I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 90 Three Salted Fish (4700 words)

Sometimes I really don't understand what girls are thinking.

The boy, leisurely twirling his pen in class, was lost in thought.

However, Tsukino Gen had long accepted the fact that he would be surrounded by strange girls, and he didn't even know when it would end.

After all, one's existence is already special enough to this world; it's impossible to truly live a life of detachment, trying to be a completely ordinary person. That would be too naive.

But it's impossible to devise specific strategies for these girls. Is life really a game to be mastered? It's more about wanting more and losing more in the pursuit. He prefers to experience things firsthand, exploring and naturally understanding their meaning. Even if it has no meaning, it doesn't matter.

After all, the universe is vast, and no matter how grand it is described, it is ultimately nothing to a tiny individual.

Living in the moment may seem like a cliché, but it's actually quite useful.

What role does Karen Saionji want to play in her own life, or rather, what does she want to do, and what is her goal? Gen Tsukino doesn't want to concern himself with these things for the time being; in his view, she poses a negligible threat.

As for what Asagiri Rin's attitude towards him would be after she said those words that night, Tsukino Gen wasn't really looking forward to it.

It should be said that those who maintain a calm mindset and don't have too many expectations for everything are always able to reap pleasant surprises.

Very girly.

How many days has it been since I last won a scratch-off lottery ticket?
It makes me so angry just thinking about it!
"Clap."

A slight sound landed on his head. Tsukino Gen looked up and saw Sakuraba Yuki, dressed in a teacher's uniform with her long hair tied up, looking at him with a seriousness that contrasted with her intellectual demeanor.

Especially those black-rimmed glasses, which always give you the urge to take them off and stare directly into their pupils.

"Tsukino-kun, no matter how good your grades are usually, don't be complacent. You need to concentrate in class so that you can make a good ending to this semester."

"understood."

The boy put down his pen, and a fragrant breeze gently passed by.

It seemed like this was just a perfectly normal thing to do in class. Tsukino Gen didn't seem to notice the faint laughter coming from the other students who saw this scene; it wasn't malicious mockery.

However, he noticed that Sakuraba Yuki, who passed by him, had a fleeting smile on her lips.

No, what is she so proud of?
Just like a cautious and shrewd policeman who finally caught the criminal's only weakness and accomplished a great feat.

What a naive teacher.

Sakuraba Yuki was indeed in a good mood because summer vacation was approaching, which meant she would have a comfortable break, even though she hadn't been working at the school for very long. However, the pressure was greater than anywhere else.

A decent salary and above-average benefits naturally bring with them the anxiety of not being worthy of their position.

Even reminding herself not to be a person who wastes her energy internally, the situation doesn't seem to improve much; perhaps a perfect vacation is needed for some healing. She's even wondering if she should use the summer vacation to improve herself to feel more confident.
I stole a glance at the boy who had stopped twirling his pen.

Being a student is so much more comfortable. Damn it, seeing him so relaxed and carefree makes me so annoyed.

It's been a long time since we ate together.
Gen Tsukino was unaware of these things, because he was currently entangled in other matters. This time, it wasn't a girl; it was Akihiko Miura.

It seems that after that day's events, the boy showed an inexplicable drive to improve. He even started asking his teacher questions about the problems in class, and even sought answers from the boy after class, still puzzled by the questions.

The answer was given, but Tsukino Gen looked at the other person strangely.

"Didn't you always say you weren't cut out for studying? Why are you working so hard?"

Miura Akihiko chuckled, "I'm definitely not cut out for studying, but I can't just not study at all, right? Otherwise, I'll look really embarrassing next to you later."

You don't think you weren't shameful before, do you?
"You're making it sound like you want to be my lackey. I have no grand ambitions, and my life is incredibly boring. Don't overthink it."

Gen Tsukino gave the other party a heads-up beforehand, reminding him that his life wasn't a shonen manga and that he wouldn't be led down a path of being a student by day and a Batman upholding justice by night because of one incident.

"Don't worry, I'm here with my buddies, I won't be bored!"

Something sounds off.

School is finally over, and I'm free from Miura Akihiko, who was a bit clingy today.

Are you going to club activities today?

A tall, beautiful girl with long legs, about 1.7 meters tall, stood in front of him, her high ponytail tied behind her head swaying slightly, as if she were the kind of image that every boy should have in his youth.

Gen Tsukino nodded. "Go ahead, it's been several days since I've been there."

"Let's go together~" Kazama Sakura stood on tiptoe in front of Tsukino Gen, seemingly to compare their heights.

But no matter how you look at it, it looks like a dog that has seen its owner and can't help but want to rub against them.

I really want to pat her head.

But we're right at the classroom door now, so I'll pass; I still have some self-consciousness about my image.

"Ah."

"By the way, what are your plans for summer vacation?"

On the way, Kazama Sakura asked.

