I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 312 Autumn Night
I wandered through this bustling city, slightly tipsy.

To be honest, Tsukino Gen has seen far too many of these city nights.

But you just seem different when you're with different people.

The cool autumn breeze caressed the hair of the young men and women, and the refreshing air seemed to help them clear their heads a little.

But the magic of being slightly tipsy lies in the fact that it makes you not want to wake up. It gives you the illusion that you can escape the immense pressure of reality and be a free bird.

You know perfectly well that this is just an illusion, and all the stress and anxiety will still be there when you wake up tomorrow morning, but you're still willing to indulge in this fleeting moment.

They strolled hand in hand along the street lined with neon signs.

"How come your mom agreed to my request so easily?"

Gen Tsukino found it unbelievable. Although he was indeed a relatively reliable man, wasn't he a little too trusting of himself?
If we could turn back time a few years, would we think of ourselves as kindergarten teachers?
The girl, who was quite tipsy but not yet unconscious, looked at the boy beside her and said, "I don't know. Maybe it's because my mom met a man like that that she has a special liking for you?"

"What kind of logic is this? Shouldn't you be more wary of men when you encounter a bad one?"

"No way. Just because you've experienced a little setback in life doesn't mean you should start to hate things like this. That would be too extreme. I'm not that stubborn."

Kazama Sakura shook Tsukino Gen's hand, and the two of them swayed childishly in the street.

It's like we're about to hold hands and go to kindergarten.

She really enjoys this state; being with someone she likes makes her feel innocent and childlike. Because the sense of security he provides allows her to avoid pretending, to not have to rack her brains to please him, or to avoid his dislike.

Are you really not attached to anything?

The girl raised her face, her bright eyes looking at the boy.

"My obsession is only with you; that's common knowledge."

Gen Tsukino reached out and pinched the girl's cheek. "It doesn't need to be common knowledge. It's enough that I know these things."

Are you hungry? I'm a little hungry~

"Drinking too much beer makes you hungry. What do you want to eat? Don't tell me it's oden again."

"Pfft~ How did you know that was what I wanted to say?"

"It's nothing, I just feel like we often eat oden when we're together."

"Because that night, you came to my house and found me, and we ate oden together. Every time I eat this with you, I can feel the warmth of that day."

The autumn wind ruffled the girl's hair.

It brings ripples like ocean waves.

"You're being so mushy. Should I stop being so playful?"

Looking at the boy's face, which could easily make one both love and hate him.

"It can be whatever you want it to be, it doesn't matter."

"So what do you want to eat? We haven't said yet."

"If you don't eat oden, are the hot pot restaurants still open? The one we ate at before~"

Tsukino Gen paused for a moment, "Kokomi-neechan's place?"

"Yes, that's right." The girl nodded vigorously. "I think it's delicious~ and the lady there was really nice."

"Why do you judge a person's health based on whether they eat or not? Fine, then go now, as long as you can eat it."

"Of course I can eat that much! I feel like I could eat a whole cow right now!"

"Then you're amazing."

This is the illusion of someone who has drunk too much.

That's not necessarily true. After all, people who drink too much often feel an empty stomach, especially after going to the toilet a few times. They always need to eat something to feel better.

Although Gen Tsukino could help resolve this situation, let's wait a bit; it's still early.

They quickly got into a taxi and arrived at their destination.

Fortunately, this hot pot restaurant is open until midnight; it doesn't usually close this early.

When Hyuga Kokomi saw Tsukino Gen appear with this beautiful girl she had met before, and she even seemed to have been drinking, she was a little surprised.

"You seemed to be having a lot of fun, and even thought of coming here to eat?"

"Yeah, I only had a little to drink for a classmate's birthday. Is there a seat available?"

"Of course there are seats available. We'll arrange them for you. Look at you all. Sit down first, and I'll get you some tea to sober up."

"Thank you."

Tsukino Gen said with a smile.

Kazama Sakura, who was standing next to her, was clearly emboldened by alcohol, and even turned her head to say something to Hinata Kokomi.

"Thank you, Shinmei-neechan~"

It's clear that Hyuga Kokomi really likes this girl, and Kazama Sakura herself is the kind of girl that's likable.

Hyuga Kokomi, who sees herself as a character similar to Tsukino Gen's older sister, naturally can't help but worry about this boy, especially the complicated relationships around him.

But there is no way.

When he grew up to look like this, some things were destined to happen.

"How much are you drinking? Girls should be careful when they're out."

The girl smiled sweetly and said, "It's okay~ Ah-Xian is right next to me."

Hinata Kokomi, annoyed, led Kazama Sakura to a chair and said, "Especially someone as love-struck as you, I just don't understand. Why would someone so beautiful be so love-struck? Aren't you afraid of being deceived?"

Kazama Sakura looked at the other person with a confused expression, blinking her watery eyes.

"It doesn't really matter, does it? I just don't want to think about it too much. Does being pretty mean you have to be smart? Being smart is exhausting."

