My love index is at its maximum.

The heater was on inside, and Kana Shimamoto and Shiori Ninomiya huddled together, discussing how to make coffee.

"First, grind the coffee beans with a grinder, then boil the water with a special spout kettle, let the water settle for a while, and then slowly filter the coffee out with filter paper."

It was Shimamoto Kana who spoke. Kikawa Yui glanced at her. This female teacher, who called herself "Mrs. Tazaki," was wearing a glossy brown short-sleeved chiffon blouse and white suit trousers. Her pretty oval face was both elegant and had a strong feminine charm.

After brewing the coffee, Kana Shimamoto adds a symbolic little bit of sugar, but no milk.

Then she took out a brand new handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her glasses. She picked up her coffee, took a small sip, and then let out a satisfied sigh: "Mmm~ As expected, coffee tastes best when brewed this way."

Wiping her lips, Kana Shimamoto looked at Yui Kichikawa and waved her hand, saying, "Sit down, have a cup of coffee to warm up."

Her tone and voice were very casual, as if she were entertaining her best friend at home, and her smile was warm and gentle.

Yuya Kisakawa tilted his head slightly and smiled.

Since she started interacting with these people more frequently, the usually expressionless blonde girl has finally learned how to smile naturally.

Shiori Ninomiya poured two cups of coffee and handed one to her, saying, "Yui, this one is for you!"

"Thank you." Qichuan Yui nodded in acknowledgment, crossed her legs and sat down on the sofa. The three of them sat together and slowly drank coffee.

Spring is just around the corner, but the north wind blowing outside still carries a chill, showing no sign of warmth.

Perhaps it was the stark contrast between the biting cold wind and the warm indoor heating that made Yui Kikawa feel all her recent worries vanish as she sipped her warm coffee.

Through the rising steam from the rim of the cup, she would occasionally glance at Kana Shimamoto.

"What are you looking at?" Shimamoto Kana asked in response, casually pushing up her glasses frame with her fingertips, which carried a tender feeling.

“Ms. Shimamoto’s top is really beautiful,” Yui Kikawa said.

This isn't just flattery; the exquisitely tailored tan chiffon blouse is like a beautiful tapestry that has fallen from heaven on a windless afternoon.

"Thank you." Kana Shimamoto smiled and nodded.

Shiori Ninomiya looked left and right, then slammed her cup back on the table: "Ugh, it's getting dark. Can you two just get straight to the point? Shiori-chan is getting tired of watching!"

Upon hearing her say that, Yui Kikawa almost reflexively glanced at her watch.

Indeed, time is ticking away endlessly, and it's almost four o'clock now. Aunt Sachiko and her mother agreed to leave at the school gate at four-thirty, and if they don't tell each other now, they'll be late.

Kana Shimamoto bent down slightly and took a suitcase from the side of the sofa: "Please take these things to Tazaki."

"So many things?" Yui Kikawa asked curiously.

“It’s all clothes, textbooks for this semester, and a complete set of Natsume Soseki’s works.” Shimamoto Kana smiled gently. “Originally, Hoshino-sensei was planning to deliver them herself, but when she heard you were going this weekend, she asked you to take them with you.”

Qichuan Wei frowned slightly: "Isn't she going by herself?"

"Why would so many people go together?" Shimamoto Kana squinted, amused, and took a sip of coffee. "There are only two days on the weekend. If everyone rushes over, who will he go with?"

"Who should I accompany..." Yui Kichikawa murmured repeatedly, as if trying to ascertain how difficult this question was.

"It's all Kiki's fault~!" Shiori Ninomiya spread her hands, patted her cheeks, and said angrily, "Shiori-chan was going to see Sakura, but because of that womanizer, I had to postpone the plan!"

"Let Kawakawa teach him a lesson!" Shimamoto Kana said with a smile, adding fuel to the fire.

