I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 21 Handsome Boys Should Go on Social Events

"Huh? You're still playing with self-deception?"

The dusky evening.

In Kiyono Mizuki's house, Tsukino Gen sat on the sofa, looking at his phone.

Kiyono Mizuki, who was standing next to her, tried to pretend that she didn't care what the other person was doing, but she couldn't help but keep glancing over in their direction.

Moreover, the boy was so focused that he didn't even glance at himself.

She appeared indifferent and silent, but in the end, she was the one who couldn't hold back.

Really bad.

Gen Tsukino nodded, still looking at his phone.

"Well, I'm not really an old man, why wouldn't I play?"

In this world, famous social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram have disappeared.

However, some alternatives with different names have emerged.

Self is more like a combination of Weibo and Douyin, which Tsukino Gen was very familiar with before his time travel. It integrates posting updates, receiving the latest news, short videos, and live streaming, making it a new favorite in this era. Moreover, it balances daily social interaction with privacy protection, allowing you to separate your public posts from your private space if you wish.

It has become the most popular social platform among young people today, with monthly active users approaching 30 billion, which is enough to show its popularity worldwide.

Actually, Tsukino Gen doesn't use or browse the site very often. He just checked the account called 'Yuna and Daisuke' to confirm that the two of them hadn't posted anything about secretly filming Kiyono Mizuki.

"I thought you weren't interested in these things, since I've never seen you do anything productive before."

Kiyono Mizuki spoke in a sarcastic tone, her hand gripping the phone tightening slightly.

There's only one crucial question on her mind right now.

'If Tsukino Gen uses this platform, why has he never asked what his account name is?'

Do you feel like you don't have a social media account?

Or perhaps they simply don't want to add it at all.

"I don't know what kind of important business you're referring to, but what important business could a high school student like me possibly have?"

Gen Tsukino was still looking at his phone.

The girl sitting next to me on the sofa, wearing a light red sundress and with long hair flowing down her shoulders, had eyes that were almost red with envy.

"Who knows you? I bet besides studying, you also flirt with the girls around you."

This is the kind of thing a cornered dog would say when it's desperate and has no other options.

After all, it's none of my business what he does, and I should be grateful to the world for his care.

But people always like to push their luck. Even after they have achieved a miracle, they still crave something beyond that miracle.

For example, the possessiveness that one doesn't want to admit but which truly exists.

"Is this little girl referring to yourself?"

Tsukino Gen asked without even looking up.

The boy's profile as he looked down at the screen was very handsome; his beautiful jawline and the light shining on his face created a dazzling sight.

Even the hand holding the phone is so beautiful.

Long, slender fingers with distinct knuckles should make them look perfectly suited to holding anything.

It could be your own legs, your own hands, or even your own neck and long hair.
That's why Kiyono Mizuki felt that he could easily succeed no matter what he did, even if he was a male escort.

However, Kiyono Mizuki still nudged the boy's shoulder in dissatisfaction.

"I'm older than you, how can I be considered a little girl?"

Gen Tsukino finally put down his phone for a moment, looked up and smiled at her.

"Sister Kiyono is indeed an older sister, but she seems very childish. Isn't she a little girl?"

"You're the childish one."

Kiyono Mizuki snorted disdainfully and turned her head away.

Then I noticed the boy had stopped talking again. I glanced over and saw him tapping on that phone again, seemingly replying to someone's message.

Finally, the girl couldn't resist and lit up her screen.

She coughed softly.

"Actually, I also play Self."

"Oh, is it so."

Oh my god!
Didn't you understand what I meant?

That wicked bastard is playing dumb again.

Since she had already gone this far, Kiyono Mizuki didn't care about anything else and bit her lower lip.

Then he turned around and took the phone from Tsukino Gen's hand.

The boy seemed to have expected this, and instead of panicking, he looked at the girl with amusement.

He was adding an account on his phone while talking to himself.

"If you need anything in the future, you can contact me directly here. Don't keep barging into my house without saying hello; that's illegal."

After saying that, she forced herself to return the phone to the other person, despite her burning red face, pretending to be nonchalant.

He was so nervous and forced into it that he didn't even have time to check how many girls were contacting him privately.

"Oh"

Gen Tsukino took back his phone and glanced at the account he had just added.

Then he smiled and looked at the girl.

"You won't admit that Kiyono-nee is childish, and you're using such tricks to get my friend spot?"

"Who, who wants your friend list? Don't flatter yourself! I'm just annoyed that you barged into my house without saying hello. If you don't want to, I'll delete you from my friends list if you promise never to do it again."

"It's actually quite logically consistent."

Gen Tsukino smiled, put away his phone, and stood up.

Some of the girls, whose cheeks were still burning, looked up at him.

"W-What are you doing?"

"I'm going back, what else would I do?"

"Let's go back, it's better to leave early, it's an eyesore."

Kiyono Mizuki lowered her head slightly, not wanting the other person to see the obvious, undisguised reluctance in her eyes at that moment.

Tsukino Gen seemed not to hear the 'true feelings' that the other person almost blurted out.

"Then you go to bed early."

