My love index is at its maximum.

"How could a human being change so easily?" A touch of warmth appeared in Yui Kichikawa's serious gaze.

“At least you can choose to trust others,” Tsukasa Tazaki said, “especially a smart, capable, and determined assistant like me.”

"Hey, that last sentence is redundant."

"The key point is the sentence that comes next."

"...Then I'll have to confirm with you one more time." Kikawa Yui rested her hand on her chin, hesitating for a moment, "Are you really willing to share my burden?"

"No, thank you." Tsukasa Tazaki waved his hand.

"Here, take this." Yui Kichikawa pushed the laptop directly to him. "Since you're going to help me share the burden, then keep up the good work."

After saying that, she chuckled softly and added, "Every time I see you like this, I think you're incredibly foolish..."

Why swear...?

Tazaki Tsukasa glared at the computer screen, checking each group's work report one by one. Kikawa Yui couldn't wait to stretch her limbs a few times, then fell asleep next to his arm.

The sky gradually darkened.

There's only a little time left until the start of the vibrant and energetic school festival.

Chapter 246 School Festival (2)

The potato is dead.

At 7:30 a.m. on the 28th, Tsukasa Tazaki opened his eyes. The rain was still falling, the same light autumn drizzle as yesterday.

He changed his clothes while yawning, glanced at the washroom, and saw Shimamoto Kana inside. He didn't go in, but turned and went to the veranda in the courtyard.

The faint morning light spilled onto the wooden floor, and a gentle breeze occasionally swayed the white teru teru bozu dolls.

Tsukasa Tazaki opened his umbrella and walked to the potato flowerpot placed under the tree. The light rain gently pattered on the dark green leaves, which still looked full of life.

Under the watchful eye of the teru teru bozu (a Japanese doll), he squatted down in front of the flowerpots and used a shovel to dig up each of the potato seedlings. Without exception, the roots and stems of all of them had begun to rot.

died.

Relying on fate is indeed unreliable.

Tsukasa Tazaki took out his phone, took a picture, and sent it to Shiori Ninomiya.

[Tazaki: Potato is dead.]

[Tazaki: If you don't come back soon, I'll have to buy potatoes at the supermarket to eat.]

After putting away her phone, Shimamoto Kana returned to the bathroom and was squeezing some white foam onto her hands in front of the mirror.

She had already changed into her work attire: a flawless white shirt without a single wrinkle, a navy blue fitted suit skirt, and black stockings covering her slender, shapely legs. She looked like a vividly colored magazine photograph; seeing such a beauty so early in the morning was truly refreshing.

Tsukasa Tazaki squeezed out the toothpaste and prepared to brush his teeth.

My cheek suddenly felt cool.

"Hahaha~"

Kana Shimamoto's cheerful laughter rang out. Tsukasa Tazaki glanced at her, and then she playfully smeared face wash on his nose. "Serves you right for being so lewd last night, for bullying me~ Humph!"

"...You didn't refuse me again last night." Tsukasa Tazaki rolled his eyes at her, then turned to face the mirror: "Gurgle gurgle~ Ptooey!"

Kana Shimamoto bent down, slipped between his arms, leaned against him facing the sink, turned on the tap, and rinsed the face wash off her face.

"Cheer up for the first day of the school festival!" she said, sticking out her bottom and nudging Tsukasa Tazaki's stomach.

Tsukasa Tazaki put down his toothbrush and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind: "Let's start by finding the spirit for a new day in your wife."

"You're being indecent!"

"I suddenly remembered something fun, why don't we give it a try?"

"What? Hmm~ It itches!"

Kana Shimamoto rested her hands on the edge of the sink, looking fondly at Tsukasa Tazaki, who was busy behind her, through the reflection in the mirror.

Since they started living together, their relationship had rapidly warmed up—or so she felt. There was an invisible tube connecting them, now pulsating slightly, something like warm blood flowing quietly between their bodies and souls.

After washing up and having breakfast, the two left home hand in hand, only to part ways again in front of Sendagaya Station.

Tsukasa Tazaki walked onto the platform, just as the tram stopped. There weren't many passengers due to the rain, and there were plenty of seats. The carriages were covered with posters promoting the Kitagawa School Festival.

As the sun rose, the mist outside the car window drifted away with the wind, and the lines of the tall buildings gradually came into view.

My phone buzzed; I received a reply from Ninomiya.

[Ninomiya: You only think of Shiori-chan when Potato is dead, what a rip-off!]

[Tazaki: What are you doing right now?]

[Ninomiya: Cleaning the chicken coop. Let me tell you, my dad has a parrot to look after the chicks. Whenever the chickens fly onto the wire fence, trying to escape, the parrot flaps its wings and yells, "You stinky egg, you madman, lie down!" Every time this happens, the chicks get scared and fly back into the coop to stay put.]

[Tazaki: Was that parrot mimicking your father's tone of voice, or yours?]

[Ninomiya: I won't swear, but if you slander me again, I'll bite you.]

[Tazaki: The school festival starts today.]

[Ninomiya: Okay, I know. Although I can't participate in person, I'll watch the live stream on YouTube. Kiki, you better do your best and get first place in both your class and club!]

Tazaki: No problem.

[Tazaki: When are you going back to Tokyo?]

