I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 135 I Know a Quiet Place (5000 words~)

She appeared to be someone brought by Asagiri Rin, but she was also someone specially invited by Saionji Karen.

So, where Tsukino Gen goes and who he meets and befriends is entirely his own business, and no one can control him. But who knows what he's thinking right now?

As for why Izumi Nami seemed to be so welcoming to the boy, even willing to pay a considerable price, what was the reason behind it?
The calm-looking boy seemed not to be thinking about these things.

The blonde girl turned gracefully, her dress revealing her fair back without any hesitation. Not bad, no visible blemishes, but still not quite as beautiful as the girls I'd seen before. Mainly, she lacked that perfectly proportioned figure, as if designed by God.

Simply put, it means having less talent.

"I don't think I've agreed to Izumi-san's request yet."

Tsukino Gen said with a smile.

Izumi Nami paused briefly, stood to one side, and turned to look at Tsukino Gen with a smile. With what she thought was her most charming smile.

"Don't worry, handsome, you're one of Asagiri's people. No matter what, I won't do anything bad to you, what do you say?"

"So she has a lot of influence."

Gen Tsukino smiled casually, but a hint of displeasure flashed in Nami Izumi's eyes.

So she stopped and started walking back towards the boy.

Every step she took seemed to accentuate her alluring charm. Then she walked up to Tsukino Gen and said with a smile, "You know my name is Izumi Nami, but I don't know yours yet. That's a little unfair."

"Tsukino Gen".

The boy's gaze unmistakably drifted downwards, as if to say he was just an ordinary, normal man looking at what he should look at. A man is a football fan until the very end.

"What are you looking at, Tsukino-kun? Nice name."

Izumi Nami seemed a little shy as she took a step back and then pretended to cover her chest.

Gen Tsukino looked up at her, who seemed quite shy, and said, "I'm sorry."

But he showed no intention of truly repenting.

The blonde girl, blushing, blinked. "Didn't expect Tsukino-kun to be such a pervert? Is it because Asagiri won't let you see him?"

"As for this, perhaps Izumi-san could ask her herself."

Faced with the boy's answer, Izumi Nami was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant and chuckled.

"Tsukino-kun is really good at joking. Okay, seriously. Want to come over and play? I'm bored anyway."

"Where?"

The boy didn't seem to mind, and Izumi Nami went to the door of the nearest hall, leaned against the door, and smiled, saying, "It's right here, would you like to come in?"

There are many places a man can go, and generally speaking, Tsukino Gen doesn't have the habit of going astray.

They rarely panic and act rashly due to lust.

"Since Miss Izumi has said so, it would be impolite to refuse again."

"Haha, come on over."

She opened the door.

Following the other person's steps, Tsukino Gen entered the spacious room, which was not in the main hall. There were five or six people inside.

They were gathered together playing poker, and judging from the chips on the table and the distribution of the hands, they were probably playing Texas Hold'em.

"Hey, Izumi. Who did you bring?"

"As expected of you, bringing Asagiri's boyfriend along. Be careful, he might come looking for trouble later."

They made it sound serious, but judging from their expressions, they weren't really worried. They were treating it as a joke, as if they were used to Tsukino Gen's arrival.

There are two possibilities.

One reason is that Izumi Nami told them in advance what she was going to do.

Another thing is that Izumi and Nami have done this kind of thing many times before, so they're not surprised. At this moment, a young man wearing a jacket and with a middle-part hairstyle came over with a few chips and smiled at Tsukino Gen.

"Hey handsome, wanna play a few rounds? It's really fun."

Gen Tsukino smiled and shook his head. "Sorry, I'm not very good at this, and I don't have any money to play."

To say he had no money in a place like this seemed overly honest. In reality, none of them thought he was that rich, but not so rich that he couldn't even afford to play a few rounds of Texas Hold'em. They figured he was probably just being considerate of Asagiri Rin.

"Don't worry, it's very simple." The other person seemed to want to offer some further advice.

Izumi Nami, however, laughed and said, "Alright, don't make things difficult for him. Tsukino-kun looks like a well-mannered kid who never gambles. Don't lead him astray."

The boy chuckled jokingly, "So you don't have to explain when you return it, right?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Izumi Nami's cheeks were slightly flushed, and she looked shy.

Then she grabbed the boy's wrist and walked to the other side.

The other side was much simpler. Several people were gathered around a dartboard, chatting and laughing as they threw darts, creating a festive atmosphere.

"How about we play this?"

Izumi Nami said with a smile.

Gen Tsukino glanced at the group of people who were gradually turning around with strange expressions. "Izumi-san, have you asked me to embarrass myself?"

Faced with the boy's playful, smiling joke, Izumi Nami smiled gently, a hint of allure in her expression. This still-young girl seemed to have already mastered how to maximize a man's motivation and sense of vanity.

Men may seem complex at first glance, but they're actually quite simple. Women and power are the most capable of bewitching the mind. Countless so-called heroes and great men have fallen victim to these two things. If women can humble themselves, their natural talents will clearly become a natural advantage and weapon.

