My love index is at its maximum.

Kurisu Kawakawa probably anticipated her daughter's reaction. Before she hung up, she said with a slightly mischievous smile, "Are you sure you want to hang up on your mother? Let me remind you, you'll regret it."

"what's up?"

Upon hearing her daughter's words, the mother's lips immediately curled into a smile.

"Xiao Si is right beside me."

"Don't make such a silly joke at me. How could he possibly be qualified to attend a ball like this?"

Without saying a word, Kurisu handed the phone to Tsukasa Tazaki: "Come on, Tsukasa, help your aunt regain her mother's dignity."

Tazaki Tsukasa glanced at her phone, then at her unreliable mother, who was gently biting her lip, looking aggrieved as if she had been misunderstood by her daughter.

The voice of Yui Kawakawa continued to come through the phone's receiver.

"Hello? Speak up."

"If you don't say anything, I'm hanging up."

Tsukasa Tazaki didn't know what to say for a moment, so he just replied casually, "Your mom is so annoying!"

There was a sudden silence on the other end of the line, so quiet it was almost as if the person on the other end had forgotten to breathe. After a brief yet seemingly endless few seconds, Tsukasa Tazaki heard her sigh.

"Ugh, I can't stand it... Why are you here too?"

Before Tsukasa Tazaki could answer, Kurisu Kawa took the phone back. Her mother, smiling with satisfaction, threatened her daughter, "You have ten minutes to show up, or this man will be your father!"

?

Get sick!

Tsukasa Tazaki turned and walked to the sofa in the corner.

Kuriyama Sakura sat quietly, motionless. She wore a retro-style black off-the-shoulder dress, her fair shoulders glowing with a hazy pinkish light under the lamplight. A warm shadow rose and fell between her breasts with her soft breaths.

It looks much bigger... Could it be that it's been padded?

Tsukasa Tazaki sat down next to her and politely complimented, "Your clothes are quite nice."

Kuriyama Sakura glanced up at him, then looked back and peered into the juice glass on the table. Her small, white canine teeth were slightly biting her lower lip.

Her small face was lightly made up, adding a touch of alluring blush to her already delicate features. Her long ponytail fell straight down her back, like a delicate black daffodil, quietly blooming at the edge of the world.

Even though she deliberately hid in a corner, her charm was undeniable. And with the arrival of Tsukasa Tazaki, this already much-watched corner suddenly became the most attractive place in the entire venue, with a flurry of glances sweeping over, many of them eager to try their luck.

Tsukasa Tazaki was prepared to refuse any advances.

But he never expected that the first person to approach him would be an acquaintance...

Chapter 99 Shimamoto Kana Wants to Play Matchmaker Again

"I'm quite surprised that Tazaki-san would appear in this kind of situation."

Kana Shimamoto, holding two cups in both hands, sat down to the left of Tsukasa Tazaki, the sofa sinking deep into her seat.

"Why is the teacher here too?"

Tsukasa Tazaki turned his head and looked at her with a puzzled expression.

Her tall and voluptuous figure was paired with a white, fitted dress with a bow at the neckline. The hem of the dress reached mid-thigh, and below that were white stockings and delicate white high heels.

Her slightly innocent attire, combined with her mature and intellectual charm, makes one want to knock her unconscious, stuff her into a suitcase, and take her away.

Kuriyama Sakura, sitting to Tazaki Tsukasa's right, nodded in greeting: "Hello, Shimamoto-sensei."

"Hello, Kuriyama-san." Shimamoto Kana greeted her with a smile and put down the two cups she was holding.

Two crisp "click" sounds.

A glass of whiskey and a glass of apple juice are placed on the table.

"High school students can't drink alcohol, this apple juice is for you."

"Thank you." Tsukasa Tazaki took a sip of his frothy apple juice and looked at her dignified oval face. "Why aren't you wearing your glasses today, teacher?"

"I'm wearing it." Shimamoto Kana habitually reached up and pushed her nose bridge, only to find she was pushing against thin air. She then patted her forehead. "Hmm... it's invisible."

"Really? I don't believe it."

Kana Shimamoto widened her eyes as if trying to prove herself: "If you don't believe me, see for yourself."

Tsukasa Tazaki leaned closer, their noses barely a centimeter apart. He could vaguely see a thin film covering the surface of her eyeballs, the transparent lenses shimmering with an intermittent light above the intricate patterns.

Besides her appearance, she possesses a unique and captivating charm, the nature of which is difficult to describe in words. Only by taking a closer look into her deep and complex pupils can one discover the answer hidden within them.

"See that?" Shimamoto Kana's lips were slightly parted, and a soft, sticky, warm breath escaped from them.

"No, could you come a little closer?"

"Ahem!" Kuriyama Sakura coughed heavily and took out her phone, pointing it at the two people.

Tazaki Tsukasa snapped out of his daze and, as if to cover up his embarrassment, casually picked up a cup from the table and took a sip.

Ok?

Orange juice?

Kuriyama Sakura's cool gaze swept over the cup in his hand, her cheeks puffing out slightly: "That's mine!"

"I was wondering why the apple juice was so sour, it was because of you..."

Tsukasa Tazaki handed her the remaining half-cup of orange juice: "Here you go."

"You! Want! To! Die!?"

