My love index is at its maximum.

Qichuan Wei's heart skipped a beat, and she unconsciously took a step back.

The doll continued to stare at her, a strange smile playing on its lips, its eyes bulging as if they were about to pop out.

At the same time, eerie background music started playing.

"Boom boom boom!"

The taiko drum sound was very dull, with a hoarse quality.

Occasionally, a "ding-a-ling" sound of a bell would be interspersed throughout, and the two sounds combined to create an extremely eerie melody.

Kikawa Yui felt a chill run down her spine, her bare skin shivering. She dared not move, gritting her teeth and desperately praying that Tazaki Tsukasa would hurry up.

"Click-clack"

The sound of high heels clicking on the floor came from behind her. Yui Kikawa turned her head sharply: "Who's in my life... Where did this mirror come from?"

Looking at her pale face in the mirror, the blonde girl's heart pounded wildly.

She had never lost her composure like this since she was old enough to understand things!

Before she could catch her breath, a pair of hands quietly reached up to her calves from behind, and she heard footsteps again.

Who's here!

When Yui Kikawa turned around again, all she could see at her feet was the doll that was smiling at her strangely.

When people are in extreme fear, their legs go weak and they lose all strength. But Yui Kikawa was not such a weak person. She took a deep breath, barely managed to turn her body, and ran desperately towards the exit.

That kind of frantic sprint, using up the last of your life's strength!

The speed was so fast that Tsukasa Tazaki, who had finally caught up, was dumbfounded. She couldn't help but think that if Tazaki had practiced sprinting, she might have broken the women's 100-meter world record.

"...Tazaki, hurry up and run!"

Kuriyama Sakura caught a glimpse of the doll out of the corner of her eye, and she shuddered. Instantly, she grabbed Tazaki Tsukasa's arm tightly with both hands and forcibly pulled him forward.

"No rush." ​​Tsukasa Tazaki listened intently to the background music playing.

Gods Gather in the New World

The night is bright and clear

Life is but a fleeting sorrow

The dream is gone, and the regret has faded.

It is the puppet Yao from the 95 Ghost in the Shell movie. The lyrics are a ballad used by Shinto priestesses. The music is eerie and mournful, and the unique singing style that blends ancient tunes gives it a desolate and lonely feel.

Tazaki Tsukasa thought to himself that the haunted house owner had a good eye for music selection, then turned to Kuriyama Sakura: "Oshii Mamoru, that animation director, is a black hole... What's wrong with you?"

“I…” Kuriyama Sakura raised her head, her eyes unfocused.

Those were such eyes; it's hard to describe them with specific words.

His usually clear and bright pupils were now covered by a thin film of fear, making them unusually cloudy. It was like a faint candlelight seen from afar through a crack in a door, a deep-seated fear etched into his soul.

Tazaki Tsukasa's heart clenched, and he hurriedly said, "I'm here, don't be afraid."

“I can’t walk…” Kuriyama Sakura leaned against him, muttering to herself as if to comfort herself, “It’s okay…it’s okay…we can get out of here…”

The voice was trembling and could not be fully captured; even the sound of exhalation was indistinct, as if it were coming through a thick glass wall.

“…I don’t know what to say to you.” Tazaki Tsukasa bent down, scooped up Kuriyama Sakura’s legs with one hand, and used the other hand to comfortably hug her back as she lifted her up.

"Close your eyes," he said softly.

"Do not want to."

Nestled softly in his arms, Kuriyama Sakura gazed at him, a weak smile blooming on her delicate face.

"Can I stay here a little longer?" she asked.

Tsukasa Tazaki sniffed: "No problem."

He knows Kuriyama Sakura well enough.

Pretending to sleep in the train carriage, using the pretext of catching someone cheating to get a massage, entering the haunted house he fears—perhaps only in these moments can she approach him with a little peace of mind… Thinking of these things, Tazaki Tsukasa's heart pounded so hard he could hardly breathe, and his lungs seemed to be expanding rapidly, almost bursting through his ribs with discomfort.

This was the first time in his life he had experienced such extreme feelings.

Savoring both pain and tenderness, their hearts found peace. The two figures seemed to freeze in an instant, motionless, a momentary shift from motion to stillness, yet it felt as if an eternity had passed...

"Aren't you going to say a few words?"

What am I supposed to say to that?

"You're usually quite good at talking nonsense, aren't you?"

"Uh, do you like Ghost in the Shell?"

"dislike!"

"Yui Kikawa likes it, and she also quite likes The Matrix, which was inspired by Ghost in the Shell."

"It's hard to imagine that she would like science fiction movies."

