My love index is at its maximum.

After boiling the water and making two cups of instant coffee, Tazaki Tsukasa returned to his seat and quietly reviewed Japanese history. Occasionally, he would glance at Kuriyama Sakura, always feeling that although they were both wearing the same school uniform, she looked uniquely beautiful in it.

According to her classmates, Kuriyama Sakura was a model student and an undeniably beautiful girl. She possessed an outstanding and aloof temperament; although beautiful, she was untouchable and could only be admired from afar.

After actually getting to know him, Tsukasa Tazaki felt that it wasn't as exaggerated as the rumors suggested.

For example, when faced with this fat cat with a very bad temper, she showed rare gentleness and care.

In the real world, everyone has different faces, and often, the same person can be described in completely opposite ways by different people.

Tsukasa Tazaki suddenly remembered the phrase, but he couldn't recall who had said it for the time being.

It seems... to be that Dazai Osamu guy?

"Have you seen enough?"

Kuriyama Sakura asked indifferently, then sat down across the table, holding the cat. She stroked the cat's head, her clear eyes fixed on Tazaki Tsukasa's.

The sardine stretched on her lap and lay there motionless.

A homeless stray cat, a lonely cat lover.

Frogs without webbed feet, fish without gills.

Tsukasa Tazaki couldn't help but ask, "You really don't have any friends?"

Kuriyama Sakura paused for a moment, then gently stroked her hair with her right hand and smiled brightly.

“There is one,” she replied.

"who is it?"

After asking the question, Tsukasa Tazaki regretted it a little. He didn't like Kuriyama Sakura asking him so many questions, so naturally he shouldn't ask her so many questions.

Otherwise, the questions will go on and on.

Kuriyama Sakura gazed silently out the window; the crimson clouds obscuring the sky remained unchanged. There was no wind, and everything in sight was as still as a backdrop in a photography studio.

“Never mind, I didn’t ask.” Tsukasa Tazaki lowered his head and focused his attention back on the book.

"Hoshino Hanami".

"Eh?"

Kuriyama Sakura spoke calmly, her face turned towards the window, as if talking to a virtual person. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she turned to Tazaki Tsukasa: "The person you want to date."

If you talk about teachers, I'll become interested.

Tazaki Tsukasa closed his book and took a sip of coffee: "You and her, are friends?"

Why am I telling you all this?

“Because I am her future husband,” Tsukasa Tazaki said frankly.

Meow~!

"Sardine" raised his head from under the table, his eyes filled with hostility.

Kuriyama Sakura grabbed its head and pressed her face against itss.

Silence descended again, lasting twenty or thirty seconds, during which time each of them was lost in their own thoughts.

Chapter Forty-Four: Always Willing to Help

Steam rose slowly from the mug, carrying with it the faint aroma of instant coffee.

Kuriyama Sakura lifted the cup with her slender fingers and took a sip of coffee. Her delicate cheeks, like white porcelain, shimmered with a reddish-brown glow in the setting sun.

Tsukasa Tazaki, holding his cup, asked directly, "That request of yours, was it the one she asked you to help with?"

"I can't say anything about this."

She made a slight shrug, her fingertips tracing the rim of the glass back and forth.

Tsukasa Tazaki nodded: "Understood."

"What do you know?"

"I understand that we can't disclose the client's information."

Kuriyama Sakura looked at his face and smiled slightly: "Anyway, I didn't say anything."

“Understood. It’s all just my own guess, and it might not be right.” Tsukasa Tazaki put the cup back on the table with a very neutral “clatter.”

No wonder the teacher reacted so strongly when I told her I wanted to join the ATF club.

He only likes high school students who are fifteen or sixteen years old, and he'll have to wait until the club president's birthday to bring one home.

Could it be that this older single woman is saying this on purpose to avoid being pressured to get married?

Having roughly figured out the key point, Tsukasa Tazaki looked at the coffee in his cup, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Kuriyama Sakura sighed helplessly: "To put it bluntly, your smile right now is very perverted."

Do you know what I'm thinking right now?

"what?"

Have you read Dickens's *A Tale of Two Cities*?

"I've seen it."

Do you remember what the very first sentence was?

Kuriyama Sakura picked up her coffee cup again and took a small sip: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

"That's right."

