I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 265 Of course I'll cling to you even if it kills me

"My taste?"

The autumn sunset stubbornly pierced through the gaps in the leaves and fell on the girl's dark hair.

It's as if the babbling brook in anime always needs some sparkling special effects to make it appear clearer.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, like beautiful cherry blossoms in full bloom, and there was a look of disbelief in her eyes.

Such a look in her eyes means that she really took the other person's words seriously. This seems to be the opposite of disbelief, but it is indeed the girl's current feeling.

Tsukino Gen smiled at her, "Do you believe it?"

She hesitated for a moment, "Reasonably, I shouldn't believe it, right? After all, there are so many desserts, some salty and some sweet. You'd get tired of trying so many, wouldn't you? Besides, I wasn't the only one who touched that chocolate. I touched other desserts too."

Gen Tsukino smiled and said, "Indeed, many of them have your own flavor, so I could only choose the strongest one, which is the one you come into contact with the most often, and even the strawberry filling inside has it."

What might have been a joke, a statement that seemed both true and false, now seems to be getting more and more real?
Considering the many amazing qualities of this young man.

Kazama Sakura had to come up with an answer that gave her goosebumps all over, and then a sweet feeling welled up from the bottom of her heart that almost overwhelmed her entire chest.

"Are you really able to tell the difference?"

Tsukino Gen walked slightly ahead and replied with a smile, "I don't know if others can do it, but I think I can. I wasn't sure before, but this time it's proven."

"Well."

"boom!"

She caught up with him in small, quick steps, and then, under the gaze of the setting sun, hugged the boy from behind.

The tall girl dribbling the ball and charging at people has a model-like figure, so the action is not difficult for her. The only slightly awkward thing is that the coffee cup set in her hand is now slapped on Tsukino Gen's chest.

A weaker greyhound might have lost half its life here.

If this person is Tsukino Gen, then it's alright.

"You are so awesome~"

The girl's slightly clingy voice, tinged with a coquettish tone, sprayed onto the back of the boy's hand.

Tsukino Gen couldn't help but laugh, "Still at school, and now you're not shy anymore?"

Kazama Sakura shook her head, but she was probably just rubbing her face against the other person's back, greedily absorbing the boy's aura.

Just as he could taste her own flavor, she also hoped to feel his presence, no matter where they were.

Whether at school, in a subway station, or amidst a sea of ​​people.

"I don't care. I just want to hug you."

"Okay."

Gen Tsukino comforted her, and the girl who had been hugging him tightly for a while finally let go.

She walked over to Tsukino Gen, holding her bag in one hand and linking her arm with the other.

"Is it okay to leave school like this?"

That seems a bit too bold.

After all, although the school does not have explicit regulations to prevent students from dating, it still needs to pay attention to the impact.

Schools with such strong teaching staff don't exist to fulfill the romantic fantasies of these young people.

"I don't mind if you want to."

What if the teacher sees it?

"Quickly cover your face, then I'll take you and run."

"Ha ha ha ha."

They laughed so hard they were doubled over.

But that's exactly what they did, and they watched as many people left the school.

Even the security guards at the school gate were taken aback. Were there really students so brazen?

As for how many rumors will circulate on the school forum about me and this girl tonight, I can't care anymore.

After all, it's no longer just a rumor.

This is the fact that is out in the open.

They walked towards the ever-receding horizon, bathed in the autumn breeze, as the sun set.

The time leading up to the autumn outing at the end of the month has been surprisingly peaceful, without any surprises or troubles.

It seems that life has returned to its most primitive form.

Moving forward through boring days, filling those huge voids of boredom with the simplest joys, making you feel that such days are not so unbearable and lonely.

There was some hope, but nothing to be overjoyed about.

There's a sense of loss, yet you can't quite put your finger on what you're hoping for or yearning for.

The last weekend before the autumn outing.

In the crisp morning air, after the rain of the previous night, countless glistening dewdrops still clung to the tips of the already yellowing leaves.

I don't know whether the dew will fall first or the yellow leaves will hit the ground first.

"Slow down, it feels like you're about to jump after only taking two steps?"

The room looked clean and tidy.

It lacks the damp, musty smell that often comes with this time of year; instead, it's fresh and delicate, like a forest filled with mint.

The girl, who used to wear a long dress in this weather, now avoids using a wheelchair whenever possible. Even when Tsukino Gen isn't home, she tries to use the railing to go up and down the stairs. Of course, this is very strenuous for her physical condition, and she almost couldn't get home halfway several times. Fortunately, the apartment building is inhabited by kind-hearted elderly people.

If they see a girl alone, they will help her get home.

