My love index is at its maximum.

Don't touch my cat!

Sakura Kuriyama angrily took the cat away.

Meow~!

Mei, a cat the size of two sardines and as soft as a cushion, touched the girl's lips with her cool nose.

"Why isn't it affectionate towards me?" Tsukasa Tazaki asked sourly.

Mei the cat turned her head and said with utter disdain, "Meow~!"

"She's calling you a scumbag," said Kuriyama, the translator.

"One day I'll give you to the sardines as a toy!" Tsukasa Tazaki threatened the cat, then brewed some black tea with boiled water, and the two sat on the floor under the glass door of the balcony.

The black tea was served hot, without lemon or milk. The cookies came in three flavors: coffee, cream, and fruit juice. To show his commitment to treating everyone equally, Tsukasa Tazaki ate all three, and very evenly at each.

Mei the cat lay between the two, her chin and forelegs resting on Kuriyama Sakura's ankles.

Tsukasa Tazaki reached out and brushed the cat hair off her shoulder.

"Thank you." Kuriyama Sakura nodded gently, holding the mug in both hands to look at the design on it.

The glass depicts Snoopy playing happily with a puppy, and it has the following caption printed on it:

Happiness is having warm companions.

The two of them gazed peacefully at the night view outside the balcony.

Tonight, we can see a few particularly bright stars. The night wind is blowing fiercely, and the air is cold and clear. The moon and stars in the sky, and the streetlights and rows of lights on the ground, illuminate the entire Tokyo night sky.

A light was on in an apartment across from the building, and shadows were moving behind the curtains.

The aroma and steam of the black tea wafted slowly past my nose and then disappeared into the distance.

"Kuriyama-san, when did you start liking me?" Tsukasa Tazaki turned around and looked at her. The soft light shone on her tender skin, giving it a white halo, like a girl from heaven.

Kuriyama Sakura recalled, "After spending a long time together, I suddenly realized that I had already fallen in love with him back then when I recalled things from the past."

"For example?"

"For example, we ate watermelon together, searched for the summer triangle on a summer night, and then danced together; we chatted about foreign songs in the room, thought about unfamiliar scenery, and when we closed our eyes to go to sleep, our brains relaxed and we suddenly realized: Ah, I like this person."

“I have similar feelings,” Tsukasa Tazaki said. “I often think about it at night.”

"Sleepless nights?"

“Yes, sleepless nights,” Tsukasa Tazaki replied.

Kuriyama Sakura always had a smile on her face.

"Isn't it cold now?" she asked.

"not cold."

"I'm cold."

"Oh, should I wear more clothes?"

"It's best not to stay too long, I'm going to sleep now." Kuriyama Sakura hugged the cat and climbed into the covers.

In the blur, Tsukasa Tazaki seemed to see her smile alluringly.

It's a bit unbelievable, but after rubbing my eyes, it's as if nothing actually happened.

Before the sports festival in Chapter 300, the four met up.

After school on Wednesday, the Sports Festival Operations Committee needs to hold a small meeting to determine the opening ceremony's procedures.

Generally speaking, the opening ceremony of a school sports meet only needs to include the entrance of classes and speeches by leaders; there is no need to arrange performances or similar programs.

Inside the student council meeting room, Tsukasa Tazaki stared blankly at the computer screen, pondering a question.

Should we take advantage of our good personal relationship with the Chairman and add some flair to the opening ceremony?

The meeting room was filled with the sounds of discussion. While thinking about his own things, he was also taking precise meeting notes.

Occasionally, she would tilt her head and glance at Yui Kichikawa.

As the opening ceremony approached, my brother's workload gradually increased, and his working hours became longer and longer.

This is something that Tsukasa Tazaki admires about her.

Most people would run away from this kind of thing, but she wanted to take it on herself, and she did it quite well.

The meeting was almost over, and people started leaving. At first, only two or three people left, but soon more and more people left, and the meeting room became empty.

