My love index is at its maximum.

Hoshino Takeo looked at his son-in-law with gratitude: "The food has just been served, please finish eating before you leave."

"I'm in a hurry. I also need to handle the Black Dragon Group matter with you, Father-in-law."

“I’ll step in if you can’t handle it.” Hoshino Takeo nodded and instructed, “Remember to explain things clearly to Hanami, otherwise she’ll worry.”

After leaving Sakura's house, Tsukasa Tazaki used his phone to call Yui Kikawa and asked her to come over to his house. Then, silently calculating the time, he walked back to Higashi-Shinjuku in the rain.

8:20 PM, Higashi Shinjuku

Neon lights shone brightly, pedestrians thronged the streets, and even in the rain, the place remained bustling, filled with various kinds of smoke and smells. A man in a blue casual shirt, carrying a lunchbox he bought from a convenience store, climbed into an inconspicuous, brand-new Nissan parked by the roadside.

Through the car window, he picked up his small binoculars and looked at the blonde girl sheltering from the rain at the alleyway in the distance. She was a very beautiful girl, so beautiful that she was unforgettable after just one meeting.

That kid is already asking for help from the Kichikawa family so soon, he's nothing special... The middle-aged man ate his cheap bento box and thought to himself that if it were him, he would definitely give up fighting against the unknown and powerful opponent and choose to rely on the Kichikawa family. Wouldn't it be great to have both beauties and money at his fingertips?

At 8:25 PM, Tsukasa Tazaki returned to the alleyway in front of his apartment building. In the dim light at the alley entrance, he saw a blonde girl in a blue silk dress. She was as eye-catching as ever; her outfit was perfectly coordinated, and combined with her beauty, almost everyone who passed by turned to look at her.

Several seemingly drunk delinquents passed by and tried to strike up a conversation with her. However, no matter what they said, Yui Kikawa simply kept her eyes downcast with an indifferent expression and did not respond.

Tsukasa Tazaki stopped in his tracks, intrigued, to see how things would end.

The drunken thug, perhaps finding verbal harassment insufficient, reached out and touched her shoulder. The next second, a particularly piercing scream echoed through the bustling street in the rainy night.

The blonde girl, her face still expressionless, simply reached out and grabbed the man's fingers, twisting them forcefully. After the first delinquent fell, the second one, who was closest, rushed forward. She swiftly chopped him with her left hand, and the second man clutched his throat and collapsed to the ground in pain.

As a result, no one dared to approach this beautiful girl who was as cold as a doll.

Tazaki Tsukasa shook his head helplessly, thinking to himself that it was fortunate he was much better than her, otherwise he would have run as far away as possible if he had seen this scene.

"How long are you going to keep watching?" Yuya noticed him.

Since his elder brother had spoken, Tsukasa Tazaki naturally couldn't disobey.

He smiled faintly, walked to the blonde girl's side, suddenly reached out and put his arm around her soft waist, pressing her against the mottled wall.

“This dress is beautiful.” Tazaki Tsukasa stared intently into those clear blue eyes in a wall-slamming pose, and said seriously, “It’s beautiful and elegant, and it matches your temperament perfectly.”

"...?" Qi Chuanwei was stunned for a long time, then lowered her eyelids and said, "Who is your older brother? Don't call me that."

His tone was stiff and awkward, like a rusty gear.

Their noses were almost touching, and their lips were less than a centimeter apart. They could feel each other's scent and hot breath.

"Hold me close." Tazaki Tsukasa inhaled her refreshing fragrance and showed an expression of enjoyment. "There are people watching us nearby. I'd appreciate your cooperation, brother."

Upon hearing his words, Yui Kichikawa subconsciously placed her hands on his waist.

At this moment, the blonde girl's mind was buzzing; this feeling was incredibly agonizing...

Her heart was pounding like a small motor, she was dazed, her lips were trembling slightly, her whole body was tense, her cheeks were burning hot and her breathing was short and shallow.

"It would be better to put your arm around her shoulder or neck." Tsukasa Tazaki gently ran her fingers through her blonde hair and said helplessly, "Your arm around her waist is too stiff, it's not perfect at all."

"Oh……"

Yui Kawakawa foolishly changed her posture, wrapping her arms around Tsukasa Tazaki's neck.