Many people were curious and surprised by the girl's changes, but Kiyono Mizuki was very discreet and did not reveal all the reasons behind them, nor did she tell them that all these miracles were because of the boy named Tsukino Gen, who lived next door to her.

It's just that with proper care and treatment, we've finally seen some results.

Although it's hard to believe, it seems to be the only reason to believe it, a small but shining miracle in the lives of ordinary people.

As for Tsukino Gen, who fulfilled his promise and did this, he did indeed consume a lot of internal energy running between the two places.

However, this is certainly not a meaningless thing. After practicing and becoming proficient, it may be useful in the future, so Tsukino Gen is also enjoying it.

It was tiring, but it was also a kind of enjoyment.

Whether it's some kind of messianic personality is unclear, but seeing the surrounding environment and the people around you gradually improve makes you feel better. Isn't that a kind of selfishness?

Kiyono Mizuki was a little tired from walking, so she was helped by Tsukino Gen and sat on the boy's lap.

Now we seem to have gotten used to such contact, and we no longer blush easily.

The main reason is that the chair has recently been occupied by the boy, and there is nowhere else to go, so he is the nearest safe haven.

"So tired. It's not as exaggerated as you say! But I can walk for several tens of minutes now!"

It was as if a child who had just learned something was coming to show off their knowledge.

Sitting on his lap, her soft body swayed gently as the young man stroked her forehead. She had indeed relied entirely on herself for the past few tens of minutes, which was why her forehead was covered in sweat.

"That's pretty impressive. Don't rush it. I estimate you'll be able to live like a normal person by next year."

It's not just empty talk; based on this pace, it's pretty much going to happen.

Now she needs nutrition, she needs to adapt, and she needs Tsukino Gen to replace those 'rusty' parts more precisely.

She blinked and looked at the boy in front of her.

"It'll be a long time, and we won't make it in time for your autumn outing."

The boy chuckled, "Why? Even if you're better, you're not a student at our school anymore. How are you going to get there?"

"Is there such a thing as bringing family members?"

Her cheeks were slightly flushed.

But it's clear she has no shortage of courage to say such things.

As her overall health improved, her former pride and confidence seemed to return.

This confidence wasn't because she believed she could control the boy, but because she felt she had the right to appear in his life more openly and legitimately.

The most difficult hurdle to overcome is the first hurdle of conquering oneself.

"Oh? So you're considered my family now?"

Gen Tsukino blinked, appearing innocent and naive.

This made Kiyono Mizuki a little embarrassed and annoyed, and she pinched the boy's cheek.

"What? You've taken advantage of me and now you don't want to admit it, huh? Or do you think that once you've cured me, you're no longer related to me, and you can come and go like a savior?"

Gen Tsukino shook his head, his speech becoming somewhat muffled as his cheeks were pinched.

"What do you mean by 'taking advantage and then washing your hands of'? Aren't you still completely innocent?"

Kiyono Mizuki narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the boy dangerously.

"That's why I was wondering how you could hold back so long and not make a move. Were you just trying to find a way out for yourself?"

So she used both hands to pull at the boy's face.

Gen Tsukino was both annoyed and amused. He reached out and grabbed the other person's wrist, finally allowing himself to speak a little more clearly.

"You're a girl, young and beautiful, with countless futures waiting for you after your leg heals. Why do you act so worthless? Are you cheap?"

It wasn't that he was rejecting the girl's "kindness," but he was simply puzzled by her eagerness to go all out right now.

Is it in such a hurry?

It's not like you're not presentable.

But to his surprise, Kiyono Mizuki stared at him intently and said...

“I don’t care what value I am in other people’s eyes. Just think about how those people will view me. Before, when I lost both legs, I needed to be ‘discounted’ to some extent. If I could recover, I would probably become an expensive luxury item again. But so what? I don’t need a price to prove my worth, I don’t need others to praise me too highly, and I’m no longer afraid of others belittling me into the dust.”

Her hand tightened its grip, pressing firmly against the boy's cheek.

Their foreheads were almost touching.

"Tsukino Gen, you're the one who's seen me in every way. Even if you want to back down, I won't give you a way out. If I can heal this leg, it's not so I can run and chase my dreams, nor is it so I can go shopping and take walks like a normal person."

"What's that for?"

The space between them was so tight that it seemed there was no room to even breathe.

But surprisingly, this sense of confinement is enjoyable.

You could vaguely see the satisfied curve of her lips.

The wonderful expression before uttering the classic line.

"It's to catch up with every moment you might try to escape me, to hold tightly to your waist and belly, and to cling to you even in death."

……

(End of this chapter)