I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 257 Perhaps, I can also feel sorry for you.

The specially hired chef is working diligently in the kitchen, so this time the young man doesn't need to cook himself.

He was neither in an interrogation room nor in an underground cell.

In Asagiri Rin's room.

It wasn't quite what I expected; it wasn't just a simple, cool color scheme. Even the bedding was pink, seemingly a manifestation of her entire girlish heart.

When Tsukino Gen saw this, the young lady was a little embarrassed.

"Stop staring at me with your lewd eyes. Haven't you ever seen a girl's room before?"

"Of course, I'm not a womanizer, how could I have seen it before?"

A complete lie.

I've been to Chinatsu Morita's house, and Yuki Sakuraba's house too. As for Mizuki Kiyono, it was practically like going back to my own home.

However, sincerity is not necessary in situations like this.

"The devil believes you."

Asagiri Rin's room was huge, practically a luxury suite in a hotel.

It has everything you need, except for the kitchen, of course.

The bathroom and toilet are even separate facilities, and the dedicated walk-in closet has separate areas for storing jewelry, bags, and shoes.

Gen Tsukino would think, "Summarizing is certainly good, but when it comes to choosing an outfit, walking back and forth like that must have made me sweat a lot."

No wonder this girl doesn't seem to have any pressure about her figure, no matter how much she eats. Unlike Kazama Sakura, who has such a great figure but still suffers from body image anxiety.

The areas for studying or using computers are clearly planned out; this is hardly a bedroom.
This is basically a single-person apartment inside a huge mansion.

What a bunch of capitalist bastards!

"Wow, this is huge! Now I believe the saying that you can hail a taxi at a rich person's house."

Asagiri Rin rolled her eyes at the boy. "It's not that exaggerated. Stop wandering around and sit down."

Seemingly feeling a little uncomfortable watching the boy wandering around his room, she forced him to sit down on the small sofa in her room.

That's right, the bedroom not only has a bed, but also a sofa.

It doesn't feel crowded at all.

Gen Tsukino didn't look around much. Although he was indeed very curious about what secrets the other person's room might hold, he couldn't be a pervert and only be satisfied after finding something.

Sitting next to the girl, the familiar scent wafted around him. It seemed to give him room to stir his desires again, but things were different in her home. Tsukino Gen couldn't just ignore everything; the massage last time was purely accidental.

"Are you shy about bringing me in?"

Gen Tsukino asked with a smile.

The girl glared at Tsukino Gen with annoyance.

"You should be grateful that I brought you in; there's no need for this useless nonsense."

"Thank God, Amen."

He made a prayer gesture.

The girl frowned. "You still believe in this?"

"I have no faith."

"ill."

Doesn't that mean that the so-called gratitude has no persuasive power at all?

"I'm too lazy to argue with you about this. Aren't you afraid of what you said to my mom just now?"

The girl asked, frowning.

Tsukino Gen looked at her strangely, "Why are you afraid? Just tell the truth."

"Sometimes you don't need to tell the truth. Don't be fooled by her smiling at you; you have no idea what she's thinking. Even if she praises you to your face, it doesn't necessarily mean she really approves of you."

She seemed to be worried about something.

Gen Tsukino, however, is very optimistic.

"I don't think it's a big deal. Lying is not a good choice at this time, and I don't want to lie about this kind of thing."

The girl stared straight at him. "When did you become so kind?"

Gen shrugged. "I've always had a good conscience towards you, and if you try to solve everything by lying, you won't actually solve anything. Sometimes, telling the truth, even if it comes at a price, at least makes you feel better."

"As expected, he's still feeling guilty."

Asagiri Rin looked on with disdain.

Gen Tsukino smiled. "Of course I feel a little guilty, but how should I put it, it's still much better than regret."

The girl scoffed, "What you promise is your business, but I haven't promised to grant your wish. I make no guarantees about it."

Tsukino Gen is not in a hurry either.

Smiling at the other person, she said, "It's okay, you just need to sit here and watch. Just promise me one thing."

"what?"

"I'm not going anywhere else."

This certainly doesn't mean leaving the room.

It's not about where he is, but about where he is.

Asagiri Rin understood this meaning, which is why her eyes held a deeper significance.

Looking at the smile on his face, she murmured softly, "You're afraid I'll leave too?"

Gen Tsukino leaned back on the sofa, comfortably gazing at the ceiling.

While their expression may appear relaxed, their true feelings often don't match. People accustomed to pretending always wear a mask, subconsciously suppressing even the happiest moments. This ensures they don't betray their true feelings when angry or sad.

