I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 39 The Burning Sky (Seeking monthly votes!)

There are obvious signs of rust in front of the old security door.

This is nothing noteworthy, since the entire apartment building is pretty much the same.

The bright red paint and the countless extra words "repay the money" seem to be unique to this one place.

Gen Tsukino frowned. Instead of immediately knocking on the door or taking out his key, he went back to his room, put down his backpack, and changed his clothes.

Then he went next door and knocked on the door.

There was no response at first, nor was there any sound of a wheelchair approaching the door.

Gen Tsukino wasn't wasting any time; since the key hadn't been returned, he opened the door.

The room was quiet, and even though it was evening, no one turned on the lights. The drawn curtains blocked out the dim light, making the room seem like the only place the sun had forgotten. Perhaps this atmosphere made the room seem like the only place untouched by fate.

Gen Tsukino understands somewhat the thoughts of many people who are not favored by fate. Some gradually get used to it, then turn a blind eye to their misfortunes, firmly believing that as long as they live, they will succeed. Like an immortal tree, they will grow even if they bend over.

Some people try to make their suffering more obvious, to make themselves seem like the most miserable people in the world. They sink deeper into despair, unable to find a way out.

It's not exactly a sarcastic or arrogant judgment, because most of them don't want to drag down those around them, so they're willing to make themselves look like a hopeless quagmire.

Tsukino Gen found her in her bedroom.

The door to the room was open, and the lights were off; only the light from the open laptop illuminated her numb face.

There was no sign of crying, and she seemed oblivious to the approaching footsteps.

It was as if time had frozen, fixing her there, making her a sculpture in a story.

Until Tsukino Gen calmly spoke.

"Have you eaten?"

Her shoulders trembled slightly, and then she turned her head and saw Tsukino Gen.

Her expression was familiar and indifferent, seemingly devoid of any emotional fluctuation. She opened her mouth, as if wanting to say something, but then realized she didn't know what to say.

He shook his head dejectedly.

"Is it that you can't write what you want to write? Do you want me to take a look?"

Gen Tsukino walked straight into the other person's bedroom, showing no sense of boundaries that a girl's private room shouldn't be entered by a boy.

Or perhaps their relationship no longer fits these rules; if she were allowed to be unrestrained or simply respected, she would make a mess of things herself.

Kiyono Mizuki quickly shut down the computer and turned her face away.

"fine."

Tsukino Gen didn't try to turn on the other person's computer; he simply sat next to her, leaning against the table, looking down at her.

"I saw those two people downstairs; were they there to collect a debt?"

Upon hearing this, Kiyono Mizuki inevitably reacted, staring intently at Tsukino Gen, taking in his face and body.

Arms and legs.

What did they do to you?

"What can they do to me? They don't even know me. On the contrary, you're trying to pretend nothing happened but you can't even do it right, so why bother?"

Faced with the boy's joking question.

Kiyono Mizuki shook her head. "Anyway, you'll see the marks on the door."

"Did you know they threw paint?"

"It's a normal thing, I'm used to it."

Kiyono Mizuki weakly reached out and touched the strands of hair on her forehead, appearing utterly exhausted. She seemed like a young person just about to embark on a career, only to suddenly receive devastating news of a family tragedy. For a moment, she didn't know where to direct her energy, ultimately finding herself powerless to do anything.

"that's it?"

Gen Tsukino's tone was also relaxed, as if what had happened was insignificant.

Kiyono Mizuki felt something was off. Of course she could say that, but wasn't he treating her like an outsider? No. He was an outsider to begin with.

What's wrong with me? I was so determined at the beginning not to drag him down, but now I actually hope he can help me.

This is probably what it means to be beyond help, like someone drowning, who will treat everything around them as a lifeline, even if it's just a straw.

There is also a letter.

She took the letter out from under the table.

I don't know why, but I originally planned not to show it to him no matter what, but when he asked, I couldn't help but take it out.

It seems that I am worried that he really can just ignore me so easily, even though he has no obligation to me, I still instinctively rely on him.

They're getting weaker and weaker.

She thought to herself with some sadness.

Gen Tsukino picked up the letter; it was a very common type of threatening letter.

The cover was grotesque, stained with bright red paint to mimic blood. Seriously, this isn't a movie shoot; do the props have to be this realistic?
The content is even simpler.

Give Kiyono Mizuki two weeks to raise around 30 million yen.

Otherwise they would take everything from Kiyono Mizuki, even her as a person.

Threatening words are common. After quickly reading them, Tsukino Gen looked at the aloof girl who was staring at him.

"That's funny. What do they need a disabled person like you for? To do charity?"

"Perhaps."

Kiyono Mizuki was somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, but he was quite used to this kind of 'hellish joke,' or rather, only by joking like this could he vaguely feel that he was not incomplete. He didn't feel entirely sorry for himself either.

"Thirty million is far beyond your ability to repay; you couldn't do it even if you sold everything you own. How much money did your father borrow a year ago?"

Kiyono Mizuki took a deep breath.

"I remember it was around ten million yen."

