My love index is at its maximum.

"Never mind, you always talk strangely."

"That's called unique!"

I can't be bothered with you.

After leaving their room and having breakfast, the two boarded a Cullinan and arrived at Jiyugaoka in Meguro Ward, a trendy residential area with many rolling hills.

It is said that many Tokyo natives choose to move there after they make money, not because of the good location, but because people believe that those who settle there are people who pursue a quality life.

As soon as he stepped off the car, the sunlight was dazzling, and the streets were a vast expanse of white. Tazaki Tsukasa involuntarily squinted. He managed to lift his eyes and glance at the sky. Above the clear blue sky, large swathes of pure white cumulus clouds stretched into the distance like mountain peaks.

In August, the blazing sun shines brightly, and the asphalt road reflects the intense heat. Standing under the scorching sun for less than ten seconds, you can almost hear the sound of your skin being roasted.

"...It's so hot."

"It's summer."

Tsukasa Tazaki took her hand and they walked aimlessly under the shade of the trees by the roadside.

The wide pedestrian-only walkway is dotted with wooden benches, trendy cafes, general merchandise stores, and many fashionable boutiques. Most of these buildings are brightly colored or uniquely designed, exuding European charm. The tourists are almost all young people, and groups of three or five can be seen constantly taking photos along the way.

Looking at these romantic and exquisite little shops, Tsukasa Tazaki remarked, "No wonder everyone says Jiyugaoka is a must-visit place for Tokyo girls. The chic and sophisticated atmosphere here is truly unique."

The women around him frequently turned their gazes to him, and Kikawa Yui couldn't help but straighten her back, trying her best to show off her figure.

“There’s no need for that,” Tsukasa Tazaki said with amusement.

Qichuan Wei couldn't help but smile and took his arm: "How about we find a tattoo shop and get my name tattooed on your forehead?"

"Sure, but I have a request."

"any request?"

"Tattoo my name on your chest."

"You're such a pervert." Qichuan Wei stretched out her soft fingers and gently traced his chest: "After I get married, you'll feel involved whenever I take off my clothes, right?"

"No, that way you won't find a boyfriend!" Tsukasa Tazaki laughed and pulled her into a three-story general store.

This is a small shop themed around "DIY food and life". The first floor displays food from all over Japan as well as cooking utensils and tools. The second floor has clothing, potted plants, etc., and the third floor offers healthy light meals, providing a variety of dishes such as pizza, pasta, and fish.

After strolling around for a while, they went straight to the third floor, bought a shaved ice, and came out. Under the bright sunshine that made them want to take a nap, the two walked for a while on the lush green street and came to a clean bench under the shade of a tree.

"...The same shaved ice only costs 500 yen at a convenience store in Higashi-Shinjuku, but here it costs 1500 yen! Damn consumerism!"

Qichuan Wei scooped a spoonful of shaved ice from the plastic cup and held it to his lips: "If you're really poor, how about I give you a few hundred million in pocket money?"

"Really?" Tsukasa Tazaki swallowed the shaved ice in one gulp, and the temperature of his internal organs dropped significantly in an instant.

"Anyway, I'm not short of money. I can give you 100 billion yen if you want."

"I will definitely not hesitate to ask if you need me."

“You’re spending my money…” Kikawa Yui suddenly brought her face closer, staring straight into his pupils: “You’d better be prepared to make me comfortable.”

Tsukasa Tazaki raises his hands: "I surrender!"

"Softie!"

Qichuan Wei hurriedly ate a few bites of shaved ice, threw the rest to him, picked up her bag, and left.

In the spirit of not wasting food, Tsukasa Tazaki ate as he followed her. After finally finishing his meal, he threw his cup into the recycling bin and ran ahead of her, saying, "Today, Yui is the boss. I'll listen to whatever you say."

"Really?"

"real!"

"Crouch down and carry me on your back!"

"In this sweltering heat..."

"uh-huh?"

“Come on!” Tsukasa Tazaki bent down, his gaze fixed on the asphalt road surface.

"That's more like it, my boyfriend."

A voice, as if embodying the word "happy," rang in my ears with a light, bouncy sound. Immediately afterward, something warm and soft pressed against Tsukasa Tazaki's back.

"Departure, Tazaki!"

"No, no, don't do this... I can't breathe!"

Her arms were as slender as those of an ordinary girl, but her strength was astonishing; Tsukasa Tazaki was so choked that she had difficulty breathing.

Qichuan Wei loosened her grip on his neck slightly, obediently pressing her face against his back, her long golden hair flowing gently in the summer breeze.

Tsukasa Tazaki straightened up, took a step forward, and wore a bright smile on his face.

A handsome and refined young man, and an exquisitely beautiful young woman—their intelligence and charm, revealed in every gesture and the soft tone of their voices, perfectly exemplify what perfection truly means.

