My love index is at its maximum.

Hoshino Hanami placed the book between her skirt and knees; the book was small, just enough to cover her exposed thigh.

Tsukasa Tazaki rubbed his forehead: "Teacher, could you please let me know in advance next time you're going to fight, so I can be prepared?"

“Then you have to pay the corresponding price.” Hoshino Hanami smiled as she tore open a piece of light soup wrapper and put it in her mouth. After finishing the piece, she took a sip of tea, squinted her eyes, and showed an expression that seemed to be one of enjoyment or happiness.

A breeze blew through the oak branches in the courtyard, gently swaying the potted plants on the balcony and the curtains.

"What did you want to see me about, teacher?" Tsukasa Tazaki asked.

“What’s the rush…” Hoshino Hanami rested her two slender arms on the table, comfortably propped her chin up with her hands, and stared into his eyes, saying, “I’ll tell you after I finish eating. I’ve been standing for so long in class, I’m starving.”

He had no choice but to pretend to look out the window and look away, which only made her stare at him even more amusedly.

"teacher……"

"No."

"You'd better think carefully about the consequences before you become more powerful than me."

Tsukasa Tazaki shook his head.

Hoshino Hanami calmly took a sip of tea, quietly looking at his face with an earnest gaze as if she were observing a fine Greek sculpture.

Chapter 40 Teacher, please go out with me!

Japanese society is quite open to student relationships; teachers not only don't interfere, but may even offer advice. However, this only applies to relationships between students. If it's a teacher-student relationship, there's only one way to handle it—complete annihilation!

Of course, if it's just a joke, no one can do anything about it.

However, after observing Tazaki Tsukasa closely for a while, the English teacher felt... that he didn't seem to be joking?

She stared blankly for a while, then, looking like "something big is about to happen," she went back to her seat to contemplate life.

Hoshino Hanami narrowed her eyes, held her breath, and stared intently at Tazaki Tsukasa with an extremely focused expression: "I heard from Sakura that you only like older women, is that true?"

After thinking for a moment, Tsukasa Tazaki replied, "Yes."

"why?"

"You might not believe it..."

Tell me about it.

Tsukasa Tazaki sighed, "In my youthful body lies the soul of the beginning of autumn."

Hoshino Hanami rested her chin on her hand, thinking for a moment before putting it down. In the process, she accidentally bumped into a pen. The pen fell to the floor, rolled a few times, and came to rest at Tazaki Tsukasa's feet.

He bent down to pick it up, and when he straightened up again, Hoshino Hanami stared intently at his face: "Is it because you lost the protection of older women when you were young that you like older women?"

"I also lacked the protection of older men when I was young, and I've never seen anyone like older men..."

"Oh right, then why do you prefer older women?"

“A symbol, perhaps…” Tsukasa Tazaki held the teacup in both hands, looking at his small reflection on the water: “I need to use this symbol to remind myself that my soul is not that of a fifteen-year-old.”

"Why?" Hoshino Hanami reached out and tapped his forehead, asking, "Why can't you celebrate youth, have normal love, and live like a fifteen-year-old boy?"

Tazaki Tsukasa said in a calm voice with a surprisingly mature air, "Because of loneliness and alienation."

"Kids these days... are such a headache."

Hoshino Hanami frowned in confusion, her gaze once again fixed on Tazaki Tsukasa.

He wore a dazzling white shirt, his slightly thin chest rose and fell gently with his breath, and his delicate eyebrows still held a hint of childishness. However, the lines from his ears to his neck exuded a mature masculine charm.

She asked curiously, "The symbol you're referring to, is it me, or any symbol that meets your criteria?"

When she asked this question, her hand was on the knee of her skirt.

Tazaki Tsukasa stared blankly at those pale fingers, as if there was something mysterious inside, looking as if the thin threads of a stocking were being pulled from her fingertips. But when she closed her eyes and opened them again, there was nothing there.

“I’m not sure…” he replied somewhat dejectedly.

Hoshino Hanami commanded, "Stretch out one hand and open it."

Tazaki Tsukasa stretched out his palm and opened it. Under the bright light of the fluorescent lamp, the two intertwined their fingers for ten seconds, just ten seconds.

The curtains were a translucent white in the sunlight, and quiet dust particles floated in the air. Hoshino Hanami crossed her arms on her knees and asked, "Now, can you be sure?"

"Not yet... Teacher, can I hug you to make me feel better... Stop, don't hit me!"

A gust of wind from a punch grazed his nose, and Tazaki Tsukasa guiltily moved his chair back. He then looked around and found the office quiet, with all the teachers' eyes fixed on him.

