My love index is at its maximum.

“You,” Shimamoto Kana chuckled, “after thinking about it carefully, it seems like there’s not much difference between having you and not having you. So, you must just be a handsome pretty face?”

"...?" Tsukasa Tazaki paused for a moment, then lowered his head: "Fine, so you're actually insulting me indirectly!"

"Haha~" Shimamoto Kana laughed crisply and cheerfully, speaking in a slightly coquettish tone like a high school student in her teens, "You've been bullying me all this time, can't I even fight back?"

"Retaliation comes at a price!"

"What is it, waaaaah!"

After being kissed rather roughly for a few minutes, Shimamoto Kana broke free, her face flushed, her eyes brimming with tears, and she bit her slightly swollen, sexy lips: "You're so bad!"

Tazaki Tsukasa's face was still pressed against hers, greedily inhaling the fragrance emanating from her body: "I really love this smell. Please make sure to marinate her every day, madam, so I can smell it every day."

"As you wish~" Shimamoto Kana breathed smoothly, leaning comfortably against his body, and continued what she had just said: "You, on your own, don't really play a role, but you are the key that connects them, and also the backbone they can rely on when they encounter trouble. And you will consciously take on this role."

"In other words, we all fulfilled our respective roles well in this small group."

“That’s right,” Shimamoto Kana said. “You may not realize it clearly now, but after being a teacher for so many years, I can tell you very clearly. Forming a close-knit group during your student days will be a bond that you will never forget for the rest of your lives. This bond is also the key reason why I think Kuriyama and Kikawa will most likely be under your control.”

Tazaki Tsukasa asked incredulously, "Is it really that amazing?"

“Of course…” Shimamoto Kana nodded. “When you reach your third year and are about to graduate, you will understand how desperate and painful it is to face a fate that is about to fall apart.”

"Did your wife have that experience back then too?"

"Yes, that's someone who's been there."

"I believe you!"

"The best thing is to have unwavering faith!" Shimamoto Kana raised his right hand, spreading his four slender fingers: "Kuriyama is first, the index finger. You are the most prominent middle finger, Kikawa is the ring finger that follows the middle finger, and Ninomiya is the little finger that looks inconspicuous but is the most delicate and lovable."

Tsukasa Tazaki stared blankly at the four fingers on his right hand.

Perhaps it was because Kana Shimamoto, as a psychological counselor, was so good at analyzing people's hearts that the more he looked, the more he felt that four fingers were the most perfect combination in the world.

I wish I could chop off that unsightly thumb right now.

Fortunately, Kana Shimamoto was holding his hand at that moment, preventing him from doing something so foolish.

"The four of you have come together to make up for your shortcomings in a common name, and to contribute your best qualities to share with everyone without reservation."

Kana Shimamoto's words reminded Tsukasa Tazaki of his previous trip to Oma Town.

Although the process was bumpy and involved a lot of scheming, the four of them undoubtedly achieved great success in the end.

“The experience of being a student is something you’ll never have again in your life, so it’s unique.” Kana Shimamoto placed his palm on her cheek and gently stroked it. “Even after I returned to school as a teacher for so long, I still couldn’t find that feeling again. To be honest, even my family and loved ones couldn’t let me relive that pure and natural feeling without any impurities. It’s gone forever.”

Tazaki fell silent, his palm gently conveying the smooth, delicate touch of his wife's face.

"As long as you're in this little group, they can naturally be themselves. Ninomiya wants to experience life in Tokyo, and you can shelter her from the storm; Kikawa wants to shoulder the future of her family, and you can share her burden; Kuriyama wants to try to integrate into the lives of ordinary people, and you can be her guide; your steadfast presence gives this group a sense of peace and security, like an anchor for a ship. If one day you disappear, they will lose their support, and then they will fall apart. So, Tazaki-kun, please keep going!"

A gentle breeze was blowing.

A gust of wind rustled through the maple treetops, causing the leaves to tremble and sway all around. The sky, visible through the branches, was completely obscured by gray clouds, threatening rain.

Tazaki Tsukasa adjusted his breathing, gently patting his wife's wonderfully soft oval face as he chuckled, "The conversation I had with Kuriyama-san this afternoon was a bit disheartening. But after what you said, I'm full of confidence again. As expected of Shimamoto-sensei, you're amazing."