Hyuga Kokomi, who had initially seemed somewhat annoyed by her daughter's lack of ambition, paused for a moment upon hearing this, and then burst out laughing.

"Then it seems I was wrong. You're doing quite well this way. Although Tsukino is unreliable in every way, he's still quite good at protecting the people around him and has a sense of responsibility."

"No, Ah-Xian is very reliable~"

With a final, defiant insistence, he said it so stubbornly.

She's getting cuter and cuter.

Hinata Kokomi had no choice but to glance helplessly at Tsukino Gen, who was still laughing.

"I don't know what kind of spell you cast on her. Alright, let's order. I'll serve you the food."

This time, Kazama Sakura took the lead. Anyway, Tsukino Gen can eat anything and isn't picky at all, so we just went with her preferences. When the dishes were served, we realized that we had indeed ordered quite a lot.

It's definitely not an amount that two people could eat.

Of course, Gen could take them all down if he put in a little effort, but there's no need for that. It wouldn't really give him any extra power, and he'd just be seen as a monster.

It's a waste, so what? If you want to be a big eater, you might as well start a mukbang (eating broadcast) yourself.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was very harmonious.

Sakura Kazama ate her food obediently, like a good child. Occasionally, she would burn herself with the scalding hot food, but she would quickly get back into the next battle.

Gen Tsukino mostly watches it, since he hasn't had dinner for long and isn't particularly hungry.

Until the girl finally touched her belly, which wasn't actually that undulating, and said...

"I'm so full!"

"You have a great appetite."

Most of the food on the table had been eaten, so wasting food at this point wouldn't be too painful, and Tsukino Gen could still accept it.

Having eaten something and feeling much more awake, Kazama Sakura pouted her bright red lips. "No way~ I was just really hungry, and you told me to eat more meat before, so now you're complaining that I ate too much?"

Tsukino Gen looked at the other person with amusement, "No way, I just wanted to compliment you."

"Your way of praising people sounds sarcastic and unpleasant to listen to."

"Okay, I'll make some minor adjustments for you later, alright?"

Okay~ Let's go~

The two left their seats hand in hand. There were no other customers in the store at this time. Hyuga Kokomi, who had already changed her clothes, also came out.

"You've finished eating?"

"Okay, thank you, Kokoro-neechan~"

Hyuga Kokomi laughed and said, "Why thank me? You paid for the meal, so I'm serving you. No need to thank me. On the contrary, I should be thanking you for coming here to eat."

Kazama Sakura sincerely said, "Kokomi-neechan is such a good person."

"It's rare to hear someone define a person like that in this day and age. Sakura is so naive."

"Hehe~"

"Alright, are you planning to go home now?"

It was just a casual question, after all, it was this time of day, but Hyuga Kokomi soon realized that she hadn't received any response after asking the question.

Gen Tsukino was looking at the sky.

Kazama Sakura's face inexplicably turned red.

Suddenly, Hyuga Kokomi seemed to realize something.

"So this is ah."

Kazama Sakura blushed and immediately explained, "It's not what you think, we..."

"I haven't even said what I'm thinking yet, Sakura, you seem to be in a hurry?"

"I don't have any, do I?"

"Haha. Alright, alright, I don't understand you young people's stuff. Whatever you want, just be happy, but..."

Hyuga Kokomi immediately reached out and pulled Tsukino Gen's ear.

Then he leaned close to his ear and whispered, "You better watch yourself, he's so young, don't cause any trouble, you know?"

Gen Tsukino replied helplessly, "Is that how you see me?"

"Okay, actually it should be even worse."

".You are invincible."

Hyuga Kokomi let go of their hands and then waved at the two of them.

"Alright, I won't bother you two any longer. I'll be going now, bye-bye~"

"Goodbye, Kokoro-neechan~"

Kazama Sakura, blushing, waved her hand.

Only after Kokomi disappeared from her sight did Kazama Sakura dare to boldly look at the boy beside her.

However, he dared not focus his gaze, giving the impression that he was trying to cover something up.

Tsukino Gen chuckled and said, "Weren't you very brave before? Now that you're sober, you don't even dare to look at me?"

"No way! I'm just... a little blurry-eyed right now, I've had too much to drink."

"Oh~ I thought you had changed your mind, and I was wondering if I should take you home."

Gen Tsukino said this on purpose.

The girl knew perfectly well that he had bad intentions, but she couldn't resist, so she simply hugged his arm.

She said coquettishly, "I don't care, I'm sticking with you tonight, don't even think about getting rid of me."

"it is good."

Gen Tsukino simply smiled and did not refuse.

It seems that where we're going next is pretty much a certainty.

On this windy, neon-lit night...

They embraced in front of the hotel's floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing at the moonlight outside.

She said, "Actually, it doesn't matter whether I'm smart or not, right? I really don't think being love-struck is a big deal. Of course, if you want me to be smarter and less dependent on you, I can do that too."

Gen Tsukino shook his head.

"I will only ever give you one piece of advice."

"what?"

"Be brave and healthy in doing what you want to do and living the life you want to live."

"it is good."

……

(End of this chapter)