"How could that be? Tsukino-kun and Asagiri will inevitably come into contact with these things as they spend time together. I was just helping her out."

"Miss Izumi is quite kind-hearted."

The boy's eyes were unreadable, and Izumi Nami felt a surge of embarrassment and annoyance. Kind-hearted, huh? You were only brought here by Asagiri Rin; if it were anyone else, they'd at most be treated like a male escort.

Of course, she wouldn't say these words out loud now.

She didn't want to abandon a spur-of-the-moment interest halfway through. Even if she couldn't truly vent her anger, she could at least make that girl feel disgusted for a while. And that was something she was quite willing to see.

Ultimately, it's just some kids playing house out of boredom, but there's a difference between ordinary kids and kids from big families.

Those who are more willing to pay the price may also cause greater consequences.

"How about it? Want to give it a try? It's not like we're betting anything."

"If we don't gamble, won't we have absolutely no motivation?"

Tsukino Gen said with a smile.

Looking at this exceptionally handsome young man, Izumi Nami had to admit that Asagiri Rin was indeed very lucky. Not only was she able to return to that home, but even the vase she encountered was of such high quality.

"How about this, let's have a competition with them. If you beat them, I'll give you a special reward."

"alone?"

The boy seemed interested, raising an eyebrow.

Izumi Nami even deliberately tucked her shoulders in and squeezed her arms together, clearly trying to make her snow-white cleavage appear even more pronounced.

Her seemingly shy and demure smile was actually anything but shy; it was full of alluring charm.

Men are all like that. They seem quite respectable, but it's all just a pretense. Once the mask and disguise are removed, they're no different from anyone else. Equally beastly, equally driven by greed.

"certainly."

These words were deliberately whispered into Tsukino Gen's ear, the humid heat seeming to burn away the boy's reason.

So the boy walked towards the dartboard.

"How to play?"

Several young men who were playing naturally heard the commotion, but they didn't quite catch what Izumi Nami and Tsukino Gen were saying. However, since they were friends, they knew each other's character and habits to some extent. They exchanged glances.

The rules of dartboard are simple in some ways, and complex in others.

"How about we play something simpler then?"

The boys were taken aback, not expecting Tsukino Gen to seem so eager.

Izumi Nami, who had witnessed all of this, smiled with satisfaction. In her eyes, the boy was already impatient.

She understood that her charm might not be enough in front of Asagiri Rin. When she started talking to the boy, he seemed indifferent, but his willingness to come in with her suggested a degree of testing.

but it does not matter.

Everyone should remain vigilant; never underestimate people.

She was confident in her methods, but when the moment truly arrived, even if the other party suspected it was a trap, could she really hold back? Many people, before falling into a trap, actually believe they have maintained their vigilance and think they are playing along with the scheme.

But in the end, they still couldn't get past that crucial step and became deeply entangled. This is the fragility of human nature.

"How simple?"

Someone asked with a strange expression. Tsukino Gen pointed to the dartboard hanging on the wall, "Logically speaking, the middle one should be the hardest to hit, right?"

Upon hearing this, some people couldn't help but laugh. It was truly amazing to ask such a question, but it also seemed to indicate that the young man was indeed a novice—the kind that would be difficult to fake.

"That's right, so how do you want to compete?"

Someone said with a smile.

Gen shrugged. "Then let's give each person five darts and see who hits the bullseye the most times. Keep it simple."

The group looked at each other, as this was the first time they had ever heard of such a competition.

It does seem much simpler now, but...
"If the shots hit the same targets, or if none of them hit their targets."

"Then let's move on to the next round. There's always some probability involved, right?"

The boy's smile seemed incredibly innocent to them.

Good grief, you're playing with probability, huh? Isn't it just a matter of luck, betting on a blind cat catching a dead mouse?

"I have no objection, what about you?"

"Let's just play, what's the difference between playing whatever we want?"

"So what games should we play? It'll be more fun if there's some stake involved, right?"

When someone suggested it, Izumi Nami knew it was time to step in, and she smiled as she picked up a bottle of red wine from the side.

"Then let's drink. It's no fun playing with money all the time. Of course, you can tell me in advance if you can't drink."

"What's wrong with drinking this stuff?"

"Then let's drink!"

It seemed like a small bet, just something to create some excitement. But Izumi Nami noticed that Tsukino Gen was looking at her.

Although she couldn't decipher the meaning behind that look, she knew why she did it. Considering what the other person had said earlier, taking the initiative to speak up for him made her appear exceptionally thoughtful.

It's also a kind of contrast. Although it's not enough to completely change his image of himself, it's enough to make him lower his guard more at crucial moments.

"Come on, who wants to go first?"

Meanwhile, things were already bustling with activity on this side.

Ultimately, they're all guys around the same age; they're neither particularly mature nor particularly immature. But in this kind of competition, they all seem somewhat unwilling to fall behind.

Moreover, apart from Gen Tsukino, they were all pampered young men who had never experienced hardship, and they were all competitive and boastful.

They all suddenly became very interested and eager.

"That won't take up much time, I'll do it."