Wandering among the green leaves, the faint fragrance of summer flowers wafted from the nearby flowerbeds. Of course, all of this paled in comparison to the girl beside me.

Even the precious sunlight only appears beautiful because it falls on her black hair.

"Didn't we ask this question before?"

"Oh dear, I forgot."

"I don't have any plans, I'll probably just stay home and relax. I remember you said you were going to get a summer job."

Gen Tsukino said casually.

"No, are you telling me that you remember what I did, but I don't remember what you said, so that I'll feel ashamed?"

The girl blinked.

Gen Tsukino smiled faintly, "I know you remember, but I just couldn't think of a topic to start with, so I just came up with something random."

"Don't pretend you know everything, that's really malicious."

The girl hummed softly, a faint pink blush rising to her cheeks.

Yes, I do remember him saying that, and it was indeed a topic I brought up. But even though I know he deliberately brought it up to satisfy his own cheeky personality, I still can't help feeling excited because he remembered what I said.

That's terrible.

The child, searching everywhere for candy, found each piece sweeter than the last.

Have you decided on a location for your summer job?

Gen Tsukino asked casually, not intending to stop the girl from taking on a part-time job. Even if she could easily make money with her abilities and easily package herself as a kept woman, it would be pointless.

It would only wither away the girl's soul and personality. And even if I wanted to do it, I doubt she would accept it.

Kazama Sakura nodded. "My aunt found me a job in advance. It's a coffee shop, and I can work as a cashier there. I can go when I have a holiday."

"Hmm? It's not one of those maid-themed ones."

"What are you thinking about! This is a perfectly respectable coffee shop." After saying that, Kazama Sakura looked at the boy suspiciously, "Why do you have to mention maids?"

"Ah, maybe it's because I've been watching too much anime lately. Ugh, those damn boyish fantasies! The quality of anime has been getting worse and worse lately, I feel like I'm starting to smell like an otaku myself."

Sakura Kazama even took a gentle sniff. She squinted her eyes and moved slightly closer to Gen Tsukino, like a cat tentatively approaching a human.

Are you implying something to me?

"What are you hinting at?"

"You like maid themes?"

The girl's cheeks flushed, but her eyes flashed with a dangerous light.

Gen Tsukino narrowed his eyes. "If you like it, will you wear it?"

The girl was completely taken aback by the other person's directness, leaving her momentarily blank and at a loss for what to do.

Her fingers gripped the hem of the pleated skirt tightly. "This...this...I..."

Maid outfit?

Will you wear it yourself?

Although I've seen it online and know that many boys have a special fetish for uniforms, isn't it a bit too shameful?
Considering their current relationship, isn't going to go this far a bit...?
"It seems that Kazama-kun has a lot of strange things on his mind."

Tsukino Gen said jokingly.

"No, that's not true! It's just that what you said is weird, okay!"

The girl's pretty face turned bright red.

Gen Tsukino didn't mind her occasional wild thoughts. Imagination is a human gift; some people use it to create, and some use it to enjoy, which is perfectly normal.

"Is it because I'm strange that you've become strange?"

"Of course!"

Kazama Sakura nodded vigorously, eager to draw a definitive conclusion.

Gen Tsukino pondered for a moment, then looked at Sakura Kazama with a slightly serious expression.

"Then you'd better be careful, Kazama-kun."

"What do you mean?" "Because my strangeness doesn't stop there. If strangeness can really be contagious, your future could be quite terrifying."

The girl, blushing, blinked and stopped at the bottom of the steps before entering the building where the activity room was located. Sensing this, Tsukino Gen also stopped and looked at her.

She proudly raised her face, with a hint of bravado.

"so what?"

The sunlight was at a perfect angle, reflecting off the glass of the building across the street onto her fine, bouncy ponytail.

Without you, my future might only have one color left.

"Yeah, so what?"

Gen Tsukino couldn't hear her thoughts, but he seemed to understand her eyes. Does understanding develop over time, or is it simply that the right person comes along, making this understanding innate?
Let's go to activity room 215 together.

When I opened the door, I saw the girl as expected. Everything seemed the same; she was lounging on the sofa, looking lazily at her phone. Her expression remained unfathomable, and an open bottle of mango juice sat on the table.

There is only one bottle.

Good afternoon, Asagiri-kun.

Sakura Kazama greeted her politely, but there was nothing particularly special about her attitude.

Asagiri Rin merely glanced up at her, and despite Kazama Sakura's slight apprehension, she simply nodded slightly.

"Well, good afternoon."

His indifferent tone was like a calm weekend at the beach.

Gen Tsukino glanced at her, but her gaze didn't meet his. It wasn't a deliberate avoidance, as if everything had returned to how it all began. Strangers with whom she shouldn't have any connection, even the most handsome boy, should be worthless in her eyes.

Has he come to terms with it?
"The air conditioning is set so low? Be careful not to catch a cold, Asagiri-kun."

