My love index is at its maximum.

Ueda Masanami, hiding behind the oak tree, felt a sudden unease.

You're something else, Eri Onodera.

How come you're so skilled at this? How many times have you cheated on me?

“Let’s go…” Kuriyama Sakura threw down all the feed in her hand and clapped her hands: “What happens next is beyond my observation.”

"No, please..."

Kana Shimamoto grabbed her shoulder and forced her to stay, her expression indignant: "How can I let Tazaki-san be snatched away by a girl like that? I really want to bring you two together."

Kuriyama Sakura rubbed her forehead as if she had a headache, thinking to herself, "Instead of trying to match me up with him, you'd be more likely to succeed by doing it yourself."

Feeling a bit thirsty, Tsukasa Tazaki took out a bottle of mineral water from his bag and slowly drank a few sips.

From Ueda Masanami's description, he roughly knew that this Onodera was a tea ceremony master and a fish-raising expert. However, this was a matter between the two of them; no matter how much one of them was a tea master or how much the other fawned over him, Tazaki Tsukasa felt it had nothing to do with him.

He had planned to just tell the truth and leave, but he never expected Onodera to give him such a surprise.

interesting.

Free money is money you shouldn't pass up.

[Onodera Eri's current stock price: 10]

[Purchase of 1000 shares of Eri Onodera stock confirmed.]

Current available funds: 5000

With his portfolio fully invested in new stocks, Tsukasa Tazaki put down his water bottle and gently asked, "You've liked me for a long time, haven't you?"

A warm summer breeze brushed against his cheek, carrying the scent of oak leaves. The handsome young man's gentle smile caught his eye, and in the play of light and shadow, Onodera was so dazzled he could barely open his eyes.

"Really...really!"

Onodera's face turned bright red, and he became awkward.

He was gazing at me so deeply, oh my god!

I can't breathe!

[Yes, yes, that's so true! Quick, tell me you like me! Onodera Eri's stock index rose 20 points; current stock price: 30]

Tsukasa Tazaki nodded, his gaze as warm as a March breeze: "If you liked me, why didn't you say so sooner?"

Onodera's heart almost stopped; he felt his body become strange, warm and slippery.

[That's so true! I knew you'd been waiting for me too! Onodera Eri's stock index rose 40 points; current stock price: 70]

[Holding 1000 shares of Eri Onodera]

Are all units to be sold?

[Onodera Eri's stocks have been sold off, with funds received: 70000]

Current available funds: 75000

“If you had said it sooner…” Tsukasa Tazaki’s face instantly turned cold, “then I could have rejected you sooner.”

"Huh? What?"

"Goodbye."

Tsukasa Tazaki put his hands in his uniform pockets, nodded to Kana Shimamoto, and walked out of the school.

Shimamoto Kana chuckled and glared at him, then said to Kuriyama Sakura, "It seems that handsome people don't have to worry about choosing between dreams and love."

Kuriyama Sakura shook her head helplessly.

"Wait, don't go, explain yourself..."

"Eri Onodera, you're really something!"

"Hey? Ueda? What are you doing here? Let me explain..."

Snapped!

The sound of a slap came from behind, followed by a woman's scream and the splashing sound of a person falling into the pool.

A flock of crows returning to their nests flew over the school building from left to right. Tsukasa Tazaki tilted his head slightly, looking at the beautiful crimson sunset in the west.

What a bright and pleasant summer evening!

Chapter Forty-Eight: The wind is so noisy today!

I'm so happy to have won 6 yuan for free.

After leaving the school gate, on the long downhill slope, Tsukasa Tazaki completed a warehouse replenishment.

[Tono Sachiko stock current price: 60]

[Purchase of 1000 shares of Sachiko Tono stock confirmed.]

Current available funds: 15000

Thank you, Onodera-kun. Because of you, I was able to restock my storefront with the boss's wife. If she ever clings to me and won't let go in the future, I'll definitely send you wedding candy.

