My love index is at its maximum.

"I'll tell you about it slowly when I have the chance."

"okay!"

Shiori Ninomiya happily took a big bite of lettuce, the crisp "crunch" sound of her chewing reaching her ears. It was as if she were gently drawing back the curtains, using the gentle summer breeze to urge her beloved to open his eyes.

Tazaki Tsukasa thought to herself, "She really is cute."

After the meal, Shiori Ninomiya put the dishes on the kitchen sink, but instead of washing them, she grabbed her clothes and ran into the bathroom.

After working up a sweat and feeling sticky, taking a shower definitely makes me feel much better.

Listening to the sound of a beautiful girl showering—sounds that could make you eat three bowls of rice—Tazaki Tsukasa casually picked up a book from the desk and started reading.

The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl!

The author is the up-and-coming writer Tomihiko Morimi, and the story is a wondrous love journey that takes place in Kyoto.

Since Tsukasa Tazaki has seen the anime adaptation of this book, it would be a good idea for him to take this opportunity to catch up on the original work.

After flipping through a few pages, I found something tucked inside the book.

Upon closer inspection, they are two amulets.

One is light green with the words "Health Prayer" embroidered on it.

The other one has a cherry blossom background and is embroidered with the words 'Love Success'.

The bathroom door opened.

Tsukasa Tazaki turned to look at Shiori Ninomiya, who had just come out of the shower, her arms and calves glowing with a pale pink hue.

"Huh, you noticed that?" The little cutie glanced at the amulet in his hand, then hopped barefoot in front of him: "Isn't it pretty? One of them is for you."

Tsukasa Tazaki looked at her, puzzled.

"I was so worried about you when you had a cold last time."

Shiori Ninomiya took the love charm from his hand and left behind the health blessing charm: "This is a gift for you. I'll let you in on a little secret. When I went to Suga Shrine to buy the charm, the shrine happened to be hiring part-time shrine maidens. Granny Hayashi also told me that charms made by hand are more effective when given as gifts, so I started working as a part-time shrine maiden."

"Made by hand?" Tsukasa Tazaki unconsciously tightened his grip on the amulet.

"It took me about a week."

"A bit silly..."

Not at all, on the contrary, I feel very lucky.

"Why do you say that?"

"Even though you've already been taken by someone else, I still feel that meeting you was the luckiest thing that happened to me in Tokyo."

Before Tsukasa Tazaki could speak, Shiori Ninomiya suddenly bent down and whispered in his ear, "Simple and pure luck is like a timely rain during rice planting season."

Her sweet voice, along with her warm and moist breath, gently seeped into my body, and I could also smell the faint fragrance emanating from her hair.

At last.

Tsukasa Tazaki carried nearly 40 kilograms of potatoes home.

Chapter Ninety-Five: A woman's thoughts are truly like the weather in June.

The following day, the last week of May, was still a beautiful day.

The sky was so clear it was almost shocking; it seemed that if you stretched your hand out, your skin would be assimilated by the blue.

"I wish the rainy season would come quickly, so I could stay in the pavilion with my teacher and enjoy the rain forever..." With this thought in mind, Tsukasa Tazaki walked across the small bridge over the artificial lake.

In the lush green pavilion, Hoshino Hanami greeted him with a smile, "Good morning, your hair is still as messy as ever."

Just seeing her makes all my troubles vanish instantly.

Tazaki Tsukasa placed the bento box on the bench and quickly reached out, taking advantage of Hoshino Hanami's focus on the food to tightly hug her waist.

"Hey... what's wrong?"

"I miss my teacher very much."

This sudden enthusiasm caught Hoshino Hanami off guard. With a thoughtful expression, she rested her chin on Tazaki Tsukasa's shoulder and asked uncertainly, "Isn't it a bit cheesy to say this so early in the morning?"

"It'll get even more cheesy in the future," Tsukasa Tazaki said, stroking her delicate neck with the tip of his nose.

"Stop rubbing, it tickles!"

"The teacher has such a great figure, I want to hold her in my arms forever."

"Do you believe I'll beat you up?"

Hoshino Hanami gave a cold threat, even brandishing her fist in a show of defiance. But before Tazaki Tsukasa could let go, she immediately wrapped her arms around his waist, her expression instantly transforming into one of bliss.

A woman's mind is truly like the weather in June, ever-changing.

He muttered to himself, enjoying the soft touch of her body, and didn't want to say anything.

As the morning mist gradually dissipated, the chirping of birds filled the air.

"Hey, tell me honestly." Hoshino Hanami suddenly looked up and asked in a low voice, "Is something bothering you?"

Tsukasa Tazaki's heart skipped a beat. "How did you know, teacher?"

“You’re hugging me too tightly.” Hoshino Hanami stared straight into his eyes. “It even hurts a little.”