“Yui, Yui,” Shiori Ninomiya turned to Yui Kikawa, clasped her hands together, and darted her big eyes around, “Why don’t you go next week? Let Shiori and Shimamoto-sensei go this week. You were already a little hesitant, right? It won’t hurt to wait a little longer…”

"...?" Kikawa Yui tilted her head slightly, staring blankly at her, as if to say, "I didn't expect you to actually try to cut in line?"

"Shiori, stop teasing her." Shimamoto Kana reached out and tapped Ninomiya Shiori on the head, admonishing her like a mistress of the house, "Since we agreed on this beforehand, we shouldn't mess up the plan so easily, otherwise it will be difficult for Tazaki."

Ninomiya Shiori pouted unhappily, but didn't say anything more. She just took out an amulet from the pocket of her pleated skirt and said, "Then I'll trouble Yui to give this to Sakura for me."

"Ok."

Yui nodded, put the things in her bag, and then looked at Kana Shimamoto thoughtfully.

Kana Shimamoto sipped her coffee slowly, wearing almost no jewelry and minimal makeup.

Nevertheless, she still possessed a captivating charm, like a gentle spring rain that could silently soothe the soul. Noticing that Yui was looking at her, she didn't speak, but simply smiled faintly at Yui and quietly savored the rich aroma of her coffee.

What an air of authority she exudes… Kikawa Yui clicked her tongue in admiration, thinking that ever since she was the first to wear a wedding dress on Christmas Day, Shimamoto Kana had become increasingly composed when facing the other women, as if she were the real mistress of the house.

This is so difficult...

The blonde girl silently began to make her own plans.

The women surrounding Tsukasa Tazaki used to fight amongst themselves.

However, after Christmas, they began to band together, gradually forming three distinct groups.

The most prominent group is naturally the "older sister party" led by Hoshino Hanami, including Hoshino Hanami, Kuriyama Sakura, and the idiot Shikami.

This party currently holds the greatest advantage, possessing Hoshino Hanami who can completely control Tazaki Tsukasa, Kuriyama Sakura who perfectly complements Tazaki Tsukasa, and the universally acknowledged mascot, the idiot Shikami.

The second powerful group was naturally the "wives' party" led by Kana Shimamoto.

The wives' party is outnumbered, with only Kana Shimamoto as a member, plus the fence-sitter Shiori Ninomiya.

Although on the surface the wives' party is outnumbered, thanks to the goodwill built up in the early stages by being "gentle," "thoughtful," and "not vying for favor," Shimamoto Kana has the momentum to catch up. In addition, Ninomiya Shiori was already favored and pitied by Tazaki Tsukasa, so the wives' party is now powerful enough to rival the older sister's party.

Don't forget, Shiori Ninomiya also has mascot attributes; everyone adores her just as much as the idiot Shikami.

The third faction... is solely focused on the Party.

As for the members, there's Yui Kichikawa, and... well... that's it, she's all alone.

Strictly speaking, Sachiko Tono is also a member of the "Soloist Party".

However, Sachiko Tono's problem is that she doesn't favor anyone. Although she outwardly supports Yui Kikawa, she is actually just acting from Tsukasa Tazaki's perspective.

Whether it was staying at the Kikawa family home to study or befriending Kikawa Kuri, Tono Sachiko did it all for Tazaki Tsukasa's sake.

After some thought, Yui Kirikawa discovered a very serious problem.

It seems like we're the weakest force?

If you have a conflict with someone, no one will stand by your side. Why do you suddenly feel so desolate and helpless?

The more I think about it, the angrier I get, and the angrier I get, the more I think about it.

My older brother can't stand this kind of humiliation.

The clock struck 4:30 PM. The activity room was so quiet it was almost unbelievable. The thick, cotton-like clouds that blanketed the city seemed to absorb any extraneous sounds.

In the ensuing silence, Yui Kikawa clenched her fist and slammed it hard on her knee: "This won't do, I can't stand it!"

The other two women turned their heads at the same time and stared at her strangely.

