I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 155 You really want a reward? (4000 words)

Even on summer nights, it's not actually that much cooler.

Moreover, the beach still retained a lot of the heat from the long hours of sunshine during the day. With so many people, even though government personnel had set up a cordon in advance to prevent too many people from getting close to the churning sea, the sultry heat was still unbearable.

It seems that many people are struggling, but they are just persisting for the sake of a sense of ritual.

Even though there are many vendors selling souvenirs around the fireworks display, making it look like a temple fair, it doesn't actually attract many people. What everyone is most interested in is wearing a kimono or yukata and spending this special day with their loved ones.

But Sakura Kazama discovered something magical: it seemed that as long as she stood next to the boy and held his hand, the air around her felt much fresher, unlike the miserable expressions on the faces of those around her.

"By the way, Ah-Xian, have you ever seen a fireworks display before?"

Standing in a suitable spot, Tsukino Gen found a good vantage point. There weren't many people around, and he could see the fireworks rising from all angles. The only drawback was that it was a little far away, but Kazama Sakura didn't have such a strong sense of ceremony and didn't need to get that close to take pictures.

After finding her spot, she remembered something. Tsukino Gen came from an orphanage, so had he ever actually watched a fireworks display?

Gen Tsukino shook his head. "I haven't seen any official ones, but in the summer, the headmistress would buy some small fireworks for us to set off. They looked quite nice when placed in the yard."

The boy tilted his head slightly, facing the direction of the sea.

In the dim light, his faint smile seemed to suggest that none of these things could harm him, as if he were someone who wouldn't feel regret or be sentimental about lacking experiences that others had.

But it was precisely this sense of déjà vu that made Kazama Sakura feel a pang of heartache, and she gently hugged the boy's arm.

"Then if you have the chance in the future, you can come to see it every year, okay?"

Gen Tsukino turned his head and glanced at the girl staring at him expectantly. Her beautiful lips were glistening, especially with that expression. Her youthful charm and lack of malice made her all the more alluring, tempting one to kiss her and savor her beauty.

"Why do I feel like you're acting like an older sister now, taking care of me like a younger brother?"

"I'm only a few months older than you~ Besides, is it embarrassing to be taken care of by a girl?"

"That's not the case. I don't have any bottom line. I just feel comfortable taking advantage of others."

"Pfft. Then you'll have to ask Miss for help with this. I don't have that many advantages for you to take advantage of."

This was the first time Kazama Sakura had mentioned Asagiri Rin in such a tone, without any sarcasm or irony, as if stating a fact. Or perhaps, this was also revealing her deepest insecurities and lack of confidence.

It's obvious that a girl like Asagiri Rin can offer him more. And Tsukino Gen is so unique and outstanding; it's not impossible that his family might take a liking to him and choose him to marry into their family.

Gen Tsukino only glanced at the girl briefly before understanding what she was thinking, and then smiled and curled his lips.

"If I liked money and material things that much, I would be working part-time as a male escort right now."

What seems like a self-deprecating remark is actually telling the girl that in his eyes, there's no significant difference between Asagiri Rin and Kazama Sakura. Those added material possessions, wealth, and status are precisely what he doesn't care about.

She felt the gentle care this boy was giving her.

Kazama Sakura gently pressed her cheek against the other person's arm.

"I will work hard to earn money."

she said softly.

Tsukino Gen chuckled and squeezed her hand.

"Am I stupid? If people heard me say something like that, they would definitely think I'm a bloodsucker who uses my looks to scam girls out of their money."

"Really? I mean, I don't want you to have a hard time."

"I won't have to work very hard. It's much easier for me to make money than for you, so what you need to do is very simple."

"Ok?"

Has the order been issued?

Why do I feel a little excited?

Kazama Sakura looked at the boy expectantly, while Tsukino Gen lowered his head and gazed into her eyes.

"Take good care of yourself and maintain your beauty. Stay beautiful for longer and let your youth last longer."

It sounds as if these words are saying that when she is no longer young and her appearance fades, this affection will no longer exist.

But Kazama Sakura understood that the boy clearly meant she shouldn't think about those worldly things. She didn't need to live a life of hardship. By his side, she didn't have to be that kind of devoted wife and mother, confined to the kitchen and bedchamber.

How can a girl from an ordinary family become a princess?

Unless someone treats you like a princess.

Just then, a lively cheer erupted from the beach.

Attracting the attention of both of them at the same time, Tsukino Gen took a deep breath.

