I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 28 I'm Here for You
Unfortunately, just like a movie, it eventually comes to an end.

The ambiguous and warm atmosphere, of course, has a moment when it crumbles.

When the movie ends.

The final scene echoes the first scene: under the sky, Mochizuki Miki's unforgettable face gazes directly at the camera.

Her voice has a lot of texture, which may be due to post-production processing in the film.

You could almost hear the tremor in her voice or the emotions it conveyed in every word; it was a magical talent.

Even the well-traveled Gen Tsukino had to admit that she was indeed more pleasing to the eye and more professionally competent than so-called "traffic stars." It wasn't exactly a shockwave.

"It's over."

Kazama Sakura looked longingly at Tsukino Gen, as if she was regretting the end of the movie.

The underlying message was that they didn't want to let go of each other's hands, even though their palms were wet and dry.

Gen Tsukino nodded. "Yeah, it's not bad. Although the plot is a bit melodramatic, the camera transitions and background music are quite good."

Kazama Sakura really wanted to say: Is that what I'm asking? You're not a film critic!

However, the intention should not be too obvious. Sometimes, the charm of girls lies in their ability to clumsily hide their emotions while still letting the other person see through them.

She's not exactly a dating expert, nor does she have any dating experience. Clumsily liking someone already drains all her brain cells; if she weren't so enthusiastic about it, she might find it more mentally taxing than studying.

Moreover, their opponent was such an unpredictable and helpless young man.

"Yeah, I think my choice was pretty good."

"Hmm, it's alright, let's go."

He prepared to let go and stand up.

But at this moment, the girl immediately stood up, firmly grasped the other person's five fingers, and got up from her seat together with him.

"Ok?"

Gen Tsukino glanced at her.

The girl forced herself to act nonchalant and said, "Shall we go out now? There are too many people."

Gen Tsukino's gaze lingered on their still-holding hands for a moment before looking into her eyes.

"Tell me, how am I supposed to turn around if I'm being held like this?"

Indeed, from this angle, the hands clasped together seem to struggle to turn around, and it looks rather awkward.

It seems that other couples who come to see the movie are not so clingy when they leave their seats. She is like a child who has never eaten candy before. Once she gets a piece of candy, she is reluctant to bite it and swallow it as soon as possible. Instead, she keeps it in her mouth until all the sugar melts away.

Sakura Kazama hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly.

"follow me."

She turned around and walked to the other side.

And so it became her guiding Tsukino Gen.

Gen Tsukino didn't pull the other person back forcefully, stubbornly insisting on staying in place like a child.

Being led away by her was a magical feeling, as if I, the most expensive and exquisite commodity displayed in the showcase, had finally met someone brave enough to take me away.

I walked behind those couples, listening to their cheerful comments.

Sakura Kazama's cheeks were burning red. Her emotions had been floating all day, seemingly never settling down. She didn't know what this feeling meant, but she knew very well that it was an emotion only this boy could evoke in her.

It seems someone once said that a person's genes determine many things. For example, what you are naturally good at and what you are naturally dislike will also determine what kind of people you will have genuine feelings for.

So, is the name 'Tsukino Gen' firmly etched into one's genes?

She didn't dare look back and kept walking forward.

The movie theater, now empty and crowded, felt like a journey through the river of time, through the cracks of years. A long road lay before her, stretching out before her on the long road of her future. If possible, walking it together with him would be the most beautiful thing, wouldn't it?

She was willing to indulge in such secret, romantic fantasies.

However, the girl, immersed in this fantasy, failed to notice one thing.

At the end of the exit, at the very end of the passage almost submerged by the crowd, stood a figure wearing a hoodie that seemed completely out of place in this weather. The person seemed to be hidden in the shadows.

His hands were in his pockets, as if he were hiding some treasure.

He lowered his head and muttered to himself.

The crowd slowly passed by him, and he seemed completely oblivious to the heat of the weather and the stuffiness caused by the crowd.

Or rather, the sweat dripping from one's forehead has become something insignificant.

He kept muttering to himself, the world before him completely different, detached from reality. Or perhaps, everything he saw was reality.

Until he seemed to sense something, he looked up and saw that strikingly beautiful figure in the crowd.

A strange sense of familiarity made him unconsciously take a step.

"don't want."

"do not leave Me."

"Haruko."

In such a crowded wave, it seems normal for people to move around however they want. After all, with so many people, it's also normal to turn around and realize that you've forgotten something and have to go back to get it.

But I don't know if it's intuition or something else.

When Kazama Sakura saw this somber-looking figure walking towards her and Tsukino Gen, his pace quickening.

A very bad feeling arose in my heart.

Despite the weather, people are dressed so warmly. And it seems that some sounds are becoming clearer and more distinct, even more jarring than the surrounding noise of conversation.

