My love index is at its maximum.

It was pouring rain outside. The two stood under the dripping eaves, waiting for the servant to bring the car. Tsukasa Tazaki stood to the side, admiring the beautiful mother and daughter.

Both women were dressed in black silk mourning clothes with black belts, their slender necks peeking out from their snow-white collars. Their silhouettes were reflected in the hazy rain, so exquisite that they resembled an ancient noble ukiyo-e painting.

The rain pattered softly, and the world was a vast expanse of white.

The black Cullinan emerged from the rain and came to a steady stop in front of the porch.

Once in the car, Tsukasa Tazaki took the middle seat, while Yui Kichikawa nestled in his arms and dozed off. Kuri Kichikawa, on the other hand, was on her phone talking to Sachiko Tono, discussing the funeral arrangements that would be made at the Kichikawa family home later.

Actually, it's nothing major. We just need to invite a few monks to chant some sutras and then bury the old patriarch.

After she finished her call, Tsukasa Tazaki casually put his arm around her shoulder, with his daughter on his left and his mother on his right, and said solemnly, "Please rest assured, the Kikawa family will be well taken care of!"

The next second, the mother and daughter pinched the tender flesh on his waist at the same time.

Back at the Qichuan family home, in the deep courtyard, within the imposing walls, green trees and leaves grew luxuriantly in the rain.

The antique-style gate was filled with cars, and many men in black suits and women in plain kimonos braved the rain to attend the funeral of the old patriarch.

Once you get home, you have to change into clothes with the family crest on them.

When Tsukasa Tazaki arrived at his small building, Sachiko Tono had already prepared his clothes and was waiting for him.

"Sachiko-nee must be very tired today?" he asked as he took off his clothes.

"It's alright, I'm used to your family's silly rules." Tono Sachiko smiled habitually, draped the kimono over his shoulders, and then wrapped her arms around his waist to help him tie his sash.

"What do you mean 'your family'?" Tsukasa Tazaki inhaled her pleasant fragrance. "Shouldn't you say 'our family'? My housekeeper."

“Alright, alright, this is our home.” Sachiko Tono turned to face him, straightened his collar and black haori, and then affectionately rubbed his cheeks with both hands. “Let’s go, my dear young master.”

"and many more!"

Tsukasa Tazaki put his arm around her as she turned to leave.

"Don't do anything reckless today!"

"I'm going to do something reckless!"

"No!" Sachiko Tono slapped his hand that was reaching inside her clothes. "You'll make a mess!"

"Turn around and lean against the window," Tsukasa Tazaki commanded.

“Today is a funeral…” Sachiko Tono shook her head reluctantly, burying her face in his chest and refusing to lift it.

"Oh, it's okay. Anyway, I didn't like him at all, I even hated him a little, but he just died like that, and I feel a bit resentful." Tsukasa Tazaki hugged her soft body and shrugged indifferently. "I might as well do something disrespectful, as a way of getting revenge for my petty temper."

“I’m telling you, you just love to fool around…” Tono Sachiko leaned obediently against his body, her forehead pressed against his broad chest. “Why am I just a butler? If I were the head of the family, I would definitely punish you severely.”

"Open your mouth," Tsukasa Tazaki commanded the hesitant housekeeper.

"understood……"

Sachiko Tono's voice carried a lazy helplessness. She raised her face, her lips slightly parted, like petals scattered in the shade of spring.

Next, she turned around, placed her hands on the window, and looked down at the small courtyard, where early cherry blossoms were in full bloom and there was a pond of clear water, with the rich fragrance of cherry blossoms in the air.

Her swaying black hair and the housekeeper's alluring body were like a petal dancing in the rain, bewitching and beautiful.

A sense of comfort mingled with weariness. As he gazed at the enchanting cherry blossoms and Sachiko Tono, Tsukasa Tazaki began to recite a waka poem.

"When I look up at the full moon in February, I would rather become a new ghost beneath the flowers."

This is a waka poem written by a high-ranking official after he resigned from his post and wandered the world for the rest of his life.

Perhaps because he was in a great mood, Tsukasa Tazaki started playing and then let loose. By the time Sachiko Tono had tidied his clothes again, almost an hour had passed. The funeral had started half an hour earlier.

"It's all your fault, it's all your fault..." Sachiko Tono seemed to just realize the seriousness of the problem, and hurriedly pulled him towards the door. "I told you this wouldn't be the time, but you had to do it anyway. I'm so ashamed to face anyone if word gets out..."

At this moment, she wore an expression of extreme regret, her black kimono perfectly straightened, and her hair not a hair out of place. From Tazaki Tsukasa's perspective, she appeared to be a dignified woman dressed in mourning clothes.

Feel……

I'm a bit of a weirdo.

Tsukasa Tazaki reluctantly walked toward the Buddhist hall where the funeral ceremony was being held.

Upon reaching the door, Sachiko Tono straightened her clothes once more and bowed nervously before Tsukasa Tazaki. "Young master, please come in."

After Tsukasa Tazaki went inside, she finally breathed a long sigh of relief, leaned against the wall, and savored the thrill she hadn't had time to fully appreciate in the rush.

Inside the Buddhist hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood incense, and more than a dozen monks chanted sutras in unison, the sound of wooden fish drums rising and falling.

