My love index is at its maximum.

Shiori Ninomiya's soft little lips warmly covered his mouth.

Tsukasa Tazaki wrapped his arm around her waist and gently embraced her.

The fresh scent unique to young girls emanated from her straight neck, filling the entire cable car cabin. He breathed in the warm air deeply, letting it permeate every part of his body.

They held each other quietly for a long time, and didn't even get out when the cable car reached the top of the mountain, but they both felt that this was not a big deal. This was one of the most important moments for each other.

I don't know how much time passed.

Tazaki buried his face in her body and hugged her slender waist even tighter.

"They went out."

"No, let's kiss a little longer..."

Shiori Ninomiya's voice was both pleading and coquettish, a sweet, girlish murmur. She squinted, her lips idly searching Tazaki Tsukasa's cheek, her fingertips playing with his hair.

With a strong effort, Tsukasa Tazaki lifted her up and carried her out of the cable car.

During this process, Shiori Ninomiya found his lips and kissed him again. In an instant, soft affection flowed with their warm breath.

After exiting the cable car, a cold wind blew from the mountain peaks, and the heat that had enveloped the two of them slowly dried off.

Shiori Ninomiya still held tightly to his neck with both hands, refusing to let go.

Even though the staff were looking at her strangely, she didn't care. Since her eyes were closed, she pretended not to see them.

Chapter 324 Hoshino Shikami: "Shikami doesn't have a sister..."

On her way back to the village, Shiori Ninomiya walked with a light step.

Following behind, Tazaki Tsukasa's lips still lingered with the sensation of her lips, and he could still feel the rhythm of her heartbeat in his chest.

"Isn't it pretty good?" Shiori Ninomiya asked, looking at the thicket of trees ahead.

In the silent, snow-covered forest, the birdsong and the sound of flapping wings seemed much louder than usual.

"Yes." Tsukasa Tazaki nodded.

"Still not satisfied, are you?"

"There was still a sense of wanting more."

"What do you mean?" Shiori Ninomiya exhaled a long breath, and white mist rose up and disappeared into the forest.

"If you knew, you'd be all grown up by now." Tsukasa Tazaki turned his head to look at her profile.

Her beautiful little face was purer than the snow, but possessed an alluring vitality that surpassed even the stillness of the snow.

“There will always be a day when we grow up!” Shiori Ninomiya laughed, reaching out her hand towards the sky and gently clenching her fist as if she wanted to grasp the sky in her hands. “I already have Kiki in my hands, so why would I be afraid of growing up!”

"Amazing!" Tsukasa Tazaki exclaimed.

Shiori Ninomiya laughed a few times, then grabbed his hand and ran towards home.

The scattered branches snapped underfoot with a crisp cracking sound.

The warm winter sun shone through the treetops onto the two people's way home. The snow-covered mountains and fields were covered with frost, and the pine trees stretched their branches into the air like coral in the sea.

……

It was already afternoon when I got home.

After entering the room, Shiori Ninomiya glanced at the stove, picked up the kettle of boiling water and went to the kitchen, then returned with tea.

Their clothes were already chilled to the bone by the forest's cold, so being able to drink hot tea was truly a blessing. During their tea time, the wind outside kept howling.

"The tea leaves are picked from that pine forest. They are dried over the entire summer and are enough to last all winter. They are both nutritious and warming."

Tazaki Tsukasa silently savored the moment.

It has a pleasant fragrance and a simple sweetness, but it doesn't taste like tea.

"What plant's leaves are these?" he asked.

“Ah, I really can’t remember what it’s called,” Shiori Ninomiya thought for a moment and shook her head. “It’s a kind of grass in the forest. I tried picking it to make tea because it smelled nice. The grass is short and green, and it blooms in July. When it blooms, you can pick the leaves, dry them, and then use them to make tea.”

In winter, it gets dark early; by just past five in the afternoon, dusk has already fallen in a chilly chill.

Looking out the window, the crimson sunset swept across the treetops of the forest, casting a hazy twilight glow. A faint afterglow lingered on the mountain peaks, a rosy sheen painting the snow-capped summits.

The cedar trees that dotted the front and back of houses, paths, and shrines quickly turned into a dark, dense mass.

Looking at Tsukasa Tazaki, who was lost in a hazy, dreamlike state of mind, Shiori Ninomiya felt an unprecedented sense of joy. In this small mountain village where winter lasts for half the year, his appearance was like bringing light and warmth.

For the next two days, Shiori Ninomiya took him to every noteworthy corner of Hamanaka-cho.

On the 31st, after finding a plausible reason to persuade Ninomiya's parents, Tsukasa Tazaki bid farewell to the Ninomiya family and set off for Kyoto.

We boarded the Kikawa family's private plane at Asahikawa Airport again. Since Kyoto doesn't have an airport, we had to fly to Osaka Itami International Airport and then take the Shinkansen or airport bus to Kyoto.