[Ninomiya: I don't know, let's see what fate has in store.]

[Tazaki: Why didn't you tell me what it was about?]

[Ninomiya: Shiori-chan has been working hard on how she wants to live her life. If Kiki interferes too much, she won't be able to walk on her own anymore.]

[Tazaki: Got it. 】

[Tazaki: But I still want to ask, isn't this one of the basic obligations of a boyfriend?]

[Ninomiya: I can't say.]

[Ninomiya: Anyway, why not just think of life as a jar of cookies? That way you can get through a lot of tough times.]

[Tazaki: Maybe I'm not very bright, I don't quite understand this saying.]

[Ninomiya: A cookie jar is usually filled with all sorts of cookies, including some I like and some I don't. When I feel down, I always think that if I eat the ones I like first, then all that's left are the ones I don't like. Things aren't going well right now, like eating a cookie I don't like, but later I'll be able to eat the ones I like. It's bitter before it's sweet; life is like a cookie jar.]

[Tazaki: A very optimistic attitude.]

[Ninomiya: I'm a super energetic tuna girl!]

[Tazaki: If you don't come back, I'll come to Hokkaido to find you.]

[Ninnomiya: I'm not opening the door for you!]

[Tazaki: I can bypass the Great Firewall.]

[Ninomiya: Let my dad chop you up with a bamboo sword!]

[Tazaki: I'm the national champion, and your dad's a fan of mine too.]

[Ninomiya: Bad guy, bad guy, bad guy (fat penguin crying.jpg)]

[Ninomiya: Thank you.]

[Ninomiya: This is the best cookie I've eaten today.]

The train came to a smooth stop at Yotsuya Station. Tazaki Tsukasa, having calmed down, stepped off the platform.

On the way to the school gate, many Beichuan students in outlandish costumes could be seen excitedly playing and laughing along the edge of the sidewalk. A group of familiar students seemed to be wearing costumes for a stage play; others, from an unknown class, wore brightly colored, matching support outfits; still others were dressed as witches in cloaks, or knights in armor…

The festive atmosphere is strong.

It's very young, very vibrant, and has a strong school festival vibe.

In addition to these students who had prepared in advance, there was also a group of students in uniforms or casual clothes. Almost none of them had backpacks because there was no need to bring study tools. In order to allow students to better enjoy the school festival, all classes for the next three days were cancelled.

Tazaki followed behind three chatting and laughing girls as they climbed the slope leading to the school gate.

At the end of the slope, the school gate stands as always.

From the outside, it looks no different from usual. Although it's a cultural festival, they don't paint the exterior walls pink or decorate them with balloons, ribbons, or anything like that.

However, once you step into the school gate, the scene is completely different.

At the entrance to the school path beneath the oak tree stood a large archway, adorned with colorful fresh flowers. It was erected overnight by the executive committee to welcome guests for the school festival.

It is these subtle differences that fuel anticipation for the special time to come.

Tazaki Tsukasa suddenly thought of Chinese high school students across the ocean, and felt a strange sense of unease as he thought about how he, at the same age, was bound by an endless sea of ​​questions.

Alright, enough with the reminiscing, the festival is about to begin!

Tazaki Tsukasa's expression suddenly became full of anticipation. After all, this was his first school festival experience. He should put aside his pride and have some fun. He should be able to gain a lot of happiness.

"Hey, Tazaki." Hoshino Shikami, wearing a student council armband, ran over and nudged Tazaki Tsukasa in the side with her elbow. "Your sister wore my school uniform today, so you'd better watch out so she doesn't catch you doing anything wrong."

"..." Tazaki Tsukasa's face froze, and he was so frightened that he immediately looked around.

Everywhere were students with beaming smiles and anticipation. Some were handing out flyers, others were holding up posters, and still others were dressed in full-body mascot costumes. Everyone was participating in the school festival in their own way. Who knows which corner my darling is secretly watching me from? If I get too close to another girl… I'll be in big trouble.

"Thank you, Shikami." Tazaki Tsukasa clasped his hands together and sincerely thanked his sister-in-law.

Hoshino Shikami raised her hands like a child, looking at Tazaki Tsukasa with a cute expression: "As a return gift, you have to find a way to help me cheat on the midterm exam next month and get into the top 100 in the grade, otherwise I will tell my sister that you have been flirting with our student council president again."

"...Flirting?"

“Yeah, she came to me the day before yesterday asking about you.” Hoshino Shika leaned closer, a smug grin spreading across her face as if she had caught her brother-in-law red-handed. “If she’s not trying to seduce him, then she’s planning to.”

"Chiba-senpai and I are innocent." Tazaki Tsukasa tapped her smooth forehead in an annoyed tone.

"Ouch, that hurts!"

"Come on, you didn't even use any force."

"I'm going to tell my sister that you bullied me."

"I'm going to tell my sister that you copied all your homework these past few days."

"Shikami regrets coming to talk to you today!" Hoshino Shikami stared at him with her big eyes, her brown eyes looking at him pitifully: "I won't remind you anymore, I'll just let my sister teach you a lesson."

"Alright, alright, that sweet talk won't work on me." Tsukasa Tazaki shook his head and said helplessly, "At most, I'll halve the amount of homework I prepare for you this week."