My love index is at its maximum.

Hoshino Hanami kicked him again.

"No, so many people are watching." Tazaki Tsukasa grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms, their noses touching. He said weakly, "Whatever it is, let's go home and close the door before we talk, okay?"

"Stop pretending to be pitiful." Hoshino Hanami glared at him sharply and said, "You're quite pleased with yourself that two sexy and beautiful older sisters are fighting over you, aren't you?"

"A little bit..."

"Only a little bit?"

"So much, so much, I'm so incredibly proud!" Tsukasa Tazaki grabbed her hand. "It's all thanks to your kindness, big sister, that I'm treated this way. I'll never forget this love in my life, so... can you loosen your grip now?"

Hoshino Hanami loosened her fist, revealing a domineering queen-like demeanor, and said, "This Saturday, you'd better tie yourself up before you come to Sakura's family!"

Tsukasa Tazaki nodded quickly: "No problem."

“Tazaki-san,” Shimamoto Kana blinked, biting her lower lip slightly as she complained, “Mrs. Tazaki can’t be neglected either.”

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Tsukasa Tazaki steeled his heart and forcibly put his arm around Hanami Hoshino's waist: "Let's go buy a gift, or the shopping street will close down if we keep arguing!"

Hoshino Hanami glared at him disdainfully, broke free, and walked forward.

"It's rare for you to stand up for yourself like this, keep it up." Shimamoto Kana praised Tazaki Tsukasa with a smile, then caught up with Hoshino Hanami, and the two women went shopping together again along the shopping street.

Tazaki Tsukasa followed in a cheerful mood.

As dusk fell, the city lights came on, and the streets became dazzling with color, creating a romantic and warm atmosphere as the crowds mingled.

After shopping until 7 p.m., Hoshino Hanami chose a hair accessory as a gift. In her words, as a close friend of Kuriyama-san, she didn't mind giving her any gifts, since Kuriyama-san would definitely cherish them.

Kana Shimamoto had already chosen it from the beginning—the amber-yellow belt she had tried on earlier.

No explanation is needed; even Tazaki Tsukasa can imagine the department head wearing a skirt with a thin belt around her waist, creating a stylish and elegant look.

So what should I give as a gift?

Hoshino Hanami raised her elbow and gently nudged Tazaki Tsukasa's chest: "If you can't find something suitable, then forget it. Anyway, Sakura doesn't care what you give her."

“I do care,” said Tsukasa Tazaki. “It’s my sixteenth birthday, after all, a very significant one. If I just throw it away, I’ll feel guilty about it later.”

"Guilt?" Hoshino Hanami narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"Of course, Kuriyama-san is my best friend right now!"

"Come on," Hoshino Hanami leaned her head against his chest and poked his nose with her finger, "At least don't let your eyes wander when you're lying!"

"Yes Yes Yes."

"Yes? You're really lying?"

"No!" Tsukasa Tazaki sighed heavily. "Dating is so hard. I want to be single again."

His two older sisters looked at him at the same time and said, "Great, we had the same idea."

"Just kidding, just kidding..."

Tazaki Tsukasa chuckled twice, his eyes darting around to hide his embarrassment as he looked at the shops on the side of the road, when he suddenly let out an "Ah!"

"I found a present!"

He rushed into the store, picked up a pair of cat paw mittens, and put them on to try them out.

"It looks like it's not easy to carry things," Kana Shimamoto commented from the side.

“However, as for this design,” Hoshino Hanami said definitively, “Sakura will definitely like it.”

“And this!” Tsukasa Tazaki picked up the other black cat earmuff, which had a cover inside the cat ears that could be stuffed with things.

“Although they’re cute,” Shimamoto Kana said, shaking her head slightly, “Kuriyama-san wouldn’t wear these earmuffs.”

“Indeed not.” Hoshino Hanami nodded, agreeing with her statement, and then said to Tazaki Tsukasa, “But it’s fine to give her this. It’s a simple matter. As the only peer she can talk to, Sakura will be very happy with any gift from Tazaki. Compared to the gift itself, who gives it to her is more important.”

Kana Shimamoto nodded as well: "That works too. The person you're giving it to is important, so even a meaningless gift can become very meaningful. Let's go with this one."

This is no meaningless gift...

Tsukasa Tazaki looked at the cat paw gloves and cat earmuffs, and the more he looked at them, the more he liked them.

Based on my recollection, the Minister has never paired such obviously cute items with her everyday outfits. Even if she accepted them, she probably wouldn't use them—but what if there's a time when she absolutely needs them?

Winter is coming soon, so isn't it normal to wear earmuffs and gloves when going out?

Also, if you grow a pair of cat ears on your head, then you definitely need something to cover them up, right?

Decided!

I'll give the catgirl transformation device to you, Minister!

From now on, I'll turn her into a catgirl to accompany me to school, shopping, and coffee...

Tsukasa Tazaki's emotions suddenly became excited.

How will our usually proud and reserved department head react when she receives this unique gift? I can't wait to find out!

Chapter 240 Ninomiya's Letter and Kuriyama's Reply

September 16th, Thursday, a sunny day.

