My love index is at its maximum.

The stone fell into the water.

Kuriyama Sakura stared at the ripples on the water for a long time, trying to find the missing stone.

However, no matter how long she looked, the stone would not appear, and she was very clear about that.

Tsukasa Tazaki watched her quietly.

A smile appeared on her lips; that's the expression when looking at something you love, just like when most people see something they can't bear to let go of.

Kuriyama Sakura felt her cheeks burning under his gaze and didn't dare to look back at him.

The autumn air was dry, but she could smell a sweet, fruity scent wafting to her nose. Several adorable squirrels could be seen climbing the maple trees by the river, and from the top of the trees, she could glimpse the sky—a vast expanse of blue, like heaven itself.

I have many thoughts.

Time felt both long and short; there were indeed happy moments, but just as many times of distress and regret.

Even so, she could genuinely feel the care from those around her, whether it was Tsukasa Tazaki or Hanami-nee; she could feel their smiles and intimacy, which weren't feigned.

After a long while, Kuriyama Sakura finally turned around and said with a helpless smile, "Tazaki-san, you really are good at explaining things to others."

"You've said that to me so many times already." Tsukasa Tazaki shrugged, leaning closer. "Will you come along?"

Kuriyama Sakura didn't answer, but changed the subject: "Where's Hanami-nee?"

"My older sister is waiting for us ahead. We'll take the Sagano Scenic Railway down the mountain together later."

"Did she send you?"

"How dare I come over without my elder sister's permission..."

"You're spineless!" Kuriyama Sakura pushed away his repulsive face and revealed a thoughtful expression: "Hana-nee said that I should just follow my own feelings and not worry about her feelings. She probably knew that I would definitely consider her feelings, so she asked you to come over."

Tsukasa Tazaki patted his chest: "My thick skin and countless beatings played a part in all of this!"

“That’s what you deserve,” Kuriyama Sakura said with a smile.

"Anyway, everything's settled with my older sister now. It's just a matter of what you think."

Kuriyama Sakura glared at him coldly: "So now you're basically handing all the problems over to me?"

The clear blue sky made everything bright and comfortable, so much so that it made me want to sleep.

Tsukasa Tazaki stretched and yawned.

Infected by her, Kuriyama Sakura covered her lips with her small hand and yawned as well.

A sudden gust of wind, sometimes broad and sometimes narrow, blew across the river, causing the hem of the minister's dress to billow up. In an instant, her thighs were exposed, her fair skin gleaming in the light.

Perhaps unaware, or perhaps not thinking that having her thighs seen was a big deal, she paid no attention to the fact that the hem of her skirt was being blown up. She continued to hold onto the railing at the bridgehead, casting her gaze at the colorful splashes of water on the river.

Tsukasa Tazaki stood shoulder to shoulder with her, time falling on her lap.

After the wind died down, the minister turned around and asked, "Is it beautiful?"

"nice."

"Want to touch?"

"I've wanted to touch it more than once."

"Then think it over carefully. Anyway, I'm not going to let you touch me."

Kuriyama Sakura smiled and turned around, walking towards the bridge with graceful and smooth leg lines.

"Huh?" Tsukasa Tazaki caught up with her. "This is Lovers' Bridge. Logically speaking, we should be walking hand in hand."

"Want to hold hands?" Kuriyama Sakura tilted her head, looking at him like a kitten.

Tsukasa Tazaki nodded: "Of course!"

Maple leaves, carried by the wind, fell like rain upon their faces. In an instant, Tsukasa Tazaki laughed, and Sakura Kuriyama laughed along, the maple leaves dancing in their smiles.

……

Boarding the Sagano Scenic Railway, the group swayed and bumped their way down the mountain.

The Hoshino family's residence is located in a small village at the foot of Arashiyama. It's a large mansion surrounded by stone walls, with a deep and spacious inner courtyard, resembling the residence of an ancient nobleman. A deep moat has been dug along the edge of the walls, with stone cliffs built up, somewhat mimicking the form of a city moat.

In the center of the house, in a large courtyard, there was a flowerbed planted with cosmos flowers. The flowerbed was also surrounded by a bamboo fence, and chickens were kept there. The long flower stems were covered with soil.

"There are vegetables that Grandma planted herself over there." Grandma Hoshino pulled on Kuriyama Sakura's arm, insisting on taking this child from the big city to admire the vegetable garden in the corner of the yard.

Pickled mustard greens, bamboo shoots, white radish, mustard greens, cucumber, celery, pumpkin, burdock...

A naive Tokyo girl, unaware of the world around her, squatted in front of a pumpkin with her phone, taking pictures from every angle.

The sun was shining brightly, and a cool breeze was blowing.

The bamboo grove outside the courtyard wall sheltered the girl's head, the bamboo leaves resembling a school of swimming fish, a graceful sight.

At noon, everyone ate a little lunch to fill their stomachs, and afterwards, Grandma Hoshino took them to the kimono street to buy some fabric to sew sweaters for winter and kimonos for the New Year.

Tsukasa Tazaki stayed home alone to cook.

Kimono Street is located in Kamigyo Ward, west of Kyoto, and is famous for its silk and brocade production. The area is filled with shops that look rather shabby, but the streets are clean, dust-free, and free of litter.

