My love index is at its maximum.

Unconsciously, Tsukasa Tazaki relaxed his facial muscles and leisurely walked across the overpass while admiring the afterglow of the summer sunset.

"Eh, Tsukasa Tazaki."

Just as I was about to walk down the stairs, I suddenly stopped on the overpass as if I were frozen in place.

Two young children walked by; they appeared to be a brother and sister. The brother held his sister's hand tightly, cautiously observing their surroundings. The sister, meanwhile, held a bubble-blowing toy, laughing carefree as she walked and blew bubbles.

A strong wind swept by, bringing a slight chill. Bubbles floated in the wind, the pleated skirt swayed and billowed, and long hair danced, drawing a golden arc in the air.

She remained motionless, gazing silently at him.

He was the same.

Her features have a touch of Western flamboyance, yet her face also possesses a Japanese gentleness; her entire face is as exquisite as a porcelain doll.

She has a well-proportioned figure and is well-developed.

Because of frequent exercise, her legs, encased in white stockings, are long, shapely, and very pleasing to the eye.

In addition, there's the porcelain-white skin that girls dream of, and the clear blue eyes that boys talk about.

Yui Kisakawa truly deserves the title of one of only two "most beautiful girls" at Kitagawa Academy.

……

On the overpass at dusk, the two stood side by side, their bodies and hands resting on the peeling paint of the railing, gazing at the railway tracks that stretched forward as if to the horizon.

"I heard you moved out?"

"Ah."

"When?"

"It's been almost a month, which is quite a long time."

"where?"

“Uh…Higashi Shinjuku.” Tazaki Tsukasa was a little surprised that she cared about this question, and turned her head slightly to glance at her out of the corner of her eye.

Kikawa Yui lowered her head, her gaze fixed only on her feet.

For some reason, she looked somewhat "lifeless" now. In the past, she was always like a doll, cold and aloof; if it weren't for her ability to move, she wouldn't seem like a living person at all.

However, on the other hand, her face was always cold, an expression that perfectly matched her beauty.

Yui Kikawa pursed her lips tightly, and after four or five seconds, asked, "Higashi Shinjuku? Is it convenient to stay there?"

"It's quite convenient."

"Oh, I see. You must have made some new friends over there, right?"

You mean friends?

"Huh? You haven't made any friends?"

"I'm not too sure about that... but there should be some."

"fine……"

"Uh...yes..."

"You've never been good at socializing."

"correct."

The two were only two fists' width apart, each searching for something to say, engaging in an awkward, intermittent conversation.

Having spent ten years together, they were very familiar with each other, yet they didn't understand each other at all, which made Tsukasa Tazaki feel sorry for the original owner.

As the sun set, the crimson clouds darkened, and the vast sky was tinged with the gloom of night. One by one, the streetlights came on.

Kikawa Yui suddenly tilted her head and stared intently at his face, her eyes devoid of much emotion, as if she were simply staring at a math problem on a blackboard.

Tsukasa Tazaki stared silently at the rusty railing as the yellow carriages of the Central Line passed under the overpass. The train sounded its whistle several times, the sharp echoes piercing like blades.

Compared to "cute," in the original owner's memories, Yui Kichikawa was a girl more suited to the word "beautiful," possessing a more composed and calm temperament than her actual age.

With long eyelashes and a delicate face, her jawline and neck have a beautiful, smooth line, like a flower blooming in the shadows.

However, a beautiful appearance is at best a superficial illusion.

If you get to know her a little better, you'll discover the pride and sharpness hidden in her heart. Only her long, flowing golden hair can dance freely, disregarding its owner's image.

After a long silence, Kikawa Yui finally spoke up and asked, "You're not still as cowardly as before, and you still get bullied, are you?"

Her attitude when she speaks is that she has no attitude at all.

This seems to have remained unchanged since childhood. Tazaki Tsukasa sighed, "You're still as direct as ever."

"I am stating the facts."

"But you won't make any friends like this."

Tazaki Tsukasa blurted out a truth without thinking.

Then, he noticed that Yuina Kikawa's emotions rarely fluctuated, and a rare anger appeared on her mask-like face.

He had a bad feeling, but it was too late.

"how about you?"

"what?"

"I'm asking you, after you entered high school, have you made any useful friends?"

"Friend... as long as you believe in it in your heart, does it matter whether it's useful or not?"

"Is that right?"

