I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 32 Old Friend
Monday, a Monday without sunshine.

It was drizzling instead.

It felt like a continuation of yesterday's thunderstorm.

Reluctantly, Tsukino Gen opened his umbrella. Actually, he didn't really like using an umbrella, not because he found it tiring, but because the already hot and humid weather, combined with the damp air, made it feel like his clothes were filled with a musty smell.

Although this wouldn't be the case for Tsukino Gen, since he has the support of his cultivation techniques, there's no corner for him to hide his filth.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he's a sweet and soft-spoken handsome young man.

He was still the most eye-catching boy on the bus, and girls of similar age were still secretly taking pictures of his profile as he looked out the window.

If you take a quick look at the forum, you'll see that people post photos of themselves from various angles on the school forum every day, making Tsukino Gen think that the school forum is his fan gathering place.

Of course, there are also photos of other people, such as Kazama Sakura and Asagiri Rin.

But why does it seem like it's not getting as much attention as I am?

I glanced at Self casually on the bus, browsing the latest news and checking out the latest works of this borderline blogger.

Then
Kiyono Mizuki: [Is it raining outside?]

Tsukino Gen: [You can't move your legs, you're not blind, can't you see?]

Kiyono Mizuki: [Can't I not see clearly?]

Tsukino Gen: [It's raining, Princess.]

Kiyono Mizuki: [Did you bring an umbrella?]

Tsukino Gen: [I didn't bring any. Are you going to bring some for me?]

Kiyono Mizuki: [Go to hell.]

Looking at his phone, Tsukino Gen couldn't help but laugh out loud, drawing even more direct stares from the men and women who were already secretly watching him.

Thankfully, the bus has arrived at the station.

Gen Tsukino put away his phone.

To be honest, if all my chat logs with Kiyono Mizuki were released, people would probably condemn me for discriminating against disabled people and for using PUA on women, right?
However, he didn't care much about these things.

Or rather, speaking to Kiyono Mizuki in this way is the only way to prove that I haven't given her any special treatment and that I'm treating her like an ordinary person.

As I entered the school holding an umbrella, someone greeted me.

"Tsuno!"

The voice was so familiar, almost unmistakable. Tsukino Gen turned around, holding his umbrella, and saw Miura Akihiko, also holding an umbrella, looking at him with a grin.

He casually stepped into the puddles with his expensive sneakers, seemingly unconcerned about how dirty they were.

Looking at Tsukino Gen, I felt a pang of heartache.

In this world, some people risk their lives for a few hundred dollars, while others don't value money at all. We can't be too harsh on anyone, nor can we expect everyone to possess saintly kindness and empathy.

"Good morning."

Gen Tsukino responded to the greeting.

Miura Akihiko smiled and moved closer to Tsukino Gen, only to see Tsukino Gen subtly take a step back.

The boy, who instantly felt quite hurt, looked at the other person and asked, "Why did you take a step back?"

Gen Tsukino calmly replied, "I'm afraid you'll splash it on me."

Miura Akihiko said irritably, "Why are you so clean, like a girl?"

"Nobody says that guys have to be sloppy, right? You don't think that being filthy is a sign of manliness, do you?"

Miura Akihiko asked in surprise, "Isn't that right?"

"."

"I've always felt that a real man has to smell of sweat after a workout and have a beard to be considered a real man."

"Your aesthetic sense is a bit too sophisticated; you're more suited to living a solitary life."

"Hey!"

"Okay, tell me why you're so happy."

After teasing him a little, Tsukino Gen changed the subject as they walked together to the classroom.

"Because I instinctively feel happy every Book Day when I get to see you~"

Gen Tsukino glanced at Akihiko Miura beside him.

Akihiko Miura winked cutely, "What's wrong?"

"Although I am not in a relationship right now, it does not mean that there is a problem with my sexual orientation."

"Get lost! You're the one with the problem with your sexual orientation. Isn't this just showing our brotherhood?"

"What kind of brotherhood is this? This isn't a TV drama, why are you trying to sell bromance?"

"By the way, do you also think that TV dramas these days really like to exploit the 'bromance' aspect?"

They went upstairs together. The hallway was noisy, with shouts of "Ohayo!" echoing everywhere. Remembering how often she'd heard those sounds back when watching anime a long time ago, Tsukino Gen felt a pang of longing to chase after her lost youth in the sunset.

Gen Tsukino nodded. "Isn't this the trend now? Good-looking male celebrities are a commodity, but their uses are becoming increasingly skewed. Or perhaps it's because there are more and more women in society who like to flaunt their unusual sexual orientation, which has become a factor influencing the market."

Miura Akihiko looked at Tsukino Gen strangely, "What are you talking about? I can't understand a word of it."

Gen Tsukino suppressed the urge to roll his eyes and calmly said, "Simply put, the current market demand requires TV dramas to present elements of 'bromance,' which is why there are more and more of these kinds of dramas."

"Doesn't it make sense now that you've said it like that? I've noticed that you also like to make simple things complicated, so that people can't understand them. My dad likes to talk like that too."

Tsukino Gen looked at the boy beside him and asked, "Do I look like your dad?"