That gaze was so intense it made one feel utterly ashamed, and it carried a power that could stir up some tender emotions deep within one's heart. Tazaki Tsukasa even felt as if his heart had been pierced by that gaze.

"Speak up, and we'll solve it together."

Hoshino Hanami gently brushed aside his slightly long bangs with her fingertips, while at the same time gently plucking at his heartstrings.

Tsukasa Tazaki took a deep breath and said slowly, "I guess it's the troubles of youth, something you can't escape at this age."

"Youthful troubles?" Hoshino Hanami gently placed her hands on his cheeks, her eyes filled with tenderness. "Teacher doesn't really like that word."

"Uh, I didn't ask that word... I'm sorry, I..."

Before he could even utter the typo, Hoshino Hanami suddenly exerted force with both hands, pressing hard on his cheeks: "When you were pursuing me, you acted mature, saying that you had the soul of Ritsu-chiu inside you. Now that you've gone to a female classmate's house, you're having all sorts of youthful troubles, huh?"

Tsukasa Tazaki: "..."

As the surrounding mist dissipated, the morning sunlight shone on the stone steps. The birds, startled by the male human's screams, fluttered their wings and took flight. After the commotion, the park returned to tranquility.

The mashed potatoes turned out well.

Hoshino Hanami was eating very happily, her ahoge (cowlick) sticking up, so she spared her boyfriend's life for the time being.

After running around the lake, Tsukasa Tazaki returned and, seeing that her expression had returned to calm, dared to sit next to her on the bench.

"You're covered in sweat, stay away from me."

"Isn't the teacher going for a run again today?"

"I'm so angry with you, I'm not in the mood to run."

Hoshino Hanami glared at him, then took out a bottle of mineral water and a handkerchief and handed them over: "Here you go."

Tsukasa Tazaki unscrewed the bottle cap, tilted his head back, and gulped down a few mouthfuls.

The prominent Adam's apple and the clear liquid in the PET bottle shimmered with a captivating luster under the early summer sun.

As Hoshino Hanami watched, a smile involuntarily crept onto her lips.

"Bring it here."

"what?"

"handkerchief."

Taking the handkerchief from Tsukasa Tazaki, Hanami Hoshino carefully wiped away the fine beads of sweat from his forehead and cheeks.

"Midterm exams are this week, how's your preparation going?"

"It's alright... but I always feel like something's missing."

What's missing?

Tazaki Tsukasa squinted and said contentedly, "If the teacher could take the time to tutor me every night, then first place would definitely be mine."

"Don't think I don't know what mischief you're up to." Hoshino Hanami rolled her eyes at him, tossed her handkerchief aside, and said, "Wipe it yourself."

Tazaki Tsukasa retorted, "How can teaching and nurturing students be considered having bad intentions?"

"Do you remember our family rules?" Hoshino Hanami waved her fist.

"Alright then." Tsukasa Tazaki shrank back, his fingers twirling the bottle cap. "The reward the teacher mentioned, is it based on exam rankings?"

Hoshino Hanami glanced at him, then a queen-like smile suddenly lit up her face. She reached out and hooked her arm tightly around Tazaki Tsukasa's neck: "Listen carefully to what I have to say next."

Tsukasa Tazaki placed his hands on her waist: "Please speak, elder sister."

"You only have two choices. If you don't get first place, then your sister will beat you up. If you get first place, then your sister will eat you up."

Hoshino Hanami nuzzled his forehead and asked smugly, "Little brat, do you know how to please your big sister now?"

Tsukasa Tazaki wrapped his arms around her waist and asked excitedly, "Can my little brother resist a little when he's being eaten?"

She smiled and gave a soft "hmm," without offering any further explanation.

They gazed at each other deeply for a long time, their breathing gradually becoming erratic.

"Snap!"

Hoshino Hanami slapped away Tazaki Tsukasa's restless hand, "Don't touch me like that."

“Every time I’m with you, teacher…” Tsukasa Tazaki gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and continued, “My strong self-control is like ice in summer; it melts away instantly with your charm.”

"To help you develop stronger self-control, let's reduce the number of times we spend together."

With a smile, Hoshino Hanami picked up her handbag, her legs encased in black stockings, and strode gracefully out of the pavilion. The sharp heels of her high heels clicked pleasantly against the stone pavement.

She's never been in a relationship before... how did she become so good at flirting?

Tazaki Tsukasa picked up his schoolbag and caught up with her: "Teacher, you don't spend every night glued to your phone looking at dating guides, do you?"

“Students who are too smart will make teachers lose their sense of accomplishment.” Hoshino Hanami punched his shoulder: “Please, Tazaki-kun, pretend to be a little stupid and cute every now and then, so that I can have a change of pace.”

Tazaki Tsukasa smiled meaningfully: "I promise I'll come up with all sorts of tricks in the future to make sure my sister has a good time!"

The two walked side by side toward the parking lot of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, their laughter floating in the air above the park, swirling gently in the air.