"boom."

"boom."

"Thump." Her heart started racing involuntarily, as if its frequency increased with the speed of the other person's footsteps.

As she frowned and looked over, the other person took their hand out of their pocket, and she saw an extremely dazzling light and a sharp edge.

The man raised his head, revealing bloodshot eyes and a ferocious, terrifying expression, just like the zombies often seen in movies.

"do not leave Me."

"Be with me forever!"

The man roared.

With a few final steps, he quickened his pace and charged straight at Kazama Sakura and Tsukino Gen.

In that instant, some people around who could hear clearly turned their heads, feeling strange, but their subconscious actions were all human instincts. Instinctively avoiding potential danger and trying to put themselves in a safe position.

Whether or not they could figure out what the strange figure that suddenly appeared and rushed into the crowd was planning to do, they had no time to react.

There was no time to stop it; the scream was still brewing in her throat.

This moment.

Sakura Kazama's eyes widened. She remembered that her hand was still clasped with the boy beside her. For a moment, she had a feeling that he was coming for her, even though she had no idea when she had met him.

And why did I become their target?

But at this moment, she didn't want an unexpected situation to occur, that is, the other party might be targeting Tsukino Gen. Nor did she want the boy beside her to impulsively do something to get hurt in her place.

Her mind went blank the moment the thought crossed her mind.

The body's adrenaline is surging.

A strange, tingling sensation spread through her body, and then, without thinking, she released Tsukino Gen's hand and turned around.

As if she were throwing herself into his arms, she pounced on Tsukino Gen's body without missing a beat.

What could have possibly driven them to do this? Perhaps if they had simply avoided it, no one would have been in any danger.
Actually, she didn't know either. Maybe she watched too many TV dramas? Was she too impressed by the clichéd plots in those melodramatic movies? Or was she just itching to be a tragic heroine herself?

The ridiculous idea that something bad could happen and make the male protagonist remember him for the rest of his life.
I no longer know.

At the moment she lunged forward, she couldn't think of anything else; she just didn't want him to get hurt, to get hurt because of her, that was all.

The lights in the exit corridor were the last light she saw before she closed her eyes; she didn't even look at Tsukino Gen's face or his eyes.

I'll probably blame myself, right? Maybe I'll find it strange that I'm doing something so silly for no reason. I can't help it, I just love doing stupid things; I'm always like that.

She wanted to avoid troubling others and causing them trouble, but she always ended up dragging him down.

He'll probably be sad because of her if something happens, right? She doesn't want him to be sad, but it seems like if he isn't sad, she'll be very sad too.

So what should I do? I don't know. Let's just leave it at that.

"Stay with me forever!!"

"what!!"

The screams and almost hysterical roars from the people around in the passageway mingled together, creating a rather unpleasant symphony.

"boom."

She felt the sound of herself hitting the ground.

but
but
There was no sharp pain as if it were piercing her back; she felt her body rotating slightly.

It was as if the entire world was swirling and merging.

When she realized that she hadn't shielded him from the so-called danger at all, Kazama Sakura's heart clenched, and she struggled to sit up from the ground to look.

She was terrified of seeing the boy lying in a pool of blood, and she absolutely could not accept such a sight.

But what she saw was a man in a hoodie, looking manic and scantily clad, lying on the ground, with Tsukino Gen, whom she was worried about, kneeling on his back.

His hands were firmly pressed behind his back, and the sharp knife that he was sure he hadn't misjudged was lying on the empty ground.

Those around stared in astonishment at the scene, and screams seemed to echo through the passageway.

Most people were at a loss.

Sakura Kazama got up awkwardly. She stepped forward to ask Gen Tsukino if he was injured, but she didn't dare to disturb him. She was worried that her impulsiveness might ruin the situation and cause other accidents.

"Let me go! Let me go!!"

The man was pinned to the ground, struggling desperately, his bloodshot eyes roaring like a trapped beast.

But the boy holding him was very calm, his eyes meeting the other's gaze as he tried to turn his head to the side.

He simply told the other person one sentence.

"You should thank me."

The man paused for a moment, looking into the boy's eyes.

He didn't know what kind of look he saw or what hidden meaning it held, but the anger and resentment in his eyes gradually faded.

His gaze gradually shifted from Tsukino Gen's face to the face of the bewildered girl ahead.

Then he suddenly burst into tears.

"I'm so sorry, I'm really sorry."

"Call the police! Call the police now!"

"What are you standing there for? Where's security? Someone come and help hold him down!"

The passageway was in complete chaos.

Sakura Kazama slumped weakly to the ground. She didn't know what this man was apologizing for; she only knew that Gen Tsukino was alright—no blood, no injuries, nothing serious.
Great.

……

(End of this chapter)