My love index is at its maximum.

This is probably a welcoming ceremony... Tazaki Tsukasa reached out and patted its head: "You're the same age as the Minister."

Kuriyama Sakura rolled her eyes at him.

"Its name is Erlang, so is there also a Dalang?"

"Yes, but Dalang died when he was twelve years old. He died in winter, and his body was buried in the thicket we just came from."

"Should we pay our respects at the ancestral temple on our way back?"

"Forget it, I've forgotten where it is. Besides, Dalang scared me at first, so I don't like it much."

Just then, a young woman in a yellow work uniform with a ponytail came out of the house and greeted Kuriyama Sakura warmly: "Ms. Kuriyama, you're here. Dr. Kobayashi was talking about you yesterday. I was thinking of visiting you."

"Hello, Sister Lingzi."

Kuriyama Sakura nodded slightly.

Except for a few people, she seemed to have this lukewarm attitude towards everyone.

The woman, already used to being called Reiko-nee, looked curiously at Tsukasa Tazaki: "And who is this?"

Before Kuriyama Sakura could speak, Tazaki Tsukasa introduced, "I'm Sakura's boyfriend."

Kuriyama Sakura didn't refute or mock, but simply gave Tazaki Tsukasa a cold look before asking Reiko-nee, "Is today convenient? I'd like to practice pottery."

"Of course, please come in." Sister Lingzi smiled warmly.

"Woof woof~"

The German Shepherd barked twice, then quickly ran into the house and soon returned with two pairs of indoor shoes, placing them in the entryway.

Tazaki Tsukasa exclaimed, "They're just as clever as the navy!"

"Dogs, the older they get, the more they understand people," Sister Lingzi said, stroking the German Shepherd's neck with a satisfied expression.

“The Navy is still smarter than Jiro,” Kuriyama Sakura whispered. “After all, in addition to understanding orders, the Navy is also responsible for guarding Shikami. Ordinary dogs, let alone guarding her, might even get infected by Shikami and become stupid, eventually turning into a husky.”

"Oh, you! You're talking bad about Shikami behind her back! I'm going to tell on you!"

"Go ahead, let's see who she believes!"

Kuriyama Sakura gave him a condescending sneer, and only after seeing him shrink back and admit defeat did she happily change her shoes and go inside.

Upon entering the room, I found three people dressed in blue hospital gowns making pottery in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.

The potter's wheel kept turning.

Beneath the white-painted walls stood rows of wooden shelves, displaying rows of fired porcelain pieces. Apart from that, the room contained nothing that could be considered decoration. Only a round wall clock, a stereo, and a pile of CDs sat on an old wooden cabinet.

"Would you like some coffee?" Lingzi asked.

"Then I won't be polite," Tsukasa Tazaki replied.

Kuriyama Sakura had already made her way to the shelf where the clay blanks were stored, looking for a clay blank that suited her taste.

Reiko walked to the coffee machine, poured a steaming cup of coffee, and placed it in front of Tsukasa Tazaki.

"Would you like sugar and milk?"

"No need, black coffee will do." Tsukasa Tazaki looked at the ceramic cup in front of him.

The cup has an oval handle and a rim shaped like a cat's head, painted a creamy yellow. It fits comfortably in the hand, with a warm, intimate feel, like a heartwarming joke only family members understand.

“Miss Kuriyama made this cup when she was eight years old,” Reiko explained with a smile. “From the very beginning, she seemed to have a special fondness for cats, these strange creatures.”

"I guessed it was her."

Tsukasa Tazaki took a small sip of his coffee.

My phone vibrated; it was a message from Hoshino Hanami.

[Hanami: Mrs. Kuriyama has arrived. We're on our way to find Dr. Kobayashi. What about you?]

Tazaki Tsukasa took out his phone, took a picture of Kuriyama Sakura who had just sat down in front of the potter's wheel, and sent it to her.

[Tazaki: She's playing this game; it seems she doesn't intend to participate in the discussion about her illness.]

[Hanami: Okay, I'll contact you again after we talk.]

Put down your phone.

Amidst the faint steam rising from the coffee, Kuriyama Sakura looked up and gave Tazaki Tsukasa a knowing smile.

Chapter 335 Kiss

Below the window where it can bask in the warm sun, Kuriyama Sakura holds the clay in her hands and slowly turns it on the potter's wheel.

Tsukasa Tazaki was talking to Reiko at the table to her side. Every ten seconds, she would look up and glance at them, paying attention to their conversation.

"Miss Kuriyama is an important guest of ours."

"How to say?"

"Aren't you looking at her? Miss Kuriyama is really beautiful, intelligent, and has a pair of stunning legs. Seeing her makes me feel a little better."

“Cheerful?” Tsukasa Tazaki looked at her strangely.

