I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 244 Tooth for Tooth
We chose to go before noon when there would be fewer people.

The girl chose an omelet rice dish.

He looked a little worried before eating.

"It looks like it will make me gain ten pounds."

She held a spoon and spoke sorrowfully, but why did Tsukino Gen feel like she was drooling?

Tsukino Gen laughed and said, "How long has it been since you've had enough carbohydrates?"

"It's not that extreme, is it? I do eat sweets occasionally~"

She blinked.

"I don't believe you. Fine, I'm watching you today. You'd better finish your meal."

The girl's face immediately fell.

"No way? I was planning to only eat half of it."

"You'll realize your mistake when you faint from low blood sugar on the playground."

"No way!"

"Okay, eat up. I don't like girls who are so obsessed with their weight."

Kazama Sakura looked at the boy with a pitiful expression, "You've changed. You never used to be so demanding of me."

“Of course,” Tsukino Gen didn’t deny it. He was indeed not someone who liked to interfere in other people’s life choices, because if you want to change someone’s life, to some extent, you have to take responsibility for their life and some of their expectations. If you don’t have that ability or that awareness, interfering is like a condescending judgment. “However, I’m planning to interfere in some of your affairs now. If you don’t like it, you can tell me.”

"No way~ I really like it."

The girl answered immediately.

They immediately started eating.

The meal was indeed delicious; under Tsukino Gen's watchful gaze, he managed to finish it all.

Then, touching her lower abdomen, which wasn't actually that bulging, she thought, "What a sinful meal."

Tsukino Gen looked at the other person with amusement, "Alright, from now on, I'll take care of your weight. Don't worry about anything else."

"Is it really okay? Will I end up like those well-bred British Shorthairs, where the fatter I am, the more attentive my owner is to me?"

"You're not a cat."

"I know, I'm a dog, that's what you think of me anyway."

She blinked, seemingly quite proud of it.

However, Gen Tsukino shook his head and reiterated what he had said a long time ago.

"You're not a cat or a dog, you're Kazama Sakura, the one and only Kazama Sakura. Ask me a hundred times and I'll still give you the same answer."

Listening to his deep, gentle words.

The girl seemed somewhat dazed.

It's as if we've gone back to a long time ago, when their relationship wasn't nearly as inseparable as it is now.

They didn't seem to know each other's thoughts very well, nor were they very open with each other.

But at that time, I was already deeply in love with him, like a madman.

And he may have realized his feelings at that time.

But as always, from the beginning until now, he has regarded himself as an independent person, not as an appendage to any value. Even when his eyes were filled with admiration, he did not treat himself as a casual object.

She looked at the boy, her eyes seeming to flow like a mountain stream.

But carrying that surging emotion, this wasn't the boomerang of the past, but the paper airplane from her memories, which flew back into her hands.

"I'd like to take a nap, do you want to go rest for a bit?"

At this moment, there was no mockery from the boy; he simply nodded.

The hotel closest to the school, the room with the curtains drawn in quiet.

They didn't do anything embarrassing; the girl simply stayed quietly in the boy's arms, hugging his warm body, and looking at her phone.

Then she would occasionally share interesting news she came across with the boy.

Sometimes the two of them would fall silent, the only sound being their breathing.

Sometimes they'd laugh and hug each other, just like the most ordinary couple.

Then, the girl fell asleep in the comforting embrace.

Listening to the girl's breathing against his chest, Tsukino Gen also put down his phone.

The afternoon sunlight was even more tender than I had imagined.

It even made him want to sleep.

However, as the girl lay on his chest, sleeping peacefully without any worries, it seemed that just looking at her face, one could imagine how beautiful her dreams must be.

Tsukino Gen suddenly realized.

It seems that I do have things I need to pursue.

At the very least, we need to reassure girls like this.

It is often said that a person's responsibility is an attribute bestowed upon them by society, a shackle that binds them with countless values.

But that's not necessarily true. For example, at times like this, I really want to define myself and take on some kind of responsibility.

It ended at noon.

The afternoon when we returned to the playground.

The first people Tsukino Gen saw were not his basketball teammates, but a familiar mother and daughter.

Jun Asagiri was still smiling.

"Actually, I wasn't planning to come this afternoon. After all, I've seen enough of Tsukino-kun's matches, so I probably don't need any more. But the school insisted that I come to watch the closing ceremony. I hope Tsukino-kun won't find it troublesome?"

Gen Tsukino smiled and shook his head. "How could that be? I think the entire sports festival will shine even brighter because of your presence, Auntie. I hope you enjoy it."

"You still know how to talk. Alright, you guys chat for a while, I'm going to see some old friends."

"Auntie, walk slowly."

Jun Asagiri left gracefully, accompanied by Kaoru Morita.

Miss, please stay.

The sight of a young lady without vassals seemed somewhat novel, like a knight without armor or a princess without a sedan chair.

Gen Tsukino looked at her, the curve of his lips intriguing.

Asagiri Rin raised her dark eyes with some dissatisfaction.

"Why are you staring at me like that? It's disgusting."

Tsukino Gen smiled, lifted his foot, and stood lightly beside the girl, then tilted his head slightly and said.

"I think I saw Her Highness the Princess without any guards."

The girl, arms crossed, narrowed her eyes, which gleamed with a dangerous light.

"So you, a lowly commoner, have harbored evil thoughts toward a noble princess?"

