My love index is at its maximum.

Why 25?

"I've finished university, experienced the workplace, and have done what I should be doing in life. What's the point of staying?"

"Getting married and having children..."

"No one chose it."

“I…” Tsukasa Tazaki said, scratching his cheek, “I’ll help you find it.”

"Sigh!" Kuriyama Sakura sighed. "It doesn't matter if he dies, why waste your energy?"

Tazaki Tsukasa stared intently into her eyes, and she met his gaze.

How much of what he said was serious, and how much was a joke?

I have absolutely no idea.

Tazaki stared at her for a long time, then suddenly felt that it didn't matter whether it was true or false.

"Okay. I got it. I'll play along, no problem."

"Would you be willing to die with me?" Kuriyama Sakura smiled, her eyes shining.

"How is that possible!"

"Then what are you going to do to keep me company?"

"Of course I'll be responsible for persuading you to give up this idea!"

"foolish!"

"One last question," Tsukasa Tazaki said, looking at her expectantly, "would you consider the word 'silly' a way of expressing affection?"

Kuriyama Sakura lowered her head and thought.

Her chest heaved slightly for a moment, then she said softly, "Forget it, I haven't told anyone else anyway."

"There's one more question!"

"Are you endless?"

"Could you show me your sixth level of smile?"

"Can't!"

Kuriyama Sakura looked up at the sky across the balcony as if she were being stubborn.

The weather was excellent, and the surrounding courtyards and balconies were filled with quilts and sheets drying in the sun. Occasionally, the sound of young women patting the quilts could be heard.

This is a sound that I will never forget, even after many years.

It's wonderful, there's no sense of distance.

Chapter 231: Life with Two Teachers, Heading Towards the New Semester.

I signed a two-and-a-half-year contract, with a monthly rent of 35 yen.

The rent was relatively expensive, but the transportation was convenient and the surrounding environment was good, so I didn't hesitate at all when swiping my card.

In the afternoon, Tsukasa Tazaki returned to his rented apartment to pack his luggage.

Actually, there wasn't much; besides clothes, it was just school supplies.

He didn't have any of the things a normal male high school student must have, such as a computer, game console, camera, GLAGame discs, R18 doujinshi, etc. Like I said before—the more things you have, the more things you have to think about, and the more trouble you have to organize them.

When it was time to check out, the landlord was very accommodating and didn't try to persuade me to stay at all.

After all... in a bustling area like Higashi-Shinjuku, the queue for a 1DK apartment at 4 yen a month is so long that people would fight tooth and nail for it.

After all the luggage was packed, Sakura's family arrived in a Toyota SUV driven by a bald man to help. They said it was a move, but it took less than thirty minutes in total.

Blankets, clothes, tableware, a desk lamp, a few books, and a few pots of potatoes whose survival is uncertain—that's all my possessions. I can move them all in one trip.

As they were setting things up, Kana Shimamoto came in carrying a suitcase, followed by a group of moving company employees.

Tsukasa Tazaki helped put away the appliances and household items, and the two of them went to rest on the sofa in the living room.

"Phew, I'm exhausted." Shimamoto Kana slumped heavily onto the sofa.

"Did the teacher bring all her luggage?" Tsukasa Tazaki looked at the appliances all over the room, then turned around and poured her a glass of water.

Kana Shimamoto tapped him on the head, rubbed his shoulder, and said, "Bring everything that can be used, throw away the old ones. You're still a student, save where you can."

“Teacher is clearly a little rich girl.” Tsukasa Tazaki sat down next to her.

“Not that rich.” Shimamoto Kana rolled her eyes at him, then rattled off a bunch of things. “My savings from all these years of working are only 30 million yen. I’m planning to sell the apartment building I used to live in; it should fetch 120 million yen. In total, that’s only about 150 million yen. Let me make it clear beforehand: I didn’t take a single penny in the divorce, so don’t expect me to support you.”

Once Sachiko-nee opens her coffee shop, I'll at least be a small business owner... Tazaki Tsukasa thought to himself, but said aloud, "Teacher, you've only been working for four or five years, and you've already saved 3000 million yen. That's amazing."

“I don’t usually spend much money,” said Kana Shimamoto. “Besides, the salaries of teachers at our school are generally very high. When I first started working, my annual salary was about 500 million yen, and now it has risen to nearly 1000 million yen.”

"envious."

"What's there to envy! Your tiger got a 300 million yen bonus at the meeting today just because you're a student in his class."

"Is there still this?"

Kana Shimamoto took off her glasses and placed them on the table, saying sourly, "You've only been here two years and your annual salary has already exceeded ten million. I'm so envious. Ugh... How about I become your homeroom teacher when you go up to the second year?"

"Oh no, I'm going to get killed."

"Damn it!" Shimamoto Kana slumped weakly on the sofa, sticking her butt out as she complained, "Being a teacher is so tiring, I want to retire."

Tazaki Tsukasa resisted the urge to slap that alluring, pert buttocks, and asked in confusion, "You're not a teacher, you don't have the pressure of grades, so why are you tired?"