At noon, Tsukasa Tazaki ate lunch at the cafeteria by himself: a cheeseburger, a serving of fries, and a Coke. He hadn't really wanted to eat these, but he didn't know what to eat for himself, so he just ordered whatever came to mind.

I was eating a hamburger and drinking cola at the same time, and my stomach quickly became full.

After lunch, we stepped onto the elevated corridor and headed towards the student association building.

During lunch break, many clubs were still rehearsing, and the whole school was still a busy scene.

Upon arriving at the ATF department entrance, Tsukasa Tazaki gently pushed open the door.

"Ah, you've come..."

Kana Shimamoto turned around and smiled gently: "That's fine then. I've given you the gift. I won't bother you any longer."

After saying that, she walked straight to the door, and as she passed by, she didn't forget to give Tsukasa Tazaki a thumbs-up.

Tsukasa Tazaki returned the victory sign.

There were two other people in the activity room.

Kuriyama Sakura noticed him walk in out of the corner of her eye, but only glanced at him before looking back at the paper in her hand, wondering what was written on it.

The other person was Hoshino Hanami, who sat by the window, resting her chin on her hand and turning her head to look at Tazaki Tsukasa.

First, he gave me a "watch your step" look, but then, probably thinking, "It's Sakura's birthday today, so let him be a little reckless," he smiled and nodded to Tsukasa Tazaki.

Tazaki Tsukasa nodded to her and sat down opposite the two women.

Hoshino Hanami rested her chin on her hand and announced to him, "After school this afternoon, go to Kosakura's house. Her father said he wants to meet you in advance."

"...See me?" Tazaki Tsukasa's gaze was drawn to her slender fingers and beautiful face.

"Hmm," she replied lazily. "As for how to deal with it, you're so smart, you shouldn't need your sister to remind you, right?"

"Is this the father-in-law meeting the son-in-law?"

Hoshino Hanami crossed her arms slightly and smiled, "Is it because I've become more tolerant lately that you think you have a chance to ride on top of me?"

Even though the light outside the window made her look radiant and beautiful, her cheerful face was darker than the twilight sky.

"It's just a guess." Tsukasa Tazaki moved back a little and said with a forced smile, "I'm not familiar with Minister Kuriyama. If he suddenly wants to see me, there has to be a plausible reason, right?"

"We were just chatting." Hoshino Hanami glared at him irritably, then turned around and cupped Kuriyama Sakura's cheeks in her hands, kneading them into various shapes like dough balls.

The minister's eyes hardened, looking somewhat bewildered.

"Sakura is sixteen years old now, aren't you happy?"

"……happy."

"If Tazaki dares to misbehave tonight, remember to tell your sister, and I'll teach him a lesson later."

"...Can you let go?"

"It feels so good, can you massage it a little longer, sister?"

Hoshino Hanami chuckled, leaning closer to examine Kuriyama Sakura's face closely, her expression radiating a motherly pride. "You've changed quite a bit since I first met you. You're getting prettier and prettier. Hmm, it's just that your breasts haven't developed yet. Keep it up, Sakura, it's not time to give up yet..."

"...?"

Kuriyama Sakura blushed instantly, her eyes slightly moist, whether from embarrassment or sadness, it was hard to tell.

Anyway, Tsukasa Tazaki felt really sorry for her, so much so that he couldn't help but take out his phone and record the scene of the department head being ravaged.

"Hanami-nee," Kuriyama Sakura said weakly, "I can rub it, but could you please take away Tazaki Tsukasa's phone before you rub it?"

Hoshino Hanami turned her head to look over. Her boyfriend was tilting his head, staring blankly out the window, seemingly oblivious to everything. The autumn sky was deep and high, with a white contrail stretching into the distance.

Kuriyama Sakura took this opportunity to escape the clutches of evil and sat up straight.

But she subconsciously pinched the hem of her skirt with her hand and pulled it down slightly, a small movement that gave the impression that she was very nervous.

"How childish," Tsukasa Tazaki thought, "just like the minister's mood swings these days, like a child throwing a tantrum because a playmate has been taken away by another child."

It's strange, but one's feelings for another person often subtly change depending on the other person's reaction.

Sometimes wavering, sometimes confused, sometimes swelling, sometimes disappearing, sometimes disappointed, sometimes unhappy; many emotions should never have been born, but like Adam and Eve who ate the forbidden fruit, it is really hard to control them rationally.

"Sister is going back to the office now."

Hoshino Hanami stood up, touched Kuriyama Sakura's hair, then took out the hairband she had bought and tied it around her long ponytail while whispering in her ear, "Happy birthday."

"Mmm." Kuriyama Sakura nodded obediently.

Hoshino Hanami glanced at Tazaki Tsukasa, then turned and walked out.

Tazaki Tsukasa understood and got up, following her into the corridor.

"Go to Sakura's house after school. I'll have someone deliver the clothes to her."

"Didn't you burn all your clothes?"

"I bought them again," Hoshino Hanami said irritably.

Tsukasa Tazaki stared at her face for a while, then sighed, "Sister, are you really not going tonight?"

"Don't go."

"There are many delicious foods, such as the finest tuna sashimi."