My love index is at its maximum.

"I exercised for so long this afternoon and sweated a lot," Tsukasa Tazaki said softly. "If I don't clean myself up, I won't feel comfortable sleeping tonight."

"Okay, whatever you say." Shimamoto Kana picked up the gold-rimmed glasses from the desk next to her and put them on.

Thinking about the enchanting moment of bathing together later, her cheeks began to burn, until they were as if coated with tomato sauce.

"I'll go in and wait for you... Remember to knock on the door when you come in, three long knocks followed by two short knocks as a code."

After saying that, with her cheeks flushed, she slipped her feet into her slippers and hurried upstairs.

"Did Shimamoto-sensei fall asleep so quickly?" Shiori Ninomiya looked away from the TV screen.

As Shimamoto Kana reached the bottom of the stairs, she turned back and elegantly pushed up her thin glasses with one hand: "I'm going to call Hoshino-sensei. Don't stay out so late."

This reason...

Tsukasa Tazaki laughed when he heard that.

My wife is really smart.

If she answers that she's going to take a bath, the two kids will definitely try to cause trouble when Tsukasa wants to go up later; but if she says she's on the phone with Hoshino-sensei, then when Tsukasa goes up, the two kids won't suspect anything.

After all, everyone knows how much Hanami values ​​her image. Tsukasa Tazaki couldn't possibly go up and cause trouble while Shimamoto Kana and Hoshino Hanami were on the phone, could he?

If that were to happen...

Let's just collect the body.

After Shimamoto Kana left, only three people remained in the living room.

Tsukasa Tazaki went to the kitchen, poured himself a glass of water, and moistened his throat.

Glancing around, he saw that neither Shiori Ninomiya nor Sakura Kuriyama seemed inclined to pay him any attention. After a moment's thought, he took off his shirt and lay down on the floor to do sit-ups.

He has amazing stamina right now.

You can whistle the theme song of "The Five O'Clock Club" while quickly bending over.

Since he was still living in that small apartment in Higashi Shinjuku, doing a series of exercises before taking a shower every night has become his daily habit. In the past, it was a whole set of exercises to train his whole body, but now he mainly trains his waist... After all, he has a beautiful wife at home, and he can't do without a good waist.

On the sofa, two girls blinked their clear eyes, their gazes wandering all over him.

After taking off his shirt, Tsukasa Tazaki gave off a completely different impression than when he was dressed. When he was dressed, his physique looked very well-proportioned; he was the refined and handsome type. But after taking off his shirt, the muscles in his abdomen and arms bulged out hard, and his chest was thick, giving him an unusually reassuring appearance.

Shiori Ninomiya placed one hand on Sakura Kuriyama's waist, unconsciously swallowing hard: "Kiki has such a great figure!"

"It's nothing special."

Kuriyama Sakura tried to remain calm, her cheeks burning, and then she looked away somewhat embarrassedly.

On the armrest of the sofa, the boy's white shirt was neatly folded, and his diving watch and cell phone were placed side by side on the stool next to him.

Two seconds later, the minister quietly turned his gaze back.

Just then, Tsukasa Tazaki stopped, picked up a white towel and wiped the sweat from his face and body. Every movement was meticulous, and one could feel a strong sense of masculine beauty from it.

Kuriyama Sakura licked her lips.

She felt her throat was dry and really wanted to drink water.

After wiping away the sweat, Tsukasa Tazaki held his breath, staring intently ahead without blinking, his facial muscles still, his stern gaze fixed on his toes for a long time.

Shiori Ninomiya gripped Sakura Kuriyama's wrist tightly and whispered, "What is he doing?"

"Probably during halftime?" Kuriyama Sakura replied uncertainly.

She was extremely lacking in knowledge about sports.

Actually, although Tsukasa Tazaki was looking at his own toes, he was focusing all his attention on the actions of the two women.

Hehe... That's how you use seduction.

Try to keep all your muscles still, and try your best to blend yourself into the background, so that you look like a neutral still life painting.

After estimating that the time was almost up, he relaxed all his muscles as if he had given up, and then placed his hands near his chest and lower abdomen, gently stroking the bulging muscles there, as if confirming the physical sensations there.

"Goo~"

In the quiet room, the girl made a very loud sound of swallowing.

Not knowing which one posted it, or whether both posted it together, Tsukasa Tazaki didn't check. Instead, he lay back down and continued doing sit-ups.

