I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 318 Moral blackmail, huh?
Gen Tsukino hadn't expected such a contrast.

Perhaps this is just like life.

Some people live their whole lives feeling like they've experienced nothing, as if they've never gone through anything. They always feel like they have countless regrets and haven't done enough.

However, some people are content after living half their lives and don't care if they die now.

Nighttime is equivalent to this.

It's best to go to bed early so you can have a refreshed and energetic tomorrow.

Or perhaps we should make the most of the entire night, indulging in dazzling lights and revelry until we're completely exhausted.

Regardless of what others think.

Mochizuki Miki felt that she couldn't be more satisfied tonight.

It seems that all these years of life, enduring the suffering of illness, have been for the sake of this moment of liberation.

When sweat beaded on a woman's delicate, fair skin, the room, which was originally cool, now seemed excessively warm.

She didn't want to be covered by the blanket anymore, but wanted to snuggle in the boy's arms.

I felt his fingers moving across my body as if he were playing the piano.

It's hard to describe this feeling.

Close your eyes slightly.

"It's like a dream. Is it possible that I'm actually dead, and all of this is just a figment of my imagination?"

Tsukino Gen used his arm as a pillow behind her; at this point, some small conveniences were no longer a big deal.

he said softly.

"That's possible, but can you really imagine what I'm saying? Do you know me that well?"

Upon hearing this, Mochizuki Miki nodded slightly.

"That's true. No matter how I feel about you or how much I like you, I have to admit that I don't really understand you or know your inner world. I just like you based on my instinctive preferences."

"It's not a bad thing."

"But there might be some omissions, right? I also want to care about you and help you in the way you helped me."

"Itsuki Miki said softly."

Gen Tsukino shook his head. "It doesn't really matter. I've never expected anyone to truly understand me, just as I've never tried to understand anyone. Understanding someone is exhausting because knowing their secrets can also mean taking on their burdens. It's like turning a part of their life into your responsibility, which is unnecessary."

His voice was gentle and soothing, like a babbling brook.

"Liking someone can be a very simple thing. No one stipulates that liking someone means taking full responsibility for them. So whether you understand them or not doesn't matter. If superficial liking is shallow, then there are too many things that can be ranked and distinguished in terms of depth. This would undoubtedly make everyone's life more tiring. I hope things can be simpler."

Mochizuki Miki turned over and looked into the boy's eyes.

A smile played on her lips, and under the light, her fair and rosy skin seemed to radiate a glow and an alluring brightness.

“It’s okay, whether I’m tired or not is my business. And I feel that no matter how tired I am, I won’t be as tired as you. So let my selfishness get the better of me, let me do some things for you, and spend some time getting to know you.”

"How long?"

"Is a lifetime enough?"

Gen Tsukino couldn't help but laugh. "When I hear the phrase 'a lifetime' now, it feels unreal. It's like a child playing house, trying to imitate adults' behavior, so they say things that don't match their true selves."

Mochizuki Miki laughed and said, "I feel the same way when I recite many similar lines, but I think that just because many words are said a lot, they don't lose their original meaning. Some people say it's to lie, and some people say it's because they lacked respect and didn't take it seriously. But the word itself is not wrong, and there is nothing that can more accurately represent my feelings than the original word."

"I understand. Then let it be for a lifetime."

He used very simple words to express heavy sentiments.

It's almost like the sole survivor of a disaster saying: I'm fine, I'm okay.

There's a sense of feigned nonchalance about it.

But is it really that easy? The future will tell.

The night wasn't over yet; they embraced on the soft bed.

We talked about many things, some of which may never happen.

For example, when it comes to a wedding, which friends should be invited?

Some things might happen in the future, such as what names they should give their children.

In fact, Tsukino Gen didn't expect Mochizuki Miki to have such an innocent side. She usually acts like a cool and aloof older sister, but after their current relationship developed, she became like a love-struck girl who had never been in love before.

They naively fantasize about many things in the future.

In fact, she herself knew that some things were simply impossible to achieve, because she had already set the tone for her own identity.

There's no need for Gen Tsukino to worry.

It's as if saying it tonight makes it seem like something that's already been done.

That can be considered a kind of fulfillment.

Who knows what the future holds? Unexpected events always happen.

But at least this moment is stable and happy. I haven't slept so peacefully in a long time, even though I went to bed very late.

Autumn is almost over.