Tazaki Tsukasa stopped typing, took a sip of the hot tea he had brewed, and looked around. He could only see five or six people.

At the same time, Yui Kawakawa stopped what she was doing, looked up and took a breath.

"Brother, there's something I need to discuss with you."

Tsukasa Tazaki leaned closer and whispered a few words in her ear.

After listening.

Yui Kikkawa sighed deeply.

Then she slumped her shoulders, closed her eyes tightly, and massaged her temples, looking like she had a terrible headache.

Tsukasa Tazaki, holding a teacup, asked, "Big brother, don't you know how to play the drums?"

"This isn't about the drum set..."

"Is it because you can't bring yourself to do it?"

"It's not..."

"Then why not agree?"

"...Tsukasa Tazaki!" Yui Kikawa opened her eyes, her clear blue eyes glaring fiercely at him: "This is the opening ceremony of the sports festival, not your solo concert!"

His fierce voice carried a strong hint of jealousy.

At the other end of the conference table, Chiba Miho looked at the two with a smile: "Communicate well, don't argue."

The voice and smile were so gentle that they created a warm current, warming Tazaki Tsukasa's heart. So he shamelessly moved closer to his older brother.

"Chairman, as your most loyal subordinate, I have only one small request, please grant it!"

Unfortunately, Yui Kichikawa wasn't buying it.

The blonde girl picked up her teacup, took a sip of tea, and casually picked up a form.

"As a return gift, please let me have it!"

"Hey... what are you doing!"

"Wait!" Tsukasa Tazaki took the financial statement from her hand, turned around and marked a few places on the paper with a red pen, completed the approval, and then returned it.

"Okay, all done!"

"Damn it, who asked for your help..."

Qichuan Wei narrowed her eyes unhappily, but still obediently took the report, checked it to make sure it was correct, and then put it aside.

Then, still not entirely happy, she pursed her lips and continued working with a stern face.

"Big brother," Tazaki Tsukasa gently kneaded her arm, completely ignoring the stares of those around them, "Just this once, please agree."

"disagree!"

"The three of us—you, Kuriyama, and I—are going together. Why not take such a great opportunity?"

Yui Kawa gritted her teeth: "Who wants to be with her!"

The remaining students in the meeting room stared in disbelief, wondering what these three were up to.

Tsukasa Tazaki didn't try to persuade him further, and just silently drank his tea.

After a while, he slipped out of the student council office and ran towards the music room.

Kikawa Yui gritted her teeth and refused to look up at him even once. The setting sun shone on her long, golden hair, making it look ethereal and captivating.

……

He borrowed a guitar from the music room and slowly walked back to the ATF club activity room, strumming the guitar strings the whole way.

The warm glow of the setting sun illuminated the corridor after school, and in the shimmering light, a handsome young man walked along, playing the guitar as he went—a truly beautiful scene.

Unfortunately, the music played was very unpleasant, which somewhat ruined the mood.

Upon arriving at the ATF department, a system notification popped up.

【Ding】

Guitar playing skill proficiency +1

Current skill level: Beginner (100/100)

[Guitar Playing (Beginner) → Guitar Playing (Advanced)]

well.

With a few more days of practice, I'll be at the professional level!

Pushing open the door, I saw both the minister and the deputy minister.

Shiori Ninomiya, who had been lying on the table, looked up at him and complained, "Kiki, you're so slow!"

Sitting by the window, Sakura Kuriyama's gaze fell on the hardcover book in her hands, occasionally turning the pages with her fingers.

"Sorry, something came up in the middle." Tsukasa Tazaki held up his guitar. "I almost lost my virginity in the music room while trying to make this thing."

"Huh? What's it for?"

"secret!"

"Damn it, they didn't even tell Shiori-chan!"

Tsukasa Tazaki walked over and ruffled her hair: "You'll be able to see it on the opening day of the sports festival."

"I'll let you go for now."

Shiori Ninomiya smiled very cutely.