"It seems like it's about to start."

"Yeah. Wait, let me take my phone down."

The girl quickly took her phone out of her bag, and Tsukino Gen looked at her with amusement, "Don't you look at it all the time? Why are you taking pictures?"

"Oh dear, this time it's different."

Just as Tsukino Gen was about to ask what was different, he saw Kazama Sakura pulling his arm and saying, "Come here, be a little shorter."

"Ah."

Tsukino Gen seemed to understand what the other person meant.

He bent down to sit close to the girl's cheek, and they both looked at the phone. The camera captured not only their faces but also the lively scene behind them.

Amidst the clamor of voices and the churning of waves.

Sakura Kazama, her cheeks flushed, suppressed her excitement, but her voice trembled slightly.

"A record of my first time watching a fireworks display with Ah-Xian"

Gen Tsukino didn't speak, quietly looking at the camera while pressing his hand against the girl's warm, delicate cheek.

"It's very hot today, and there are a lot of people. But I'm very happy."

"In the future, I want to watch many more fireworks displays with Ah-Hsien, no matter where we are or what we are doing."

The moment she said those words, Kazama Sakura didn't dare to look at Tsukino Gen's face.

But she could clearly hear it.

"it is good."

In that instant, the girl's pupils dilated involuntarily, before she could even turn her head to look.

"boom!!"

It was like a cannonball fired from a gun.

The exhilarating roar exploded behind everyone.

In the phone's camera lens, fireworks are rising brilliantly into the sky behind a young couple.

The mottled colors bloomed into different hues in the endless night sky.

It was as if a painter had splashed his paint across the entire night sky. The sound was so grand, the colors so vibrant, that it made the people on the ground seem so insignificant.

It gives one the feeling of standing in the universe and witnessing the vastness of countless stars in motion.

Sakura Kazama stared blankly at her phone, seemingly still reeling from the shock of the moment.

The boy's hand reached out and gently pinched the girl's chin and cheek. Sensing something, Kazama Sakura obediently turned her head.

Her watery eyes gazed at the boy's lowered eyes, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

In the instant their eyes met, they willingly succumbed to an endless vortex; Gen Tsukino didn't need to say a word at that moment.

Because the phone in Kazama Sakura's hand will honestly record everything in the present moment.

They embraced and kissed amidst the grand fireworks display, their passionate embrace seemingly destined to last into the next century.

……

The nearby vendors created an atmosphere resembling a temple fair.

The two strolled around for a while, eating some local snacks and oden. Sakura Kazama seemed very happy, chatting and laughing all the way. Although neither of them wore yukatas, which would be appropriate for the day.

But wherever the two of them go, they are always the most dazzling sight.

"Hey, this cat amulet is so cute."

From a small stall, Kazama Sakura picked up an amulet shaped like a憨厚 (honest and simple) cat.

She looked at Tsukino Gen excitedly, "This seems to be a special amulet from Mokusa Shrine in Shōri. I've been wanting to buy one for a while now; it can bless my studies or something."

"Is your blessing for academic success even useful?"

Tsukino Gen asked curiously.

The girl playfully punched the boy's arm. "It's not as bad as you make it out to be! You're already making progress, okay? I'll buy you one then, since you're going to take the college entrance exam anyway, right?"

"It's still early." Indeed, going to university was in Tsukino Gen's plan. He didn't intend to enter the workforce so early and start working a regular job, even though it seemed unlikely that his future life would involve actually working a regular job.

"It's okay~ I'll save it for now, it's so cute."

"I think you just think it looks good, right?"

"hey-hey."

"I buy for you."

Gen Tsukino took out his phone.

Kazama Sakura looked at the boy who offered to pay the bill with some surprise.

"Huh? Shall I do it?"

"Don't pretend if you didn't even take out your phone. Besides, I was originally going to treat you to dinner, but someone else ended up paying for it, so this counts as a treat."

"Alright~ Thank you very much, Mr. Tsukino~"

The girl said sweetly.

She wasn't particularly concerned about the money, but the amulet was indeed inexpensive, and she wanted to experience the feeling of her boyfriend buying her something. She planned to tie it to her bag the next day. However, when her colleagues came to ask why she had this extra item...

She can proudly tell the other person: This was a gift from my boyfriend!

She didn't care whether the gift was expensive or not, or whether it made her look good in other people's eyes; she only knew that it was a gift from this young man, and that was enough for her.

