I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 22 Skilled at Hurting People
"So Miura-san and Tsukino-kun are such good friends."

"What are your hobbies, Tsukino-kun? I've been learning ballet since I was little, and I've even won several awards at Akira!"

"How come Tsukino-kun's grades are so good? I heard he got in with a full scholarship. My grades have slipped a bit lately, could you tutor me when you have some free time? Of course, I won't let you tutor me for free, I can pay you the market rate for tutoring."

The reason why Tsukino Gen thinks Miura Akihiko is a bit dim-witted is because...

If he insists on going on a blind date with girls, he shouldn't have invited me.

He should invite a guy who is inferior to him in every way to join him.

Meetings of this nature often rely on first impressions, since humans are visual creatures.

Sometimes, you invite someone who is completely inferior to you to create a contrast, and then, combined with Miura Akihiko's excellent family background, you can show off a little.

He can at least take the majority.

Forget about rosy youth, turning it yellow would be more than enough.

The result of me being called upon is what we are now.

Most of the conversations revolved around Tsukino Gen, even though he had already tried to minimize his presence by being taciturn and not initiating any topics.

The response was quite simple.

However, these two girls almost completely ignored Miura Akihiko's behavior.

Even though Akihiko Miura tried his best to show that he didn't have much talent and that he had excessive wealth, it seemed to be of no use.

What can be done now that things have come to this?

Gen Tsukino could only eat and drink as much as he could, trying his best not to waste Akihiko Miura's treat.

"By the way, are Tsukino-kun and Kazama-kun a couple?"

Suddenly, Saito, who had short hair, asked curiously from across the room.

Gen Tsukino, who was drinking his Negroni, looked up.

Miura Akihiko laughed and said, "What nonsense! How could someone as beautiful as Kazama possibly be interested in Tsukino?"

The two girls blinked and looked at each other.

"But it seems like a lot of people think that way. Aren't you two usually very close?"

"When did you become so popular?"

Miura Akihiko asked curiously.

Gen Tsukino shook his head.

"We're in a flirtatious relationship, but not officially together yet."

".ah?"

Akihiko Miura stared in astonishment.

Clearly, he hadn't expected that Tsukino Gen, who usually kept quiet about his love life, would say something like that at this moment.

Can you really talk about ambiguity so openly and honestly?!

The light in the eyes of the two girls opposite them clearly dimmed as a result.

After only a few words of conversation.

"Excuse me, we're going home now. Thank you for your hospitality, Miura-san and Tsukino-kun."

"Oh, should I give you a ride?"

"No need. There's still plenty left, you guys eat it, don't waste it. Goodbye."

The two girls simply left the 'paper airplane'.

Miura Akihiko looked at Tsukino Gen, who had drunk quite a bit but remained expressionless, with some confusion.

"Tsukino, I paid the bill, why should I thank you? What did you treat me to?"

Gen Tsukino glanced at the other person.

"My sitting here is already a form of hospitality, so why don't you thank me?"

"Wow. You're really narcissistic. But you just said you and Kazama Sakura are having an ambiguous relationship. Really?"

Akihiko Miura leaned closer and asked curiously.

"So what if it's real, or so what if it's fake?"

"What kind of attitude is that? Kazama is the prettiest girl in our class, and second only to Asagiri in the whole school, right? Actually, I think she's not bad-looking, but she has a great presence. If you were to get together with her, a lot of people would be jealous."

Miura Akihiko thought of something amusing, "I remember a senior from the kendo club who used to pursue Kazama, right? Maybe he'll find out and come at you with his sword."

Gen Tsukino rolled his eyes lazily. "Are you still going to drink or not?"

"Why not drink? You can drink even without women or brothers."

So the two of them ordered two more cocktails.

Akihiko Miura leaned back in his chair, gazing at the lights in the distance. He spoke with a smile.

"Your grades have been so good since your senior year of high school, you must be planning to continue your studies, right?"

Tsukino Gen didn't know why the other person suddenly asked this, but he nodded nonetheless, "If there aren't too many surprises, then it should be."

"I'm not planning to go on to higher education; studying is boring. But I really want to see the charm of a beautiful college girl, unlike you, who lives in a rosy world every day."

"Is rosy really that important? It's embarrassing to talk about it every day."

"You don't understand. This is the only age when we can be a bit of a chuunibyou (a person with delusions of grandeur). Unlike my dad, I saw him hiding in his study watching anime last time, and he wouldn't admit it. He had to lecture me seriously. He hardly ever smiles. Being serious is so tiring."

Gen Tsukino smiled as he looked at Akihiko Miura.

"I'm actually looking forward to the day when you become serious."

Akihiko Miura asked curiously, "Why?"

"Because you wouldn't have done such a pointless and foolish thing today."

Upon hearing Tsukino Gen's words, Miura Akihiko slightly opened his eyes.

Then, looking utterly bored, he stretched and said...

"Oh dear, there are so many meaningless things in life. It's precisely because they're meaningless that we can have happy moments. I always feel like you seem indifferent to everything, but you live a much more tiring life than others. Can't you be like me, ignoring other people's opinions and doing whatever silly things you want to be happy?"