"N-nothing..." Qichuan Yui blushed and quickly picked up her suitcase. "It's almost time, I'll go first, see you next week."

After saying that, the blonde girl fled the activity room in a disheveled manner.

……

It's been raining since morning and hasn't stopped by evening.

Although it wasn't raining heavily, the rain was surprisingly persistent, not stopping for even a minute.

Yui Kikawa got into the Cullinan parked at the school gate.

The driver was driving in front, while she, her mother, and Aunt Sachiko squeezed into the back seat.

"The drive is quite long. Will you stop somewhere to eat along the way?" the driver asked as he started the engine.

"We'll eat with Xiaosi when we get there," Qichuan Li waved her hand. "Let's hurry up and leave, don't waste any time."

"no problem."

The driver gripped the steering wheel with both hands and stepped on the gas.

The Cullinan drove west and soon entered the Capital Expressway, continuing its rapid journey towards the western mountains.

"Sachiko, what did you bring in your suitcase?"

"It's nothing, just some clothes to change into."

"A whole suitcase full of just a change of clothes?"

"It really is just a change of clothes..."

“I don’t believe you,” Kurisu Kawakawa said meaningfully, stroking her chin. She leaned over and whispered in Sachiko Tono’s ear, “Unless you let me see it, I’ll take everything from your suitcase and use it myself when we get off the train.”

"Hey, shh!" Sachiko Tono blushed and quickly covered her mouth. "Keep your voice down, okay, okay, I'll tell you, it's just some little toys, Tazaki-kun and I played with them..."

"Whoa!" Kurisu Kawakami got excited immediately, wrapping her arms around her waist. "I want to play with that kind of thing even more! I don't care, Sachiko, you have to bring the three of us to use it together, or you and I can use it first, and then that kid can use it!"

"...Is it alright if I use it with you first?" Sachiko Tono blushed deeply, biting her lower lip slightly, her expression both shy and charming.

"Wow, Sachiko is so nice! Let me give you a little kiss~"

"Hey, be serious, Xiaowei is watching."

"Why should she care? It's none of her business to interfere in the relationship between my sister and me."

Yui Kawakawa looked at the two of them coldly.

I was originally thinking of getting these two to stand on my side, but in reality, they might stab me in the back.

Especially this woman named Kurisu Kawakawa!

What kind of shameless mother is she? All she thinks about is her daughter's boyfriend!

never mind!

Xiaowei doesn't need anyone's help!

Since she was old enough to understand, she has always been in a state of not relying on anyone and relying solely on her own efforts.

Around 7 p.m., the Cullinan exited the highway and began driving on a regular national road.

Not far from the highway exit, there was a supermarket. Kurisu Kawakami and Sachiko Tono got out of the car and bought three large bags of food.

Vegetables and fruits, soda crackers, milk and mineral water, canned goods, bread, and cooked food—almost all of these are things that don't require cooking and can be eaten directly.

Looking at the pile of food in the passenger seat, Yui Kikawa asked curiously, "Isn't there any food in the sanatorium?"

"Yes, but Xiao Si said the weather hasn't been very good lately, and the supermarket at the sanatorium hasn't been restocked in time, so they don't have many items. They asked us to buy some for him while we're there." As she spoke, Qi Chuan Li paused, looking at her daughter helplessly: "I'm telling you, Xiao Wei, you need to contact him more often. I, as her mother, know more about her boyfriend's situation than my own daughter does. What kind of nonsense is this?"

Kikawa Yui shrugged and fell silent.

The Cullinan started again, heading along the national highway, and soon turned onto a winding mountain road. The bends became sharper and sharper, the road surface became uneven, and there were fewer and fewer houses and cars coming and going.

Yui Kikawa leaned all her weight on the comfortable sofa chair in the Cullinan, her eyes fixed on the scenery outside the window.

The view was almost entirely dominated by dark, dense forests, with only the occasional glimpse of a village with lights on.