My love index is at its maximum.

however.

Tazaki Tsukasa had been waiting at the net for a while. He leaped high and smashed the ball back in mid-air with a beautiful smash. The tennis ball flew back to the baseline corner of Yui Kichikawa's half of the court.

Once tennis skills are mastered, the sword master's agility truly comes into play, and his control over ball speed, as well as his judgment of the ball's trajectory and landing point, become more precise.

Unfortunately, Yui Kizaki has better stamina, allowing Tsukasa Tazaki to hold her serve. Conversely, Tazaki can also hold her serve with high-speed ace shots.

As the match gradually entered a stalemate, the students on the sidelines became incredibly focused as the tense and exciting duel continued. They would sigh or cheer whenever someone scored, behaving just like they were watching a professional player's open tournament.

The prolonged stalemate kept the atmosphere tense throughout the game, as if each shot stretched the tension even further.

In the tenth game of the second set, the overall score was Yui Sakagawa 4: Tsukasa Tazaki 5, with the score of the game at 30:40. Tsukasa Tazaki was serving.

If he wins this point, he will have won a set in the best-of-three series.

However, it was already lunchtime when school let out, and a large number of students flocked over, making the tennis court in the corner of the playground extremely crowded.

Tazaki Tsukasa counted a few people and found that there were nearly two hundred people at the scene, most of whom had heard the news from somewhere and came to see what was going on.

"Kikawa - Yui, do your best!"

Yes, most of the newcomers were supporters of Yui Kichikawa. They expressed their fervent emotions with enthusiastic cheers and even did the wave, having a blast just like they were at their idol's concert...

Hey, isn't that a bit too much enthusiasm? Anyone who didn't know better would think you were some kind of fanatical religion!

Tazaki Tsukasa wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling a little short of breath. After the intense exercise, it felt like there were particles mixed in with the air, making his throat hurt with every inhale.

On the other side, Yui Kichikawa wasn't in much better shape. She was bent over, breathing heavily, sweat beading on her forehead, her cheeks flushed red. Dazzling skin peeked out from her neckline, a blinding white.

The PE teacher, sitting upright in the referee's chair, sensed that the atmosphere seemed off and quickly spoke up to ease the tension.

"Uh...you both worked very hard, and the match was very exciting. Now that it's time to go home, don't take it too seriously. Everyone had a lot of fun, so how about a draw?"

Kikawa Yui glared at him coldly.

"Uh... haha..." The PE teacher chuckled awkwardly and could only wave his hand to signal the game to continue.

Tsukasa Tazaki gripped the tennis ball tightly and tossed it high into the air.

That's it. From today onwards, I'm saying goodbye to you, my deceased self.

With a powerful leap, he soared into the air like a hawk, his movements possessing a pure beauty. Several girls covered their mouths tightly, wanting to imprint this scene in their memories forever.

boom!

This sound was exceptionally loud.

While receiving the ball, Yui Kikawa accidentally stepped into a puddle, lost her balance, and fell on the field.

Amid a series of exclamations, the PE teacher jumped off his chair.

"Stop, that's it for today. I announce the result: a draw! You girls, come here right now, help Qichuan to the infirmary, quick..."

“No need…” Yui Kichikawa shook her head and stood up, walking towards the infirmary with a slightly limping gait.

The crowd dispersed and surged towards the cafeteria.

Tsukasa Tazaki was silent for a moment, then turned to look back.

Her blonde hair still shone brightly.

Chapter Sixty-One: My Rose-Colored Life with My Teacher

Starting in the afternoon, it started raining again, and everything outside the window was a hazy gray, with no variation in color. By the time school let out, black began to seep in little by little, leaving only two hues in the world: gray and black.

A gentle breeze stirred the classroom curtains, lifting the bottom of a modern Italian dictionary and brushing against a sleeping face.

Someone gently tapped on their desktop.

As I groggily opened my eyes, my vision gradually focused, and there was Kuriyama Sakura's face.

March 14, 4:30.

Outdoor temperature 21 degrees Celsius, light rain, northeasterly wind at level 4.

The temperature feels comfortable, perfect for catching up on sleep.

Tazaki Tsukasa slowly yawned, glanced at her, and went back to sleep.

Kuriyama Sakura clenched her fist and placed it near her mouth, then coughed lightly: "It's 4:30, time to move around."

"Let me sleep a little longer..."

There was a hint of morning grumpiness in Tsukasa Tazaki's voice.

"I really don't understand one thing: why aren't you interested in me at all?" Kuriyama Sakura leaned against the window, staring at him without moving. "Am I not pretty?"

"Kuriyama-san is very pretty."

"Yes, then why?"

"Thinking you're pretty is one thing, being interested in you is another; these two different things should be considered separately."

Tsukasa Tazaki packed up his Italian dictionary, picked up his schoolbag, and walked out the door.

Kuriyama Sakura caught up and asked, "Where are you going?"

"I'm angry with the high school girl, so I'm going to find a gentle older sister to comfort me."

"We're going the same way, let's go together."

"On the way?" Tsukasa Tazaki turned around and glared at her.

Kuriyama Sakura brushed her bangs aside and said with a smile, "As the only two members of the ATF club, we should be a unit and face everything together."

Tazaki Tsukasa collected his thoughts and was about to say "Eat shit!" when the little tablet spoke up before he could: "That's what Shimamoto-sensei said."

