I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 256 Deep love will last forever
Longing and love are intertwined and intertwined at the fingertips.

The action that was originally resisted has unknowingly changed its meaning.

What started as pushing against the boy's chest turned into placing their hands together under this tender yet slightly aggressive kiss.

It seems like she's trying to stop him from hugging her, but it looks more like she wants to hold him in her hands.

Under the setting sun of an autumn day.

The light illuminated the two figures.

The shadows cast by the intertwined tables seemed to belong to a corner that no one paid attention to.

Only when their lips parted could the light of the setting sun finally survive.

Her eyelashes fluttered slightly as the girl opened her eyes. Not yet completely free from the tender, ambiguous atmosphere, her gaze was utterly sincere. That gentle, slightly misty look was like the greatest surprise after opening a bottomless box.

But soon, after seeing the smile on Tsukino Gen's face, it gradually turned into shyness, and then into a slight annoyance.

"Are you very proud of yourself?"

She couldn't help but retort.

It was as if he couldn't stand seeing this boy so smug in front of him, especially in the current situation, as if he could manipulate him at will. This was not something that should happen to him.

But that's exactly what happened.

And it seems to be an irreversible trend. It's not exactly frustrating, just annoying!

Gen Tsukino shook his head, but still held her hand.

"What's there to be proud of? I'd rather say I feel very satisfied."

Asagiri Rin turned her head to look at the light outside the window, where a faint orange-red hue was already beginning to appear, as if setting the tone for the arrival of night.

"You should feel proud to have kissed me."

Then he uttered those words about the left and right hemispheres fighting each other.

Gen Tsukino couldn't help but laugh and said, "Whether I'm proud or not, you still have to say it. What can I do?"

"That's just the kind of person I am; I have to accept it even if I'm not satisfied."

Since the other person refused to let go, I gently pinched their palm with my fingernails.

Use the sting to tell the other person your true feelings.

Sweet words can easily ensnare and captivate, but they are also as fleeting and illusory as a bubble. Only real pain can teach us what true sorrow and genuine emotion truly mean.

"I know, I will."

Gen Tsukino nodded.

The girl gave a soft hum, even her nasal tone sounded charming and cute.

However, we still have to let go. It seems impossible to hold on tightly for a lifetime, just like even the most loving couples can't be entangled every minute and second for a lifetime.

The girl picked up her schoolbag and stood up. The empty activity room didn't have much to offer anyway.

Its original purpose was merely to silence some teachers; its greatest significance was simply to provide itself with a space where it could move freely without being spied on. But now, it seems that the existence of this boy has added something new to it.

It's something that's hard to explain.

So she was quite satisfied with the existence of this classroom.

Of course, someone else was even more satisfied.

She looked at the boy who was still sitting in his seat.

"What are you still sitting there for?"

Gen Tsukino nodded and stood up. "I'll take you home."

"Come to my house for dinner."

She said so.

Gen Tsukino was taken aback, clearly not expecting this. "So sudden?"

"It's not like you haven't been there before."

"I have been there."

"My mom said you worked hard at the last sports festival and she wants to treat you to a meal."

It sounds like a rather lame reason, because she probably knows what she'd prefer to reward herself with rather than this.

"Really? Actually, I'm not that hungry."

"Oh, if you don't want to go, that's fine too."

She turned around and left.

But somehow, the boy was behind her one moment and in front of her the next. It was like a ghost.

"It didn't say you can't eat if you're not hungry. Can't you be a little less temperamental?"

The girl stared at the boy with wide eyes.

"I've always had this temper, and I might stay this way in the future. The sooner you see it clearly, the less suffering you might have in the future."

"You mean you're also part of the vortex?"

"nerve."

She disliked such pretentious language, and besides, such words were only for written use; saying them aloud was too embarrassing. It was as shameful as the protagonist of those melodramatic anime reciting lines so openly.

Gen Tsukino laughed out loud.

"It's okay, even if you're a whirlpool, I'll easily fall into it."

"You might drown."

"That's good. At least there's something in your vortex, not nothing at all. There's still my corpse."

"."

Her eyes flickered slightly, and she said nothing more.

I went downstairs with Tsukino Gen.

Once in the familiar car, Morita Kaoru once again took on the responsibility of driving.

However, after seeing this young man leave her sister's house last time, the woman didn't give him a friendly look.

Gen Tsukino understood this quite well; after all, her older sister was like a mother to her in many ways. It was difficult for her to fully understand that emotions were a need, not some noble luxury or a sacred, inviolable belief.

But it's alright, at least it didn't escalate to the point of a major argument.

Perhaps it was because of something Chinatsu Morita said; she is indeed a woman with a strong sense of self-reliance and knows very well what she needs. It's just that her methods for pursuing her goals are a bit too extreme.

The car drove very smoothly without any bumps or jolting.

The route was familiar, so the fleeting street scenes were basically the kind I'd seen countless times before.