"I think you want to taste the flavor of my iron fist. By the way, why do people talk like that? And the older they get, the more they like to talk like that."

"It's simple, it's to make yourself seem knowledgeable."

"Oh~ just like those famous quotes in textbooks?" "No, they're not. Famous quotes are meant to be comprehensive, which is why they seem complicated, because they're afraid of making mistakes."

"No, no, if we keep talking about this, I might fall asleep in the first class."

Miura Akihiko, realizing the conversation was getting increasingly strange, promptly stopped talking.

Actually, Gen Tsukino doesn't really like talking like that, because it's quite verbose.

Moreover, just as Kazama Sakura said, speaking like that would make him sound like a little old man, which is seriously inconsistent with his image.

We arrived at the classroom together, just a few minutes before morning self-study.

At Zhaori Private High School, morning self-study sessions are either organized by the class monitor or by the homeroom teacher in a short meeting.

However, the position of homeroom teacher is still vacant, and Yamazaki Jihei is still in the hospital, so the students in the class seem to be playing around without restraint.

"By the way, I think some classmates organized a trip to visit Mr. Yamazaki in the hospital over the weekend. Did you go?"

"Why would I go there? I'm really not familiar with it."

"How can you talk about your homeroom teacher like that? But I also can't stand Yamazaki Jihei. It seems like he only has eyes for the female students. It's disgusting."

"You went to see it?"

"No, I heard he's in a vegetative state now, with no chance of recovery in the short term. His uncle's vice principal is having a really tough time. Someone heard him call Yamazaki Jihei a burden."

How did you know that?

Gen Tsukino was genuinely amazed by Akihiko Miura's intelligence capabilities. Goodness, what if he found out in the end that he was the mastermind behind everything?
Miura Akihiko raised an eyebrow smugly. "Well, there's nothing I can do about it. My father has some connections with the school's board members. He mentioned it over a casual chat over dinner at home, saying he was having a lot of trouble choosing a homeroom teacher for our class."

"Is it really that complicated to get a new homeroom teacher?"

“I heard from my dad that it seems that because of Yamazaki Jihei’s accidental fall, the police have also uncovered some other things related to his private life. It’s said that the impact is quite bad, but the school board members still managed to suppress it and prevent it from being leaked, so they plan to carefully select homeroom teachers.”

Hearing Miura Akihiko say that, Tsukino Gen nodded, "Then your plan to have a young, beautiful teacher suddenly appear in our class is probably not going to work out."

"why?"

"Since it is believed that young male teachers like Yamazaki Jihei would have a negative impact, then the new ones will naturally be some mature and prudent teachers."

"Oh, now that you mention it, it's true. Oh well, life isn't a light novel or anime after all."

Miura Akihiko was saying this with a regretful expression.

At this moment, the noisy chatter in the classroom noticeably subsided.

At the door, the grade leader surnamed Gao Gong appeared at the classroom door, frowning as she looked inside.

"Is this the level of discipline you have without a homeroom teacher? The whole hallway can hear your class making noise!"

Gen Tsukino paused for a moment.

These words sound strangely familiar, like something out of place.

Looking in another direction, the girl who had been whispering with her deskmate seemed to be looking at her as if by telepathy.

She blinked and revealed a smug smile.

I don't know what they're laughing at, but it's quite beautiful.

Gen Tsukino stared straight at her until he saw Sakura Kazama blush and couldn't help but turn his head away first.

At this moment, Ms. Takamiya was already standing on the podium. Only after the noise below had subsided did she begin to speak.

"Alright, today I'm going to introduce you to your new homeroom teacher."

"A new homeroom teacher has arrived so soon?"

"That's to be expected, isn't it? After all, Yamazaki-sensei is practically in a vegetative state and there's virtually no chance of him returning to work."

"Who is it? Male or female teacher? I'm so curious! Please, please, let's have a male teacher even more handsome than Mr. Yamazaki!"

"If I could still have a mature and beautiful female teacher in Yamazaki, I'd be much more motivated to study!!"

The area below was already quite noisy, and the young men and women in their seats couldn't help but look up at the door.

The grade leader, Ms. Gao Gong, took a step back, turned to the side, and looked towards the door.

"Sakuraba-sensei, please come in."

The sound of high heels echoed at the classroom door.

Naturally, all eyes were drawn to it.

As if to meet the expectations of so many eyes, just like a game where you must bathe and burn incense before drawing cards, and after making all the necessary ritual preparations, the system finally responds to your prayers.

The most precious card has appeared before your eyes.

Her slightly wavy long hair cascaded over her shoulders.

That delicate face was framed by black-rimmed glasses that accentuated its intellectual appeal.

She walked to the podium with a slender and well-proportioned figure that was not overly thin.

The young and beautiful woman stood there with a gentle smile, looking at everyone who looked at her with surprise.

"Hello everyone. I am your new homeroom teacher, Sakuraba Yuki. Please take good care of me in the days to come."

“Sakuraba.”

Sitting there, Tsukino Gen looked at the radiant young woman on the stage.

Their gaze seemed to transcend time and space.

The blackboard behind her began to look faded and old.

But her gaze remained gentle and tender, like the lazy afternoon sunlight.

……

(End of this chapter)