My love index is at its maximum.

“I almost lost control of myself…” Tsukasa Tazaki whispered in her ear, a pair of soft, easily hurt ears.

Kuriyama Sakura laughed: "Or how about you think of me as Hanami-nee?"

“How could that be!” Tsukasa Tazaki shook his head.

Am I not pretty enough?

"Of course it's enough."

"Not as charming as Hanami-nee?"

"Of course not, you are two different kinds of people..."

"Want to sleep with me?"

"nature……"

"Silly!" Kuriyama Sakura laughed again, snuggling closer to Tazaki Tsukasa's chest like a kitten. "Why didn't you act more impulsively? You won't have another chance..."

"Can we not talk about this?"

"Fine, I won't say. But the minister is asking you, isn't it uncomfortable to keep it to yourself?"

"what?"

"Impulsive."

"It really doesn't feel good..."

Will you feel unwell?

"Clam?"

Tsukasa Tazaki paused for a moment, then sighed deeply: "Please... don't talk about that kind of thing. I finally managed to stop having those inappropriate thoughts, don't make me think about it again!"

"You're so silly, you're hopelessly stupid. I was hoping you'd do that..."

Kuriyama Sakura muttered a curse under her breath, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Because he was shrouded in shadow, Tsukasa Tazaki couldn't read the subtle chill in that expression, and could only helplessly say, "Don't say any more, or I'll carry you back right now."

Upon hearing this, Kuriyama Sakura stopped talking and stopped scolding him.

She simply stared at him with her cool eyes, raised her hand to touch his long bangs, and her slender, girlish fingers seemed to be triggering a switch in his body, gently plucking at his heartstrings.

At sixteen, every movement she made possessed an ethereal, otherworldly charm.

"Sweetie." Tsukasa Tazaki hugged her head and comforted her.

A moment later, Kuriyama Sakura put one hand around his back and stroked him back and forth.

Soon, Tsukasa Tazaki felt unwell again.

Isn't that right?

In a deserted thicket, a beautiful young woman, seemingly cut from a painting, embraced the minister. She even teased him, her touches suggestively on his back…

Realizing she was about to collapse, Tsukasa Tazaki grabbed her hands and pressed them above her head, threateningly looking down at her, "Be quiet, or else I... or else..."

Kuriyama Sakura's lips curled into her signature cold smile: "Otherwise, what do you want to do?"

Tazaki Tsukasa didn't know what to say, so he could only helplessly lie down next to her and hold her tightly to keep her from moving.

"foolish!"

Kuriyama Sakura's shoulders began to tremble, and she eventually turned her face away from him.

"Stop yelling..." Tsukasa Tazaki's mind was in turmoil.

Kuriyama Sakura exhaled, adjusted her breathing, and began to mutter incantations as her lips moved.

"Idiot, blockhead, spineless worm, Tazaki Husky..."

So she was updating her swear word list... Tazaki Tsukasa rolled her eyes at her, and she cleared her throat, her tone returning to normal: "Get up! Have you forgotten who you are? Who gave you permission to be so disrespectful to the department head?"

"Since we've already taken liberties, what do you suggest we do?" Tsukasa Tazaki reached out and touched her hair, his fingers tracing patterns through her dark strands.

Kuriyama Sakura turned to face him, her slender arms wrapping around his neck: "You have to take responsibility!"

Feeling her warm breath on his neck, Tsukasa Tazaki lowered his head and kissed her, replying, "Okay."

Kuriyama Sakura slightly curled the corner of her mouth: "Perfunctory."

"What constitutes not being perfunctory?"

"Are you an idiot?" Kuriyama Sakura scolded, pressing her index finger against his temple. "We've been together for so long, and I've gradually shown you how much I like you. If you had any brains at all, you should have prepared a gift to confess your feelings by now, right?"

"...?"

Tazaki Tsukasa suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

Does confessing your feelings really require a gift? He's never given a gift when confessing his feelings...

"No, is that it?" Kuriyama Sakura let out a terrifying sneer, her eyes completely devoid of warmth. "Go back, pack your things and get back to Tokyo. The department head needs to recuperate and doesn't have time to entertain you."

As she spoke, she struggled to stand up, seemingly genuinely angry.

But actually...

This is just a random excuse made up for the upcoming farewell.

“Hey, Minister, wait a minute…” Tsukasa Tazaki grabbed her left hand.

"Let go!" Kuriyama Sakura shouted angrily, her voice trembling with tears.

Then, a ring was slipped onto the ring finger of her left hand, and Tsukasa Tazaki raised her hand: "See, I was actually prepared."

Kuriyama Sakura was taken aback.

My gaze fell on the ring. I couldn't quite tell what the material was, but it had a warm, jade-like feel to it, and it reflected a lustrous sheen when the sunlight shone on it.