"Not many people asked you anything at school today?" "What did they ask me?"

Gen Tsukino asked casually.

Asagiri Rin looked at her phone. "It's about the time you confessed your feelings."

Gen Tsukino sighed, "There are too many, especially those two idiots, Suzuki and Miura. They've gone so far as to directly criticize me. I never imagined that boys would be even more brainless when it comes to gossip."

The girl smiled, a rare sight indeed.

"Of course you have to bear the consequences of your good deeds. Let's see if you dare to do such things again."

"Of course I dare! Why wouldn't I dare? This kind of thing that seems immoral and shameful is right in my comfort zone. I can't help it. How would people know I'm Tsukino Gen if I don't do something different?"

"Are you quite satisfied with this?"

"Of course, no matter how old I get in the future, when I look back on this day, I will admire my courage and be glad that I did it."

This is the truth.

If you don't do some things, things may go smoothly, but you'll still have regrets.

Doing this might draw criticism and even become a laughingstock for some. But it doesn't matter; this is my true feeling, and by announcing it to the world, there's no turning back.

He was indeed pleased that his rational self had such a crazy moment.

A tranquil life is like stagnant water, allowing one to enjoy it comfortably while losing passion. Occasional bursts of madness are meant to ignite that passion.

Looking at the boy's well-behaved and handsome profile.

It's hard to imagine that such words would ever come out of his mouth.

Asagiri Rin began to wonder if she really understood him enough to know what kind of person he was.
When I first met this boy at the orphanage, I only realized that he seemed special.

They don't seem like the neighbors I don't like.

It doesn't seem like a child deliberately trying to curry favor with them.

She didn't understand what qualities attracted her at the time, but perhaps she's starting to realize it now.

It's probably because this boy has his own world, unlike others who are lost and confused.

His unwavering commitment to his own path and the life he desires, never being swayed by anything else, is what makes him so captivating.

He can give people a sense of security and stability, making them want to treat him as a safe haven.

It can also be like confessing your feelings to two people at the same time, which will catch you completely off guard.

It can even lessen one's jealousy.

The reason why a girl who used to never allow other people's names to be mentioned together might be that she would "swallow her anger" about this.

Finally arrived at the destination.

Tsukino Gen got out of the car.

Entering through the still magnificent entrance, Tsukino Gen was surprised to find that a mature and beautiful woman was already waiting in the front hall, giving him a feeling of being flattered.

The boy greeted him.

"Hello auntie."

"Still calling her 'Auntie'?"

Asagiri Jun looked at the boy with a half-smile.

Tsukino Gen blinked. "Or... shall I call you 'older sister'?"

"Hahahahaha."

The woman couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Asagiri Rin gave the boy a playful slap on the arm. Good grief, there's a limit to flattery. You call me "Mom" or "Sister," so what do you think you are?

The generational hierarchy isn't that messed up.

Asagiri Jun walked over with a smile, "Did you forget what you said when you received the award?"

Gen Tsukino scratched his head sheepishly, just like a normal high school student.

"Oh, I haven't forgotten. I'm just worried that your mother might be upset about it."

"Angry? Oh? Why should I be angry?"

Asagiri Jun asked with a smile.

Gen Tsukino felt somewhat helpless, but he knew that the other party was asking the question on purpose, and that was the only answer he could give.

"After all, it wasn't just about confessing to Asagiri-kun."

Jun Asagiri smiled and said, "I thought you would argue about this. So, have you thought about how you're going to explain this to me? I am Rin's only mother."

Gen Tsukino replied helplessly, "All I can say is that I'm sincere."

"Is it a case of 'what's the use of trying'?"

She didn't seem to put any pressure on her; she just spoke gently.

But Tsukino Gen could clearly see the gleam in her eyes, a gaze as deep as an abyss.

She might not do anything in front of Asagiri Rin, but what about after tonight?
Gen Tsukino shook his head. "No, I intend to dedicate my life to this."

Jun Asagiri stared at the boy for a moment, then looked away.

She spoke to herself.

"I've always felt that humans are not inherently creatures of lasting affection, and so-called undying love goes against human nature. I really like a line from The Selfish Gene."

“When making an oath, you shouldn’t say things like ‘I will never leave you, whether in poverty or wealth.’ Instead, place your hands on the selfish genes and evolutionary psychology and swear: ‘I will go against my nature and love you forever.’”

After saying that, she looked back at the young couple in front of her.

"But following your nature is also an extremely courageous thing. I understand what you mean, but how can I trust that you can do it?"

Gen Tsukino raised his head to answer.

"Either succeed or you'll regret it for the rest of your life. I think the latter is probably more painful than self-destruction. So I don't need any motivation or external force; I will just give it my all."

Rin Asagiri had no idea what her mother was thinking at that moment.

She just knows.

The setting sun cast its light on his black hair and his profile.

His words, like his expression at that moment, were clear and powerful.

Firm as a rock, unyielding.

……

(End of this chapter)