This was the first time she had ever taken the initiative to hug a man. Feeling the scent that rushed into her heart, a certain sentence stuck in her throat, almost about to be blurted out.

But I'm too embarrassed to say it out loud.

The way the boy gently stroked her hair made her feel like an obedient child. In his presence, she found it really hard to stay calm; she was easily angered, easily amused, and often forgot that she was several months older than him.

Raindrops pattered against the ground, splashing up bursts of mist. Under the dim light at the alley entrance, a young man and woman embraced, whispering sweet nothings, while colorful umbrellas passed by them, quickly disappearing into the distance.

Feeling his older brother's elastic and wonderful youthful body, Tsukasa Tazaki protested again: "Big brother, are you sure you don't know how? Are you trying to strangle me with all that force?"

"But, but..." Yui Kikawa raised her head slightly, her face flushed with embarrassment as she looked at him: "I really don't know how..."

"Sigh, I'll do it."

Tazaki Tsukasa gently wrapped his left arm around her back, lifting her body a few centimeters off the wall. Yui was forced to stand on tiptoe, their chests pressed intimately together.

A burning body temperature swept over her, and a sharp fluctuation of emotions appeared on the perfect girl's face. Then, Tsukasa Tazaki reached out his right hand to stroke her cheek, a seemingly intimate touch between lovers, but the purpose was to cover most of the outline of her face.

A woman dressed in flamboyant attire walked gracefully past the two of them, then casually stopped to take out her phone and answer a call.

"Keep your eyes half-closed..." Tsukasa Tazaki whispered in a very low voice, his forehead pressed against Yui Kichikawa's. "Make your expression a little shy and gentle, otherwise how will others believe that you like me?"

"it is good……"

Kikawa Yui's breathing became increasingly rapid, and her body gradually softened.

“Leave it to me…” Tsukasa Tazaki shielded her cheek with his hand and lowered his head slightly. Their foreheads and noses touched, and their lips were almost touching, separated by less than the thickness of a coin.

They could feel each other's breathing very strongly, and the vibrations of their heartbeats were clearly perceptible.

The woman next door finally finished her phone call, walked past the two of them, turned into the alley, and disappeared.

A moment later, Tsukasa Tazaki released her hand, put his arm around the blonde girl's waist, and walked up into the apartment building. The woman then turned back from the other side of the street and got into the Nissan.

"The target is close to Yui Kikkawa," she said. "Report to the higher-ups and inquire about the next course of action."

……

Once inside the building, Tsukasa Tazaki let go of his hand and ran straight up the stairs.

"Hey, what do you mean!"

Qichuan Yui, barely suppressing her anger, shouted behind him, "Use and then throw away? What do you take me for?"

"Sorry, sorry, something urgent has come up. Please come up quickly."

Tazaki Tsukasa ran upstairs in one breath, took out his key and opened the door.

With a "click".

Kuriyama Sakura, who was reading in bed, looked up and asked, "Back so soon?"

"I just remembered something important!" Tsukasa Tazaki replied, his eyes scanning every corner of the room, starting from the doorway. His gaze first fell on the desk and the lamp on it, and he immediately went over to search through everything on it.

An oversized pen holder spilled out, revealing various pencils, rulers, and drafting pens. On the other side, a stationery tray held erasers, correction fluid, transparent tape, and colorful paperclips…

He opened and checked every extracurricular book and textbook, and meticulously examined every corner of the drawers and the bottom of the desk.

"What is it? Let me help..." Kuriyama Sakura, who had just sat up after lifting the covers, glanced at the blonde girl who had entered the room, so she lay back down and pulled the covers up with both hands: "Tazaki-san, this bed of yours is quite comfortable."

Yui Kichikawa pouted slightly, frowning as she stared at Sakura Kuriyama: "What are you doing here?"

"Go to sleep." Kuriyama Sakura covered her mouth and yawned lazily.

"Sleeping here?"

"Hmm, very good."

"Get up!" Qichuan Yui took a deep breath and said slowly, with a hint of displeasure, "That bed is not for you!!!"

Kuriyama Sakura let out a scornful laugh: "It's none of your business!"

“Interesting.” Qichuan Yui walked to the chair by the desk, slightly lifted her skirt, and sat down in a very ladylike manner. Then, with a disdainful smile, she added, “Why didn’t you say that when he was hugging and kissing me just now?”

"To! Saki! Tsukasa!"

