I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 86 Obsession (Second Update, 4000 words)

Tick.

Tick.

The artificial rockery and pond outside the restaurant simulate the sound of a babbling mountain spring.

"call."

Morita Kaoru, holding a thin women's cigarette between her fingers, exhaled a not-so-thick puff of smoke.

She rarely smokes and is very careful at work, so she rarely slacks off. She also knows that the young lady doesn't like the smell of cigarettes, so she is quite restrained during work hours.

I might only light a cigarette when I have time and when I'm extremely frustrated, like right now.

She had a headache.

The last time it happened with the paper airplane, the lady's attitude was already strange. She wasn't sure if it was tacit approval; she even felt it might be a test for her. But now a similar situation has arisen again.

The young lady, who never spends time alone with any boy, has brought him here to eat together. How should I report this to her when I get back?
What will the lady's attitude be?
She felt that Asagiri Rin was like a little girl who had suddenly found an interesting toy in her boring life. She was in the stage of getting used to new things, so she began to break her habits and ignore the boundaries that should exist.

Perhaps Asagiri Rin was indeed fearless; even the most obedient girl has her rebellious moments.

But what about my job?

Will this pampered young lady also become like a little girl, deeply immersed in such youthful games? Asagiri Rin is not such a simple person. The problem still lies with this boy named Tsukino Gen.

He was so special. Although we hadn't talked much and I didn't know him very well, his demeanor and behavior were quite unique in the few times we met.

What is their relationship like?

I couldn't help but glance at the private room with its door tightly closed. What were they doing?
Will they get along like those young couples in TV dramas?
Is it romantic or melodramatic?
"Snapped."

Asagiri Rin's face flushed slightly, her cold eyes fixed on her wrist that was being held.

Unfortunately, the slap didn't land on Gen Tsukino's face.

The smile remained on his face, but it looked so irritating.

"Why are you so angry? If you're going to fight, finish your food first."

He gently released his hand, leaving little warmth of his palm on her fair and delicate wrist.

Since the slap failed, Asagiri Rin naturally wouldn't try a second time, as that would seem too impulsive and undignified.

She lowered her hand and said in an icy voice, "I said before that I could overlook what you did to offend me, but I never said I wouldn't pursue it. Do you know that your answer just now gave me every reason to easily destroy you?"

Gen Tsukino nodded, his expression sincere.

"You have no reason and could easily ruin my life, but I don't think it's necessary."

"What right do you have to think about my affairs on my behalf?"

"Because this is also my business."

She looked at him.

Gen Tsukino had almost finished eating, took a sip of hot tea, and then looked into the other's dark eyes with clear eyes.

"I think it was a great night. But there are many memorable nights in life, and because of the different people you're with, they are all different and wonderful. Tonight is no exception."

"So, in your opinion, this matter is simply settled?"

Asagiri Rin was unwilling to accept this.

But she doesn't seem to understand where the root of this resentment comes from.

All she knew was that Tsukino Gen's current attitude made her very unhappy, really unhappy.

It's like you've taken a sip of beer that's instantly intoxicating, but you just can't seem to get that crucial burp out.

But Tsukino Gen had already stood up, looking down at Asagiri Rin.

The girl subconsciously looked up, unaware that this was no longer a comfortable eye contact situation; she was completely out of her comfort zone. She never liked looking up at others like this, especially not a man.

But in my eyes, he was already standing under the lights, enveloped by the slightly dazzling light, as if the ordinary world had been given a magical filter.

He just kept his head down and said to himself.

"If you feel you've lost out, then consider it a lesson learned."

"If you feel like you haven't had enough, that's okay, there might be a next time."

"Crench."

Gen Tsukino opened the door to the private room and walked out, the instant Morita Kaoru's gaze shifted to him from outside.

He quickly closed the door.

Morita Kaoru was confused, and the next moment...

"boom!"

There was a loud thud as something hit the door and then shattered on the ground.

"."

Kaoru Morita threw away her cigarette, turned around, and looked serious.

The boy in front of her walked straight toward her, almost triggering an instinctive reaction in Morita Kaoru. Her seemingly slender and well-proportioned limbs were already in a state of muscle tension.

