I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 273 We Are All Growing Up
They each took a shower.

The setting sun burned on the evening sky, a different scene from the sunset at Zhaori.

Although they were all burning, there was more tranquility and gentleness, and less dazzling brilliance.

It also fits the completely different rhythms of the two places.

Zhaori is a place of rampant materialism, a place of hurried comings and goings, a place that cannot accommodate an ordinary person living a slow-paced life.

Within its ranks, it seems that only those who move quickly become outliers.

No wonder it's a place that many Japanese writers have praised in their works.

The bonfire party was nearby that evening, so Tsukino Gen didn't wear his school uniform. It was still early, so he casually walked out of his room.

She's wearing a relaxed white long T-shirt, a loose fit that reveals a bit of her collarbone. It's a classic neon-chic style, somewhat reminiscent of L's outfit in Death Note.

However, although Tsukino Gen's temperament is also somewhat lazy and languid, he is not as hunchbacked as L.

This outfit wasn't bought by Tsukino Gen himself; he doesn't deliberately try to be different or pursue any particular style, so he usually dresses very casually. It was naturally the young lady who picked out the style and specifically gave it to Tsukino Gen that morning.

Then she wore dark wide-leg jeans and flip-flops.

He walked through the courtyard as if he were a long-time resident, a member of the city, not some tourist from out of town.

"Tsukino?"

A voice called out to the boy.

Tsukino Gen looked over and saw a young woman walking out from another corridor.

Sakuraba Yuki was simply dressed in a plaid shirt jacket, with what appeared to be a close-fitting white short-sleeved T-shirt underneath, and her long hair was not tied up as usual.

Slightly damp, it spread out.

She seemed somewhat surprised to see the boy appear at this moment.

The setting sun cast a warm, orange glow on the young man's thick black hair, complementing his attire. He seemed like a warm and approachable person.

"Sakuraba-sensei."

He watched as Sakuraba Yuki walked up to him.

The other person gave a familiar smile.

Why are you all alone?

Gen Tsukino smiled and said, "It's still early before evening, so I thought I'd just go for a walk."

Sakuraba Yuki nodded, then teased, "But you shouldn't be alone, right? Kazama isn't here?"

She subtly mocked the boy's personal feelings again, not out of genuine sarcasm or dissatisfaction. In fact, Sakuraba Yuki genuinely felt that the boy had become more human because of these feelings.

Because of these girls and the people around him, he truly entered this society and this ordinary yet troublesome life.

He was a good person in the past, but he was distant and isolated from those around him. Even when he met this child in the orphanage, it took him a long time to become a friend he could confide in.

His defenses were thicker than anyone else's, and he never complained about anything in a pretentious way; he simply felt that his state of being was satisfying.

Are you really satisfied?
Perhaps it's a genuine feeling that these are ultimately two different lifestyles, and people have the right to choose.

But Yuki Sakuraba knew that no one could live in their own little world forever; he would eventually have to face the reality of the world and adapt to the things he didn't like. Only then could he possibly avoid being hurt.

Gen Tsukino shook his head. "She's not my phone, how could she be here all the time?"

Sakuraba Yuki walked over to her and asked, "Can we take a walk together?"

"of course."

The two left the hostel through a side door, without being seen by the other students.

The town of Xiaqi, with its pristine natural environment, is more like a village.

There are cobblestone paths, and the fresh scent of grass can be smelled everywhere nearby.

You can often see lazy tabby cats perched on the walls, and yellow dogs leisurely strolling along the road, as if they were drunk.

"It was really tiring taking students on their first autumn outing."

Sakuraba Yuki said with emotion.

Tsukino Gen looked at the woman's exquisite profile with amusement. She still possessed an intellectual beauty, but beside him, she lacked the seriousness and coldness of a teacher and gained a sense of helplessness and vulnerability, like when talking to a close friend.

"Haven't you brought this before?"

"I've never been a homeroom teacher before."

Sakuraba Yuki gave an honest answer.

Gen Tsukino looked at Yuki Sakuraba with some surprise, "So you came here and immediately became a homeroom teacher? Who arranged that?"

This seems to be a problem I had overlooked before. I thought that Sakuraba Yuki had experience as a homeroom teacher before, and that it was because of her unique qualities that she was valued and became the homeroom teacher of Shōji Private High School at such a young age.

But it seems that this is not the case now.

The prestige of Zhaori Private High School is self-evident; it ranks among the top schools in the entire Zhaori region. It boasts a strong faculty and, thanks to its substantial assets, excels in many areas.

The homeroom teachers in such schools are certainly not chosen randomly.

Looking around, Sakuraba Yuki's qualifications are definitely not among the best, so in this cruel and realistic society, it seems that only one possibility remains.

That means someone deliberately arranged it this way.

But Sakuraba Yuki's background is ordinary; aside from her extraordinary face and demeanor, she has nothing special about her. Where did she get the connections to arrange things for her like this? It's practically supernatural!

"I don't know, I was also stunned when I received the interview invitation. I just submitted my resume on a whim and never expected to get an interview, let alone that the interview would go so smoothly."

She looked at Gen Tsukino.

The boy thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Forget it, there's no point in worrying about this now. Besides, Sakuraba-sensei really did a great job."

"is it?"

"Of course, you've pushed me to this point; it's hard to imagine other teachers doing this."

"Pfft." The woman couldn't help but laugh and patted the boy's shoulder. "How can you be so sarcastic? How did I force you?"