Grandma Hoshino led her eldest granddaughter and her family from shop to shop, while the two clueless girls lagged behind, occasionally glancing at the exhibits in the stores.

"Hanami, what do you think of this piece of cloth?"

“What a gorgeous pattern! It would be perfect for weaving a belt… This one is also nice, Grandma, look at it, the lines are soft, the style is elegant, and it’s full of poetry.”

"This piece of fabric is suitable for making the base of a skirt..."

"Sakura, do you have someone you like?"

"Huh?" Kuriyama Sakura pointed to the tip of her nose. "Me?"

“Let’s do it together~” Hoshino Hanami smiled kindly and reached out to touch her forehead: “Winter is coming soon, isn’t it? Let Grandma knit you a scarf and a sweater.”

Kuriyama Sakura turned to look at Grandma Hoshino: "Thank you."

"Why are you saying such polite things?" Grandma Hoshino smiled at her. "You only came for one day this time, which is too short. Remember to come back with Hanami during the New Year holiday."

“Okay.” Kuriyama Sakura nodded.

“Sister, sister,” Hoshino Shikami popped out from behind a pile of fabric, holding a small piece of the display piece in her hand, “Shikami likes this color, so let’s make this kimono for Shikami for the New Year.”

"This time, let Grandma make yours."

"Huh? Why? It was always my older sister who made it for Shikami before."

"My sister is making one for Tazaki this year, so she doesn't have time to make one for you..."

Hoshino Shikami stared in disbelief for a moment, then turned to Kuriyama Sakura: "Does her behavior mean that once she has a boyfriend, she no longer cares about her younger sister's life or death?"

Kuriyama Sakura gently patted her little head: "It's okay, call me older sister from now on."

"Alright, alright, my two little sisters, stop arguing." Hoshino Hanami put her arms around their shoulders. "I can always find some time to knit a scarf for each of you. Don't say I only care about Tazaki, or don't blame me for getting angry!"

……

In the evening, we ate dinner prepared by Tsukiyasu. It was time for bed.

Originally, everyone had their own room, but they all tacitly squeezed into Hoshino Hanami's room.

There were four people, but only three sleeping mats on the tatami mats.

Should women sleep on one side and men on the other, or should couples sleep on one side and singles on the other?

Looking at the four futons spread out on the tatami mats, Tsukasa Tazaki secretly found it amusing.

"I'm going to sleep now."

As he spoke, he was the first to crawl into the rightmost bunk and lean against the window.

Hoshino Hanami immediately untied the sash of her yukata.

She didn't need to hide from the people inside; she simply loosened the hem of her clothes, grabbed the window frame with one hand, and took off her socks with the other. Then, she crawled into the bunk to the left of Tsukasa Tazaki.

If her two younger sisters weren't around, she would have crawled straight into Tsukasa Tazaki's sleeping quarters.

The silly deer saw its eyes roll around.

She was used to sleeping naked, but thankfully she wasn't stupid enough to take off her clothes in front of Tsukasa Tazaki. She just awkwardly crawled into her sister's bed in her pajamas, leaving one for Sakura. That solved the sleeping problem.

The moth flapped its wings and flew around in circles. Kuriyama Sakura followed the moth's movements with her eyes, muttering, "What a big one," before standing up and turning off the light.

With a click, the room was plunged into darkness.

Lying in bed, she wasn't sleepy at all, but just kept her eyes closed and listened to the sounds of the three people laughing and talking next door.

"Shikami, let's switch seats," said Tsukasa Tazaki.

Hoshino Shikama hugged her older sister's waist and said, "No, my sister is mine."

"How about this, you sleep with your sister for the first half of the night, and then I'll sleep with her for the second half?"

"Look at you, you shameless scoundrel!" Hoshino Hanami reached out and pinched his nose hard. "Believe it or not, I'll take away your blanket and leave you cold all night?"

"Sister, spare me!" Tsukasa Tazaki stretched out a hand.

Hoshino Hanami pulled his arm over and placed it under her head: "That's it for tonight, no ulterior motives allowed."

The dimly lit room was filled with a scent reminiscent of damp cattail blossoms. Tazaki Tsukasa, breathing quietly like a plant, slowly wrapped himself in the blanket and moved closer to her.

Then, in the faint moonlight from the window, one could barely make out Hoshino Hanami's face; the lines from her cheek to her chin were exceptionally beautiful.

She wasn't asleep either, but stared wide-eyed at Tsukasa Tazaki.

Both of them were waiting.

As the moon rose higher, more light streamed in, and the room gradually became clearer. The outlines of the windowsill, refrigerator, and bookshelf cast shadows on the tatami mat.

"Sister, they should be asleep, right?" Tsukasa Tazaki leaned closer, cupping Hoshino Hanami's face in her hands, their faces very close.

"Just a kiss, don't move!" Hoshino Hanami smiled gently, her eyes slowly closing.

The moonlight outside the window dispelled the darkness of the night, turning the room gray and white.

……

The next morning, the four returned to the hotel and met up with the Kitagawa students. Together they took a bus to Kyoto Station and boarded the Shinkansen back to Tokyo.

The first school trip has ended.

The students of Beichuan will soon be welcoming the second major event of the semester – the Sports Festival.