Passersby stopped to offer them their heartfelt blessings.

Of course, there were also those who came up with cameras and asked to take photos with them.

Yui Kikawa wrapped her firm, beautiful legs tightly around Tsukasa Tazaki's waist, generously offering the camera a sweet smile she had practiced for a long time. Tsukasa Tazaki followed suit, smiling happily.

From an outsider's perspective, no one would doubt that they are a young couple deeply in love.

"After following him for three days, we can confirm that he has returned to the Qichuan family."

"What did they say?"

"They told us we no longer needed to monitor them. The governor will meet with the head of the Kikawa family tomorrow during the Obon festival to inquire about the situation."

"What about the Bank of Tokyo?"

"We'll retreat for now. The governor was hoping this high school student would get rid of this trouble for him, but it seems he'll have to take matters into his own hands now."

"Sakura's family has also returned?"

"Idiot! We went to great lengths to recruit that undercover agent from Sakura's family, how could we possibly withdraw them!"

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering across the asphalt like scattered silver coins. The sharply defined, deep shadows contrasted with the fragmented light as an ordinary couple, quietly conversing in a secluded part of the park, gradually walked away.

"Alright... what's next?" Tsukasa Tazaki asked, carrying Yui Kikawa on his back as they emerged from behind a large tree.

"do not know."

Kikawa Yui looked up at the cumulus clouds and squinted.

In the rising summer heat, the future appears like a mirage floating in the air, presenting a hazy scene.

"How about we go get some dessert?"

"it is good."

Yui Kawakawa pressed her face back against his back.

Anyway, no one can predict the future, so why not go have a dessert to cool off now?

Tsukasa Tazaki carried her on his back as they wandered through the undulating streets and alleys of Jiyugaoka.

The weather grew increasingly muggy, and there wasn't a breath of wind. Most shoppers were either holding umbrellas or using briefcases to shield their heads as they hurried along. In the square where the "Goddess of the Blue Sky" statue stands, a group of people in suits were giving a loud speech, seemingly campaigning for a district council election.

After crossing a small stone bridge, I saw a flower shop with blue-painted walls and bright, beautiful cosmos flowers that I could see through the window.

The store was playing music, a very soft female voice.

Qichuan couldn't remember the song title or who sang it; all she wanted was for time to slow down.

Noon in August.

The sun was blazing hot, and the heat showed no sign of dissipating.

After strolling around the streets for a while, Tsukasa Tazaki stopped in front of a small shop with a sign that read "Kosang-an".

"The internet says this is a beautiful tea room with tatami mats and large windows offering panoramic views. Shall we go in?"

"Whatever you want," Yui Kichikawa said, lacking any independent thought.

Tazaki thought that it would be pleasant to enjoy the Japanese garden outside the window while savoring seasonal Japanese sweets and matcha, so he put her down and the two walked in hand in hand.

Lifting the linen cloth with the roll call printed on it, the two walked through a short front hall corridor and came to a Japanese garden with a cobblestone path and a Zen-like atmosphere.

There is a pond, an artificial hill, a pavilion, and lush pine and cypress trees.

We ordered matcha ice cream, matcha cake, and matcha latte. The two of us were led by the waiter into a tatami room with a view of the courtyard.

The tableware was uniformly black porcelain teacups, which looked quite unique.

“It feels more like a temple,” Tsukasa Tazaki said.

Yui Kikawa took a sip of her matcha latte, squinting as she savored it.

"Is the taste alright?"

"not bad."

Tsukasa Tazaki nodded, slowly stirring his coffee and occasionally taking a bite of cake.

Various kinds of birds fly into the courtyard, from one tree to another. As the branches sway slightly, the azure sky seen through the gaps in the leaves appears to grow larger and smaller.

Several birds flew to the pond to drink, when a rather large orange cat suddenly appeared out of nowhere, startling the birds into taking flight. The big orange cat, however, ignored the birds and leisurely lay on the pond's edge, basking in the sun.

It looks like sardines...

As Tsukasa Tazaki thought this, she suddenly felt a pang of nostalgia for the leisurely days at school.

"What are you thinking about?" asked Yui Kichikawa, holding a matcha ice cream in her hand.

"I want school to start as soon as possible."

"Oh."

"What are Xiaowei's plans for the new semester?"

“I never thought of that…” Yui Kikawa fed him a bite of ice cream.

She had already tasted it; the matcha ice cream with cashews and red bean paste was very delicate and sweet, with distinct layers of ingredients and a rich texture.

"Delicious!" Tsukasa Tazaki said with a satisfied expression.

With a smug look on her face, Yui Kichikawa put the spoon full of ice cream into her little mouth.

She ate less than half of it before pushing the rest to Tsukasa Tazaki: "I can't eat anymore, you finish these!"

"Then why did you order so much?"