My love index is at its maximum.

After descending the stairs, Tsukasa Tazaki bought two boxes of orange juice from a vending machine in front of the complex, and the two strolled slowly in the atrium.

It was a sunny but not hot early autumn noon.

Above was a deep blue sky with pure white cumulus clouds, and countless pigeons flew among the oak trees, their gray feathers fluttering and swirling in the cool breeze.

The two walked around the pool in the courtyard.

Sunlight filtered through the oak branches and leaves, dappling the wooden benches where people rested. A couple stood by the water, pointing at the fish in the water, while a plump orange cat squatted at their feet, its eyes fixed on the surface of the water.

Under the sun's rays, fish occasionally leap out of the water, shimmering with colorful light.

"What do you want to see me about?"

"Just taking a casual stroll."

"Sure?"

"if not?"

"Let's take a walk then."

After sipping his orange juice, Tsukasa Tazaki threw the box into the trash can. There was a straight, dead tree branch at his feet, which he picked up and waved in his hand.

Yui Kichikawa looked at him silently.

Her eyes and lips were expressionless, like a mask, a blank expression that showed no emotion from the very beginning.

However, after walking around the pool again and again, for some reason, her expression suddenly softened, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

Tsukasa Tazaki threw the stick away and focused his gaze on her face.

A slight smile, the sunlight illuminating her blond hair, giving it a deep red hue, like a burning flame.

Often, she gives the impression of a proud princess who is reserved and taciturn. Even when you stand in front of her and she looks directly at you, you feel that you are not actually in her eyes. Her beautiful blue eyes are actually focused on some unseen space behind you.

"Are you really alright?"

She asked again, and Tsukasa Tazaki put his hands in his pockets, smiled at her, and looked at her with a serious expression.

Yui didn't answer, but simply pressed down her pleated skirt with her hand and sat down on a bench in a very ladylike manner. Then, she patted the empty seat next to her, gesturing for Tsukasa Tazaki to sit down.

Tsukasa Tazaki sat down next to her.

The two sat side by side under the shade of a tree, watching the fish in the pond for a while.

"Come closer."

"Ok?"

"I'll let you come closer!"

"Oh……"

Tazaki Tsukasa shifted his position, their shoulders touching slightly. Kikawa Yui took out her phone, raised it high, pointed the camera at the two of them, took a picture, then opened Twitter, posted it using the school's account, and added the hashtag.

[Kitagawa School Festival, War of Geniuses]

"You've already started working so quickly," Tsukasa Tazaki said admiringly.

"From the moment I decided to do it, I started to get into work mode."

"That's amazing. This kind of serious and responsible attitude is so much better than that lazybones Kuriyama Sakura."

“I have many areas where I’m better than her,” said Yui Kikawa, resting her chin on her hand, her voice full of confidence.

Tsukasa Tazaki tilted his head and gave her an admiring look.

Although the blonde girl always gives people a calm and collected impression, she is actually a young girl in the prime of her youth. Apart from being ridiculously beautiful, she has all the qualities that a modern high school girl should have.

The skirt was just below the knee, paired with either sexy or cute white tights. The sleeves of the long-sleeved uniform shirt were tied at the wrists, and the delicate collarbone was faintly visible beneath the untied bow.

And...his development is really good.

A thoughtful expression appeared on Tsukasa Tazaki's face as he began to automatically compare the two most beautiful girls.

Minister: |··|

The Perfect Girl: (·)(·)

If we were to reconsider the older group...

My dear older sister: (·Y·)

Aunt: (person)

Cough!

We've gone off on a tangent.

Gathering the jumbled images in his mind, Tsukasa Tazaki smiled and asked, "What's wrong? If you don't tell me, I'm leaving."

Yui Kikawa briefly shifted her gaze, her long eyelashes fluttering silently as she blinked. But after only five seconds, she turned her gaze back, staring at Tsukasa Tazaki with an even stronger determination than before: "You can just hold the title of assistant; you don't need to get involved."

“I see.” Tsukasa Tazaki turned his gaze to the pond, a thoughtful expression on his face. “You know I don’t like this kind of troublesome stuff, so you specifically made me your assistant so I can slack off.”

"Don't overthink it." Qichuan Wei bent down and picked up a slightly yellowed leaf, gently turning it between her fingers. "It's just that I don't like you being of any help. Rather than let you disrupt my rhythm, I'd rather kick you out from the start."

"I'm sorry, but I won't do as you wish this time." Tsukasa Tazaki turned to look at her and said seriously, "I said I would help you share the burden before, but I haven't kept my promise. Why don't we take this opportunity to start with the preparations for this school festival?"

Qichuan Wei suddenly felt very happy, and a faint warmth filled her chest.

Amidst this warm feeling, she said coldly, "Don't you even know who you are? What makes you think you can help me?"

Despite her outwardly forceful refusal, Tsukasa Tazaki knew perfectly well that the blonde girl was just being hypocritical.