On the winter solstice, Gen Tsukino was cooking dumplings at home.

Of course, I also cooked a portion for Kiyono Mizuki.

She asked Tsukino Gen out of curiosity why they ate dumplings on this day, and the boy simply told her it was a custom from his hometown.

Of course, some hometowns are definitely hard to belong to.

However, this doesn't prevent the continuation of some customs. On this day, many people also send their blessings, although Tsukino Gen doesn't know what kind of festival the Winter Solstice is, just a solar term.

But because of this, I had a different feeling than in previous years.

It seems that my life has finally changed.

Some feelings I'd never had before also emerged, such as that unreal sense of belonging.

It feels like this is the world I'm meant to live in, unlike before when I lived an empty life for over a decade, often feeling like I was about to wake up from a long dream – an unreal feeling.

The time comes at night.

With nothing to do, the boy was either reading or playing games.

The increasing tranquility of life, besides bringing ease, also seems to bring a sense of emptiness. Once everything settles down, it seems there is no longer that passion to break the routine of life.

From this perspective, Tsukino Gen still somewhat misses that troublesome period, but you can't always disrupt the normal course of life for the sake of so-called passion. He's not some intellectual genius with an extreme, antisocial personality.

Just as I was enjoying my own time, there was a knock on the door.

Gen Tsukino got up and opened the door.

Happy Winter Solstice!

The somewhat carefree tone that appeared before her did not belong to a pretty young girl, but to a mature policewoman.

"With this opening line, I thought the production team had found me as a lucky audience member."

Chinatsu Morita put down the bag in her hand, which clearly contained some snacks, beer, and ingredients.

It looked like they were giving a gift, but in reality they were just trying to freeload a meal.

"A lucky viewer? You watch TV programs?"

"Of course, I also frequently send text messages to variety shows."

Gen Tsukino glanced at the bag in the other person's hand.

"You just got off work and haven't eaten yet?"

Chinatsu Morita nodded as she entered and changed her shoes.

"Yeah, we caught a few petty thieves today. I don't know what's wrong with the new recruits these days. They couldn't even catch a few thieves, so I had to step in. Otherwise, I would have gone home long ago."

Gen Tsukino looked at the other person with amusement.

"You were once a reckless newcomer too, and now you're talking about others."

Chinatsu Morita retorted defiantly, "What were my achievements when I entered the police force? I was shining with glory, okay? I solved a murder case in just one month after joining the police department. Do you think I'm some simple rookie? I'm the strongest rookie!"

Gen Tsukino thought for a moment.

"I think I've only ever seen the title of 'strongest newcomer' on the cover of some movie trailers."

"Huh? You watch those kinds of movies?"

As Tsukino Gen was speaking, the woman's arms wrapped around him, naturally resting on the boy's shoulders, scrutinizing his expression.

Gen Tsukino was a little embarrassed and said innocently, "What's wrong with that? Boys just like to appreciate things with an artistic flair. It has nothing to do with whether or not they have a girlfriend."

“I don’t believe it. I think it’s my fault for not doing things properly, and you’re blaming me.”

Gen Tsukino: ? ? ?

He looked at the other person with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, "I think you're the one who's just greedy, aren't you?"

"Yeah, otherwise why would I bring so much food? I'm starving, I need to eat!"

She started acting cute again.

Anyway, given his erratic and nonsensical personality, Tsukino Gen was used to it.

"I knew you wouldn't come here for anything good. Aren't you worried about what will happen if I can't eat?"

Chinatsu Morita clung to Gen Tsukino, who was facing her, and hugged him tightly.

He turned around and hugged him from behind.

In short, you can't help but turn into a koala the moment you see him.

It's as if they can't speak unless they're being held.

"This kind of thing will definitely not happen."

Chinatsu Morita said it with absolute certainty.

"Why? It's getting late, and I have a very regular sleep schedule."

Gen Tsukino appears to be struggling to carry the burden on his back, but it's actually quite easy for him; he's just being deliberately mischievous.

"Because you are so understanding, you never do anything that makes me feel guilty."

Morita Chinatsu said with a smile.

He then leaned in and kissed Tsukino Gen's cheek.

"You're really something, shamelessly coming to freeload a meal and then trying to morally blackmail me?"

"Of course, who else would I tie down if not you? Or would you rather I use moral blackmail to force you to marry me?"

"Let's eat then."

"Screw you!"

……

(End of this chapter)