Tsukasa Tazaki asked hesitantly, "Will telling the truth cause trouble for the teacher?"

"It's nothing." Hoshino Hanami lightly picked up her water glass, and before drinking, she said domineeringly, "No one in this school dares to gossip about me."

Tsukasa Tazaki stood up, bowed slightly, looked up, and shouted, "Teacher, please go out with me!"

Hoshino Hanami stood frozen in her chair, staring blankly at him. Her water glass was already at her lips, but she forgot to drink. She couldn't understand what was going on. She had only wanted to check if this student had any mental illness, how did it suddenly turn into a confession?

The English teacher next door was clutching his stomach and slumped over his desk, his body trembling. The bald math teacher on the other side touched his bald head and then pushed up his glasses. Over at the chemistry teacher's place, a classmate stared wide-eyed at them in bewilderment.

"Pfft..."

Someone couldn't help but laugh out loud, but Hoshino Hanami glanced at them with murderous intent, and the area immediately fell silent again.

"are you serious?"

"Of course!" Tazaki Tsukasa nodded while clutching his chest and backing away.

"come over!"

"but!"

Hoshino Hanami put her water glass on the table and said irritably, "I won't hit you this time."

"Really?"

"Say one more word and I'll beat you up right now!"

Tazaki obediently sat down on the stool again, and the bald math teacher comforted his retreating figure with a sympathetic look.

"Let me put it this way... it's not possible for now." Hoshino Hanami had a calm yet charming smile on her face. "Besides, I've always disliked clueless suitors, so please focus your attention on your studies."

“It’s alright.” Tsukasa Tazaki smiled faintly, pointing to his heart: “There is a secluded little world here, and it has now opened its doors to you, ready for you to move in at any time.”

His smile was equally unparalleled, but it seemed somewhat forced.

However, in a sense, it is precisely because his smile is not entirely resigned that it is more touching.

Hoshino Hanami squinted as if she had seen something dazzling: "Go back to class, don't make a fool of yourself here."

"Can we still run together every morning from now on?"

"can."

"Can we still go to Sakura's family's house this weekend?"

"can."

"By the way, this hand, I'll... don't hit it tonight, I'll leave now."

Watching him flee in a disheveled state, Hoshino Hanami raised her hand, swept her hair back, and gently tied it up. Then she smiled, revealing her white teeth.

So this is what it feels like to be confessed to by a handsome boy... Haha~! The Hoshino Hanami Stock Index rose 100 points. Current stock price: 130.

Tazaki Tsukasa leaned against the corridor railing, stretching out the hand that Hoshino Hanami had once held, towards the sky.

Sunlight filtered through my fingers and into my eyes.

I was very happy that she held my hand.

Within those ten seconds, a gentle sensation traveled through my five fingers and palm. I felt like an all-powerful little bird, able to fly in the sky, feel the wind, and see distant scenery from high above.

The school bell rang.

Tsukasa Tazaki put his hands in his pockets and walked towards the classroom.

A young woman walked by; she had a beautiful face, a great figure, and a refined air. It wasn't just her pretty face; the intelligence in her eyes also testified to her excellence.

【Ding】

[Hoshino Deer Stocks Listed on the Market]

[Issue Price: 10]

Number of shares issued: 1000

"Hey!"

She stood with her hands on her hips, her eyes flashing with malice: "Tsukasa Tazaki, prepare to die!"

Chapter 41 Tazaki-kun Wants to Go to Higher Places

"Tsukasa Tazaki, prepare to die!"

"Don't be impulsive... Second Miss, calm down, calm down!"

"Don't stop me, I'm going to beat him up today."

"No way... He only confessed to the young lady, they're not dating yet."

"What? He actually confessed to my sister?! Where's my knife?! Where did my knife go?! Get my knife now!"

[You scoundrel! Hoshino Shikami Index drops 5 points. Current stock price: 5]

Tazaki Tsukasa looked at the beautiful girl who looked quite like the teacher with a puzzled expression. She had beautiful long, wavy hair, delicate and pretty features and a face, and a chest that was stretched high by her uniform shirt.

Before he thought she was cute or pretty, Tsukasa Tazaki first thought she was pretty cool.

But why does the younger sister want to find a knife when the older sister wants to date her?

“This…younger sister.”

Tsukasa Tazaki stepped back slightly and nodded: "If there's nothing else, I'll head back to the classroom."

With a "whoosh".

Seeing that the defenses had been breached, Hoshino Shika immediately moved in front of Tazaki Tsukasa, grabbed him by the collar with both hands.

"What exactly are you planning to do by getting close to my sister?"

Tazaki Tsukasa thought to himself, what else could he be after but her body, of course.