingertip. The faint light reflected in her eyes, yet it was as dazzling as a burning spark.

This was a moment that felt unreal, as if I had entered a world where tanuki and tengu exist.

Tsukasa Tazaki still held her soft, seaweed-like hand, looking at the curious look in her eyes, and said with a smile, "The fireflies that bullied you have been dealt with now, so can you tell me what happened just now?"