My love index is at its maximum.

"Good luck, everyone!" Tsukasa Tazaki shouted at the top of his lungs, laughing, "I'll be waiting for you at the starting line of the 200 meters!"

The second track and field team member who crossed the finish line hadn't even had a chance to catch his breath when he was so startled that he fell to the ground with a thud.

Fifth floor of the student association building.

Inside the ATF clubhouse, Sakura Kuriyama leaned against the window, looking at the energetic smiling face on the big screen.

The complex thoughts that surfaced in my mind were like clouds in the sky, varying in shape and size.

They came and went as they pleased.

"Ahhh!"

"What should I do?!"

The minister scratched his head in frustration, pressed his forehead against the glass window, and muttered to himself, "Maybe I should just break my promise this time..."

"Meow?"

The chubby orange cat stretched out its paw and tugged at the cuff of her school uniform.

Kuriyama Sakura turned around and reached out to rub the fat cat's head: "Sardine also thinks I just fell for his trick, right?"

"Meow!" The fat cat shook its head.

Then it turned around and slapped the girl's arm with its tail.

It looked as if he was expressing his opposition.

Kuriyama Sakura grabbed its front paws, lifting the cat high, its cool nose touching her own: "Don't you have a grudge against him? Why are you taking his side?"

"Meow!"

"I wish I could understand what sardines are saying."

Holding the cat in her arms and gently stroking it, Kuriyama Sakura looked back at the playground.

Under the autumn sun, the boys roared and howled, their shouts mingling with the enthusiastic cheers of the girls outside, creating an atmosphere that was almost boiling over. They seemed to represent someone more innocent, passionate, straightforward, and joyful than I was—ah, the more I thought about it, the more annoyed I became!

In her contemplation of life, Sakura Kuriyama often felt that she was just an unmanned driftboard floating on the sea.

Perhaps one day, this board will find its owner...

The autumn wind blowing from the direction of Yotsuya rustled the tips of the ginkgo trees.

A few golden leaves were blown down and drifted towards the playground.

……

In the subsequent 200-meter and 400-meter races, Tsukasa Tazaki was still the champion.

After the two main competitions concluded, it was lunchtime.

The two teachers had eaten their fill of snacks and didn't go to the cafeteria at noon; instead, they went directly to the ATF department for a nap.

As a member of the executive committee, Tsukasa Tazaki has no time to rest.

He bought coffee and a sandwich at the convenience store, turned on his headphones, and asked, "Chairman, where are you?"

"Check the equipment for tomorrow's competition."

I asked where you are, not what you want.

"what's up?"

"Time for lunch."

"The equipment room in the gymnasium."

"Coming right away!"

Carrying a paper bag containing lunch, I arrived at the stadium and immediately spotted the blonde girl in the crowd.

She was taking her time, inspecting each set of uniforms and protective gear with the executive committee members around her. These were the equipment for the final event of the class competition tomorrow morning—rugby.

Her eyes, showing genuine concern for the safety of the athletes, held a warmth that was more evident than usual.

Tsukasa Tazaki leaned closer, tilting his head to get in front of her.

With her view blocked, Qichuan Wei frowned slightly, her eyes suddenly turning cold.

Why is that?

"You did very well today," Yui Kirikawa said meaningfully.

"Just lucky, just lucky!" Tsukasa Tazaki said modestly with a smile.

"Do they even realize they still have a job?"

"Huh...what?"

Kikawa Yui tilted her head and smiled coldly: "Starting to play dumb?"

"……No"

"The executive committee members no longer need to do their work?"

"Isn't this supposed to be a competition..."

"Whose side are you on?"

"..."

The other executive committee members looked over, laughing and gossiping with those around them.

"Put your things down and get the hell out of here." Qichuan Wei looked away unhappily.

As Tazaki Tsukasa put down the bag and turned to leave, she added quietly, "Take a good rest at noon."

Tazaki Tsukasa immediately turned around and smiled at her: "Big brother has become warmer."

"roll."

"Hi Hi!"

After leaving the gymnasium, I walked towards the student union office.

Deep down, Tsukasa Tazaki would rather take a nap at the ATF club, but rationally speaking, it's definitely not a safe place right now, so it's better to stay as far away as possible.

Passing by the courtyard.

Autumn sunlight filtered through the branches of the ginkgo trees, casting dappled patterns of light across the withered yellow lawn. Many couples gathered here, basking in the sun, having lunch, and displaying their affection.

"Hi kiki!"

Shiori Ninomiya ran over from a distance, holding a bottle of marble soda in her hand.

The soda had been chilled somewhere, and cool droplets dripped from the glass bottle onto her fair little hand.

As soon as they got close, she pulled Tazaki Tsukasa behind a tree trunk to avoid the sight of the surrounding students.

"Kiki, hold out your hand."

"What are you doing?" Tsukasa Tazaki didn't understand what she was going to do, but he still reached out his hand.

Shiori Ninomiya tore off the film from the soda bottle, placed the bottle opener on a marble, and handed it to him.

"Shall I open it?" Tsukasa Tazaki took the bottle and held the upper part of the bottle with his right hand.

"Are you ready?" Shiori Ninomiya looked up at him, her watery eyes gazing at him.

"All right."

"boom!"

A few wisps of thin mist rose from the bottle opening.

Before the mist dissipated, Shiori Ninomiya stood on tiptoe, her small lips touching Tsukasa Tazaki's lips with a light touch, followed by a few sucks.

As if someone had slowed down the hands of a clock, the noise coming from the playground became unusually faint when it reached here, as if several layers of soundproofing had been added in between.

Shiori Ninomiya never loosened her grip.

A girl's beauty bursts forth like bubbles from a soda, bringing a sweet scent.

Slowly, Tsukasa Tazaki took her small hand in his hand through the soda bottle, and wrapped his other arm around her slender waist, kissing her lips like a bee tasting nectar.

The lips taste sweet.

Her vibrant body carried a subtle scent of sweat and the pleasant fragrance of antiperspirant, which was intoxicating.

I don't know how much time passed.

The soda bottle in their hands tilted slightly, and the cool liquid that flowed out soaked their clasped hands.

A few seconds later, Shiori Ninomiya finally took a step back and leaned against the tree trunk, panting.

Her delicate face was flushed with a lovely blush.

Tsukasa Tazaki picked up the soda bottle and took a sip.

Lime flavor.

Looking at his moist lips, Shiori Ninomiya grinned and smiled brightly: "So salty!"

"What tastes salty?"

"Kiki's lips."

Tazaki Tsukasa paused for a moment, then sighed helplessly, "I just ran several hundred meters, so my lips should be quite sweaty. It's normal for them to be salty."

"I like it even if it's salty!"

After saying that, Shiori Ninomiya quickly turned around and ran towards the courtyard. The wind gently swayed her skirt, and her ponytail swayed left and right, as if she were waving to people.

Tsukasa Tazaki downed the soda in one gulp and held the bottle up to his eyes.

The half of the sky visible through the glass bottle was a deep blue. He slowly unscrewed the cap with one hand and placed the marbles inside in his palm.

Summer has been over for a long time now.

But the shrine maiden Ninomiya's radiant smile, brighter than the sun, on the steps in front of Suga Shrine that day, is still captivating to this day.

fortunately.

I didn't miss her!

Tsukasa Tazaki gripped the marble in his hand and stretched towards the sun.