"That's right. As long as you get along well, you can be considered friends."

With an expressionless expression, Yui Kichikawa continued in a cold tone, "True friendship lies in competition and mutual improvement."

"I find your theory very strange."

"No, it's just that you're always in a daze, so it's only natural that you become friends with someone like Murakami Mizuiro who hangs out all the time."

Kikawa Yui's tone was utterly unpolite, and an uncontrollable rage welled up in her beautiful, clear blue eyes.

Tsukasa Tazaki shook his head and turned to leave.

For a fleeting moment, a hint of regret flickered in Yui Kikawa's eyes.

However, the next moment, a stronger and more aggressive look flashed in her eyes.

“I am different from you. I am the one who will become the next head of the Narusugawa family. I have the duties of the next head of the family. I don’t have time to live an idle life, nor do I have time to hang out with my drinking buddies all day long.”

Her tone was flat, but her words were like a samurai sword about to be drawn, full of the oppressive feeling of an impending storm.

Tsukasa Tazaki glanced back at her from the stairs. "As expected of a genius, the way she speaks is indeed different from ordinary people."

“Statement of facts has nothing to do with genius or mediocrity.”

Their gazes collided in mid-air, sparking an invisible flame.

But soon, Tsukasa Tazaki realized that the situation was not in his favor.

He felt indebted to Qichuan. Although he believed he didn't need to take responsibility for the original owner, it was indeed difficult for him to confront her while carrying those memories.

and so……

"You're not cute at all. Let's never see each other again," Tsukasa Tazaki cursed, then immediately turned around.

"You'd better never appear in front of me again."

Yuya Kikkawa turned around just as decisively and walked to the other side of the overpass.

Tsukasa Tazaki stopped and quietly watched her leave.

Her long, dazzling blonde hair cascaded down her back, swaying slightly. Although her blonde hair was an innate trait inherited from her German father, it now seemed to reflect her own strong and assertive attitude.

"Tsk."

Tazaki Tsukasa muttered a curse under his breath.

Pounce on the mother.

He's already dead, who are you trying to impress with your infatuation?

Chapter 50 Today's Victory or Defeat: Childhood Sweetheart Loses, Widow Goes Berserk!

Back at the convenience store, Sachiko was sitting behind the counter, reading a book with an air of importance.

Tsukasa Tazaki glanced at the cover. Hmm, just a fashion magazine.

The proprietress looked away from the sexy evening gowns in the magazine and pointed to the dining area: "We left you a bento box over there. Eat it before you start work."

"Thank you, Sachiko-nee."

The bento box was a salmon set meal, and I ordered an extra bowl of rice. It came with yam miso soup, vegetable salad, and mashed potatoes.

Sitting on a high stool facing the main road, Tsukasa Tazaki used his pointed chopsticks to carefully peel the salmon meat from the bones, put it in his mouth, and chewed it slowly and deliberately.

He then ate a bite of rice and drank a sip of yam miso soup, savoring the flavor. Afterward, he put his chopsticks on the table, closed his eyes, and began to ponder some things.

He is very satisfied with his current life; apart from being a little poor, he has nothing to complain about.

Every morning, I would get up and go to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden to meet my teacher. Afterwards, I would go back to school and live a life that consisted of going between the classroom, clubs, and the library.

I've recently been catching up on the complete works of Natsume Soseki, and I'm also planning to learn Italian because my teacher's guide says to "do romantic things with her."

When it comes to romance, Tsukasa Tazaki immediately thinks of Paris and Milan. After some consideration, he ruled out Paris because of its large Black population, so he chose to learn Italian first.

I work after school to support myself. In the evenings, I do simple stretching exercises in my room while listening to music and ironing. I spend an hour researching cooking techniques and occasionally make a kidney-tonifying soup to drink slowly.

The house is clean and odorless, and I wash myself thoroughly when I take a shower. I try to eat plenty of vegetables. I occasionally buy some cheap fruit from the fruit shop and peel and eat it with a small knife I brought home from the convenience store.

They would also buy cucumbers to eat raw, and occasionally buy some fresh milk to eat along with oatmeal and whole wheat bread.

An ordinary day.

Tsukasa Tazaki loves this kind of life: no ghosts, no nagging, and friends he can easily get along with.

Today was the first time I met Yui Kichikawa. Although it was somewhat unexpected, we both felt that there was no need to meet again.

That's good; the existing rhythm of life won't be disrupted.