Tsukasa Tazaki closed the system interface and walked towards the convenience store.

It was five o'clock in the afternoon. The top of the office building shone with an orange glow under the setting sun, while the street below was bathed in a dim blue light.

The sky was also divided into two distinct colors.

The western sky, like a thin, translucent sashimi, was an almost transparent orange-red. The farther away from the setting sun, the closer the color became to a deep purple. In another hour, after the sun had completely disappeared below the horizon, the entire sky would transform into a large, dark blue disc.

The rainy season is coming soon, and I wonder how damp my house will be then. Sigh, I really want to move in with Sakura's family and live with Hoshino-sensei.

The evening breeze blew in through the gaps between the buildings, brushing against my cheeks.

Tsukasa Tazaki loosened his tie and casually unbuttoned the second button of his shirt, instantly feeling much more comfortable.

He stuffed his tie into his bag and continued on his way.

A girl wearing headphones walked towards us, completely absorbed in the world of music.

She had her head down, so her face couldn't be seen clearly. She had beautiful blonde hair and was wearing Kitagawa's school uniform.

Tsukasa Tazaki couldn't help but wonder what song the girl on Yotsuya Shinjuku Street was listening to at 5:10 pm on Wednesday, May 12th, and what she was thinking while listening to the song.

Is this the only chance we'll ever have to meet in our lives?

Their pace gradually slowed, and Tsukasa Tazaki looked over curiously.

Haruki Murakami once brushed past a perfect girl on a sunny April morning in a backstreet of Harajuku.

Could I meet the same perfect girl on a sunny May evening on Yotsuya-Shinjuku-dori?

Just as they were about to pass each other, the girl glanced up and saw Tsukasa Tazaki.

The two of them stopped at the same time.

Yesterday, I brushed past a perfect girl on the street.

Is she pretty?

No, that's not what I meant.

So, is this the type that suits your taste?

I can't remember anything—what her eyes looked like, whether her breasts were big or small—I've completely forgotten.

This is so bizarre!

It's completely inexplicable.

So, what did you do? Did you strike up a conversation? Or did you stalk them?

We did nothing, we simply passed each other by.

Really, it was just a fleeting encounter.

She was traveling from east to west, and I was traveling from west to east, on a sunny and breezy evening in May.

Their eyes met for a brief moment.

A water truck passed by, wetting the asphalt road and filling the air with the smell of evaporating water. The fragrance of hydrangeas wafted from the roadside green belt.

Tazaki Tsukasa nodded at her expressionlessly and continued walking forward.

The girl stood there stunned, and after a long while, she turned around as if she had just come to her senses.

On the bustling streets of Shinjuku-dori, a handsome young man in a white shirt, expressionless, had his hair tousled by the wind.

Just then, she heard Yoko Hikasa's tender singing voice coming through her headphones.

The wind is so noisy today.

Yet, the wind seemed to weep softly.

I vaguely sensed that the wind was bringing something ominous into the town.

Let's hurry, before the wind stops.

Chapter 49 Childhood Sweethearts Don't Work Out

【Ding】

[Qichuan Weigu launched its stock index]

[Issue Price: 10]

Number of shares issued: 1000

After passing each other, Tsukasa Tazaki walked towards the overpass that spanned the railway tracks.

Climb the stairs and walk onto the overpass.

The sunlight was as gentle as an afternoon pond, and the wind rustled through the overpasses.

Below, trams from Yotsuya Station whizzed past, making a clattering sound.

There aren't many tall buildings around here, and the view from the overpass is expansive, offering a panoramic view of the streetscape bathed in twilight, with Tokyo's beautiful skyline stretching into the distance.

A faint sadness lingered in my heart. Looking at the noisy wind, the bustling world, and the chaotic world, even with a thousand changes and ten thousand wonders... it probably can't compare to a half-price bag of potato chips.