I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 46 Stop! (Seeking monthly votes~)

The sudden appearance of Rin Asagiri, with her stunning beauty, left most people stunned, standing rooted to the spot as if a gem had been discovered and deserved all the attention. This is perfectly normal.

However, Tsukino Gen quickly noticed that after their initial shock and disbelief, many people's next instinctive action was to take a step back.

Some took big steps, some small steps, and some even trembled slightly.

This shows that they also harbored another emotion towards this girl: fear.

No matter how many accolades she has, or how unique her appearance and temperament are, she's just a high school girl, an ordinary person. Why then does she inspire fear the moment she's seen?

This doesn't seem to be just about her appearance; something seems off about her in their eyes. Has something happened that left such an indelible impression, causing their instinctive reaction to prioritize self-preservation?

Gen Tsukino's gaze quickly shifted to the pretty girl with medium-length hair. It seemed that only she was used to all of this, and her smile as she looked at Rin Asagiri seemed even brighter.

"It's Rin."

She's like a girl who makes you feel warm and comfortable the moment you meet her. It's as if you can see all her signature qualities at a glance, and you can imagine that she is a gentle, generous, approachable, and kind young woman who will help you solve many problems.

How should I put it? It's like the first glimmer of light that a withdrawn and weak male protagonist in a coming-of-age anime sees.

Moreover, she didn't seem afraid of Asagiri Rin at all; on the contrary, she seemed to have an inexplicable closeness to her.

Would Rin Asagiri be friends with someone like that? It's not that it's bad, but it seems a bit strange and suspicious that it happened to her.

The girl called Saionji walked up to Asagiri Rin, then passed over the girl with the cold expression and saw Tsukino Gen standing a little behind her. Her eyes widened slightly.

"Hey, Tsukino-san is here too?"

Gen Tsukino, however, did not remember knowing this girl.

"you know me?"

"Of course, is there anyone in this school who doesn't know Tsukino-kun? There aren't many guys as handsome as you. Of course, Rin is one of a kind too."

She walked over intimately and easily took Asagiri Rin's arm, just like a close best friend.

However, Asagiri Rin frowned slightly and then shook off the other person's hand.

"Didn't you ask me for help before? Now you've brought the person."

Saionji, whose hand had been brushed away, wasn't angry. Instead, she put her index finger to her lips, adopting a thoughtful expression—a rather cinematic gesture. Yet, it didn't seem out of place on her.

"Oh, right, are you talking about the time I talked to you about our photography club shooting the cover for the literary society's new magazine? But I remember I asked you to be the model, didn't I?"

Even Asagiri Rin's aloof and unapproachable demeanor wasn't much better in front of Saionji.

"I'm not filming, so I brought the right people along."

"Hey, didn't you refuse so readily last time? I thought that was the end of it, and I was already looking for someone suitable."

"Stop talking nonsense and just tell me whether you need him or not."

Asagiri Rin interrupted the boy's attempt to continue reminiscing, as there were some things she didn't want the boy behind her to know. He was smart enough to figure it out.

Saionji looked Tsukino Gen up and down, then smiled and her eyes crinkled.

"If it were Tsukino-kun, I would definitely want to use him. If he were on the cover, this literary journal would definitely sell out."

Gen Tsukino glanced at the two of them from behind, then spoke softly.

"Excuse me, doesn't anyone want to ask my opinion?"

Asagiri Rin didn't even turn her head. "You came here on your own, and now you want to back out?"

"It's not that I'm backing out, it's just that I don't think it's anything very interesting. Does it count as a club activity?"

"Club activities?"

Saionji's gaze swept back and forth between the two of them. It was strange how the two of them could act so naturally without even having to talk to each other face to face.

Asagiri Rin said coldly, "Club activities are just about doing meaningless things. If you don't want to, that's fine with you."

At that moment, Tsukino Gen took a step forward.

Then, with an innocent smile, she looked at Saionji and said, "No, I agree."

"Huh? Did Tsukino-san agree?"

Saionji seemed quite surprised.

The boy nodded. "I've never been a model before, so giving it a try seems like a good idea."

Saionji seemed pleasantly surprised, and gently clapped her hands together in front of her.

"That's wonderful! Tsukino-san is definitely the best model. And you, Shiratori, get ready, your co-star is Tsukino-san!"

"Huh? Tsukino? Really? Senpai, you're not kidding me!"

A commotion came from the activity room, as if a surprised and flustered girl had knocked over some equipment.

"What do I need to prepare? Like clothes or something."

Tsukino Gendo asked.

Saionji smiled and shook her head. "No need at all. It's a school theme anyway, so just wear your school uniform. Besides, I think Tsukino-san's face really doesn't need any makeup or hairstyle. She can just pose for us later."

"So simple?"

"It's very simple for you, please come with me."

Saionji turned around and led Tsukino Gen into the activity room.

Asagiri Rin, who was standing still, seemed to be inexplicably ignored by the two.

Her expression seemed unchanged, but only those who knew her well could tell that her hostile aura had intensified.

Didn't this jerk dislike taking photos? Why did he agree so readily?

Do it on purpose!

Fine, as long as he makes some pretentious face, I'll save the photo and laugh at him mercilessly later.

You're always putting on airs. Do you really think no one can see through your facade?

Asagiri Rin followed him in without making a sound, and no one stopped him.

She didn't care about other people's gazes.

However, Tsukino Gen seemed to be more popular than she had expected. Every girl she saw seemed to blush and come up to greet her.

Including that girl who looks petite but has a pure and innocent appearance, and a particularly youthful vibe.

"Hello, Tsukino-kun! Nice to meet you! You can call me Shiratori!"

The girl in front of him greeted him somewhat reservedly.

