I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 202 The Taste I Like

The vast and magnificent sea.

The setting sun gradually sank, losing its azure color and becoming as dull as the sky.

Cars parked on the roadside, the beach that hadn't been taken down, and a few scattered people lingering on the shore at this time of day.

I don't know what they're happy about, or what they're celebrating.

The girl, having left the car, let her long hair be lifted by the distant sea breeze. Her expression was actually better than expected, without much sorrow.

Perhaps they've long forgotten how to make those vulnerable expressions.

She is someone who cannot be vulnerable. No matter how turbulent her emotions are, her pride does not allow her to reveal her feelings to the public or become someone that everyone can see.

Kaoru Morita looked at the girl gazing at the sea, and she wanted to say something at that moment.

But she seemed unable to utter a single word; she was good at helping with tasks, but not at offering words of comfort.

Actually, she didn't have much affection for this young lady at first.

Even after joining this family, there was no real sense of belonging. It was just that, through spending time with this girl, I witnessed so many different sides of Asagiri Rin.

She felt a little complicated.

It's like watching your own child grow up little by little and evolve into different possibilities.

The moments that make her happy exist.

There were moments when she was a little down.

As Morita Kaoru was still thinking about how to start the conversation, the girl in front of her suddenly turned around and looked at her.

"Would you like to go for a walk on the beach with me?"

"me?"

Kaoru Morita seemed somewhat flattered.

Asagiri Rin smiled. "It's a little pathetic, but it seems like I don't have any other friends besides you."

"How could this be? Him?"

The words that were on the tip of her tongue wouldn't come out. She was like this because of that boy, so how could she bring it up now?
She swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue, and then nodded silently.

Then he accompanied the girl as she took her first steps.

Walking on the soft sand, the setting sun slanted down on the two of them. It was actually a somewhat incongruous pair, after all, one of them was a young girl, still wearing her school uniform.

The other one is still wearing a suit jacket, looking like a proper, serious office worker.

Although they are both women, they don't seem to have much in common. In some people's eyes, they might be the type that's 'not very appealing'.

However, this is not a key factor.

Following the girl's steps, Morita Kaoru soon heard her soft voice.

Do you think I'm sad because of him?

Morita Kaoru hesitated for a moment before replying, "Miss is a very strong girl, I don't think so."

"Actually, I'm a little sad."

"."

“When you told me that, I didn’t feel much. I told myself that this was the kind of thing he would do. Actually, I should be surprised that they only got to this point now. After all, they’ve known each other or liked each other for a long time.”

Was it earlier than her?
Or is it that the young lady doesn't admit it now, but that the two of them actually like each other?

Of course, one would never say such a thing out loud.

She could only whisper, "Was it only after I got the answer that I realized it?"

Asagiri Rin smiled, her hair fluttering in the wind. Her beautiful, delicate face would make anyone who saw her, regardless of gender, marvel at the existence of such exquisite artistry.

No matter how meticulous the carving, it could not depict such a appearance. What kind of imagination and masterful craftsmanship would it take?

It seems that God has bestowed too much upon this girl, which is why she has encountered these setbacks in her love life.

"Pretty much. I also expected that he wouldn't be like a typical guy, begging and pleading with me. It's just that he's too arrogant, so arrogant that it makes me a little uncomfortable. It makes me feel like what I've done for him is insignificant in his eyes. I can't even make him hesitate for a moment."

He said the sentence softly.

Listening to the sound of the waves rolling, amidst this tumultuous noise, she uttered a more subtle remark.

"I think if there were a situation where he had to choose between me and Kazama, he would definitely choose the other one, right?"

Upon hearing this, Morita Kaoru seemed to realize something.

The real reason why this girl's emotions turned out this way.

Did she actually feel inferior?

Do you really think she's inferior to another girl?
It seems that nothing can make her let go of her pride, except when it comes to matters of the heart, where she is unreasonable.

It's ten thousand armor-piercing rounds; even the hardest steel plate can't withstand that.

This left Kaoru Morita somewhat confused, and even angry.

How could you think that way?

"if not."

He looked at Morita Kaoru with a half-smile.

Kaoru Morita actually has poor communication skills; even if she has an idea, she can't express it perfectly.

But now, she can't care about any of that.

"You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen, and the most special person. Every boy who has seen you has fallen for you. Even if that boy is Tsukino Gen, he would definitely not hesitate, and he would definitely not fail to feel compassion for you."

"On the contrary, you don't need to be fixated on his feelings. In fact, how he treats you is not important at all. You can easily get everything you want, Miss."

Asagiri Rin looked at Morita Kaoru, who had said so much, with some surprise.

Seeing her barely concealed excitement, he winked at Wu Lin, looking somewhat dazed, and then smiled and said.

"I didn't know you could talk so much."

"Eh?"

"I thought you weren't very good at saying things like that, this is really beyond my expectations."

"Sorry, I've said too much."

Kaoru Morita lowered her head slightly.

But Asagiri Rin shook her head. "It's okay, this is fine. I'm happy. Maybe I'll have someone else to talk to in the future."

