My love index is at its maximum.

"Kiki, do you want to come to the gym with me?"

What are you going there for?

"The kendo club is having an exchange with another school today, and your ex is going too."

predecessor?

That's such an annoying nickname.

Yui Kikawa turned her gaze and stared intently at Tsukasa Tazaki.

His features, framed by slightly messy bangs, were exceptionally refined and handsome. His healthy, smooth skin, combined with his somewhat aloof and indifferent expression, made him a textbook example of a quintessential ascetic beauty!

What had he gone through after leaving home that caused such a dramatic change in his demeanor...? Yui Kikawa pondered this question, lifting her foot to head down the stairs. But the moment Tsukasa Tazaki spoke, her steps froze in mid-air.

"She's here too? Then I'm even less interested."

"Kiki really doesn't care about the past at all."

"Old feelings shouldn't be brought out for reminiscing. Instead, they should be tucked away in a locked drawer and let them experience the erosion of time."

"Come along, just to keep me company."

Tsukasa Tazaki waved his hand: "Bye-bye, I'm going to the library."

Just as he turned to go up to the fifth floor, a pair of white pantyhose came into view. He looked up, his gaze traveling upwards until it finally settled on the girl's clear blue eyes, which held an unknown, cold glint.

In a daze, it felt as if I were looking up at a steep cliff weathered by time, giving me a sharp and piercing sensation.

After exchanging glances for a few seconds, Tsukasa Tazaki walked past her with his schoolbag on his shoulder, heading towards the elevated corridor leading to the main building.

"Liar," Yui Kirikawa coldly cursed.

He yawned, feeling slightly bored.

The footsteps faded into the distance, followed by silence, the air flowing quietly like a bottomless river.

Shiori Ninomiya subtly observed her.

White flat shoes paired with white tights, and a skirt suit that was clearly custom-made, with excellent craftsmanship and a sleek, polished finish. Even her slightly flamboyant features were equally striking and attractive.

As expected of the number one beautiful girl... The cutie smiled rather kindly and said, "Kikawa-san, shall we go to the gym together?"

A healthy and lively smile on the face of such a beautiful girl would definitely make anyone who sees her exclaim, "She's so cute!"

Yui Kikawa felt annoyed and wanted to find something to kick to vent her anger. But this didn't mean she disliked Shiori Ninomiya; her annoyance stemmed more from the differential treatment she received from someone.

"Kikawa-san? Can you hear me?"

"Eh?"

"Are you alright? I noticed your face looks a little green."

"fine."

Yui Kikawa took a deep breath and descended the stairs with a normal expression. Shiori Ninomiya followed beside her, sighing whether intentionally or unintentionally, "I really envy you."

"envious?"

"Yes, Kiki used to like you so much."

"boring."

With a blank expression, Qichuan opened her umbrella and walked onto the school path leading to the gymnasium.

“How can this be boring?” Shiori Ninomiya tilted her head from under the umbrella, looking at her with a troubled tone: “At least he liked you, unlike me. No matter how much I like him, he doesn’t even look at me anymore.”

"why?"

"Because he has someone he likes now."

"Who?" Yui Kichikawa's expression shifted slightly as she asked in confusion, "Kuriyama Sakura?"

“I promised him I would keep it a secret.” Shiori Ninomiya shook her head, looking sullen. “I finally found someone I thought was good, but he snatched him away in just a few days. This trip to Tokyo was such a failure.”

The two didn't speak again, but walked on in silence.

The rain pattered softly, and a mist began to rise, shrouding the world in a white haze. The hydrangeas, which had been blooming beautifully, had become much dimmer after the two young women passed by, and gradually disappeared into the rain and mist.

Upon arriving at the gymnasium, the two changed into kendo uniforms in a temporary locker room and, armed with protective gear and bamboo swords, went to the basketball court, where a temporary area had been marked out.

Students from both schools knelt on either side of the center line of the court, while the stands in the stadium were packed with students who came to watch the spectacle.

The third-grade physical education teacher stood at the center line and explained the kendo knowledge he had copied from the internet the day before, such as the history of kendo and the spirit of kendo.

He specifically emphasized that Kendo is not just a sport. Rather than focusing on winning or losing a competition, Kendo practitioners should strive to understand the principles of self-cultivation and conduct inherent in Kendo, while also developing their observation, thinking, and reaction skills in the process of learning Kendo.

The kendo club members had heard the dry theoretical knowledge countless times, so naturally they had no interest in hearing it again. The students who came to watch the spectacle, on the other hand, had absolutely no interest in this dirty and smelly sport; they just wanted to fast-forward to the fight.

Kichikawa Yui knelt in the middle of the crowd, lost in thought. She noticed the hostile gazes from the students of Kamiyama High School across the way, but paid them no heed.

Tsukasa Tazaki is really... How could he fall in love with someone so quickly?

He had just confessed his feelings and then moved out without saying a word.

That's bad enough, but now when we meet, he doesn't even greet me, acting like a complete stranger. He's also been involved in so many scandals with other girls. What's worse, just a few days ago he danced with my wife in front of me, and now he's telling his rumored mistress in front of me that he's not interested in me?

Damn it!

Without realizing it, I had already clenched my fists, filled with resentment.