So arrogant!

Don't think you can fool me with a cold face!

When a girl is truly about to refuse, she will look at you with a cold gaze and say expressionlessly, "I'm serious, please don't do this." That kind of voice is chilling and terrifying.

For example... that day on the rooftop at sunset, the look of disgust and the cold tone in her voice when she rejected his confession.

In comparison, her current level of refusal was just for show, and Tsukasa Tazaki knew it perfectly well. He cooperated with her by putting his hands together and pleading with an apologetic expression: "Although I don't have much skill right now, I will definitely work harder to improve myself in the future. Please let me help you share the pressure in the preparations for this school festival, Yui."

Bathed in the sunlight filtering through the leaves, Yui nodded reluctantly, her fair fingertips lightly turning the leaf stalk.

“That’s more like it.” Tsukasa Tazaki leaned back in his chair, comfortably squinting his eyes. “Back in Oma Town, I was thinking about this, wanting you to turn back into that cute and lively Yui. But you didn’t appreciate it and instead teased me. You have no idea how angry I was back then. It felt like all my tenderness was extinguished by a bucket of ice water.”

"I apologize," Yui Kichikawa said with a smile. "Please try to walk the path ahead."

That smile was like the gently flowing clouds on the horizon, serene and elegant.

“It’s very difficult,” Tsukasa Tazaki said.

"It's okay. I'm not interested in doing things that are too simple."

"This statement is very much in line with Kikawa's consistently proud style."

"Thank you for the compliment." Qichuan Yui nodded, leaning back in her chair and gazing at the blue sky.

As the sun slowly slanted westward, the two basked in the warm sunlight and yawned simultaneously.

The sardines not far away also yawned.

……

A new week has begun.

With twenty days to go before the school festival, the executive committee's work has officially begun.

Early in the morning, a huge structure resembling a monument began to be erected in one corner of the playground, with a group of students busily helping out below; it was unclear which club they belonged to.

Qichuan Yui stood in the crowd, occasionally speaking up to correct the construction workers.

She doesn't need to raise her voice or shout at people; they naturally follow her instructions. This is due to her personality and her hard work, as well as the leadership skills she has developed through training.

Tazaki glanced in that direction a few times, then walked towards the teaching building.

People could be seen hurrying by on the school path at any time. Many clubs and classes were making the most of the morning to rehearse for the school festival program. The choir's singing sounded exceptionally vibrant in the morning light.

The entire Kitagawa Academy was bustling with activity like never before, with even the lazy, fat gray pigeons tirelessly circling above the school buildings.

Except for a certain fat cat named "Sardine," who, as always, was lying on top of the vending machine taking a nap.

The stage play performance of Class F in the first year is also in full swing and has entered the preparation stage.

Some students brought cardboard boxes, some were ready to take photos, and some couldn't wait to prepare snacks and drinks, saying they wanted to reward the hardworking actors. It was as lively as if they were planning a party.

Just as Tazaki Tsukasa returned to his seat, Murakami Mizuiro turned around and winked at him: "Hey, which unlucky guy do you think will play the fake princess in this BL drama?"

"Uh, actually it's just..."

Before Tazaki Tsukasa could finish speaking, Murakami Mizuiro rubbed her hands excitedly: "Wearing a little skirt, hehe, I'm really looking forward to it. Ideally, it should be someone I don't like, so I can take his picture and use it to blackmail him for the rest of high school. If it's someone I like, then it depends on how cute he is. If he's cute, even if he's a boy, it doesn't seem like a bad idea..."

Tsukasa Tazaki shifted his body back slightly.

Actually...

The role of the fake princess was basically decided during the last guild class last Friday. However, Murakami happened to be in the restroom at that time and was unaware that Hoshino Hanami had decided to cast him in this role that no one else wanted.

Hopefully, he won't be startled by this surprise.

Tazaki silently mourned for his best friend.

As soon as the class bell rang, class monitor Ze Yuxi stood on the podium and addressed the class.

"Now we need to decide on the cast and staff. The script will be written by Yanagihara Kaoru, and the casting will be confirmed according to the results of the last class meeting."

Yanagihara Kaoru, yeah, that's the female literature committee member who's into BL (Boys' Love).

The class monitor turned around and wrote a string of names and positions on the blackboard.

Director: Kaoru Yanagihara

[Screenwriter: Kaoru Yanagihara]

Stage direction: Kaoru Yanagihara

Tazaki Tsukasa clicked his tongue. This posture was quite reminiscent of the domineering style of Yui Kawakawa when they filmed the promotional video.

However, Yui Kichikawa is certainly capable enough, but as for this Yanagihara, probably no one but her could come up with such a bizarre plot.

The class monitor took a deep breath.

The little hand held the chalk and wrote the list of performers on the blackboard with trembling hands.

[Knight: Murakami Mizuiro]