Kuriyama Sakura shouted each word clearly, then turned to the scumbag and let out a cold laugh that sounded like she was about to destroy the world.

I can't be bothered with you two lunatics... Tsukasa Tazaki continued searching and found a microphone under the kitchen exhaust fan and behind the refrigerator.

Kuriyama Sakura sat up: "Our conversation this afternoon was overheard?"

"Correct."

What should we do now?

“Let’s have a brainstorming session, Minister!” Tsukasa Tazaki sat down on the bedside. Just as Yui Kikawa was about to lean in, he shook his head and said calmly, “Don’t speak yet, let’s sort out the current situation first.”

Why are you treating me so badly... The blonde girl bit her lower lip, her expression slightly resentful.

Kuriyama Sakura sat cross-legged, holding a pen and notebook: "First of all, the enemy has a very strong white background. They have connections in the Metropolitan Police Department, and a powerful background capable of wiping out Sakura's family."

“Yes, his official rank isn’t low.” Tazaki Tsukasa followed up on her words, “Just now, I specifically used my own phone to call Kikawa Yui and asked her to come find me. When Kikawa Yui and I met at the alley entrance, I clearly felt hostile gazes on me. This means that he can access my communication information at any time, and even yours.”

“But he doesn’t want to clash with cabinet ministers.” Kuriyama Sakura tapped her notebook lightly with the tip of her pen, her voice cool: “So it’s just that you’re not allowed to ask for my help again.”

“Here’s the problem!” Tsukasa Tazaki picked up the broken microphone. “The enemy definitely knows what we talked about this afternoon. But they didn’t warn me. What does that mean?”

Kuriyama Sakura smiled quietly, her smile as sweet as a blooming daffodil, and said, "It means he doesn't know where Tono is either, and wants to use us to find her."

"Minister, you are wise!" Tazaki complimented, then continued, "How could a big shot who can closely monitor me and access Metropolitan Police Department data at any time not be able to find an ordinary woman?"

"This means someone has hidden her!"

"who is it?"

Kuriyama Sakura turned to the blonde girl: "I'm asking you, answer me!"

"I don't know!" Qichuan Wei said coldly, a hint of anger flashing in her clear blue eyes. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her chins puffed out a little in anger.

"Stop trying to pin the blame on her." Tazaki Tsukasa chuckled and scolded, then stood up and went to Yui Kikawa's side, gently patting her shoulder: "Kikawa and I grew up together, and we recently became sworn brothers, so of course I believe she didn't do it. My golden-haired auntie is an upright woman who would never do anything despicable!"

?

Sichuan Yui: "..."

For a moment, she didn't know what emotions to use to respond to those words.

It feels so heartwarming to be trusted by him.

But to be treated like an older brother by him...holy shit, this is absolutely terrible!

Kuriyama Sakura clutched her stomach, laughing so hard she rolled around on the bed, completely lacking any ladylike demeanor.

The laughter was like sharp knives, mercilessly stabbing into the blonde girl's heart, leaving her once strong heart riddled with holes and bleeding profusely.

"Enough!" Yui Kikawa slammed her hand on the table and said coldly, "If you two think this is funny, then keep laughing. I'm not playing along!"

"Alright, let's get down to business." Kuriyama Sakura suppressed a laugh, her fingers holding a ballpoint pen, which she twirled gently. "The enemy is clearly after Tazaki Tsukasa, but they were just testing him at first, intending to assess his abilities before deciding on their next move."

“But the other party is a big shot.” ​​Tsukasa Tazaki crossed his arms and paced around the room as he analyzed, “Logically speaking, he shouldn’t need to be so wary of a high school student like me. Unless… I have something that makes him wary.”

“What makes him wary of you is…” Kuriyama Sakura smiled at the blonde girl at just the right moment and cleared her throat: “What Kikawa-san said at the kendo tournament is the reason he’s wary!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the minister looked at Tsukasa Tazaki again: "Your older brother is quite loyal. He not only publicly protects you, but also secretly protects your woman. For this selfless act of love, she is worth getting to know better."

Yui Kikkawa's face grew increasingly green, and the anger accumulating in her chest was about to explode.

“Brother…” Tazaki Tsukasa bowed deeply in gratitude, “I will always remember this kindness.”

"You flatter me." Qichuan Wei rubbed the bridge of her nose and said coldly.