"I'm very happy."

"Not happy enough."

"Then what counts as being happy enough?"

"Yeah, for example, when you were in your first year of high school, you suddenly went to confess to Rin Asagiri, which was pretty heartwarming."

"Fuck you."

"Hahahahaha."

"Hello, your drinks are here."

The waitress brought over two glasses of wine, handing one to Miura Akihiko.

When he handed the other cup to Tsukino Gen, his hand trembled slightly.

"Bang."

The drinks were spilled all over the table, and a lot of the liquid spilled onto Tsukino Gen's black T-shirt, instantly staining it with a lot of white liquid.

The waitress hurriedly apologized.

"I'm so sorry, I'm really so sorry!"

Miura Akihiko paused for a moment, "What happened?" "This..."

Gen Tsukino waved his hand dismissively.

"It's okay, I'll just go to the restroom to take care of it."

The waitress kept bowing and apologizing.

"I'm so sorry, I can cover your loss."

"no need."

Gen Tsukino walked towards the restroom.

I simply washed my black T-shirt with water, but obviously, ordinary water alone couldn't remove the stains.

What bothered him, however, was the actions of the waitress from before.

Did it fall over accidentally?

Looking at myself in the mirror, my face and expression remained unchanged, as if I had become accustomed to not making many expressions and not easily revealing my emotions.

However, both Kazama Sakura and Miura Akihiko have said that their seemingly indifferent attitude makes people subconsciously feel that they are somewhat heavy-hearted.

He didn't do it intentionally; upon closer reflection, the reason was probably that he felt life in this world wasn't quite real.

So I subconsciously suppressed many of my emotions and made myself more like a low-key, marginalized figure.

However, because of her outstanding appearance, she is always in the sight of many people.

He chuckled self-deprecatingly. When did he start being so sentimental?

I turned around and walked out of the restroom.

Once you leave the bright lights of the restroom, the outside world becomes dark.

The relaxed music and the mixed scent of sandalwood in the restaurant were trying to stimulate Tsukino Gen's senses.

But in the end, it couldn't compare to the fleeting glance he gave me as he turned and walked into the corridor.

She was wearing a black dress.

No coat.

Her beautiful and upright shoulders were revealed.

Her long, thick, and smooth hair was draped loosely, and the center-parted hairstyle perfectly matched her aloof and ethereal face.

She stood at the edge of the wall, just staring at herself.

He was also holding a black T-shirt in his hand.

Tsukino Gen stopped and looked at the girl who had appeared there at some point.

She took the initiative to speak.

"This is my store. I'm sorry for the loss caused to you by our staff. Your purchases will be waived, and your clothes will be replaced."

As she spoke, she tossed the black T-shirt in her hand to Tsukino Gen.

The action was like casually tossing away an insignificant piece of trash.

However, Tsukino Gen immediately noticed the obvious logo on it.

He smiled slightly and met the expressionless eyes of the other person.

"Does your store always use Balenciaga to compensate customers?"

"It's rare that you recognize it."

She responded coldly.

Gen Tsukino nodded. "I can take care of this stain myself when we get back. Have you been drinking?"

There was a distinct smell of alcohol on his breath when he spoke.

Gen Tsukino, whose senses are far superior to those of ordinary people, could clearly smell that the scent was coming from the girl opposite him.

In the dimly lit corridor, not much light fell on her face. But Tsukino Gen could clearly see that her cheeks were slightly flushed.

Like the flushed face after drinking wine.

Asagiri Rin frowned. "How you deal with the stains is none of my business, and whether I drink alcohol or not is none of your business."

Gen Tsukino smiled, shook his head, and walked over.

Her gaze seemed to be on the other person's face, but she could hear every single step he took.

until.

"boom."

It was an almost imperceptible sound.

She leaned against the wall.

Forced to look up at the handsome young man who had already approached her, making the distance between them dangerous.

Those familiar, beautiful eyes, which seem unchanged no matter how many years have passed, are now fixed on me.

It possesses an unfathomable depth, and also a playful irony that annoys me.

"Here you go. You didn't owe me anything, and I don't owe you anything either."

As he spoke, he placed the T-shirt in her hand.

He turned and walked towards the end of the corridor.

"Tsukino Gen".

She called out the boy's name from behind.

Gen Tsukino stopped and turned to look at her.

The smile was unhindered, as if they were completely unrelated.

"Anything else?"

She stepped forward.

He walked up to Gen Tsukino and extended his hand.

He grabbed the boy by the collar.

Gen Tsukino frowned.

"Tear!"

His collar ripped open.

A noticeable cut appeared, revealing the well-defined pectoral muscles below his collarbone.

Gen Tsukino looked at her.

She raised her head as if in defiance, her eyes sharp as firearms.

"The stains can be washed, so why would you need to mend them?"

Then, she stuffed the clothes back into Tsukino Gen's hands.

"If you think my behavior is to please you, to pester you, and to make you feel smug and to satisfy your vanity, then you are sorely disappointed. I'm sorry, but I'm only good at hurting others."

……

(End of this chapter)