I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 233 Youth is a Battlefield
"Slow down a little bit."

"It's okay. Hey!"

"I told you to take it slow, is there really a need to rush?"

In the morning light.

It was a young girl using crutches, struggling to drag herself along.

The boy patiently supported and looked after her.

Kiyono Mizuki's recent treatment has been quite effective; she can move her legs for longer periods of time and has also regained some strength.

So recently, Kiyono Mizuki has been trying to stand up by herself with more effort, attempting to break free from her dependence on the wheelchair.

Although Tsukino Gen kept telling her that these things couldn't be rushed, and that she would naturally be able to stand up in time, without having to exert so much effort as she was now.

And Kiyono Mizuki's answer has always been the same.

"You don't understand this feeling. I don't want to be in such a hurry either, but as long as there's even the slightest hope of getting back up, I want to seize it and try. If I don't try, I'll be thinking about these things all day and won't be able to do anything else."

Indeed, this is a feeling that teenagers cannot truly understand.

All I can do is accompany this girl through this ordeal every morning.

However, thanks to this incident, at least Kiyono Mizuki's schedule has been very regular lately. She goes to bed early and gets up early, and basically doesn't have time to stay up late anymore.

"Okay, you can try it while I'm around. Be careful when I'm not here. Otherwise, you might have been lying on the floor all day by the time I get home."

The young girl, her forehead beaded with sweat, gave Tsukino Gen a reproachful look.

"It's not that exaggerated. I'm not that stupid. By the way, aren't you going out? Today is the sports festival, right? You should still have events to perform."

The boy smiled and looked at the other person, "You've seen the video that Ayaka Miura sent you?"

Kiyono Mizuki blushed, somewhat embarrassed to admit it.

But how to put it? She couldn't help but pay attention. Because of her physical condition, she was destined to miss out on many things she could have experienced with this boy.

Therefore, they want to go to great lengths to understand even the smallest behaviors and activities.

She even asked a friend to film a video of her. Damn, doesn't that sound a bit like a pervert?

There's nothing we can do about that now!

"So what if I saw it? Is it wrong to see it?"

"I didn't say that, why are you getting so worked up?"

"Why are you in such a hurry? Humph, aren't you just trying to mock me?"

Kiyono became arrogant.

But she doesn't have any off-putting qualities at all. How to put it? Even if she's spoiled, she's much more likable than the initial aloofness she displayed. Even when she says something unreasonable, it's still the most gentle kind of thing.

"I don't get paid to mock you."

"But it can satisfy your perverse tastes."

Kiyono Mizuki hummed softly, and the next moment, as she took a step, she forgot the fact that she was ultimately not very strong.

He stumbled, about to become the epitome of arrogance, when Tsukino Gen pulled him into his arms.

Feeling the soft, fragrant embrace in her arms, the girl opened her eyes, belatedly blushing as she avoided the other's somewhat aggressive gaze.

Golden sunlight bathed her fair face, and her long, curled eyelashes seemed like exquisite packaging to adorn a delicious fruit.

She is very attractive.

Even in my current physical condition.

His eyes lowered. "I do have a morbid sense of humor about you, but I hope it's not in a sarcastic way."

What method is that?

Such a problem seems to be on the verge of being exposed, but it seems to have the potential to lead to unimaginable consequences.

No.

Imagine.

He had even fantasized about it many times in secret, but the boy had an inexplicable insistence on waiting until his legs recovered.

Kiyono Mizuki actually understood as well.

He didn't want to be disappointed, and he never guaranteed that his legs would definitely get better. But he didn't know that what he had been holding back was never the reward for this.

And it's something I've already willingly given up.

However, if he insisted on thinking that way, Kiyono Mizuki could restrain herself. But at this moment, she really wanted to kiss his thin but beautifully shaped lips.

As their gazes gradually focused, sunlight streamed through the window, and the light refracted at the point where their eyes met created a bridge without a rainbow.

She didn't choose to confront the blinding light and closed her eyes.

Instead, use both hands to wrap around the other person's neck and then lean in.

Like a gentle stream, or like a story told over and over.

Meticulousness, thoughtfulness, and gentleness flow through her.

A soft, rustling sound; outside, the sound of the early autumn wind.

No hickeys will be left on his lips, but his gentle gaze will linger in his eyes.

She said, "I can't watch your game, and I can't hear your cheers from home. This is my encouragement. Keep going!"

The boy gently ruffled her hair and nodded.

"Be careful at home, I'm going to school now."

"Ah."

Even after the morning light faded, the playground remained packed with people. It probably wasn't just Tsukino Gen's imagination.

Are there even more people today?

Looking at Kazama Sakura beside her, there was a lot of noise everywhere. If you didn't know better, you would think you had come to the city center of Shōri.

It's hard to imagine that a private high school can accommodate so many people.

Sakura Kazama laughed and said, "You don't know yet, do you? Apparently, quite a few people were live-streaming the match yesterday, and they all said the atmosphere was fantastic. So it's probably attracted even more people to watch today."

"It's very stressful, it's like a professional competition."

"By the way, didn't you have a basketball game this morning? Aren't you going to the gym now?"

The girl reminded the other person.