"I didn't originally intend to, but don't you know that your dismissive tone might excite the criminals?"

"Hmph, a thug is a thug. It has nothing to do with how I talk to him. Since he's a thug, he's bound to commit crimes."

"Wow, are you really trying to kill me with your harsh words?"

Gen Tsukino turned his head dramatically, revealing an exaggerated expression.

Asagiri Rin snorted and rolled her eyes.

"If only you were that easy to kill."

"What? You really want to kill me?"

"If I had to spend a hundred days with you, I would want to kill you for ninety-nine of them."

She said it without any mercy.

But the boy's carefree smile appeared before her eyes. "It doesn't matter, as long as you love me to death even for one day."

“So narcissistic.”

Who would love him to death?
Only that idiot Kazama Sakura would be willing to do something like that.

I am Asagiri Rin.

It's a princess.

How could anyone be willing to die for a knight?

She slightly raised her leg and then gently kicked Tsukino Gen's shin.

"It's so hot standing here."

"Why don't you just go somewhere further away? Don't you still feel more comfortable around me?"

Gen Tsukino mercilessly exposed her hypocrisy.

Different people require different approaches; some people need to be given a way out, while others shouldn't be indulged too much.

The more it stings, the more pleasurable it feels.

Life is not just a giant arena, it's also the BDSM world.

"How narcissistic. I'm leaving."

However, there are some risks involved; girls who are more sensitive than you might think could just walk away.

Gen Tsukino grabbed her arm directly.

"Wait."

"What? Let go."

"It's a low voice," Asagiri Rin said.

Her eyes were full of resentment, and she was becoming more and more accustomed to releasing such emotions on the boy, ignoring the fact that she was still cold and aloof to others.

“I’m afraid you won’t even be able to find your way by yourself. Where do you want to go? I’ll take you there.”

Suddenly, she changed her demeanor again, and her voice became gentle.

Asagiri Rin just couldn't stand his act.

"If a person can't find their way, what do you take me for? An ant that ran away from home?"

An ant that wanders off alone will not be able to find its way home.

A princess without guards may not be able to return to her castle.

However, Tsukino Gen did not answer that question, nor did he reveal his true thoughts.

He simply said, "To the activity room, right?"

She glanced at him, then nodded. "I don't like watching this boring stuff."

"Then I'll take you there."

"If you want to send it to me, there's nothing I can do."

As the girl said this, she took the first step.

She exuded a confident elegance, as if she believed the boy would catch up.

Gen Tsukino didn't follow, because he always walked beside her and never followed behind her.

Asagiri Rin wasn't unaware of this, but who could stop him from having such thoughts? He was too lazy to even try.

On the road.

As the sunlight shone through the gaps in the leaves, he asked with a smile.

How have you been feeling these past few days?

The girl's hair seemed to carry an extremely high-class scent, a base of gold adorned with diamonds.

Even this school uniform looks extraordinary on her, as if it were a product from a high-end luxury brand.

Or perhaps an extremely personalized customization.

"I don't feel anything. I haven't watched any other matches besides yours."

"There must be quite a few projects, right? You haven't looked at any of them?"

"I did not see."

"You're quite loyal."

"Nonsense, do you think everyone is as fickle as you?"

Such words are a merciless counterattack.

Gen Tsukino's eyes also sparkled.

Why do you seem so resentful today? Have I been neglecting you?

"If you're any more narcissistic, do you think I need your care?"

The more he talked, the angrier he seemed to get, as if more and more dissatisfaction was about to burst forth.

how to say.

Feelings are a mysterious thing; they don't necessarily require a specific event to inspire them.

She also pondered and worried about when she would become someone who felt dissatisfied without his presence.

When did I become so in need of a blanket, an air conditioner, a glance, and his countless trivial and boring words?

People who are assimilated by habit are like those who are devoured by cancer cells.

But at the corner leading to the activity room building, her path was blocked.

She instinctively turned around angrily, only to be pinned against the wall at the corner.

Breathing closely, the intense heat enveloping me, surrounded by flames I couldn't touch.

She stared wide-eyed at the boy in her eyes.

"Is it fun? Go be with whoever you want, there's no need to waste your time and pretense with me. I may need some care, but you're not the only one who can do it."

Gen Tsukino looked into her eyes, blocked her path, and began to climb up her hair.

Then gently cup her cheeks.

"I apologize if I've neglected your feelings lately, but..."

His movements seemed imminent.

The shadow at the corner of the stairwell seemed to want to swallow them up.

But the next moment.

"Oops, excuse me, did I disturb you?"

At the entrance, there was that smiling face that seemed to know nothing.

But there seemed to be a kind of schadenfreude, as if they were reaping what they sowed.

The ambiguous atmosphere that had been ignited for a moment was extinguished. Asagi Rin pushed the boy in front of her away and walked towards the stairwell without looking back.

The boy withdrew his hands and looked at the girl who had suddenly appeared.

"Good afternoon, senior."

Karen Saionji smiled as she looked at Gen Tsukino.

Good afternoon. I apologize for disturbing you.

Gen Tsukino shook his head. "It seems you're not that apologetic."

Karen Saionji nodded. "Of course, after all, this is just me repaying her once, it's just tit for tat. But she seems angry, is that alright?"

The boy sighed, "It's okay, I'll make him feel better."

……

(End of this chapter)