Temperatures gradually rise from north to south.

On December 31st, the daytime temperature in the Kansai region can reach as high as 17 or 18 degrees Celsius, and the perceived temperature can even reach 20 degrees Celsius when the sun is at its strongest. Unlike in Hokkaido, you don't need to wear a thick coat and be completely covered up.

Of course, the air quality is also much worse than in sparsely populated Hokkaido.

However, these are all insignificant things. It doesn't matter what. Even if Da Mao suddenly beats Er Mao, it won't affect Tazaki Tsukasa's mood. He is about to see Hanami-nee, whom he hasn't seen for four days.

After picking up my luggage at the carousel and walking towards the passenger exit, I received a call from my aunt.

Where is Xiao Si?

With a very lazy tone, Tsukasa Tazaki imagined her languid posture as she just woke up and replied, "Just arrived at Itami Airport, in the passenger passage."

"Oh, be careful, ah—"

After a yawn, she asked lazily, "Xiaowei, Xingzi, and I just flew to Europe yesterday to celebrate the New Year. What gift would you like your aunt to give you?"

"Where in Europe?"

"Hmm... Scotland."

"Please bring me back a Hogwarts acceptance letter, or I will disown you as my aunt."

"Beep, beep—"

Tsukasa Tazaki chuckled and dialed the number again.

"Auntie, I have something else to say."

"wait……"

There was a pause of a few seconds on the other end of the line, followed by an unusually crisp "smack" sound, and then Sachiko Tono's shrill voice: "Ouch, Kuriko, why did you slap my butt?"

"Your sister Sachiko's butt feels really nice to pat!"

Kurisu Kirikawa's voice carried a subtle sense of satisfaction, as if a great grudge had been avenged.

"..." Tazaki Tsukasa imagined the erotic scene and suddenly felt a strong urge to fly to Scotland right now and personally teach Kurisu a lesson.

Fortunately, he stopped himself from having that terrible thought and his expression became serious: "Auntie, I want to talk to you about something."

"what's up?"

"Let Sachiko-nee start a few companies next year, so I can practice."

"Okay, in what area?"

"I also need information related to internet entertainment, as well as animation production and investment. Of course, I'd appreciate it if you could help me with the initial startup capital."

"No problem, come back to talk to your aunt in detail after the New Year holiday."

"Thank you."

After hanging up the phone, Tsukasa Tazaki sighed softly.

Even though Kurisu's gaping maw has been open for so long, he still has to walk in on his own. What awaits him ahead?

Not sure.

I just hope I don't burn myself out.

Using Kurisu Kirikawa's money carries some risk, but we have no choice but to grit our teeth and go for it. After all, we've already promised to bring the Ninomiya family to live in Tokyo, and there's no better way in the short term than to get help from my aunt.

Although the Hoshino family is wealthy, Tsukasa Tazaki cannot use their money.

Even if his older sister agrees, he still won't use it.

As he exited the airport, he could see the familiar G-Wagon parked on the side of the road in the distance, where the Hoshino sisters were waiting for him.

The tall and slender Hoshino Hanami stood out in the crowd. She wore a light-colored spring trench coat, a simple gray short suit, a short skirt, bright high heels over long cotton stockings, and large sunglasses. Her look was cool and stylish, a perfect mature woman's style.

Tsukasa Tazaki smiled happily.

He decided to stop thinking about how to deal with Kurisuki's problem and leave everything to his future self to handle and think about. Maybe he would make mistakes again, maybe he would get good results, maybe he would open another Pandora's box, but those were things that future Tsukasa Tazaki would have to face.

At this moment, Tsukasa Tazaki is about to hold Hanami Hoshino in his arms and tell her about his longing for her.

"Hey, it's Tazaki." Hoshino Shikami saw Tazaki Tsukasa from afar, waved excitedly, and then ran towards him.

Relieved, Tsukasa Tazaki ran towards her empty-handed.

On this bright and warm winter morning, the sunlight gently shone on the ground, and the boy running with his legs outstretched was bathed in shimmering light.

As Tazaki Tsukasa drew closer, Hoshino Shikami excitedly spread her arms wide, chirping like a sparrow.

"Why are you so slow—" came the dissatisfied voice.

"Is Hokkaido fun?" the question asked in a questioning tone.

"Did you bring a gift for Lu Jian?" she asked excitedly.

The closer they get.

a step far.

Pass by.

"Eh?"

The excitement that had been on her little face suddenly froze. The silly Shikami pouted in a wronged manner and glared at Tazaki Tsukasa, who had run behind her to her sister: "Tazaki, you bastard, you made Shikami unhappy!"

"Sorry, I'll make it up to you next time!"

Tazaki Tsukasa gave his sister-in-law a perfunctory reply, then quickly ran to Hoshino Hanami and hugged her tightly: "Hello, sister!"