Gen Tsukino shrugged helplessly. "You're like one of those NPCs who force players to do quests; there's no way to refuse."

"Of course you can refuse. Do you think I'd force you?"

"How could I possibly refuse because you are Sakuraba-sensei?"

Gen Tsukino casually asked a question.

But it felt as if a pebble had fallen into Sakuraba Yuki's heart, creating ripples. It was like a long-abandoned tavern suddenly ringing out with the sound of wind chimes after a rare opening of the door.

"You're talking nonsense again. Don't use the same tactics you use on young girls on me."

Sakuraba Yuki glared at Tsukino Gen, forcibly suppressing the slight burning sensation on her face.

It's awful to always blush in front of your students.

Along the long, narrow path, people dressed in ordinary clothes stroll leisurely along their own way.

They only glanced at the young couple briefly before going about their business. They seemed to put no pressure on others or draw too much attention.

Gen Tsukino truly enjoyed this kind of evening.

"The teacher has too much prejudice against me. I'm not the kind of guy who likes to lie to girls."

"I'm not saying you're lying, it's just that you're really good at dealing with girls. Otherwise, how could you make Asagiri and Kazama get along so 'harmoniously'?"

Is it harmonious?
Those are just open and covert attacks that you can't see.

However, it can indeed be said to have been harmonious, since no real bloodshed or separation of life and death occurred.

"If things were really that harmonious, the young lady wouldn't have targeted you so much today."

"Huh?" Sakuraba Yuki turned to look at Tsukino Gen in surprise. "You noticed?"

"Then who can't see it?"

"Then why won't you help me!"

Sakuraba Yuki looked at the boy with a reproach.

After all, I've spent more time with him, so how can I forget my duty just because of a 'girlfriend'?
It evokes a sense of a mother being abandoned by her son and daughter-in-law.

Tsukino Gen looked at her amusedly, "What help or not? If you hadn't mentioned the confession that day, none of this would have happened, right? Come to think of it, it was the teacher who brought it on herself."

"Hmph, it's all my own fault, okay? Anyway, you can do what you want, but I can't say anything. I'm still your homeroom teacher, sigh, I can't control anything."

"Hahahahaha."

The other person's charming tone sounded like a little girl being coquettish.

They arrived at the entrance of a very ordinary and somewhat old-fashioned convenience store. In this weather, the store owner was wearing a vest and holding a palm-leaf fan.

It was as if summer hadn't ended for him.

"Want a popsicle?"

Tsukino Gen suddenly stopped and asked.

Sakuraba Yuki blinked. "Is it appropriate to eat popsicles in this weather?"

Tsukino Gen said, "It's not about whether it's suitable or not, it's about whether you want to eat it or not. Did you only eat popsicles in the summer?"

Sakuraba Yuki thought for a moment, "I really didn't eat any. When I was little, I loved eating popsicles, but my parents always said that eating too many would upset my stomach. I could only listen to them and secretly vowed that I would eat them every day when I grew up. But when I actually grew up and could eat them every day, I found that I didn't like them as much anymore."

"Do you want some?"

With a smile, Tsukino Gen asked, and for some reason, Sakuraba Yuki felt that Tsukino Gen was smiling at her at that moment.

He didn't seem like a student; he seemed like an older brother who had always been there for him as he grew up.

It's a character that has never existed in my life.

It's like being wronged at home and waiting for his return, knowing that when he comes back, someone will truly pamper you.

"eat!"

She not only spoke her mind, but she spoke very loudly.

"it is good."

The boy smiled as he went to buy popsicles, but the woman behind him belatedly blushed.

My emotions are becoming increasingly swayed by this boy.

Every time I tell him I should act like a proper homeroom teacher, a serious and dedicated teacher, and not act like a child.

But each time they encountered it, the scene was completely different, and the turmoil was just as intense.

She even complained about her own lack of ambition.

But there really wasn't any way to help.

When the other person handed her a red bean popsicle with a smile, she felt her heart melt the moment she took it.

As I grew up, many people gave me flowers, gifts, and treated me to meals.

But nothing moved me more than the incredibly cheap popsicle the other person handed me.

She didn't know why I was moved.

This is not something I've always lacked, nor is it some unattainable dream.

She opened the bag, bit into the popsicle, and walked with the boy back along the road where the sun was about to set.

She suddenly wanted to hug this boy who always seemed carefree and tell him.

Not only have you grown up, but I have too.

You left that orphanage and entered a new world.

I also left my cage to seek my freedom.

The boy looked at the setting sun and suddenly asked, "Sakuraba-sensei."

"Huh?" The woman, who was biting into an ice pop, opened her eyes wide and looked at him.

He asked with a smile, "You won't have to write a report or something after the autumn outing, will you?"

"Pfft, you're not in elementary school anymore."

"I never went to primary school either."

"Yes."

After thinking for a moment, Sakuraba Yuki looked at Tsukino Gen.

Do you sometimes envy children who have a normal childhood?

The boy, casually chewing on his popsicle, thought for a moment and said...

"To be honest, I've never been envious."

"why?"

"Because I know that they have what I don't, but I will also have what they don't have."

Watching the unobstructed radiance of the setting sun fall upon the young man.

His languid smile didn't need many sincere words to prove its authenticity.

She couldn't help but sigh.

"Tsukino is so cool."

Gen Tsukino smiled and replied, "You're beautiful too, Sakuraba-neechan."

……

(End of this chapter)