My love index is at its maximum.

What a terrible result!

Can anyone tell me the principle behind why the "Qi and Blood Medicine" increases charm instead of physical strength?

Is it true that you can only rely on yourself to improve your health?

As he took off his pajamas and changed into his workout clothes, a strange fighting spirit ignited within Tsukasa Tazaki: "If the system can't do it, I, Tsukasa Tazaki, will show you!"

May 5th, 6:00 AM, in front of Shinjuku Station, Tokyo.

Feeling the cool breeze of early summer, Tsukasa Tazaki looked up, panting, at the eastern sky. The orange-red and pale pink morning light was fainter than before, and it looked like the sun would rise soon.

The traffic light was red ahead. He leaned against the traffic light pole to catch his breath. The light turned from green to red, and people crossed the road as if they had pressed an on/off switch. Tazaki put on his headphones and ran after the crowd through the still heavily congested streets of Koshu during the holiday.

After turning a corner, a large, dark, and dense forest suddenly came into view.

This is Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, a large national park spanning Shinjuku and Shibuya, and also the most ideal place for a morning run in the vicinity.

Tsukasa Tazaki bought a high school student discount ticket for 100 yen from the automatic ticket machine, bypassed the large warning sign that read "No Drinking in the Park," and inserted the ticket into the gate.

With a loud "click," the sound of the automatic gate opening was particularly clear in the empty park in the early morning.

I must get a year-round pass sometime...

100 yen a time may not seem like much, but he plans to come every day, and that will add up to a considerable amount.

In the afternoon, I'll go get a passport photo taken and pay 1000 yen to get a pass.

I wonder if the lady who's processing my ID could give me a bone fracture since I'm wearing a high school uniform and I'm handsome?

As Tsukasa Tazaki pondered this matter, he ran into the heart of the park.

A small artificial lake, its banks lined with cedar trees. The temperature here is much cooler than outside, the air is filled with the fragrance of trees and earth, and the cheerful chirping of wild birds fills the air.

At that moment, a familiar figure flashed into Tsukasa Tazaki's line of sight.

It's very close, right in the pavilion by the pond in front.

The woman unscrewed the cap of the plastic bottle in her hand and was about to bring the bottle to her lips when she heard footsteps. She glanced at Tsukasa Tazaki, and their eyes met for a moment.

At that moment, Tazaki Tsukasa suddenly thought of something.

In "The Garden of Words," the protagonist, Takao Akizuki, met his teacher in the pavilion in front of him and touched his teacher's foot there.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Hurry up and someone marry her... otherwise I'll have to take her myself!

I heard the sound of running, and when I turned around, I saw a thin boy.

The moment their eyes met, Hoshino Hanami paused for two seconds, then a look of astonishment slowly spread across her delicate face. She blinked her big eyes, adding a touch of adorable confusion.

Just then, the song "You're beautiful" started playing in my headphones.

Tazaki Tsukasa thought to himself, "What a coincidence."

Hoshino Hanami blinked: "Tasaki?"

"Good morning, teacher." Tazaki Tsukasa nodded and sat down on the L-shaped bench in the pavilion. Then... his gaze immediately fell on Hoshino Hanami's firm and slender thighs, which were encased in tight-fitting sports pants.

In May, a layer of mist hangs in the air of the park, and the small bridges, flowing water, pavilions, and terraces all exude a refreshing feeling. Sunlight filters through the branches of the cedar trees, falling onto the lawn in irregular patches of light.

Several tits hopped among the tree roots, pecking at insects that were burrowing out of the soil.

"What are you looking at?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Hoshino Hanami's fist grazed Tazaki Tsukasa's nose, the slight gust of air ruffling a few strands of his hair.

Without changing his expression, Tsukasa Tazaki said, "Let's enjoy the scenery."

"The so-called scenery refers to the teacher's legs?"

"No, it's the lake behind the teacher's legs."

Hoshino Hanami sighed as if she had a headache, tightened the bottle cap, and turned her gaze away from the "lake water" he mentioned.

The lake was clear, reflecting the outlines of the trees on the shore. Scattered fallen leaves floated on it, and occasionally a water spider would dart among them, creating ripples.

I've seen lakes like this countless times; I don't find them particularly beautiful. Hoshino Hanami turned her gaze to Tazaki Tsukasa: "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here for a morning run."

With the "lake" as cover, Tsukasa Tazaki could openly admire her beautiful legs.

"Morning run?" Hoshino Hanami looked amused and encouraged him, looking at his thin body, "It's a good thing that you're willing to exercise, otherwise, with your small frame, you probably wouldn't be able to take two punches from me."

"..."

After thinking it over, Tsukasa Tazaki realized that her stamina was 6, which meant she could indeed knock him down with one punch.

However, he also firmly believed that this situation of the woman being stronger than the man was only temporary. One day he would let this teacher know that Tazaki-kun was a strong man!

As the sun rose higher, the thin mist that had been hanging over the forest began to dissipate. Hoshino Hanami checked the time; it would be seven o'clock in half an hour.

"Then let's get started exercising!"

She stood up, did a few chest-expanding and leg-pressing exercises, and nodded encouragingly to Tsukasa Tazaki: "Let's see if you can keep up with the teacher's pace."

Following her movements, Tsukasa Tazaki completed a set of warm-up exercises in a very professional manner, then took a deep breath and took his first step.