Kazama Sakura seemed oblivious to the subtle anomaly, instead glancing at the air conditioner temperature to remind the other person.

20 degrees Celsius? This girl is indeed like an ice queen, but surely she doesn't need to be frozen?

This doesn't feel like a classroom anymore; it feels like a giant refrigerator.

Gen Tsukino put down his schoolbag and casually went to the refrigerator to get a bottle of grape juice. His actions did not attract the attention of Rin Asagiri, who simply tapped something on her phone.

Then he looked up at Kazama Sakura.

"You're probably too weak."

"No, it's really cold. Should I turn it up to 23 degrees?"

".no."

"22 degrees."

"No."

"21 degree!"

Kazama Sakura said persistently.

Looking at Asagiri Rin's expression, Tsukino Gen should have been impatient and started panting by now, but unexpectedly...

She glanced at Kazama Sakura.

"Where did this childish brat come from? Adjust it yourself."

"Hehe~"

The girl smiled playfully and skipped off to get the air conditioner remote to adjust the temperature.

then.

"drop."

"drop."

"Oops, I adjusted it too much."

She winked at Asagiri Rin.

The girl with deep-set eyes just rolled her eyes in annoyance. "If you like acting, go to the drama club. I don't have time for you."

She played a trivial trick, one that wasn't really going too far, and found Asagiri Rin unusually easy to talk to today, though she didn't know why. So she moved closer.

"I'm just bored. Look, there are three of us here, but it's so quiet. It doesn't feel like a club at all."

What's the name of this club?

Asagiri Rin didn't even bother to raise her eyes to look at her.

"A club that wastes lives."

"Since it's a waste of life, it's inherently boring, as you said when you applied to join. It's not too late to quit now."

Her tone of voice was devoid of emotion, as if to say that she would remain calm and composed no matter what happened next, which was how she should be.

Gen Tsukino didn't care what she was thinking. As long as the situation seemed stable, that was enough. He wasn't really that interested in women pulling each other's hair.

If I were to suggest playing Dou Dizhu (a card game) at this moment, wouldn't that be incredibly brilliant?
"I'm not quitting. I just feel that interpreting the club's name in this way is just empty talk. And isn't it really pretentious for us to be talking about wasting our lives at such a young age?"

Gen Tsukino couldn't help but look over.

"Since you've already joined this kind of club, is there any need to be sentimental?"

When he said that...

Both girls looked at him at the same time.

Seeing the look in their eyes, Tsukino Gen turned his head and took out his phone. "The weather will be nice tomorrow."

Two women make a drama, but I have nothing to do with it~
Asagiri Rin looked at Kazama Sakura again, her eyes narrowed. "So what do you want?"

Kazama Sakura blinked her watery eyes at the girl, and their eyes met, as if they were from two different worlds colliding.

A clear, bright lake surface, shimmering with light.

One was deep and dark, like an abyss frozen for many years.

"Yes, I can do whatever I want. I want to go out for barbecue, I want to go surfing at the beach, I want to camp on a mountaintop and watch the sunrise, I want to..."

"This is a club, not a wishing well. Besides, I'm the club president, and I don't want to go to any of the places you're talking about."

They rejected it outright and without hesitation.

Gen Tsukino wondered, "Wishing well? Who's the turtle lying in there?"

Kazama Sakura pouted in dissatisfaction, then looked at Tsukino Gen for help.

"Ah-Xian, what do you think?"

Gen Tsukino glanced away from his phone screen slightly. "Let's invite someone else to play mahjong. It's such a waste of time, and it's also fun."

"What's so interesting about that?!"

Kazama Sakura said irritably.

Asagiri Rin's gaze lingered on Tsukino Gen's face for a moment, but when his gaze fell upon her, the girl naturally looked away, like a keen radar.

Kazama Sakura slumped onto the table and let out a long sigh.

"A lifeless club, three lazy bums. What a complete waste of their lives!"

Just then, the girl's phone rang, and she had to get up to answer it.

"Mom, what's wrong? Oh? You lost your keys? Okay, don't worry, I'll be right back."

Sakura Kazama put away her phone and looked at Gen Tsukino. "I'm going home now."

Tsukino nodded, "Be safe."

She seemed to have no intention of leaving with Kazama Sakura, and the clever girl glanced guiltily at the silent, icy girl.

She thought for a moment and said, "Asagiri-kun, do you like desserts?"

"I don't like it, nor do I hate it."

Asagiri Rin didn't know why she asked that, but she still answered, which was quite polite of her.

Then Kazama Sakura flashed a sweet smile, "Okay, I'll bring you dessert tomorrow. Goodbye~"

Suddenly, the most energetic girl in the entire activity room left.

Asagiri Rin glanced at the boy who hadn't moved. "Aren't you leaving?"

Gen Tsukino nodded.

"Yes, there are some things I need to talk to you about privately."

"."

He was the one who said those things, isn't this the situation he wanted?
What should we do now?
……

(End of this chapter)