Tsukasa Tazaki sat kneeling beside the coffin at the very front.

Opposite him were Kurisu and Yui Kurisu, the new head of the family who had been waiting for him for a long time. He glanced at him with slight displeasure, as if warning him, or as if standing up for his daughter.

The funeral began in the afternoon and lasted until evening.

In the final step, Kurisu Kuri read out the will left by the old patriarch, officially confirming two things.

The first thing was that she would take over as head of the family; the second thing was that Tsukasa Tazaki changed his surname back to Kikawa and was established as the first in line of succession, while the original first in line of succession, Yui Kikawa, became the second.

Those who attended the funeral were all shrewd and capable; how could they not see through the charade?

Their gazes toward the newly crowned first in line to the throne contained a hint of pity—this poor child, from now on, would become a plaything in Kurisu's hands.

Who is whose plaything?

Only time will tell.

Kikawa Tsukasa rubbed his knees, which had gone numb from kneeling, and walked out of the Buddhist hall.

Under the misty night, the lights of the Kichikawa family's house were turned on. Stepping through the rain that reflected the dim light, a smile appeared on his face that was far from elegant, even somewhat crude.

……

The streets and alleys of Tokyo are once again filled with cherry blossoms.

Every year as the cherry blossom season approaches, news media from all walks of life follow up and report on the "front lines" of cherry blossoms, showing where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom and where it is the best time to view them. Television programs also tirelessly broadcast the breathtaking scenery of cherry blossom hotspots.

Tsukasa Tazaki always wanted to go to places where cherry blossoms were in full bloom and leisurely enjoy the flowers, but he was unable to do so throughout the spring break due to his busy work schedule, and could only make do with a quick look at the cherry blossoms on both sides of the street.

One morning in April.

The room was dimly lit with the curtains drawn. Shimamoto Kana opened her eyes and pushed Tazaki Tsukasa next to her.

"Get up! School starts today!"

"Ah, let me sleep a little longer..." Tsukasa Tazaki rubbed his eyes and sat up.

Kana Shimamoto had already gotten out of bed and was rummaging through the closet for clothes, her bottom sticking out.

At this moment, she was wearing shorts and a short-sleeved shirt, revealing her clothing.

Her full thighs, pert buttocks, and the way she bent over made one's mouth water.

My wife's figure... really, really, really is too perfect, an unfair level of perfection.

It's not good to be here so early in the morning!

Especially since Tsukasa Tazaki is just an energetic boy, he can't resist such temptation!

After much fuss, the two finally left home reluctantly and headed to school.

On the first day of my second year of high school, the entire Shinjuku ward was sparkling. The cubicles in the office buildings shimmered with the joyful spring light, and the leaves of the green trees looked even fresher.

On the long slope in front of the school gate, male and female students played and laughed happily.

A slightly warm breeze blew in from somewhere, and cherry blossoms danced in the air. Tsukasa Tazaki waved his hand to brush off a few petals that had landed on his shoulder.

Entering the school gate.

"Meow~"

The chubby orange cat spotted him immediately and meowed defiantly.

Tsukasa Tazaki turned around and came to stand in front of it.

I held down the scruff of its neck with one hand and stroked it from head to tail with the other, making it meow incessantly.

Just how much resentment do you have towards sardines?

"It deserves a beating!"

Tsukasa Tazaki turned around and looked at the girl in the morning light.

School path, cherry blossom trees, new school uniforms, and the beautiful department head.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the sardine escaped his clutches and darted to her legs, rubbing against them while complaining.

"Let's go, we don't want to play with bad people." Kuriyama Sakura bent down, picked up the cat, and walked towards the shoe cabinet to change her shoes.

"We're in the same class now, you can't possibly get rid of me." Tsukasa Tazaki put his hands in his pockets and followed along slowly.

After entering their second year of high school, he, Kuriyama Sakura, and Ninomiya Shiori chose the humanities stream and were all assigned to Class 2-F. The idiot Shikami chose the science stream and was assigned to Class A, where he was with Sugawa Yui.

Oh.

correct.

One thing needs to be specifically stated.

The idiot Deer successfully became the student council's disciplinary committee member. Every morning, he would stand at the school gate with a smug look on his face, wearing a small armband, to arrest people.

Tazaki Tsukasa, who shamelessly used the president's connections multiple times, deserves much credit for this.

Good morning, Kiki!

As soon as he entered the second-year, F-and-a-half classroom, Shiori Ninomiya greeted him with great enthusiasm.

"Good morning." Tsukasa Tazaki smiled happily and sat down behind her, carrying his schoolbag.

With a smile that was anything but cute on her cute face, Kuriyama Sakura sat down behind the scumbag.

"I feel a chill down my spine," sighed Tsukasa Tazaki.

Walking across two lanes, Murakami Mizuiro looked at the three of them with a wronged expression: "I was here first..."

"Everyone, cheer up!"

Wearing a neat uniform, the radiant Hoshino Hanami appeared at the classroom door.

She banged on the door and announced loudly, "Line up now and head to the auditorium for the general meeting. Anyone who embarrasses me should prepare to spend two years in hell!"

horrible……

This teacher, who has violent tendencies, is absolutely not someone to mess with.