A man and a woman began a simple lap around the artificial lake in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

The rising sun shone through the dense woods, casting beams of light along the path, while melodious birdsong filled the air. The occasional wooden bench was covered in glistening May dewdrops.

At first, Tsukasa Tazaki was able to keep up with his teacher's pace and even appreciate the curve of her hips as she ran. But after just ten minutes, he had no time to admire this beautiful sight anymore.

Gritting my teeth, I took a step forward, and all I could see was that figure getting further and further away.

The morning breeze brushed against her hair, and fine beads of sweat gradually gathered on her forehead, trickling down her cheeks and into her collar.

Fifteen minutes later, Tsukasa Tazaki stopped, his hands on his knees, head bowed, breathing heavily, his calves trembling uncontrollably. Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead to the ground, one drop, then two…

Hoshino Hanami turned back, maintaining a steady running pace, and asked, slightly out of breath, "Can't go on?"

"Ha, ha...no...I can't take it anymore..."

"You can't even last fifteen minutes? Your body is really too weak."

"Does the teacher exercise often?" Tsukasa Tazaki asked, looking up slightly and panting.

"I've kept it up for about ten years." Hoshino Hanami stopped, reached behind her head, untied her hair which was tied in a single ponytail, and then tied it back up a little tighter.

As her arms stretched back, the graceful curve of her chest, bathed in the morning light, was draped in a beautiful glow.

"No wonder you have such a great figure, teacher," Tsukasa Tazaki exclaimed.

Hoshino Hanami ignored his words and glanced at his trembling legs: "Judging from your running posture, you've never exercised before."

Tsukasa Tazaki gave an awkward laugh.

"When practicing running, the frequency of lung breathing does not necessarily have to be proportional to the speed. In an aerobic state, there is actually a certain range of time and speed that can be adjusted, and excellent runners will adjust their calorie consumption within this range."

"I can't understand anything..."

"Just follow my instructions." Hoshino Hanami smiled confidently. "When I was in school, I participated in the National College Games."

"That's amazing!" Tazaki Tsukasa, who was terrible at sports, exclaimed in admiration.

"Run faster, running a bit and then stopping won't get you any exercise."

Hi~!

Tsukasa Tazaki took another step, with Hanami Hoshino staying close to him the whole way, constantly correcting his posture.

"Keep your upper body upright with a slight forward lean and your gaze slightly downward."

"The arms should be raised to chest level and lowered to waist level."

"Teacher... ah... I can't take it anymore..."

"Don't talk, it will disrupt your breathing rhythm!"

"..."

"Athletes have a special kind of physical intuition. As their athletic ability improves, a specific image will appear in their minds. Imagine that you are crossing the finish line first in a crowded open-air stadium."

Follow the path in the park forward, and after turning past a flower bed, you will arrive at the Sendagaya Gate of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

Hoshino Hanami glanced at the park gate, her blood boiling, and said, "It's only 300 meters from the gate. Let's take this opportunity to give ourselves a good sprint!"

Tazaki Tsukasa stared at the imagined finish line, adjusted his breathing, and sprinted across it in one breath, only to tragically sacrifice himself a hundred meters before the finish line.

"Don't stop to rest immediately after strenuous exercise. Jog slowly in place to get back into the rhythm," Hoshino Hanami instructed while maintaining her jogging motion. After Tazaki Tsukasa warmed up again, she looked at the vending machine at the park entrance: "Go over there and get some water."

The two jogged to the vending machine, and Hoshino Hanami put a 500 yen coin in. With two "thumps," the change and two bottles of Pocari Sweat fell out together.

"Take this...you can drink it in ten minutes."

Hoshino Hanami tossed a bottle to Tazaki Tsukasa, then tilted her head back and pressed the cool bottle against her forehead. Feeling the slight chill, the corners of her mouth turned up, her smile as gentle as a breeze blowing from afar.

The early summer morning sunlight shone on her face, making it sparkle and shine brightly.

This scene left Tsukasa Tazaki completely stunned.

Unlike her usual serious and dignified demeanor when wearing a uniform, she now appeared somewhat casual, yet beautiful—a beauty that seemed to touch the most sensitive parts of one's heart.

Her lips were slightly parted, her nose was upturned like delicate antennae, and her bangs, which seemed to have been trimmed by herself, hung casually on her smooth forehead, looking like the soft fur of some large cat.

In that beautiful moment, Tsukasa Tazaki couldn't help but wail inwardly.

Hurry up and someone marry her... otherwise I'll have to take her myself!

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Pig That Ran Out of the Fence

In May, Tokyo's sky is as clear and transparent as if it has been infused with a large amount of blue ink. The light green leaves of the trees are like green prints on a blue postcard.

Tazaki Tsukasa took a sip of Pocari Sweat, gazing at Hoshino Hanami's profile bathed in sunlight, and asked curiously, "Does the teacher live around here?"

"I live in Sendagaya." Hoshino Hanami turned her head and smiled. "I come here for a morning run every day, and this is the first time I've met you."

"That's great, I'll come every morning from now on."

"It's good to have this idea... However, your teacher doubts your perseverance."

"Then please supervise me every day from now on."

"No problem." Hoshino Hanami gave an OK sign and looked towards the park entrance. "Teacher is very hungry now, would you like to grab something to eat together?"