He took simple, deep breaths and swayed his body up and down, his movements becoming increasingly fluid, his well-built muscles radiating confidence.

“Hey, Sakura,” Shiori Ninomiya hugged Sakura Kuriyama tightly around the waist, staring at Tsukasa Tazaki’s abs, “Have you touched that area?”

"……not yet."

"I really want to try it out!"

"..."

"Sakura doesn't want to?"

"I...I thought so too..."

Kuriyama Sakura answered in a very soft voice.

Soon, a fine layer of sweat appeared on Tazaki Tsukasa's body again, glistening under the fluorescent light. After resting for a few seconds, he stood up and walked towards the girl on the sofa.

Eh?

What is he going to do by walking over here?

The two girls reacted in unison.

Shiori Ninomiya wrapped her arms around Sakura Kuriyama's waist, while Sakura protected her shoulders. The two little ones huddled together, looking somewhat bewildered, their timid appearance resembling two frightened little quails.

Among them, the Minister is the bravest little quail.

She shielded the little cutie, forcing herself to adopt a serious, bossy demeanor: "Stop, halt, put your clothes on before you come any closer."

Tsukasa Tazaki stopped and touched his abs: "I'm hungry, can you guys make me a bowl of noodles?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a perfect smile bloomed on his handsome face.

Kuriyama Sakura clearly heard her heart skip a beat.

This is an extremely rare smile, carrying a deeply reassuring feeling; you might only encounter it four or five times in your lifetime. For a moment, it seems as if you are facing the entire eternal world, it converges upon you, showing you an irresistible favor.

hateful!

Even though he knew it was blatant seduction, the minister just couldn't resist.

"Cook the noodles! Cook the noodles!"

Shiori Ninomiya started running around skipping and jumping.

At this moment, the little cutie had already kicked her anger back to her hometown in Hokkaido.

"Thank you both. If possible, please prepare as much good food as you can." Tsukasa Tazaki picked up his clothes and towel, waved his hand, and said, "I'm going to take a shower first. I'll come down and have something to eat with you guys later, and then I'll rest, okay?"

"Great!"

Shiori Ninomiya excitedly raised both fists high.

Watching the two of them walk into the kitchen, Tsukasa Tazaki turned around without saying a word and rushed upstairs to the second floor.

……

In the bathroom, the chandelier cast a dim, yellowish light.

Kana Shimamoto's delicate body was immersed in the bathtub, her proud figure completely covered by the hot water, revealing only her exquisite collarbone and rounded shoulders.

Her long black hair was spread out on the water's surface, undulating like seaweed with the ripples.

"Yeah, I just sent a bouquet of flowers and a box of Valentine's Day chocolates," she said, holding her phone in one hand while talking to someone, and splashing water on her delicate, fair collarbone with the other. "What about yours? When are you planning to send it?"

"I don't have any free time lately!"

On the other end of the phone, Hoshino Hanami's helpless voice came through, along with the faint sound of running water, indicating that she was also taking a bath.

“Valentine’s Day is on Thursday,” she said, taking a bath while talking on the phone with Kana Shimamoto. “I have a class of students to teach, unlike you who works in the library and provides counseling, you can’t just take leave anytime.”

"So, your first Valentine's Day with Tazaki was just wasted like that?"

"I can't help it, ugh, I'm so annoyed..."

"Don't worry," Shimamoto Kana chuckled, tracing her lips with the back of her hand, "As his wife, I will take your place and make sure he has a wonderful Valentine's Day."

"Eh?"

Hoshino Hanami immediately became anxious, and a slightly surprised voice came through the receiver.

"Didn't you say you'd be back on Monday?"

"Why are you saying you want to spend Valentine's Day with him now?"

"Shimamoto Kana, don't think that just because we're on the phone, I can't do anything to you!"

Just then, a soft knock sounded at the door, three long and two short knocks, five in total – the agreed-upon signal.

"Hoshino-sensei."

"what?"

"You can't do anything to me over the phone."

"Don't get cocky in front of me!"

Do you need my help?

"Help me with what?"

"I'll help you make up your mind to come here, so we can all celebrate Valentine's Day together."

How can I help?

"Listen, whatever you do, don't hang up the phone."

After saying that, Shimamoto Kana raised her voice and spoke softly toward the door.

"Come in, Tazaki."

"What--"

Hoshino Hana was so angry that she almost pierced the speaker of her phone.

Kana Shimamoto quickly turned the volume down to the lowest setting, then flipped the phone over and placed it far away on the small stool next to her.