Her goal was simple: to check on Asagiri Rin's condition. No matter how special the boy seemed, if he did anything harmful to Asagiri Rin, she had both the right and the obligation to keep him under control.
But for some reason, seeing him approach so unguarded, Morita Kaoru immediately felt a strange sense of vigilance and unease. It was as if the sense of unease was preventing him from making any possible move. It was like a silent warning from his intuition.

Tsukino Gen stopped and spoke with a smile.

"Don't worry. She's fine, she just needs some time to process things."

Morita Kaoru stared intently at Tsukino Gen. In her mind, the boy was now within two steps of her, his entire body riddled with weaknesses, and she couldn't possibly fail to subdue him. But because of this simple statement, she hesitated, forced to think and make a judgment.

"what have you done?"

She felt she needed to make her stance clear.

Gen Tsukino thought for a moment, "Have you ever watched romance movies or TV dramas about young men and women? Anime is fine too."

"."

Kaoru Morita remained expressionless and did not answer.

Gen Tsukino shrugged. "There are always disagreements between men and women, but I'm a generous person and allow your young lady to vent as she pleases. If she hadn't come out quickly, I would have been injured."

"you"

Morita Kaoru found this statement a bit strange.

She had never seen anyone make Asagiri Rin so angry that she smashed things.

But why does he seem to be the one who's wronged? Is this what dating is? Is this what adolescence is? This is so bizarre.

Before she could finish speaking, a voice came from not far away.

"Crench."

The door opened again.

This time, a girl walked out, dressed appropriately, with neatly combed hair, and even her expression was calm, as if nothing had happened.

"Miss."

Morita Kaoru immediately looked at her.

Asagiri Rin merely glanced at her indifferently, "I'm fine."

"."

Morita Kaoru didn't understand what this subtle atmosphere meant; she could only sense its presence. After glancing at the harmless smile on the boy's face, she could only silently step aside.

One after the other.

This time, it was Tsukino Gen who was the first to walk out of the restaurant halfway up the mountain.

He stopped in front of the car, turned around, and Asagiri Rin, who was walking ahead of Morita Kaoru, stopped and stared at him. In the darkness, the streetlights were like clusters of fireflies, illuminating only this small area. They didn't seem to be people embraced by light.

Morita Kaoru felt that he might have to take the boy home first, then the girl home, and then answer the wife's questions before he could leave work.

Rin Asagiri, however, did not think so. She believed that the boy would casually suggest going home on his own at this moment, and then appear in front of her tomorrow as if nothing had happened.

It's about keeping a respectful distance, or perhaps maintaining a detached and distant relationship.

But to her surprise, the boy who had stopped pointed towards the bay and asked in an unusually cheerful tone, "Want to go see the sea?"

I really want to see the sea. Dad said he'll take me when he gets better. Have you ever seen the sea?

The distant memory stung her nerves, and she almost immediately frowned.

The sensation was like a nerve skipping the painkiller's treatment, suddenly flaring up. It left her momentarily dazed. "Go home."

She finally got into the car with a cold tone, without heading towards the sea or offering to take Tsukino Gen home.

As the car started, I could still see the boy walking alone on the road in the rearview mirror, one hand in his pocket. He didn't look disheveled or pitiful.

The people inside the car and the people outside seem to be from two different worlds, with different speeds and directions, so they should be heading towards two different worlds.

They didn't even bother to take him home; it was as if they were completely separating the two paths and abandoning him.

But why, the moment she turned her face away, did she genuinely feel that it was difficult to truly let go?

Morita Kaoru didn't say a word the whole way, just drove silently until they returned to the luxurious and spacious mansion, which was like a courtyard, or rather, a paradise.

Rin Asagiri, who had remained silent the whole time, got off the car and went home.

"came back?"

Passing through the long corridor into the main hall, a record player was turned on, slowly spinning a vinyl record. The mature and beautiful woman possessed the most composed and elegant demeanor.

She sat there, holding her tea, and slightly raised her eyes to look at herself.

The girl bowed respectfully.

"I am back."

"You seem to be coming back a bit late these past few days. Are you doing something interesting?"

The woman's voice was very kind, as if she were a perfectly normal mother caring for her daughter.

Asagiri Rin's expression remained unchanged as she calmly replied, "I joined a new club at school, so I participated in club activities."

"Really? Eating alone with someone counts as a club activity?"

The woman smiled, her beauty and elegance were beyond compare.