Lingzi grinned and said, "I used to wear a blue hospital gown just like everyone else."

"I see." Tazaki Tsuya smiled as well. "Congratulations."

"Just lucky. Let me get you another cup of coffee." With that, Sister Lingzi stood up and poured a new cup of coffee into his cup.

Like the first cup, Tsukasa Tazaki added no sugar or milk, stirred it slowly with a spoon for a moment, and then drank a sip of the black coffee.

The wall clock behind them emitted a dry, ticking sound.

"This coffee smells so good!" he said.

"Thank you for the compliment," Lingzi said happily. "We have some freshly boiled eggs. Would you like to try some?"

After a slight hesitation, Tazaki Tsukasa said, "Then let's eat one."

Reiko brought out boiled eggs and salt from the kitchen, and she and Tsukasa Tazaki slowly peeled and ate the eggs while drinking coffee. Just then, the phone rang, and she went aside to answer it. Taking advantage of the moment, Tsukasa Tazaki peeled an egg and came to Kuriyama Sakura.

"Minister, open your mouth!"

"Ah~"

I chewed it twice.

She turned slightly to the side, allowing Tsukasa Tazaki to take a small handkerchief from her pocket and wipe her mouth.

"Would you like some coffee?" Tsukasa Tazaki asked.

"Two bites, please."

Tsukasa Tazaki picked up the coffee he had just drunk and brought it to her lips.

Kuriyama Sakura didn't mind and drank it straight away.

“An indirect kiss,” Tsukasa Tazaki reminded her.

Kuriyama Sakura, her hands covered in clay, slapped his face: "Our relationship has reached this point, and you're still bothered by this, Minister?"

When Reiko returned from the phone call, she immediately noticed the five finger marks on Tsukasa Tazaki's face and couldn't help but laugh: "Haha, you and Ms. Kuriyama have a pretty good relationship. It seems our little princess has finally found her prince."

“She doesn’t like being called ‘little princess’,” Tsukasa Tazaki reminded her.

“Huh?” Reiko looked at Kuriyama Sakura with a puzzled expression. “Is that so? I haven’t heard Ms. Kuriyama mention this before…”

Kuriyama Sakura turned her head with displeasure, her expression cold and her eyes glaring at Tazaki Tsukasa: "Why did you tell everyone about me!"

"See? That's how good our relationship is!" Tsukasa Tazaki looked at Reiko with a smug expression. "Only I know her little secrets."

Lingzi was stunned for a moment.

Immediately, she frowned and looked at Kuriyama Sakura as if complaining: "Ms. Kuriyama, your boyfriend's behavior of showing off to single people is very hurtful."

Kuriyama Sakura first glared at Tazaki Tsukasa with annoyance, then revealed a very satisfied smile.

Tsukasa Tazaki used her handkerchief to slowly wipe the clay off her face.

His hands were much larger and thicker, with long fingers and distinct knuckles. Kuriyama Sakura imagined those hands spinning on the potter's wheel and subconsciously said, "Come and help me."

As she spoke, she gave up her seat.

"I don't know how..." Tsukasa Tazaki reluctantly sat down in front of the potter's wheel.

"I teach you."

Kuriyama Sakura bent down, took his hands in hers from behind, and slowly guided him through the steps of throwing clay.

Her hands were small, soft, and warm.

"...cough cough."

Tazaki Tsukasa cleared his throat, wanting to say something but unsure what to say.

He silently turned to look at her; her head was lowered, and her long eyelashes cast a peaceful shadow on her fair face.

"Focus," Kuriyama Sakura reminded him.

How am I supposed to concentrate in this situation...?

Listening to her heartbeat and breathing, Tsukasa Tazaki really didn't know what to do.

To be honest, the minister was considerably shorter than him. If he bent over from behind, his chest would be pressed quietly against the minister's back, so it was hard to tell...

But at least it's still on, right?

Her cheek rested against his own, her breath warm and damp. Tazaki Tsukasa watched as her neatly styled bangs trembled slightly, as if she were having a perfect dream, but it wasn't a dream.

She remained motionless in that position for a very long time, until the clay was slowly pulled into the shape of a kettle. Then, as if remembering something, Kuriyama Sakura loosened her body, stepped back, and adjusted her breathing from a slightly different distance.

Tsukasa Tazaki pointed to the mold used for wheel throwing: "Is this all you need?"

"I'll leave the firing to Sister Lingzi. I'll come back tomorrow to do the coloring."

Why say "I" instead of "we"?

Tsukasa Tazaki pondered this question.

Kuriyama Sakura glanced at him and went to the sink next to her to wash her hands.

"Leave it to me," Reiko said with a smile, then took a cat paw coaster from the shelf and handed it to Tsukasa Tazaki: "This was made by Miss Kuriyama when she was nine years old. How about I give it to you?"