At this moment, the genius girl's pride is starting to crumble!

"Qichuan... Qichuan?"

Hearing someone call her name, Yui Kichikawa came to her senses and realized that the PE teacher had finished his rambling and they were now officially entering the sparring session.

She put on her protective gear, ready to be the first to go out.

However, one of the female students from the opposing team walked up to Shiori Ninomiya and extended an invitation: "Excuse me, may I have a spar with you?"

Shiori Ninomiya nodded, put on her protective gear, and carried her bamboo sword to the center of the arena.

"Ninomiya, do your best!"

"Let them see the strength of Beichuan!"

A huge cheer erupted from the audience, instantly bringing the atmosphere to its first mini-climax of the evening.

……

When Tsukasa Tazaki entered the library, Kana Shimamoto was staring at her computer screen organizing documents.

Viewed from the side, her long, smooth, jet-black hair cascaded naturally over her shoulders, adorned with small pearl earrings. Her bangs were swept to the right, revealing a smooth, full forehead with alluring skin.

"Hello, Shimamoto-sensei..." Tazaki Tsukasa rested his elbow on the counter, glancing at her gold-rimmed glasses today, his smile carrying a hint of meaning.

Kana Shimamoto adjusted her glasses and looked up at him: "Hmm... every time I see Tazaki-kun, I think he's so handsome!"

“Flattery won’t work on me.” Tsukasa Tazaki walked over to the counter, sat down in the office chair next to her, and asked meaningfully, “As a regular customer of the library, what kind of ‘perks’ do you offer me, Professor?”

“Yes…” Shimamoto Kana bit her lower lip and glared at him, saying, “Let the teacher check.”

She quickly turned to the computer screen and typed "motivational books" on the keyboard. Several lists appeared on the screen. She clicked on them one by one with the mouse to check the titles. Above the keyboard were three sharpened yellow pencils, and seven or eight pink paperclips were scattered around.

While she was diligently searching on the screen, Tsukasa Tazaki took the opportunity to admire her slender figure, long black hair, and the half of her neck exposed by her shirt collar.

A faint, fresh perfume scent wafted from her body, like the fragrance one smells on a May morning standing by a cucumber field, giving a harmonious and comfortable feeling while also stirring tender emotions in one's heart.

Tazaki Tsukasa loved the natural scent and couldn't help but sniff it a few more times. The aroma traveled through his nasal cavity into his lungs, where it mingled with his body unseen, spreading throughout his entire being via his blood vessels.

Of course, the most beautiful part of Kana Shimamoto's body is her legs encased in stockings.

10D, ultra-thin flesh-colored stockings; upon closer inspection, you can see the fair and tender thighs underneath.

Just one glance is enough to conjure up its silky smooth texture. Touching it gently might evoke a feeling of comfort akin to lying in a sunny spring field.

If you roll along, your body will trace a light arc across the grass, allowing you to silently roll to the edge of the field—a hidden place concealed beneath the dense forest.

"found it."

Kana Shimamoto smiled, picked up a pencil, and tapped Tsukasa Tazaki's forehead with the eraser end: "I'm giving you a copy of 'The Stars of Humanity.' I hope you can find inspiration from the great predecessors and strive for the Nobel Prize from today onwards!"

Tsukasa Tazaki snatched the pencil from her hand and tapped her forehead with his other hand: "I'll take the book, but what else?"

My forehead hurts so much.

"Come on, I didn't even use any force."

Kana Shimamoto covered her forehead, her voice aggrieved, "It just hurts so much."

"Don't try to get away with being cute." Tsukasa Tazaki tapped the table with a pencil between his hands.

"You're a student, how dare you threaten a teacher!"

"It's all your own doing."

"That doesn't mean you can threaten the teacher!"

“Frankly speaking,” Tazaki Tsukasa stared at her without moving, “this is not a threat, just asking you to keep your promise.”

As if giving up, Shimamoto Kana shook her head and smiled: "I've worked at the school for 5 years, and you are the most daring and worst student I've ever met."

As soon as she finished speaking, she used her hand to press her bangs back, skillfully took out a rubber band, and tied the hair at the back of her head into a ponytail.

Her fair forehead was fully exposed, which looked very beautiful.

Tazaki Tsukasa looked at her glasses frames, which almost blended into her skin tone, and waited quietly for an answer.

"Give the teacher some time..." Shimamoto Kana placed her hands on the keyboard, a faint smile on her lips: "Such embarrassing things, I need to be mentally prepared before I dare to show them to you."

"Something embarrassing?" Tsukasa Tazaki's interest was immediately piqued, and he pressed, "What is it?"

"It's a secret!"

"What secret?"

"If you tell the truth, can it still be called a secret?"

Shimamoto Kana gave him a slightly embarrassed and annoyed look: "Don't ask again. I'll tell you when I think the time is right."

"As long as you don't renege on your promise, it's fine." Tazaki Tsukasa stopped dwelling on the issue and instead asked, "There's another question I want to find the answer to from you, teacher."

"What's the problem?"

Why did the teacher sneak away while I was away that night at the dance?

Kana Shimamoto crossed her legs, rested her chin on her hand, and looked at him sideways. Her dignified and elegant face showed a hint of hesitation in her expression.