Kuriyama Sakura shifted her body, pressing herself closer, her cheek seemingly unintentionally against his chest: "You're such an idiot! You're talking about other women while you're holding me. I really want to crack open your head and see if it's just full of legs!"

"Actually, only half of it is legs, the other half is chest, waist and hips..."

"This is terrible." Kuriyama Sakura sighed deeply, her tone filled with despair as she said, "How could I have been so blind as to find someone like you interesting?"

“Perhaps…” Tsukasa Tazaki said uncertainly, “Could it be that you perceive a certain emotion or thought in me that exists or is dependent on me, and you can materialize it in your mind, like depicting a symbolic dream?”

"speak English!"

"...You see another version of yourself in me, is that clear enough?"

"You're too narcissistic, Tazaki-san!"

"How is that narcissistic?" Tsukasa Tazaki retorted, dissatisfied. "Aren't smart and good-looking, indifferent to other people's opinions, and only interested in things that interest us? Besides, I'm even better than you. If you want to not lie, then I won't lie to you. You can't do that, can you?"

The minister turned her head, found a more comfortable position, and after a moment of silence, asked calmly and coolly, "I can have children, can you?"

"...?"

Tazaki Tsukasa lowered his head in astonishment, his eyes wide with surprise: "Minister, why would someone as perfect as you cheat?"

Kuriyama Sakura smiled and said softly, "A person will always have exaggerated and distorted ideas about things they don't understand."

"That sounds familiar."

"Camus, the bureau..."

"Stop!" Tsukasa Tazaki interrupted her abruptly. "I don't want to hear that name or that book again!"

“Then let’s discuss something else.” Kuriyama Sakura said with a slightly ethereal voice, her eyes half-closed in contentment, “Your current misfortune lies precisely in your lack of the ability to refuse.”

Tsukasa Tazaki gritted her teeth and said, "I'm starting to hate Osamu Dazai now! And when did I ever lack the ability to refuse? Don't you even bother to find out?"

Before he could finish speaking, Kuriyama Sakura shut him up with a single sentence.

Why haven't you put me down yet?

"I'm just afraid of you..."

"Ok?"

Under the minister's threatening gaze, Tsukasa Tazaki had no choice but to tell the truth: "I want to take this opportunity to hug you a little longer."

How am I feeling?

"it is good."

Will you miss it?

"of course."

“There won’t be any more after you go out,” Kuriyama Sakura said, looking at his chin.

“It’s alright,” Tsukasa Tazaki said. “Whether it’s me or you, there’s nothing to worry about here. Just enjoy yourself.”

“I like this way of putting it.” Kuriyama Sakura buried her face in his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck: “Go out, take your third path, and give everyone a perfect explanation.”

"Yes, Minister! Also... when we get to the planetarium later, may I touch your leg?"

"Don't be so presumptuous!"

"The pressure is immense, you know. I have to face the whole thing all by myself..."

"You are really shameless."

"Is it okay?"

"You're allowed to disobey me this once!"

"Great!"

What a foolish person… Kuriyama Sakura, smelling the scent of the opposite sex emanating from him, felt a beauty she had never known before. When this foolish person was gentle, no one could resist his charm, not even herself. But sometimes he was extremely cold, sharp-tongued, and arrogant; possessing a noble and elegant spirit, yet also an incurable womanizer…

When did you start to incurably feel that he was different from everyone else?

It probably started when he stopped lying to himself.

The minister thought to himself that he had made up for the regret of wanting to do something but failing.

How romantic it is to live the life you want, and only keep this side of yourself to yourself!

As they neared the exit, Tazaki Tsukasa put Kuriyama Sakura down and helped her walk out. Even after such a short distance, she remained pale and blue-lipped from fright.

Her fear of insects and ghosts has shed some of her ethereal and unrealistic aura, making her more down-to-earth.

The three met up again at the exit. Yui Kichikawa crossed her arms and looked smug: "I came out all by myself. Kuriyama-kun, have you given up yet?"

Her confident voice, filled with pride, made Tsuna Saki begin to doubt whether the person who had been so frightened that she almost lost her shoes was really her.

Kuriyama Sakura leaned against the wall, a faint smile on her still somewhat shaken face: "I won the game, but lost my life."

They exude the same confidence and pride.

Please, Minister, your hands are still shaking. Can you stop pretending?

"Alright, you two, shut up for a bit!"

Tazaki Tsukasa stepped between the two and reprimanded them, displaying the demeanor of a head of household.

The two beautiful girls rolled their eyes at him and reluctantly turned their heads away.