"Although there's no pressure to get good grades, there are endless teaching and research meetings. And then there's dealing with all your teenage anxieties, organizing your extracurricular and community activities... Waaah... Tazaki-kun, I don't want to work anymore, will you support me?"

This was the first time Tsukasa Tazaki had ever seen Shimamoto-sensei complain like this.

She used to be not only of noble birth, but also beautiful, gentle, and elegant—a flawless, ideal woman on the surface. But now, a hint of everyday life has suddenly emerged in her, like an ordinary wife who likes to complain to her husband about her work troubles.

The thought that I was the one who turned her into this makes my heart warm and fills me with a sense of accomplishment.

"Mrs. Tazaki..."

Tazaki Tsukasa pressed down on her from behind, wrapping his arms around her in front, and their bodies touched intimately.

Burying her face in the cushion, Shimamoto Kana let out a muffled "hmm" and kicked Tazaki Tsukasa's back with all her might.

"Get up, let's go shopping."

"Let's buy it tomorrow."

"No, moving to a new home should have a sense of ceremony!"

Tsukasa Tazaki reluctantly got up and said unhappily, "I'll leave everything to Mrs. Tazaki."

"I'll reward you tonight." Shimamoto Kana hugged his head and kissed his forehead, then pulled him outside.

Half an hour later, the two got out of the taxi and walked into the Ginza area.

A cool breeze from the air conditioner vents blew in my face, making my long hair sway.

Shop owners, customers, waiters, and other passersby all stopped and watched the couple who walked in.

A handsome young man is embracing a beautiful and gentle older woman.

The older sister's attire was elegant and pleasing to the eye. She wore nude stockings, white high heels, a pale yellow skirt, and an orange and yellow checkered shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. A leather handbag slung over her shoulder.

Her short hair was casually swept to one side, and she wore no rings, necklaces, bracelets, or earrings.

Judging from her appearance, it's hard to guess her age.

You could say she's twenty-one or twenty-two, because her skin is so delicate and her demeanor so youthful. You could also say she's twenty-seven or twenty-eight, because her temperament is so intellectual and graceful, and every move she makes carries a refinement that young women often lack.

A handsome young man with an aristocratic air was speaking to the woman in his arms, a gentle and charming smile playing on his lips. His presence was enough to immerse all the fashionable women in Ginza in a sweet dream at the end of summer.

The woman who could fully possess that smile had deep, captivating eyes, a beauty that seemed destined. She let the cold air tousle her long hair, basking in the envious glances of the women around her, listening intently to the young man's words, a gentle smile always playing on her lips.

Their intimate and natural actions clearly indicated that the two of them were the embodiment of beauty and happiness.

Some people are born to be different from others, such as Tsukasa Tazaki and Kana Shimamoto standing in front of everyone at this moment.

Those who see them almost instinctively assume that such people, from birth, are entitled to live surrounded by flowers and servants, reside in the most comfortable mansions, own large yachts, and lead a wealthy and carefree life every day.

"Thanks to you."

Kana Shimamoto took his arm and said gently, "It is because of your appearance that the story has become as beautiful as people imagined."

Tsukasa Tazaki put his arm around her waist, and the two walked up the escalator to the second floor.

"I'm so happy." Shimamoto Kana leaned against him, smiling and whispering, "Hand in hand, walking down the street openly and dating, there's nothing happier than this."

“There are clearly even happier things.”

"What is it?"

"I'll let you relive it when I get home tonight..."

Kana Shimamoto quickly covered his mouth: "Don't say that in public!"

Go up to the second floor, there was a beauty store having a promotional event, and there was a long crowd in front of the store.

Tsukasa Tazaki wasn't interested in any of this; these skincare and cosmetics retailers wouldn't make a penny off him.

But Kana Shimamoto insisted on dragging him in.

"Mrs. Tazaki is already very beautiful, isn't she..."

“What woman would dislike herself for being a little prettier?” Kana Shimamoto said seriously. “Besides, even if you don’t buy skincare products, you still need makeup, right? Going to work without makeup is very impolite. Do you want me to become that kind of teacher?”

"I surrender!"

"Help me try on this eyeshadow."

Kana Shimamoto dragged him to a counter and pointed to the eyeshadow powder for testing: "Mrs. Tazaki needs to put on makeup before going out, hurry up and help her."

"Let's make this clear beforehand..." Tsukasa Tazaki sat down opposite her, "This is my first time, so please don't scold me if I don't apply it well."

"Hurry up, hurry up!" Kana Shimamoto said impatiently.

Tazaki Tsukasa dipped her index finger in eyeshadow powder, leaned closer, and slowly blended it from her left eye socket toward her brow.

It's like coloring a beautiful portrait.

Their faces were so close; her eyes were deep and complex; her breath was warm; and there was a sweet and warm smile on her lips. It warmed the heart of anyone who saw it, like snuggling into a cozy quilt on a cold winter's day, wanting nothing more than to hold her close and drift off to sleep.