It seemed she was more familiar with the boy's schedule than he was. Tsukino Gen checked the time. "Hmm, it's almost time. The basketball game is in the stadium; they probably can't fit that many people in, right?"

Zhao Ri Private High School has many facilities, including venues for competitions such as kendo, basketball, and table tennis. These facilities are located in different venues, and their sizes vary depending on the priority of their needs.

Baseball and soccer fields are naturally the largest, while basketball courts are the largest indoor stadiums.

However, compared to the massive crowds outside, it doesn't seem so easy to accommodate everyone. Let's hope this sports festival doesn't turn into a stampede or other safety issue.

Sakura Kazama smiled and said, "The school has considered this. Those allowed into the venue are mainly students and people specifically invited by the school. Others who come out of curiosity won't be able to get in if the venue is full. So don't worry, I'll still be able to get in and cheer you on~"

Gen Tsukino nodded. "That's good. Without you, I don't know how we could have won the match."

"What are you talking about? Am I that important?"

"Of course, you are my lucky charm."

And no one says there's only one Lady Luck.

With so many digits in the Double Color Ball lottery, how could one lucky goddess be enough?

"You smooth talker~ Okay, you go over there now, I need to go prepare things for the support event too."

"it is good."

The two said goodbye at the entrance of the stadium.

Watching the boy enter the stadium, Kazama Sakura turned around and prepared to go to the cheering squad on the White Team's side.

Unexpectedly, when I turned around, I saw two figures coming towards me.

"Asagiri-kun. Hmm? Auntie is here too."

Two faces that are somewhat similar, yet they seem to have very different temperaments.

A face that appeared somewhat aloof intertwined with an overly kind and gentle countenance; this wasn't the first time she had met Asagiri Rin's mother.

I saw this graceful and mature woman on the podium yesterday.

Before Asagiri Rin could speak, the mature woman had already walked up to the girl and said with a smile.

"You must be Sakura?"

"Hello, Auntie, I'm Kazama Sakura."

Sakura Kazama greeted him politely and obediently.

Asagiri Jun, on the other hand, took the girl's hands in a very friendly and natural manner.

"I know you. Thank you for taking care of Xiaolin all this time. She always talks about you and I've been wanting to meet you for a long time."

I always hear her talking about herself?
Kazama Sakura glanced at Asagiri Rin with a strange expression. Had she forgotten that Rin had given her the middle finger before?

Is he talking about himself, or criticizing himself?
Asagiri Rin's expression was also a bit strange; she raised an eyebrow, but it was unclear what she meant.

Even though it was just politeness, Kazama Sakura answered quite courteously.

"I'm not that important, and Asagiri-san isn't someone who needs taking care of much. In fact, I often bother her."

Jun Asagiri shook his head.

"It's alright. Since we're friends, it's normal to need each other. By the way, do you have time? Want to watch the game together today?"

"Want to watch the game together?"

What a sudden suggestion!

Wouldn't that seem a little awkward?
But Jun Asagiri seemed very enthusiastic, "Hmm, aren't you, Rin, and Tsukino-kun in the same club? It's normal to watch his matches and cheer him on together, right?"

"That's just, of course."

"That's good. There are many things I don't understand. Sigh, Xiaolin doesn't like to talk much either. Watching the game with her is so boring. It would be great if there was a sensible girl like you explaining things to me."

"Uh, in that case, let's go together, I'm fine."

Since things have been said to this extent, even if the other party is just pretending, it seems impossible to refuse.

Actually, Kazama Sakura was a little worried.

This mature woman might have seen through the relationship between them, and might suddenly offer a condition at some point to make him "back down." But even if such a possibility exists, it seems that he has no reason to run away.

If we don't face it now, we'll leave it to an even more difficult future.

But can you really be sure that your future self will be strong enough to face all difficulties?

Or should we leave it to the more youthful and fearless present?

The answer seems to be coming soon.

They entered slowly, and by the time they got in, the seats were almost full. However, as a distinguished guest and one of the school board members, Asagiri Jun naturally enjoyed many privileges.

For example, it can easily free up space in the position closest to the edge of the field.

They were only slightly further from the field than the substitutes next to them.

Soon, the voices of the students who were in charge of commentary could be heard from the bustling stadium.

"Alright, the match is about to begin. The upcoming match is between the White Team and the Red Team! Let's welcome the players onto the field!"

Amidst the cheers and jeers of the audience and the passionate commentary.

A figure appeared in the players' tunnel.

The scoreboard is bright red with 00:00.

Wearing a jersey, Akihiko Miura, a substitute player, put his arm around the boy's shoulder.

"There's a football final this afternoon, should we cut back a bit?"

The handsome young man's smile remained clear, but what he said was...

"Either do it at all, or do it to the best of your ability."

At the same time, it makes people clearly realize that he is the best embodiment of youthful spirit.

Bathed in the light of the stadium, they walked up the steps one after another, heads held high and chests out.

Gradually letting go, I became one of those who only saw his back.

There was undisguised envy in Akihiko Miura's eyes.

Where exactly is the battlefield of one's youth?
When will our own hero finally make their debut?

Life is so unfair; it always makes people say they're ready to give up, yet they can't help but resist to the very end.

……

(End of this chapter)