Kuriyama Sakura asked, enunciating each word clearly, her eyes filled with a chilling murderous intent that seemed to say, "I just killed someone, so I'll use you to make up the difference."

"Haha...you two are so funny." Shimamoto Kana laughed happily, casually brushing a strand of hair from her forehead: "Why don't you consider trying to date? I believe you two can get along very well."

Both of them answered at the same time, "Don't even think about it."

Shimamoto tilted her head slightly, a smirk playing on her lips: "Tazaki-san, can you tell me why you're here?"

Tsukasa Tazaki pointed to the small tablet: "Come be my chatbot."

"What about Kuriyama-kun?"

Kuriyama Sakura pointed to the dance floor in the hall: "Come be the mascot."

Kana Shimamoto clapped excitedly: "Aren't they a match made in heaven?"

"I'll go find something to eat."

Tsukasa Tazaki stood up and walked towards the large table piled with food.

The dance floor lights changed, and melodious, soothing music flowed in the air, as the skirts of young girls swayed gently with their movements.

Kuriyama Sakura stared intently at the orange juice on the table, wondering whether she should pick it up and drink it.

The white napkins were neatly folded to one side, untouched.

Kana Shimamoto crossed her legs and looked at her with a neutral smile: "I remember very clearly, you sat in this spot for a whole night last year."

Kuriyama Sakura frowned, shook her head, and remained silent.

"I was worried that you would repeat what happened last year." Shimamoto Kana looked at her with admiration, as if she were looking at a beautiful painting at an art exhibition. "Now that you have company, I won't disturb you any longer."

After saying that, she stood up, picked up the whiskey on the table, and took a sip.

Kuriyama Sakura slightly raised her head, looking at the yellowish-brown liquid in her hand.

"Want to drink?"

"A little."

“Alcohol is a good thing.” Shimamoto Kanako smiled, gently stroking her long hair. “I have a friend who drank a whole bottle of whiskey in one go, and he could still smile and say goodbye to me. He was also sober enough to go home alone, take a shower, and go to sleep. It’s just that his body temperature dropped the next morning. Oh, the funeral was very grand. He died a worthwhile death.”

Kuriyama Sakura asked incredulously, "Then why do you drink so often? Aren't you afraid of dying?"

"afraid?"

Kana Shimamoto blinked: "Are you afraid of having your picture published in a gossip magazine after you die?"

Kuriyama Sakura pursed her lips, gazing into her eyes for a long time. Those eyes, with their extremely deep color, blended and intertwined various shades without appearing gloomy, instead creating extremely beautiful patterns.

Just like a cat's squinting pupils... Kuriyama Sakura thought to herself, unconsciously picking up the orange juice and taking a few sips.

Kana Shimamoto shook her head slightly, her lips lightly touching the rim of her wine glass: "A youthful mindset and beautiful skin can both be taken away by time in the blink of an eye. So enjoy what you love to the fullest, and then die a glorious death."

After saying that, she hurriedly took a big gulp of whiskey, like a traveler in a hurry, took ten seconds to silently adjust her breathing, and then waved her hand: "I'm a little tipsy now, I need to go hide for a while. In order to avoid any sensational gossip on tomorrow's front page, you have to keep Tazaki with you, don't let him come looking for me."

"I understand." Kuriyama Sakura rubbed her temples, her head aching. "Don't wander around aimlessly. Find a guest room and rest."

Have fun tonight.

Kana Shimamoto smiled slightly, and her figure quickly disappeared into the crowd.

In the dimly lit dance floor, the male and female dancers changed frequently, and the air felt unusually thick. Occasionally, the clinking of glasses and loud laughter from men could be heard.

In a corner that always seemed out of place, Kuriyama Sakura looked around boredly and soon spotted her father.

Although the venue was large enough, it wasn't difficult to find my father because of his tall stature. He was talking kindly to a short, elderly man in a black tuxedo at the edge of the dance floor.

Her gaze lingered briefly for two seconds before she turned her eyes and happened to see Tsukasa Tazaki walking back with a tray of food.

Bathed in the glow of the crystal chandelier, his eyes, nose, lips… and not just those features, but his entire being exuded a unique charm. It was as if a strong gust of wind had suddenly ripped open the ceiling, and the brilliance of countless stars had instantly focused onto his face.

The air felt refreshed, as if you were taking a rotten, withered flower out of a vase and replacing it with a fresh May rose.

Kuriyama Sakura raised her hand and drank the orange juice in one gulp.

Chapter 100 Hello Uncle, I'm just here to freeload.

Steak, crab legs, grilled white fish, cream pudding, vegetable salad, a small plate of cherry tomatoes, and half a bottle of wine from Bordeaux.

Tazaki Tsukasa, carrying a large tray full of food, returned to the corner, but Shimamoto Kana was nowhere to be seen. Kuriyama Sakura sat quietly alone, her legs, tightly encased in black stockings, displaying beautiful, flowing curves.

Through the floor-to-ceiling glass window to her side, you can see the swimming pool, which is illuminated by underwater lights and appears a clear, deep blue.

Tsukasa Tazaki placed the food on the table, turned his head, and asked, "Where's Shimamoto-sensei?"

"gone back."

"Why don't you sit a little longer..."