Unexpectedly, Tsukino Gen stepped forward and took away five darts.

Several people looked at each other.

What does it mean to not waste time?

Does that mean if you miss all the shots, it's like surrendering and raising the white flag?

Izumi Nami, standing nearby, was also somewhat curious. This boy seemed to have suddenly changed his demeanor and attitude. He appeared exceptionally confident, unlike before when he was by Asagiri Rin's side, where he was extremely low-key and even willing to act as a servant.

How to put it? This is because they've broken away from the main body, so they're free to fly wherever they want.

Some gigolos who live off women like to act this way, being arrogant at first and then obsequious.

They'd bow and scrape before the person in question, being as subservient as they could possibly be, but that didn't mean they weren't resentful. After all, a girl like Asagiri Rin was far too assertive; she didn't even give them face, let alone a young, insignificant guy she was just keeping around.

So when they feel free, they're willing to showcase their abilities to show that they're not limited to being a kept man. But what's the reality? They're still just struggling within this role.

However, this also shows that in Tsukino Gen's mind, he is a lower-level existence than Asagiri Rin, which is why Rin has the desire to show off in front of him.

interesting.

He'll find out soon enough whether it's actually lower level or not.

But I must say, the way the boy confidently picked up the darts was actually quite handsome.

Those beautiful, almond-shaped eyes became focused, as if they held glittering stars. Her already sharply defined, sculpted features, viewed from the side, were like a masterpiece of God's artistry—a photo so beautiful it could be a wallpaper without any filters.

To be honest, even before the plan was finalized, Izumi Nami was already starting to feel a little unsettled.

Perhaps if the timing is right, turning a fake relationship into a real one wouldn't be a bad idea. It wouldn't necessarily be a loss for him, especially since the thought of him being Asagiri Rin's man is strangely exciting.

Under her narrowed gaze, the boy threw a dart.

The seemingly simple movements were executed without even finding the right aim.

But soon, the people on this side widened their eyes, revealing expressions of disbelief.

Because Gen Tsukino didn't just throw one shot, but one after another. It was as if he had modified a single-shot pistol into a burst-fire machine gun.

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh!"

"..."

In an instant, before they could even see Tsukino Gen's specific movements, the boy's hands were already empty.

They didn't even have time to look at the dartboard on the wall right away; what they heard first was the boy's relaxed words.

"Alright, you guys play."

After saying that, Tsukino Gen turned around, seemingly heading towards the door.

It gave off an impression of someone who had accomplished their task and left without a trace. However, almost no one present had read this line of poetry.

They just stared in disbelief at the dartboard on the wall.

Five darts, neatly and slightly crowded together, were all planted in the bullseye.

"Wow, really?" someone gasped.

Someone approached the dartboard, struggled to pull out a dart, and then looked at the gap inside and said...

"To be honest, I probably couldn't even insert it right now."

"Who is this?"

Belatedly realizing what had happened, Izumi Nami, who had witnessed the entire scene, quickly chased after them.

To be honest, being able to throw darts isn't anything special, it might not even be considered a special skill. But then again...

The boy's relaxed and carefree demeanor stirred strange emotions within her.

Of all the boyfriends she'd ever had, none were as mysterious and unique as him. He seemed simple, but he constantly brought freshness and surprises. No wonder even Asagiri Rin couldn't resist bringing him to events like this.

When she chased after him, she found that the boy hadn't gone far; he was leaning against the wall in the quiet, deserted corridor, silently watching her.

For some reason, being stared at by those peach blossom eyes made her heart race, and for a moment she almost forgot why she had approached this boy in the first place.

She walked over anyway, her steps graceful and slow, as if she were playing the trembling in her chest frame by frame in slow motion.

Until they reached the boy.

"Did I fall for Tsukino-kun's trick?"

"How do you say this?"

"I didn't know Tsukino-kun was so good at darts. I thought you really couldn't play at all. I was worried you'd lose face, so I told them to just let them gamble with drinks. But they should gamble with money; at least they can make some money."

Gen Tsukino smiled as he looked at the blonde girl in front of him. "Maybe it's because Izumi-san is here that I'm having such good luck today. I've never played darts before."

That's the truth; Tsukino Gen had never played with anything like this before. But that didn't affect his accuracy. You could say that if he wanted, he could make Izumi Nami stand in front of the dartboard with a cherry on her head, and he could still hit it without a problem.

However, the other party certainly wouldn't be happy about it.

"So you're saying you benefited from my help?" Her red lips gleamed, her eyes sparkling, as if she couldn't contain herself.

Gen Tsukino didn't seem to hold back in expressing his emotions at this moment. "Who says otherwise? Oh, right, I remember we had a promise."

"So that's all you're thinking about, isn't it?"

Izumi Nami's cheeks were rosy, like an inexperienced young girl who hadn't even given away her first kiss yet.

"It's hard not to think about it."

The boy said with emotion.

Then Izumi Nami reached out and took the boy's hand, leading him to a more secluded area on the other side of the corridor, while whispering sweet nothings.

"Let's go somewhere else. I know a quiet room where no one will bother us."

……

(End of this chapter)