Tsukasa Tazaki stood up, leaned out of the window, squinted, and stretched out his hands: "When this world opened its eyes, I felt like I was wandering, struggling, and hesitating alone in the cracks of the times. But now, I find that this can also be the best of times, and I can face it and live with a more optimistic attitude."

The setting sun cast its light on his handsome face, the afterglow danced, and the breeze ruffled his hair—a truly captivating scene.

Kuriyama Sakura tilted her head, looking puzzled. "What? You seem to have gotten a little more handsome?"

"Your feeling is right, you're just a little slow to react."

"Is even someone with facial paralysis this narcissistic?"

"In this matter, I'm afraid Kuriyama-kun is still better."

Kuriyama Sakura's smile faded, and she flicked her bangs as if to hide her displeasure: "Don't forget, the final decision on the client is in my hands."

"Kuriyama-kun, please consider that we're friends..."

"Sorry, no."

"Please, I haven't finished speaking yet."

Kuriyama Sakura tilted her head slightly, her eyes becoming unfocused.

Even though she was facing him, Tsukasa Tazaki felt that she wasn't looking at him, but rather at some empty space around him.

However, thanks to this angle, Tsukasa Tazaki noticed that the smooth curve of her delicate chin was quite beautiful. Of course, this discovery was completely useless; this girl wasn't cute at all!

The afternoon sun streamed in through the window, and people were standing and chatting in the corridor.

Tsukasa Tazaki picked up his schoolbag from the table, intending to visit the art club next door and practice his drawing skills.

At that moment, the door to the activity room was suddenly pulled open with a loud bang.

"Excuse me, I'm coming in."

Kuriyama Sakura shook her head, saying helplessly, "Please remember to knock next time..."

"Sorry, sorry. You guys continue, I'll chime in after you're done talking."

Kana Shimamoto smiled leisurely, then sat on the L-shaped sofa in the middle of the activity room, observing the expressions of the two with great interest.

Tsukasa Tazaki poured her a glass of water and asked, "Is there something you need, Shimamoto-sensei?"

He was very willing to communicate with this perfect, married teacher.

She was an extremely beautiful woman. Although time had taken away the youthful radiance of her teenage years, it had also carefully sculpted her inner qualities, making her mature and dignified charm far superior to that of a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl.

To describe her in simpler terms, she is beautiful, gentle, has long legs and a slim waist, long, flowing hair, and most importantly, black-rimmed glasses!

Kana Shimamoto held a disposable water cup with her slender, girlish fingers, a smile as delicate as a crescent moon before dawn playing on her lips.

"It seems you two get along quite well." She tilted her head slightly and winked at Tsukasa Tazaki through her glasses: "Kuriyama-san is a very good person to date, you should try to seize this opportunity."

Tsukasa Tazaki directly denied it: "This is an illusion comparable to a mirage."

Kuriyama Sakura didn't reply; she simply took out some paper and began writing on the table. "Sardine" jumped off her lap and swaggered out of the activity room.

“I think you two are a perfect match.” Kana Shimamoto frowned, seemingly intrigued. “Or is it that in your heart, a fifteen-year-old girl is inferior to a thirty-year-old aunt?”

"Absolutely right!"

With a snap, the pen lead broke.

Kuriyama Sakura frowned and expressionlessly replaced the lead in the mechanical pencil.

Kana Shimamoto reached her hand to her forehead, brushing the hair that was hanging down her forehead behind her, and the smooth black hair slipped through her slender fingers.

"Never mind you two for now. Do me a favor, okay?"

"Please go ahead, teacher."

"Let's talk as we walk, let's go."

Kana Shimamoto grabbed his wrist and, without waiting for him to refuse, dragged him out of the activity room.

His arms were completely gripped tightly by her two arms, making it difficult for Tazaki Tsukasa to break free.

Although I feel a little sorry for Hoshino-sensei, it's shameful that I can only passively enjoy this sensation now.

The two walked side by side, their heels clicking on the corridor floor. In a way, he felt like a gigolo escorting a customer to a love hotel.

"Teacher...why don't you let go of me?"

"No, what if you run away?"

"I won't run away."

Kana Shimamoto laughed happily, "I'll let you go when we get to the library."

"Okay... can the teacher tell me what it is?"