My love index is at its maximum.

"I'll just have to eat a little." Kuriyama Sakura chuckled, scooped up a piece of cream, and put it in her mouth along with her finger.

I had never noticed it before, but now I suddenly believe with certainty that her cherry-colored lips must taste just as good as cream.

"Stop staring at me." Kuriyama Sakura glared at him sharply and stretched.

Her body formed a beautiful arc, her slender wrists stretching straight towards the ceiling. Her usually flat chest appeared exceptionally full thanks to the deep V-neck dress.

As he watched, Tsukasa Tazaki found himself struggling to breathe and had to look away to hide it.

A sea breeze blows in, revealing towering buildings and dazzling lights on the opposite coast; on the Rainbow Bridge, cars flow like a river. Occasionally, lone boats pass beneath the bridge, their lights flickering on the dark sea like swaying candles.

“Let me tell you about me from age six to twelve,” Kuriyama Sakura suddenly said.

Tsukasa Tazaki turned his head instantly, a surprised smile on his face.

With a slightly silly expression, Kuriyama Sakura covered her mouth and chuckled, muttering "silly," before scooping up a piece of cream with her finger and putting it in her mouth, tasting the unpleasant flavor as she spoke softly.

"For about six years, I spent my time at a hot spring resort deep in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture. It was an unnamed hot spring located at the end of a deep ravine. There were inns for locals to stay for extended periods, and you could also use the kitchen to cook simple meals yourself."

"..." Tazaki Tsukasa fell into thought, his hand unconsciously gripping the hem of her dress.

“Life is actually quite pleasant.” Kuriyama Sakura took out two cups and filled them with black tea. “I can soak in hot springs to my heart’s content, sleep soundly, and read books while lounging on the tatami mats. When I get tired of reading, I can play with the cats at the sanatorium. If I have any complaints, it’s that there are too many staff members. It would be great if there were none at all.”

"Have you had any communication with anyone at work?" Tsukasa Tazaki asked nervously, grabbing her slender wrist as if afraid she might suddenly disappear.

“Once.” Kuriyama Sakura didn’t struggle, but just lowered her eyes quietly, her eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings. “They said that if I don’t speak for a long time, it will become very serious, and they said they would try to let me find something I like to do to distract myself from my anxiety.”

"And then you started drawing?"

“Hmm.” Kuriyama Sakura nodded slightly. “After our conversation, I started learning to draw. At first, I drew the flowers, trees and shrubs in the yard, and then the cats that everyone kept. Although they were just simple pencil sketches, everyone admired them. Not long after, I was invited to draw facial sketches for all the staff.”

"Can I see those paintings?"

“I gave them all away. After I finished each painting, I would just randomly pick someone to give it to. People who just walked past me, people I would never meet again, I would give the painting to as long as they liked it.”

“There’s one more.” Tsukasa Tazaki stood up and walked to the wall opposite the large bed.

That painting is hanging up there.

The cool sea, the white sand, the boy on the deck chair and the girl lying next to him.

He pointed to the boy by the sea and said, "I'm a little envious of this person."

"why?"

"How can you not envy that he can actually live on in the world of your heart?"

"Silly!" Kuriyama Sakura sipped her black tea, then suddenly stood up and took out two maid outfits from the wardrobe. "It's late, hurry up and change so I can scratch your chin."

"Change them together?"

"Are you an idiot?" Kuriyama Sakura picked up her own set, sighing with a headache. "Tazaki-san, you really should reflect on why your mind is full of dirty and lewd thoughts. Of course I'd change in another room, why would I change in front of you?"

"What a pity," Tsukasa Tazaki shook his head regretfully.

"Hurry up!" Kuriyama Sakura glared at him, grabbed her clothes, and went out.

The room fell silent. Tsukasa Tazaki loosened his tie and began unbuttoning his shirt, one button at a time.

While changing into his new dress, he casually opened the system panel, intending to clear out some stocks, replace the catgirl transformation device, and also fully invest in the Minister again.

[Hoshino Hana's current stock price: 226]

Tazaki glanced at the market and saw that Da Ke Ai currently held 4026 shares, which was the only stock she could sell to raise some funds.

Selling 1500 shares yielded 339000 in available funds.

[Give me: 100000]

[Purchase this item?]

[Purchased]

Current available funds: 239104

[Current stock price of Kuriyama Sakura Ryokaku: 170]

Quantity purchased: 1000

Current available funds: 69104

After shutting down the system, Tsukasa Tazaki picked up a pair of black stockings and awkwardly slipped them onto her legs.

Ugh, disgusting!

……

After taking off her black dress, Kuriyama Sakura stared intently at herself in the mirror, as serious as a teacher grading homework. After a long while, she shook her head a few times and sighed in frustration.

Can't you two be a little more competitive...?

Picking up the maid outfit, the department head changed while pondering in his mind.

She was indeed attracted to Tsukasa Tazaki, and could occasionally feel the tender love in his eyes. What she pursued, or what she needed, was indeed that warm affection, a real source of warmth for survival—that being said, even if she had such a pursuit, she could only imagine the disappointment that awaited her.

After changing her clothes, Kuriyama Sakura returned to her room.