What does it mean?
Morita Kaoru raised her head and said firmly, "I am indeed not very good at speaking, but if Miss is willing, I can listen to anything."

"Mmm, the ocean is so beautiful."

The sun was gradually setting, and its last flames seemed to be given to the sea.

Let the sea burn with vibrant colors, let the waves surge into sparks.

As a child, she heard her father's promise, but later, when she saw the sea with her own eyes, she realized that she didn't actually like the sea that much. She was simply clinging to that promise that belonged to her father.

But am I still clinging to that boy?

On this roaring seashore, even the seagulls seemed to have vanished, returning to their nests. And unexpectedly, in that fleeting moment when the remaining light blurred, as if dusk were fading into the final burst of light...

As if sensing something, Morita Kaoru looked out over the beach.

Asagiri Rin also saw the same thing.

The boy riding a small electric scooter, without changing out of his school uniform, stopped his vehicle outside the beach and walked over.

Morita Kaoru secretly glanced at Asagiri Rin's expression and noticed that the girl only glanced at her before quickly turning away and no longer looking in that direction.

It seemed that whoever came had nothing to do with him, and that his arrival was not because of him.

Gen Tsukino walked over, but Rin Asagiri had already headed towards the beach by herself, not caring whether her shoes were suitable for walking on sand or whether they would get wet from the waves. In fact, quite a bit of sand had already gotten into them.

Morita Kaoru squinted at Tsukino Gen, his expression unfriendly.

After all, she would always stand on the same side as her mistress, and because of her sister's situation, she was already wary of this young man.

He is indeed capable of doing such a thing.

Why are you looking at me like that? Have I offended you?

The boy was still shamelessly asking questions.

Morita Kaoru said coldly, "You know very well that Miss doesn't want to see you right now."

"It's okay, I won't look for her."

"Ok?"

Why are you here if you're not looking for her?

Don't tell me you're on the same wavelength and both like to come to the sea when you're feeling down.

"clang."

Gen Tsukino flicked his wrist, tossing something out. Kaoru Morita instinctively reached out and grabbed it, only to realize it was the key to an electric scooter.

"???"

Morita Kaoru looked at the other person, puzzled.

Gen Tsukino shrugged. "There's been a lot of battery theft lately, could you please take a look?"

"you!"

I am Asagiri Rin's driver, that's true, but she's a young lady. Who are you to ask me to watch the car?!

But before he could even speak, Tsukino Gen's figure swept past him as he walked toward the sea.

The girl, letting the waves wash over her feet, didn't pretend to walk into them; that would be too low-class, and she didn't believe anything could be more valuable than her own life.

Threatening someone with your life is also a sign of stupidity.

If someone cares about you, why can't they just talk to you properly?

If someone doesn't care about you, why would they really feel sorry for you or pity you because of this?
As Tsukino Gen drew closer, she didn't seem to react much; instead, she suddenly felt quite pleased with herself.

Even when the sea is dark, it's not that scary.

It was as if something inexplicable was drawing me in.

She turned around when a hand grabbed her wrist, and saw the boy's bangs, ruffled by the wind, and his increasingly deep eyes.

Where do you want to go next?

It was only then that Asagiri Rin realized that even though she didn't have such extreme thoughts, she seemed to be uncontrollably walking deeper into the area.

As if bewitched.

She shook her head and deftly freed herself from the boy's hand.

"I'll be back soon, you can take your time reading."

She seemed to care what the other person was there for; as soon as they arrived, she left.

Gen Tsukino turned around. "Your shoes are all wet. Aren't they uncomfortable to wear?"

"This doesn't seem like something you should be worrying about."

Asagiri Rin didn't appreciate the gesture.

All men are the same; they just talk the talk but don't walk the walk. They always try to make the other person do the work, as if that makes their scumbag behavior less obvious.

They are all equally inferior and morally corrupt.

He prepared to take another step, but this time Tsukino Gen didn't give him the chance.

He walked over and easily grabbed the other person's arm.

Forced to turn around, Asagiri Rin was somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, and was about to curse.

But the next moment.

Her entire body was lifted into the air, and the boy held her in his arms around the waist, carrying her in a princess carry towards the car on the beach.

Morita Kaoru paused for a moment, then watched the two approach.

Watching the resolute boy walk away, I also saw the girl frantically pounding his arms and chest in his arms, struggling fiercely, but Tsukino Gen didn't seem to have any intention of putting her down.

Until finally getting into the car.

Gen Tsukino placed her in the back seat.

Asagiri Rin glared at him, "Stop doing these pointless things. If you really cared about my feelings, you wouldn't be making me so angry."

Gen Tsukino didn't explain; he simply took her slender leg and took off her shoes.

The inside, including the socks, was damp and had some sand stuck to it.

It looks a bit dirty.

This situation nearly enraged Asagiri Rin; she didn't want to present any embarrassing scene to the boy, so she desperately wanted to take it back.

But Tsukino Gen not only didn't let go, he even easily slipped his hand off.

She took off her socks.

The girl's beautiful, delicate, and slightly fleshy feet were revealed.

"Are you crazy?! Let go!"

This time, the young lady was truly furious.