Okay, since it's what Shimamoto-sensei said, it must be correct.

Tazaki Tsukasa walked helplessly toward the elevated corridor, walking side by side with Kuriyama Sakura, who was perfect except for her chest. Suddenly, he turned his face away and his shoulders shrugged slightly.

Without a doubt, she was gloating because she thought she had something on Tsukasa Tazaki.

Tazaki glanced at her long, straight legs in black stockings, too lazy to argue with her.

Walking up the elevated walkway leading to the main building, fine raindrops pattered on the glass roof. This kind of rain is the most annoying, often lasting all day.

Through the sound of rain, you could hear the intermittent playing of the wind band, and the shouts of the track and field team training in the rain on the playground. Students running past, laughing and playing, and from a corner where the rain couldn't reach, a sardine meowed.

Tsukasa Tazaki felt a pang of emotion.

The so-called 'rosy high school life' is probably what they are experiencing right now.

But I don't have that kind of luck.

As I entered the library, the warm lighting cast a soft glow on the wooden floor, and I spotted Kana Shimamoto in the reading area from afar.

At this moment, she had a faint smile on her face as she greeted familiar students, her expression very friendly.

"Takada-kun, you should head back early; it's still raining outside. Hojo and Fujiwara, if you two don't have umbrellas, just come to my office to get one and remember to return it tomorrow. And Yamamoto-kun, it's been a week since you borrowed 'C Programming Language: From Beginner to Expert,' remember to return it on time."

With her deep-colored eyes, sensual red lips, and voluptuous figure, she exudes a gentle and intellectual charm with every gesture, truly captivating.

Tsukasa Tazaki noticed that many male students were secretly staring at her, while several girls kept pouting.

"Hey? Tazaki, you're here..."

With a casual glance up, Shimamoto Kana spotted Tazaki Tsukasa standing in the doorway. She adjusted her glasses and walked over, saying, "Well, you've made the teacher wait for an hour!"

Her slender figure was accentuated by a dark business suit, and her shapely legs were tightly encased in flesh-colored stockings, making her look stunning. She walked and laughed, and the "tap-tap-tap" sound of her high heels on the wooden floor was particularly pleasant.

"Sorry, I overslept." Tsukasa Tazaki nodded apologetically, a slight smile unconsciously playing on his lips.

Kana Shimamoto walked up to him, looked him over with the same eyes one would use to observe an endangered animal, and said with a smile, "This really surprised me. I originally thought your physical strength and athletic talent would be very poor."

Uh... gossip spreads way too fast among high school students.

"Kuriyama-san..." Shimamoto Kana tilted her head, "Can I borrow one of your club members for a moment?"

Kuriyama Sakura nodded: "Please go ahead, teacher."

“I said…” Tsukasa Tazaki raised his hand in protest, “Aren’t you two going to consider my opinion?”

"Tazaki-kun, stop talking and come with me." Shimamoto Kana reached out and grabbed his arm, dragging him towards the door.

The ends of my hair brushed against the tip of my nose, causing a slight itch.

He was held in her arms, and the soft touch was transmitted to him from time to time with the movement of his body.

Tazaki Tsukasa sneered inwardly. Trying to seduce me with his looks?

Am I the kind of person who can't resist temptation?

Yes, that's right.

So please, Mr. Shimamoto, tempt me a few more times each day.

Kuriyama Sakura followed behind the two of them, walking down the stairs together.

In the narrow stairwell, members of a sports club slowly made their way to the playground, gossiping enthusiastically about the senior student and the female manager.

A few girls were laughing and smiling at each other, sharing what snacks they had brought; while a few boys were lazily discussing where they would go after school.

The faint fragrance emanating from Shimamoto Kana lingered at the tip of his nose, and Tazaki Tsukasa unconsciously felt his face flush.

Being dragged along like this by a teacher in front of everyone, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry; my feelings were quite complicated. But then I thought, Mr. Shimamoto is only this kind and overly caring towards me, so I decided to laugh.

That 'rosy high school life' that consumes a lot of calories has nothing to do with me, but I don't feel any regret at all.

After all—the rosy life with the teacher is just too wonderful!

I went downstairs, and it was raining outside. There were no crowds in the courtyard to disturb my view. The hydrangeas in the flowerbed were in full bloom in the rain, as if waiting for something, their beautiful gradient blue petals swaying gently.

Tsukasa Tazaki prefers the hydrangea in its gradient blue phase to the purple one.

Kuriyama Sakura took an umbrella out of her schoolbag and gently opened it in front of the steps.

Of the couple sitting close together next to him, only Tsukasa Tazaki had an umbrella. But as soon as he took it out, Kana Shimamoto snatched it away with lightning speed, giving him a mischievous smile: "Oh dear, I forgot my umbrella. So, Tsukasa, you can lend this umbrella to me for now."

"Hmm... I can share an umbrella with the teacher."

"No, that won't do. It wouldn't look good if your classmates saw you. You should stay with Kuriyama instead."

Kana Shimamoto smiled gently, but there was an underlying sense that she wanted to watch a 'romantic comedy'.

Why didn't you say it was inappropriate when you were holding my arm...? Tazaki Tsukasa sighed regretfully and walked under Kuriyama Sakura's umbrella.