She frowned suspiciously: "When did you prepare this?"

"Of course, I had prepared it long ago." In his panic, Tsukasa Tazaki subconsciously told a white lie.

"Oh, are you sure?" Kuriyama Sakura raised her left hand and shook the ring on her ring finger: "Why is the pattern on this ring, which you prepared a long time ago, the same as the cat paw coaster you saw today?"

"..."

Things happened so fast that I forgot about it for a moment.

Tsukasa Tazaki immediately bowed deeply: "I'm sorry, this was actually made on a whim just now. Please forgive me for lying, Minister."

His movements were unusually swift; he was clearly a professional apologist.

"Hana-nee-san trained you so well..." Kuriyama Sakura sighed, then sat back down on Misaka Mountain, bending her legs. "It's late, you should go back to Tokyo."

Tazaki Tsukasa leaned against her shoulder and tentatively asked, "Give me back the ring?"

"Dream on!" Kuriyama Sakura tilted her head slightly, resting it on his shoulder: "Once it's in my hands, it's mine."

"I don't want to leave you here alone." Tsukasa Tazaki turned around and pulled her into his arms.

He could feel her cheeks getting warm in his arms, and both of their chests were pounding.

He hugged her tightly.

Those fragrant hair, those adorable ears, that slender and delicate body, those gently rising and falling breasts, those alluring legs… I don’t want to let go of any of it.

“I don’t want to be here alone either…” Kuriyama Sakura said, “In this vast world, you are the person I love the most. But one thing I’ve always been clear about is that I can’t be with you…”

"Can I stay and give it a try?"

"Stay?"

"Yes, I'll live with you alone for a while. If you still can't handle it during that time, then I'll leave..."

Tsukasa Tazaki didn't know if what he was doing was right, but he couldn't find any other way to deal with the situation.

"Perhaps..." Kuriyama Sakura replied vaguely.

She tilted her head back, her lips trembling slightly, her eyes fixed on Tsukasa Tazaki, her pupils dark and deep, possessing a beauty that seemed destined.

Tazaki Tsukasa lowered his head, looked into her eyes, put his arm around her shoulders, and kissed her lips.

Kuriyama Sakura trembled slightly on her shoulders before closing her eyes again, feeling utterly powerless.

The sound of heartbeats and breathing gradually blended together.

Five seconds, six seconds, twenty seconds, thirty seconds...

Their lips pressed together, warm and moist.

It was a gentle and peaceful kiss, devoid of much emotion. As their lips parted, Kuriyama Sakura smiled softly, the afternoon sun casting the shadows of her eyelashes onto her cheeks, the shadows trembling slightly.

The two embraced for a long time, watching the shimmering sunset and the falling leaves, their feelings warm and intimate.

The sun slowly descended, and the sounds of birds fluttering their wings echoed from the surrounding woods. The wind blowing through the thicket gently ruffled the girl's hair. She took Tsukasa Tazaki's hand, and after some hesitation, finally spoke: "Aren't you going to say something?"

"What do you want to hear?" Tazaki asked, looking at her face.

Her face is really beautiful and cute; you can never get tired of looking at her.

"For example, why do you hate spinach, wet tennis shoes, and crows?"

"Spinach tastes awful; the smell makes me feel uncomfortable all over. As for wet tennis shoes, they're bulky and heavy, and you have to dry them before you can wear them. While you're drying them, some vengeful crows poop all over them. Don't you think both of these are annoying?"

"Serves you right!" Kuriyama Sakura covered her mouth and chuckled, then her eyes suddenly lit up: "Oh, right, I've always been curious why you said you like tennis rackets that are scorching hot from the sun?"

"It's the same reason why you like cat fur that's soaked in sunlight."

"We really do have a tacit understanding. Besides what I know, do you have any other hobbies?"

Tsukasa Tazaki thought for a moment and shook his head: "I don't have anything I like or dislike right now."

"For example, me."

"you?"

"Well, if you have any habits or quirks that you dislike about me, feel free to tell me. I'll change what I can, and you'll have to accommodate me for what I can't. You just have to be considerate of me and not force me to become the person you like."

“No,” Tsukasa Tazaki shook his head firmly. “At first, I thought your only flaw was having a mouth that could talk. Now that you’ve called me a straw, I don’t care anymore. Besides, I’ve tasted what your mouth tastes like, and I like it more than anything.”

"Tsk, full of lies."

Kuriyama Sakura tugged at his ear, buried her head in his chest, and felt his strong heartbeat, her heart filled with sweetness she had never felt before.

“…I told you I don’t lie to you.” Tsukasa Tazaki took off her shoes and held her snow-white feet in his hands. “I love everything about you, Minister. I love the way you speak, your clothes, and your perfect legs.”