Gen Tsukino bought the amulet and handed it to the girl, then smiled and looked at her.

"Is saying thank you enough?"

"Then, what else?"

Gen Tsukino didn't speak, but just looked at the girl with rosy cheeks and lowered his head slightly.

Looking into the other person's eyes with a smile.

Kazama Sakura slightly averted her gaze, then looked around like a vigilant spy observing her surroundings. Finally, she closed her eyes, tiptoed slightly, and moved closer.

"Hmm~"

She gently kissed the boy's lips, then took the amulet, blushing, and said, "Is it okay now?"

Gen Tsukino looked like he was savoring the food.

"Hmm, not bad, peach flavor."

"No way~"

"Alright, it's getting late, let me take you home."

"Hmm~"

She has to go to work tomorrow, and after a busy day, she's really feeling the strain, even though she wanted to spend more time with the boy. But she has to know when to stop.

I'm already very satisfied with today.

But if you think about using up all your happiness and enjoying everything every day, then what will you do tomorrow, and what will you do next?

They rode the boy's electric bike and then returned the way they came.

The streetlights cast long shadows of every passerby, and in the quiet street, it seemed that only the sound of the wind as two people passed by could be heard.

After tying the amulet to her bag, Kazama Sakura looked at the adorable cat and thought it resembled a chibi version of Tsukino Gen. So cute, she wanted to keep squeezing it.

But then she suddenly realized something.

"By the way, the final exam results should be out by now, right?"

"I haven't even asked Sakuraba-sensei yet, why the rush?"

"Who's in a hurry? I'm just afraid someone might try to renege on the reward."

Tsukino Gen said with a laugh, "You don't even know what my reward is yet, and you're already so excited. What if you're disappointed?"

"So what reward are you going to give me?"

Kazama Sakura hugged Tsukino Gen's waist and belly, then curiously looked up and asked.

Gen Tsukino answered.

"It gives you the experience of transforming from a girl into a woman."

This was just something Tsukino Gen said offhand, as he wanted to tease the other person with his usual wicked sense of humor.

However, he didn't hear a reply immediately; instead, he felt a noticeably faster breathing behind him.

then.

"Really?"

No way, you're actually looking forward to this?!

Tsukino Gen was completely stumped.

He gripped the handle tightly, and subconsciously squeezed his legs together.

"You don't really want this to be true, do you?"

He felt a strange dryness in his throat.

To be honest, whether it's a natural progression or letting things happen naturally, the timing is about the same. There's no need to insist on anything unnecessary; he can be a responsible man too.

However, it seems a bit strange that the two of them are about to get to this stage without even having a confirmed relationship.
Ironically, it's ironic that I've become the one who acts like a virtuous gentleman.

Then he felt the girl's hands wrap around the boy's waist, holding him tightly.

She pressed herself against Gen's back, as if speaking to his heart.

"But... I'm not afraid at all."

Upon hearing this, Tsukino Gen knew there was nothing to hesitate about.

Adhering to so-called bottom lines for unnecessary reasons serves no purpose other than tormenting the other party.

Moreover, they liked each other and there was no barrier between them.

He nodded. "I understand."

"You really know?"

Sakura Kazama blushed furiously; this was the first time in her life she had ever been so bold.

She was afraid that the boy was still joking with her and not taking it seriously, but at least she was serious.

She believes more in tangible closeness than in so-called vows.

"Okay, I'll wait until you're off work."

Gen Tsukino answered in this way.

Now Kazama Sakura understood; this time, they were serious.

She felt an indescribable excitement and nervousness, even though that day had not yet arrived.

But now, even the wind passing by seems to have become sweet and ambiguous, tinged with pink.

They took the girl to her doorstep.

Kazama Sakura obediently got out of the car, "Then be careful on your way home, drive slowly, okay?"

"Well, I see."

Goodnight~ Huh? Mom?

Sakura Kazama took a few steps forward, only to find that the shadow standing not far away was looking in their direction.

She was slightly surprised and a little nervous.

When I was in school, I walked home with a boy and my mother saw us. My instinct was to react like a mouse seeing a cat.

The mature woman, whose complexion had improved recently and whose face showed less of a sorrowful air, walked over with a smile. "You go back first, I want to have a chat with Tsukino-kun."

Gen Tsukino looked at the woman with some surprise.

The woman smiled at him and said, "Is it alright, Tsukino-kun?"

"it is good."

……

(End of this chapter)