What's wrong with honestly expressing your emotions?

It's just self-deception.

What are the benefits of releasing emotions?
Do you crave the other person's sympathy?

So I didn't know what to do, so I just got used to it.

“I can say what I hope for, but I can't ask you to do what I hope for. From every perspective, you don't have any dependence on me, so you will feel uneasy. It's just that I'm not used to saying it out loud.”

Legs under the sofa.

He gently kicked his calf.

Tsukino Gen looked over; the other person's little gestures were always so cute, and combined with her cool expression, they always created a striking contrast.

"Why can't you tell me?" She lowered her head slightly, her hair falling down.

Gen Tsukino felt a strange itch in his ear and reached out to touch it.

"That's just how men are, I guess. No matter what, male chauvinism is really awkward, but they always tend to bury their emotions. Because they've never had a chance to be listened to since childhood, they gradually give up the desire to express themselves."

This is not just about the plight of orphans.

This is also the fate of most Southeast Asian boys.

From a young age, boys are disciplined and restricted; they are expected to be strong and withstand everything. So when you say you're in pain or sad, people will just laugh at you for being dramatic.

Sensitive and insecure boys are especially disliked.

But is being insecure and sensitive inherently wrong? Not at all; it's just that the world and society have been harsh on us.

The so-called "for your own good" doesn't necessarily mean it's truly for your own good.

Asagiri Rin turned her head away, refusing to look at Tsukino Gen, but she was clearly speaking.

“You always probe my emotions, as if you can see right through me. But you hide yourself away, which is very unfair.”

So what do you want me to do?

Gen Tsukino asked with a smile.

She finally looked at herself.

His eyes were bright and clear, no longer the unfathomable, deep black.

"Don't hide yourself away, and don't only tell those feelings to Kazama Sakura. You can tell me too."

"is it?"

It seemed to be the first time the young lady had made such a request, which seemed somewhat unbelievable.

Asagiri Rin's cheeks were also a little hot, but for some reason, she chose to persevere this time.

Resisting one's instinctive emotions.

“Of course it’s true. If you want me to stay here waiting for you until you fulfill your promise, then you should give me something more real. Not just sweet talk.”

Gen Tsukino's smile grew even brighter.

But his eyes only showed more helplessness.

"Everyone tells their partner that they are pursuing your authenticity and will never find fault with you. But the reality is often difficult to achieve. The more flaws you see, the more instinctive you will feel dislike. That's not something emotions can resist; instead, it makes you doubtful. I can believe that you are genuinely trying to know right now, but often, things in the future are beyond your control."

"So what? I hate it, I despise it, so you just make me like it again. Is that so hard? I'm Asagiri Rin, I'm meant to be difficult, isn't that reasonable?"

Asagiri Rin's temper flared up as well.

It's not that I felt Tsukino Gen was being overly sentimental at that moment, and I didn't feel any aversion towards him.

Instead, she wanted to tell him that she didn't need his attentive care and tolerance. She didn't need to be like a child living in the apocalypse, only telling himself fairy tales from the past while hiding the reality of the present and their true despair and pain.

To put it simply...

That is, she doesn't want him to just feel sorry for her all the time.

She also wanted to feel sorry for him occasionally.

See his vulnerability, and then hug him.

Gen Tsukino looked at her face, which had turned bright red, and then laughed.

"Okay, I understand. Change may not happen so easily, but I will try my best to do so."

Looking at his raised face.

The girl couldn't help but reach out and gently pinch Tsukino Gen's earlobe.

Then he brought his face close, and their foreheads seemed to touch.

The boy did not cross any lines at this moment, but quietly enjoyed the tenderness that belonged only to her.

She wasn't like Sakura Kazama, gentle and mild-mannered.

She is somewhat assertive.

That's why the desire to feel sorry for oneself becomes even more pronounced.

That's why my heart felt so clearly enveloped this time.

"Sharing should be for the sake of sharing itself. I can tell whether my emotions are ugly or not. But I really hate people who always hide themselves."

she said softly.

The smile never left the boy's lips.

He nodded gently and rubbed his forehead against hers.

"I will try my best to be someone you don't hate so much."

"Remember what you said."

"Yeah, remember."

Their gazes shifted downwards, the room's light stubbornly shining between their eyes, reflecting off them with difficulty.

The luster is overflowing.

Emotions are spreading.

Like vines that suddenly sprout, they spread wildly, grabbing at everything in their vicinity.

This time, it seems no one is resisting taking another step closer.

Are they diamonds or grains of sand?