Shimamoto Kana proudly patted her firm chest: "In this respect, I am unique, no less than your Hanami-nee."

“Not bad at all!” Tsukasa Tazaki helped her to her feet, bent down to pick up her coat and put it on: “Having a treasure like my wife, I’d wake up laughing in my dreams every night.”

The outside light shone in and onto his back, which was covered with sand and grass clippings.

Kana Shimamoto took out a handkerchief from her bag and carefully wiped his face while laughing and scolding, "I don't believe you. We've lived together for so long, and I've never seen you wake up laughing in the middle of the night."

Tsukasa Tazaki turned around and naturally wrapped his arms around her slender waist, which was cinched by her kimono sash: "I'll wake up laughing tonight. But you'd better worry that I won't be able to fall back asleep after I wake up, and then I'll manually wake you up."

Kana Shimamoto smiled slightly and looked at him tenderly: "We'll see."

"How about we stay here?"

"Always so improper... Ugh, let go, let's go to Gion."

"Okay, let's go to Gion!" Tsukasa Tazaki pulled her out of the flower bushes, and the two set off towards Gion under the cover of night.

Ahead is a wide road, and to the right is the Keihan Electric Railway station.

Walk forward for another five minutes, then turn onto the brightly lit street ahead and walk along the Kamo River.

There were no stars or moon in the sky.

The izakayas along the Kamo River are lit up, the light spilling out of the windows, warmly illuminating the flowing water in an old-fashioned way. The areas not reached by the light look like a black ribbon.

Directly ahead, the hazy, towering silhouette of Dongshan Mountain gradually approaches, with a dimly lit ancient urban area at its foot.

That is Gion.

This area, stretching from Yasaka Shrine and the Kamo River to Higashioji Street, is Kyoto's traditional bustling district. It boasts Kyoto's largest geisha district and the Hanamikoji Street, where geisha hurry along with their heads down.

Gion at night is more lively and bustling than during the day. Lanterns flicker and candlelight sways, exuding the aura of a wise old man who has witnessed hundreds of years of change. It's as if you've returned to the old days with it. Everything seems unchanged, but in fact, the world has changed drastically.

The two entered Gion through the west gate.

Looking back at the road she had come from, the passing vehicles, their lights trailing behind them, disappeared into the distance, revealing the deep blue night sky. Shimamoto Kana happened to be standing in the center of the gate, where two spotlights, one on each side of the main entrance, cast a beautiful silhouette on her.

Standing in the light, she turned around and waited for Tsukasa Tazaki to come to her side.

This fleeting beauty reminded Tazaki Tsukasa of the images of Kyoto beauties depicted by Tanizaki Jun'ichirō.

Kyoto beauty → secluded hermitage → crepe silk → snow-white skin → fragrant silk tears → face powder → skirt hem → purple → the sound of a teapot → charcoal fragrance → incense → camellia.

"Click~"

Tsukasa Tazaki took out his phone and captured this beautiful moment.

"How is it?" Shimamoto Kana leaned over to look at the photo and smiled sweetly: "Wow, this gentle temperament is truly the image of the perfect wife in my mind."

"Self-praise."

"Do you have a different opinion?"

"No, look at the light and shadow, look at the angle, look at the blurred background, shouldn't you praise my photography skills?"

"Tsukasa Tazaki!" Kana Shimamoto said angrily, hands on her hips, emphasizing each word clearly, "Of course it's because I'm good-looking that the photos look good!"

"Yes, yes, yes~"

Tsukasa Tazaki put his phone back in his pocket. "You're the prettiest lady. My photography skills don't matter at all."

A smile returned to Kana Shimamoto's dignified and beautiful oval face, radiant under the glow of the lanterns.

Chapter 283 School Trip (13)

Around 8 p.m., a light drizzle began to fall.

Kana Shimamoto, holding a paper umbrella, walked slowly along the bluestone path, which was wet with the night rain.

Two tourists with DSLR cameras followed her, taking pictures all the way.

In the lingering autumn rain, yellow lanterns stretched all the way to the end of the night, adorning the ancient buildings of Gion.

At Tsukasa Tazaki's request, the two walked along Shijo-dori Street.