Under that gaze, Asagiri Rin nodded without any guilt. "Yes. If you mind, I'll be more careful in the future."

"It's ok."

The woman's quick reply surprised the girl.

"Mother."

“I’ve said it before, you’re all grown up now, you can absolutely try to take control of your life and have what you want.”

Asagiri Rin knew perfectly well that this woman was fully aware of her whereabouts and would definitely know what she had been doing these past few days. However, she didn't quite understand the meaning behind the other woman's words.

Is it a test or an encouragement?

She could only nod vaguely, "I understand."

"Okay, let's go and rest."

"Good night."

"Good night."

Only after the girl left the hall could Kaoru Morita appear at the door.

She said respectfully, "Madam."

The woman looked at Morita Kaoru with a calm gaze.

Tell me what happened tonight.

"Yes."

Morita Kaoru didn't hide anything, mainly because she felt there was nothing to hide. After all, she hadn't heard what the two said in the private room, only what she saw later. There seemed to be no point in hiding anything, so she told them everything.

After speaking, she looked at the beautiful woman with a hint of nervousness, but unexpectedly saw a raised eyebrow. A slightly unfamiliar, even playful expression?

Such an expression was rare on her face; at least, Morita Kaoru had seldom seen it. She had always found this woman both gentle and terrifying, even though she never seemed to get angry at anyone. But sometimes, looking at her felt like looking at a thousand masks.

The thought of the many rumors surrounding her after returning to the family is particularly chilling.

"He's a very interesting person."

She made a comment.

Morita Kaoru lowered her head and did not agree, because she was not qualified.

She thought there would be more to come, but all she heard was the sound of the woman getting up. She stood up, walked to her, and looked at her.

"Well done, go and rest. Rin will be on summer vacation soon, you can take a break too."

"Thank you, Madam."

Asagiri Rin didn't pay attention to these things. She could roughly guess what would happen next, but she didn't care much.

I took a bath and soaked in the tub, letting the foam and hot water wash over my milky white skin.

The spacious bathroom lights made her squint slightly as she soaked in the water, reflecting on everything that had happened that day—every word the boy had said, every expression he had made. She still couldn't seem to figure out why she remained so troubled and unable to find a solution.

I received no answer; that awful person would never give me any definite response.

Is this revenge for his own contradictory and unclear statements?

What an annoying person.

"They clearly don't mention the past."

She muttered something, gently lifted the snow-white foam from her high breasts, blew on it, and watched it flutter before her eyes.

It has no rainbow colors, just monotonous transparency.

"Ding."

Suddenly, her phone, which was lying to the side, made a sound, and she turned her gaze to it.

Messages on self?

As if sensing something, she stretched out her smooth, washed arm and picked up her phone.

The news comes from Tsukino Gen.

It's a simple photograph: waves crashing against the shore, with faint lights on the distant coastline, seemingly from moonlight or perhaps from a distant lighthouse. The scene is hazy and indistinct, yet possesses a remarkable artistic quality.

She frowned as she read the next message the other person had sent.

Actually, the sea at night is no less beautiful than a sunny beach; this world always has so many magical things that fascinate us.

She looked at this sentence.

Something suddenly occurred to me.

She didn't reply to the message, but put down her phone and let her body sink slightly, the water almost reaching her lips.

She finally understood why she was so fixated on that kiss and couldn't stop thinking about it.

What exactly is it that I'm unwilling to accept?

Why won't he admit that the kiss came from his own involuntary impulse?
Why won't he admit that the moment he kissed her, he was as infatuated with himself as he was with the ocean?

She's not the kind of girl you see everywhere, someone you can easily forget.

She was someone he met in his youth, someone he should have remembered for a lifetime, someone who would always hold a grudge against him, someone who would shine whenever she appeared in his sight.

That's right.

He should be obsessed with himself.

The girl suddenly stood up, her perfect body, like that of a goddess, under the bathroom light, possessed a magnificent beauty like an ivory sculpture.

It splashed water, creating bubbles.

Her eyes were resolute.

"Crash."

Water droplets slid off the wet body.

The boy, who had swum ashore from the bay, took off his wet shirt and quickly dried it in his hands using his inner energy.

He gazed at the shimmering horizon where the moon hung high.

"Why the hell did I have to film this thing?"

……

(End of this chapter)