The slight blush on her cheeks looked natural, and Tsukino Gen understood at first glance why Saionji had chosen her as the female lead. She wasn't the type to be strikingly beautiful at first glance, but she was pleasing to the eye and easy on the eyes. She perfectly matched most men's fantasies.

They dared not dream of beauties like Rin Asagiri or Sakura Kazama, because they were too far removed from their world. On the contrary, such figures perfectly fit the role of their fantasy girlfriend.

Gen Tsukino was also very polite.

"Hello. Please take care of me." "Okay!"

The girl nodded vigorously.

They seemed full of anticipation and motivation for what was to come.

Can I take a picture with Tsukino Gen? Unbelievable.

After taking the photos, she would strut around showing them off, letting her friends and besties see what a high-quality man really is!
The photography club's activity room looked quite professional, with its lighting, backdrops, and pre-set backgrounds. Even the cameras seemed to be high-end.

It's a pity that Tsukino Gen doesn't know much about this area; his only interest in photography is in candid selfies.

Saionji quickly took control of the situation, ignoring Asagiri Rin beside him, and began to give orders.

"Come on, stand in front of the white cloth. Camera and lighting, get in position! We're going to start shooting right now. Shiratori, part your bangs a little in the middle. Leave a strand out, don't press it down too tightly."

Gen Tsukino and Shiratori stood in front of the white cloth, the lights shining on them, and the photographer began to find the right angle.

Asagiri Rin watched coldly. She initially thought it was nothing, just taking a picture, but it might become this boy's embarrassing history in the future.

But things started to go wrong when Saionji started directing the two of them.

"Come on, you two, come a little closer. Hmm, even closer. Shiratori, don't be shy, it's just a photo, come a little closer!"

Shiratori's face seemed to be burning, the rosy glow even more pronounced than the blush she had applied.

"Is it okay to be so close?"

Gen Tsukino seemed oblivious, simply standing there facing her.

"fine."

"Feel sorry."

Tsk.

Why stand this close for a magazine cover photo? Anyone who didn't know better would think it was a wedding photo shoot.

Isn't this just like the current trend online? As long as it attracts attention, anything goes, even if it's just someone who looks so ordinary.

She took out her phone, pretending to be busy and indifferent to everything. She was simply waiting to leave with the boy after it was all over.

"Click."

The sound of the camera taking pictures did not bring her any satisfaction.

Instead, it prevented her from focusing on the phone screen, while Saionji continued to give instructions from beside her.

"Give me a little flirtation. Tsukino-kun, look me in the eye. Yes, yes, that's it!"

Ambiguous feelings? Does taking a photo automatically create ambiguity?

Just a moment ago it was Tsukino-kun, now it's Tsukino-kun. This woman is nothing but a sucker for good looks.

They're still looking at each other.
Her gaze unconsciously drifted away from the screen, glancing out of the corner of her eye towards the white cloth.

The boy and girl stood together, facing each other.

They looked at each other.

The girl's eyes were natural, seemingly filled with a heartfelt flutter and shyness, carrying an indescribable, youthful affection.
What a disgusting look.

And what about Tsukino Gen?
His eyes were deep and his expression calm, but his usually cold gaze had softened, as if he were truly looking into the eyes of a childhood sweetheart, someone with whom he shared mutual affection.
Tsk.

"Crack!"

She doesn't want this photo.

It's so disgusting that it's beyond anything that's pretentious.

It's physically uncomfortable to look at.

"It's good to maintain this state. Here, give them an umbrella. Tsukino-kun, you hold it!"

Still taking pictures?

Return the umbrella?
They're even doing role-playing now?
No, how many photos do you need to take for one publication?
Her hand gripped the phone tighter and tighter, the veins on the back of her fair hand becoming more prominent. If someone saw this, coupled with her unconsciously clenched teeth, they would probably think this incredibly beautiful girl was trying to crush her phone with her bare hands.

An umbrella was placed in Tsukino Gen's hand.

It was raised above the shy white bird's head.

Asagiri Rin has completely stopped looking at her phone; it's not just a matter of glancing at it out of the corner of her eye. She's staring straight at it.

Saionji's voice echoed in my ears.

"Hold them low, but don't cover your faces, that's good!"

Other members of the photography club who were also watching this scene kept expressing their feelings.

"I'm really moved just watching this scene. Has Tsukino never been a model? She looks so natural."

"It's fine if he's filming alone, but with someone else around, shouldn't he be a little awkward and strange? But he really seems to be filming a movie."

"I feel like this shouldn't be a magazine cover, it should be a TV drama cover! I can already imagine Shiratori and Tsukino's youthful love story, I can't take it anymore."

Those voices were like ghosts, echoing around Rin Asagiri.

She herself didn't realize that her breathing had become noticeably rapid.

I can no longer think of my previous intentions, my plan to humiliate the other party, or my plan to obtain embarrassing photos.

She heard these sounds both distant and very close.

She also heard Saionji say...

“Come here, Shiratori. Reach up and hold the bottom edge of the umbrella handle, below Tsukino-kun’s hand.”

Shiratori hesitated for a moment, "Really...is it okay?"

Her heart was pounding.

Although I wasn't going to hold their hand, just feeling their presence so close, and seeing their flawless appearance, was enough.
She felt like she was about to faint.

She stretched out her hand and moved it upwards little by little; it seemed the other person had deliberately left her some space.

But she was thinking.

Should I pretend I didn't see it clearly and instead cover Tsukino Gen's hand with my hand?

Tsukino-san seems so gentle, she probably won't think anything of it, right? I just need to apologize right away.

just one time.

Just once.
Hehe
Just as she made up her mind, she swung her arm faster, about to cover the other person's hand.

"stop."

……

Oh no, I think I'm sick. I'm dizzy, have a sore throat, and feel weak all over.


(End of this chapter)