"..." Kiyono Mizuki did not answer.

Until Tsukino Gen actually walked out of her room.

Kiyono Mizuki immediately raised her head, then laboriously moved herself into the wheelchair, displaying an agility that a disabled person should not have.

He quickly moved to a spot near the door and pressed his ear against the wall.

She didn't hear the door next door open at all!
asshole.

He didn't go home at all!
Where have you been gallivanting off to?

Almost immediately, she took out her phone, opened the friend she had just added, and prepared to send a message to question her.

But he quickly let go of her fingers again.

It seems to have nothing to do with me. What right do I have to demand or expect more from my own position?

But is my relationship with him really just that of simple friends, or perhaps a kind person and an unfortunate one?

There was clearly something ambiguous between them.
Perhaps it is precisely this ambiguity that causes people to suffer so much.

……

"Tsukino! Over here!"

Tsukino Gen, who had indeed not gone home, appeared under the night sky of Aoike Ward, the most bustling and prosperous area of ​​Shōri, about forty minutes later.

Across the street, Miura Akihiko was waving and calling out to him.

Tsukino Gen walked over and saw the boy who was dressed particularly flamboyantly today.

Despite being an 18-year-old high school sophomore, he was wearing a leather jacket and ripped jeans.

He even wore accessories like rings and bracelets, making him look like some kind of rock 'n' roll kid from who-knows-where.

Gen Tsukino looked at the excited Akihiko Miura and asked, "Why are you dressed like that? Are you trying to rock out on your own?"

Miura Akihiko said irritably, "What rock and roll? I specially invited two girls to dinner today. Why did you come wearing just a T-shirt? They'll think you have no respect for them at all."

Gen Tsukino rolled his eyes. "It's so hot, aren't you hot wearing all that? You'll only show respect when you see someone sweating profusely, right?"

Miura Akihiko hooked his arm around Tsukino Gen's shoulder and said with a smile, "That's not important. I called over two girls from the next class, they're pretty. This is a great opportunity for us to find love in high school and embark on a rosy youth. Put away your sharp tongue and grumpy face, okay? Be more attentive."

Tsukino Gen looked at him strangely, "When are you going to be able to ask girls out?"

Miura Akihiko thought back for a moment.

“I didn’t really expect to succeed. I even prepared a lot of methods to learn online. But as soon as I said I would go with you, they immediately agreed.”

"..." Tsukino Gen thought this boy was really missing a screw loose. Are all rich kids this naive? Then the world is saved. "Wait, does that mean today isn't your birthday at all?"

"no."

Akihiko Miura smiled brightly.

"You even lied to your dad, didn't you?"

Gen Tsukino pretended to shake off the other person's hand immediately and turned to go home.

Miura Akihiko immediately grabbed Tsukino Gen's arms with both hands, pleadingly saying...

"I promise I'll never lie to you again. You're my brother, my real brother, okay? Just this once, please help me. I can't handle this alone!"

"Then what about this meal?"

"Brother, order whatever you like, eat and drink whatever you want. It's on me!"

"Just this once."

"hey-hey."

You often walk by the river without getting your shoes wet.

But little did I know that I had been fooled by this simpleton.

This is a restaurant in a very good location in the Qingchi area.

The name is a bit strange; it's called 'Paper Airplane'.

There is a courtyard in front where customers can sit freely. It has the style of a Japanese garden, with artificial hills and ponds, and dim lighting accompanied by the babbling of an artificial stream.

It does have some style.

Miura Akihiko then led Tsukino Gen to a booth inside.

The bar and the live singers were all located in the back courtyard.

Before he even sat down, Tsukino Gen noticed two girls peering out from the seats to the side.

The phrase "dressed up in a flamboyant manner" is not meant as a derogatory term.

This at least shows that the two girls valued this social event.

As soon as Akihiko Miura gets close, his mouth widens into a grin that he can barely close.

"Hello, this is my friend, Tsukino Gen."

Then, turning to Tsukino Gen, he introduced them, "These two are Kaga and Saito from Class 1."

Gen Tsukino didn't put on airs, but he didn't have the obsequious smile that Akihiko Miura had.

He simply nodded and smiled in response.

"Hello."

The moment the two girls saw Gen Tsukino, their eyes seemed to sparkle with starlight.

"It really is Tsukino-kun."

"You're even more handsome up close, Tsukino-kun! Hello!"

Miura Akihiko pulled Tsukino Gen down to sit, then smiled and said to the two girls.

"Let's eat and chat. See what you'd like to eat and drink, and order whatever you like."

"Okay~ thank you. Uh, excuse me, what's your name again?"

Miura Akihiko:.
Gen Tsukino leaned back lazily in his chair. The courtyard had a faint sandalwood scent that smelled very comforting.

Unlike typical restaurants and bars, this place doesn't have a mix of different flavors.

The price looks expensive.
Suddenly, Tsukino Gen sensed something.

Squinting, I looked up at the spiral staircase to the side.

It seems there are still guests upstairs.

When he looked over, there was nothing special about it, nor was there any gaze directed at him.

but
……

(End of this chapter)