Gen Tsukino frowned. "Even if your father had the skills and partners, the fact that he was allowed to borrow so much money probably meant he wasn't really planning to pay it back. Turning it into over 30 million in a year clearly shows they didn't intend for you to repay it."

Kiyono Mizuki also realized something.

She glanced at her numb legs and said with a bitter smile, "They probably never imagined I'd end up like this. But it seems that even though I'm disabled, they're not going to let me go."

The young girl, at the age when she should be blossoming with youth, smiled as if all the flowers had withered.

That was indeed a pitiful expression on my face.

Tsukino Gen glanced at her. "What do you plan to do?"

Kiyono Mizuki looked at him and said, "I'll think of a way. You must not contact them."

Gen Tsukino met the other's gaze. She usually appeared cold on the surface, but her heart was extremely soft. She could easily show timidity, and it didn't take much effort to see through her disguise.

Now, she wasn't looking at him with much intensity, and even her tone was quite balanced. But her gaze was unwavering.

Gen Tsukino thought for a moment, "Then if I want to see you in the future, won't I only be able to patronize your business?"

"you!"

A blush crept onto Kiyono Mizuki's face; she was clearly annoyed by the joke.

Does he really think jokes can solve everything? Even if he feels better now, the trouble will still come knocking on his door as scheduled, won't it?
What can she do?
There was absolutely no other way. If it really came to that, in order not to drag the boy down, she would have to make the most extreme choice.

Death seems to be the simplest way to absolve debts.

Tsukino Gen glanced at her. "Don't worry too much. Such high interest rates aren't protected by law. I recently met a nice police officer who might be able to help. And don't think I'd go looking for trouble on my own, or drag myself into this mess because of you. I'm not a saint, and I value my life too. Let's wait and see."

If Tsukino Gen just keeps comforting himself that things will be better tomorrow and nothing will happen.

Kiyono Mizuki would be very worried that the boy might do something extreme. She might not admit that she was an important person to Tsukino Gen, but even if there was only a one percent chance, she would not allow him to take such a big risk for her.

Compared to himself, whose life was almost half ruined, his life was just beginning.

But Tsukino Gen's words made the girl somewhat skeptical.

“Those people are troublesome; they’re almost reckless. Ordinary police officers might not be able to handle them.”

"Well, we should at least give it a try, otherwise do you really expect me to patronize your business?"

"You still said that!"

Kiyono Mizuki was so angry that she wanted to stand up, but unfortunately, people can't do everything when they're angry.

Gen Tsukino pressed down on her shoulders, which were hunched up like a kitten's hiss, and gently kneaded them like a massage, with just the right amount of pressure. It made her feel a little pain, yet also a sense of comfort within the discomfort.

Could I really be a masochist?
After calming her down a bit, Tsukino Gen spoke in a gentle, flowing voice behind her.

"Never think about the most extreme outcome unless things have reached a dead end. That's not a debt you should bear, and you're never alone."

The boy's voice always flows into one's heart at just the right moment.

His words can never be ignored.

Although she knew this matter was like a nightmare haunting her and would be very difficult to resolve, she still wanted to believe everything he said.

She leaned weakly against the back of her wheelchair.

Tsukino Gen said with a smile.

"Let's go for a walk while the sun is still setting."

"Ok?"

Before the girl could refuse, Tsukino Gen pushed her all the way out and down the stairs.

During this time, Kiyono Mizuki was still struggling.

"No. I haven't even changed my clothes. Wait a minute, at least let me wash my face!"

As soon as I stepped outside, I felt like I was full of flaws, unable to face the gaze of others, and even less able to appear openly with this boy in any light.

Tsukino Gen, however, ignored everything and said with a smile.

"By the time you finish washing your face, the moon will be out. What's the point of watching the sunset? It'll be too late."

"But...I..."

She didn't know how to put it, feeling like she looked disheveled and no different from a beggar next to him.

She was afraid of seeing people looking at her with pitiful eyes, and even more afraid of seeing Tsukino Gen's expression of sympathy.

I just went downstairs.

The elderly woman, who always returned from grocery shopping at this time, saw the two of them and immediately gave them a kind smile, her face full of wrinkles.

"Going out again?"

Kiyono Mizuki buried her face in her hands, wishing she could hide it between her legs.

Gen Tsukino replied with a smile, "Yes, let's go for a walk."

What kind of walk can someone in a wheelchair take?
But the old lady in front of me nodded repeatedly.

"That's great. Every time I see you guys, I think of my old man. I'm so happy. Take good care of Mizuki. The days spent together are the most ordinary, but also the most precious, Tsukino-kun."

"of course."

As the wheelchair moved forward.

Kiyono Mizuki slowly raised her head, looking somewhat confused.

Then Tsukino Gen's voice rang out from behind, as steady as the person he was pushing forward.

"To be alive and still see the sunlight is already a blessing. Even if it's just the sunset."

Kiyono Mizuki subconsciously raised her head.

She saw the horizon.

The fiery clouds seemed to possess a vibrant life force, even though the light should have been fading with age.

It's burning.

It spread like wildfire.

……

(End of this chapter)