Tsukasa Tazaki, dressed in a maid outfit, instinctively turned away as she approached, his face slightly turned averted. One hand pulled down her skirt, while the other remained frozen in mid-air, as if it had nowhere to go.

It's clear he's in a very awkward situation.

Kuriyama Sakura smiled slightly, looking very happy.

She moved closer to Tsukasa Tazaki, her gaze lingering on his long legs encased in stockings, and commented, "Your legs are quite long, and the curves are beautiful. If ten is a perfect score, I'd give you nine."

"I feel uncomfortable all over," Tsukasa Tazaki complained weakly. "It feels so cold down there, I don't feel safe at all. I'll never wear this again!"

“There’s only the first time and countless times.” Kuriyama Sakura smiled and ordered, “Turn around, the department head wants to inspect the goods.”

Tazaki Tsukasa forced himself to turn around, suppressing his embarrassment.

The maid outfit was a modified version, designed to appeal to otaku. The skirt was very short, and the clothes were very form-fitting. It seemed like he was concerned about the length of the skirt, as he kept reaching down to pull it down.

“Tasaki-san is so cute.” Kuriyama Sakura said, resting her chin on her hand. “Starting tomorrow, our school will have three number one beauties.”

"Eh?"

"Let me draw it."

"and many more……"

"Shut up." Kuriyama Sakura looked at him with a good laugh. "It's my birthday today, so you have to listen to me."

"When will you draw it?" Tsukasa Tazaki's tone betrayed his panic, his eyes darting around.

“Now, here.” With that, Kuriyama Sakura moved to the drawing table, picked up a sketching pencil, and quickly sketched his face with a 2B pencil.

He was handsome in normal clothes; he was incredibly beautiful in a maid outfit; especially his most captivating eyes.

What I most wanted to paint was his eyes, where a profound world that transcends time lies deep within them.

Kuriyama Sakura held the pen, seemingly doing whatever she pleased, or perhaps letting it dance freely on the paper.

The window was open, and the autumn breeze gently rustled the hem of the white lace curtains. A faint scent of the sea drifted in, and a few tiny stars twinkled in the southern sky.

"Hey, Kuriyama-san." Tazaki Tsukasa, standing in front of the life model, looked down at her lowered head. "I'm really happy being with you right now, really. This has nothing to do with dealing with business or putting on an act. I'm just happy, I'm not lying to you. Do you believe me?"

“I believe you.” Kuriyama Sakura looked up to check the curve of his nose, then looked down again. “I’m very happy and relaxed right now, just like a newborn baby.”

"This is an impulse."

"Hmm, perhaps it's an impulse, but not entirely. There must be something else that triggers the impulse. I think it's a kind of intuition, and I can see it, like when the brightness of a television screen is turned down to the lowest setting. Although the picture is dark, if you look closely, you can definitely see someone in it. It exists, I know it exists, but I can't see it. I can only see it as something invisible, a formless form."

As she spoke, Kuriyama Sakura licked her lips and chuckled, "For the first time, I feel like I'm not smart enough. This explanation sounds utterly ridiculous."

No, you explained it very well.

"really?"

“Excellent,” Tsukasa Tazaki nodded, saying with absolute certainty, “Just like me, I’ll experience a powerful flutter in my heart for you at some unexpected moment. For example, tonight I really like you, how about you?”

Kuriyama Sakura did not answer, but simply raised her head slightly, her gaze lingering on his face for two or three seconds, a slight smile appearing on her lips.

The smile was very faint; perhaps it wasn't a smile at all, just a tremor at the corner of the mouth.

However, this smile was absolutely beautiful, almost dreamlike.

A smile of unparalleled beauty, never before seen or even conceived, so exaggerated as to seem eternal, yet simultaneously stripped away entirely; it transcended all human understanding.

Tsukasa Tazaki's heart skipped a beat.

I felt as if she had chosen me at first glance, making me the luckiest person in the world.

It was a strange, unprecedented mental tremor, as if my body had lifted five or six centimeters off the ground.

[This would probably fall into the sixth level of smiles~! Kuriyama Sakura's stock index rose 30 points, current stock price: 200]

[Kuriyama Sakura's stock price reached 200, triggering a share issuance process]

[Kuriyama Sakura Co., Ltd. has issued 10000 new shares.]

This……

Tsukasa Tazaki blinked hard: "Sixth-gear smile?"

"No, that's only fifth gear!"

As soon as he spoke, Kuriyama Sakura immediately realized that he knew what she was thinking. Her fair skin quickly turned red, and she lowered her head to continue drawing her sketch.

Her haughty demeanor is simply adorable.

Tsukasa Tazaki didn't disturb her again, and the room became strangely quiet. Deep inside, all that could be heard was the scratching of paintbrushes and the pounding of a heart.

Several clearly defined cloud formations drifted past the window in the wind, their edges tinged with a dark red by the city lights.

The sketch is finished, but it hasn't been colored yet.

Kuriyama Sakura put her pen aside and showed the drawing to Tazaki Tsukasa.

"Very vivid!"

“You yourself are vibrant!” she said.

"For me?"

"Dream on!" Kuriyama Sakura put the painting in the drawer, then sat on the sofa and beckoned to him with her finger: "Aren't you going to come and serve me?"

"..."