This is the most bustling and vibrant area of ​​Kyoto, comparable to Nanjing Road in Shanghai. On both sides are rows of exquisitely decorated and distinctive teahouses and restaurants, as well as many high-end restaurants specializing in kaiseki cuisine.

The road leading from Shijo-dori all the way to Kennin-ji Temple is the popular Hanamikoji Street in Gion.

"Uh, we've reached Hanamikoji Street." Shimamoto Kana gazed wistfully at the street scene in the night rain.

Tsukasa Tazaki held her hand and said, "I've been going for my morning run alone these past two days, so I'm very happy that my wife can come with me tonight."

"You only think of me because you have no one else to keep you company?" Shimamoto Kana pursed her lips unhappily.

Tsukasa Tazaki turned to look at her, their eyes met, and he said gently with a smile, "Gion Corner is right on Hanamikomichi, you know. I just wanted to go there with you to listen to music and watch a play. I didn't expect anyone else to come."

Gion-zukuri is a garden.

Admission is 2500 yen, with other expenses to be paid separately. You can choose to watch performances of traditional arts such as tea ceremony, koto, flower arrangement, gagaku, kyogen, and kyōbu.

After a moment's thought, Shimamoto Kana chose to believe the scumbag's words.

The two walked hand in hand, holding a paper umbrella, through the night rain. Some of the shops on both sides had already closed for the day, while others were still gleaming with bright lights. They could hear rustling voices, but all of them were shrouded in darkness, as if they were filtered through several layers of paper.

One after another, geishas hurried past them, disappearing into a restaurant whose lights were still on.

I passed by Nintoku-ji Temple on Hanamiko-dori Street, where nighttime worship is available.

Looking inside from the temple entrance, there's a lifelike Shiraki-yaki tanuki (raccoon dog) statue, as if it's about to pat its belly and sing a song. The main hall, bathed in soft light, with incense and candles lit by tourists, unfolds a magnificent chapter of the Heian period.

“It’s so nice that you come with me wherever we go.” Shimamoto Kana held Tazaki Tsukasa’s hand tightly, her gaze shifting from the lanterns under the temple eaves to his profile. “That’s what I love about you.”

It is delightful to have a beloved woman express her love for you.

Tazaki Tsukasa squeezed her hand and whispered close to her, "Are we going back to the school hotel tonight, or should we find somewhere else?"

"Let's stay outside," Shimamoto Kana said with a gentle smile.

Arriving at Gion Corner, we bought tickets.

We also ordered food, enjoying authentic kaiseki cuisine while watching the performance, which was quite an elegant experience.

Of course, the greatest fun.

It was due to the geisha Kana's wholehearted service.

Tazaki Tsukasa plopped down on the tatami mat. Next to her was a small tatami mat separated by a screen. Through the gap, she could peek out and see people sitting almost knee-to-knee, all dressed in gorgeous kimonos.

The stage was directly in front, separated from the audience by a small pond. The bonfire swaying in the wind reflected in the dark pond water, while the brightly lit stage was showing the Kyogen play "Shimizu". Kyogen is one of the four major traditional Japanese dramas, and its plots are generally easy to understand.

The pageboy Taro, dressed in theatrical costume, didn't want to fetch water. He put on a demon mask, intending to pretend to be a demon and scare his master.

Tsukasa Tazaki's mind was not on that at all.

He looked left and right, impatiently waiting for Shimamoto Kana to go to the kitchen to get her food, imagining the scene of embracing her.

From the audience seats separated by screens, one could occasionally hear the rough laughter of men and the gentle service sounds of women.

A chilly autumn wind occasionally blew through the lush surrounding trees, and the campfire glowed bright red against the dark night. In the darkness, the ghost on the stage appeared once more, but the master had already seen through the servant's trick, stripped off his mask, and the servant fled in panic.

As the stage curtain was drawn, the stage lights were temporarily turned off, leaving only a few bonfires burning around.

Just then, Kana Shimamoto walked over gracefully, carrying a wooden plate.

Tsukasa Tazaki stared at her intently.

She was still wearing the same kimono as before, her hair was styled in a bun at the back of her head and held up with a hairpin, and her slender neck was visible through the snow-white collar.