Tokyo Soft Rice King.

However, Qingxia didn't say these things to discourage Ziyin; she was just stating her own opinion. She also noticed that Ziyin had a terrible expression, so she stopped in time and comforted her.

"Of course, it's pointless to talk about these 'what ifs,' since it was Kuroba-kun who made the choice, and he felt that this side was more important, which is an indisputable fact."

"Yes! The wise ruler thinks this side is more important!"

"However, making a choice is not an easy thing, and Kuroba-kun is the one who understands the principle of 'you have to give up something to gain something' the most... So, Shion-kun, what do you think Kuroba-kun gave up?"

"...Chastity?"

"puff!"

Qingxia burst out laughing when she heard this answer.

"So, Ziyin, you have quite a sense of humor too."

"...I'm not joking."

"Well, yes, you did lose your virginity, but for Kuroba-kun, losing your virginity should be an achievement to be proud of, not something to regret."

Is that freedom?

"Freedom... well, it does count, but that's something Kuroba-kun passively lost, not something he voluntarily gave up."

"What exactly is that?"

It's 'normal'.

"ordinary……?"

"Yes, Kuroba-kun abandoned his ordinary daily life."

After washing her hair, Haruka stepped into the bathtub, hugging her legs and facing Ziyin.

"Someone like you, a genius born with talent, probably can't understand this, but I can understand Kuroba-kun's feelings. Because I am just an ordinary person without any talent, like him. We are not special, so ordinary daily life is the most precious thing."

Ziyin couldn't quite understand, but she felt uncomfortable with her description and felt excluded.

Qingxia continued to explain considerately.

"So, in order for you, Ziyin, to understand better, why don't you try to put yourself in my shoes? For you right now, living with Kuroba-kun and sleeping with Kuroba-kun is your 'normal daily life,' right? That's why you're so reluctant to lose your current daily life, isn't it?"

"……I see……"

Every ordinary day we experience may be a series of miracles.

For Ziyin, this statement applies even more to her experience.

For her, meeting Akira Kuroba at the abandoned shrine was the greatest miracle of her life.

And our daily lives now are a continuation of that miracle.

"So I now know how precious the things a wise ruler has given up are... Is that why you say he's pitiful?"

"Yes, because I think Kuroba-kun is really amazing."

Qingxia scooped up the water with both hands and spoke in a tone of admiration bordering on worship.

"He didn't choose to run away, but chose to face it head-on, like water changing shape with its container, changing itself again and again..."

"Even though I was in a lot of pain, feeling terrible and conflicted, I didn't stop thinking and kept searching for the best solution..."

"Perhaps the method is not so elegant, and it cannot satisfy everyone, but he is indeed constantly thinking about how to make it better."

She saw it all, and the feeling that arose from it was...感动 (moved/touched).

When you see someone working hard, you want to applaud them; it's a feeling similar to that.

In addition, Haruka already had a budding romance with Kuroba Akira, so she became even more eager to support him.

"So I think it's really pitiful that no one knows these things, no one supports him, and no one praises him."

Everyone felt that Kuroba Akira's experiences were full of scandals, and that he enjoyed the blessings of having multiple wives, which was the envy of everyone.

What do you think a scumbag who builds a harem has to worry about? It's all his own fault, isn't it?

It's just that I'm loved by pretty girls and then respond to them. Isn't that just 'I could do that too'?

Even a large portion of the girls who fall in love with Akira Kuroba think this way.

As the saying goes, "One generation plants the trees, another enjoys the shade." In terms of contribution to winning over Kuroba Akira, Anri Hitomi is undoubtedly the MVP. She was the one who secured the most crucial part. The one who dealt the most damage was Shion. Kuroba Akira was merely the 'object of conquest'.

Because everyone only sees the 'happy ending', but doesn't see how many choices were involved in achieving that happy ending, or how dangerous those choices were.

However, Hitomi Anri and Shion Murasaki are well aware of how difficult it is to bring Akira Kuroba into the current storyline.

"So that's why you want to help Mingjun solve some of his troubles and make things a little easier for him...?"

"Yes, although if it were Kuroba-kun, he probably wouldn't need my help and could pull himself together... but I don't want him to continue going through that kind of pain and torment."

Qingxia smiled gently as she spoke.

"Perhaps in movies and TV shows, tragedies leave a deeper impression, but in reality, romantic comedies are definitely better."

Does knowing more lead to understanding him...?

Conversely, does the fact that I haven't reached the same level as Haruka Tomita mean that I don't understand wise rulers well enough?

Ziyin began to reflect on her actions, but after careful consideration, she still felt that this path was not suitable for her.

"Ziyin, you don't need to learn from me. Leave the balance to me. Just continue to be the way you are now and hold pure love for Kuroba-kun. That's enough."

Are you afraid I'll take your place?

"How could that be? I think you don't really care about my position... It's because the feelings you've invested are already incredibly precious, otherwise the wise ruler wouldn't have responded to you with all his might. As for me catching up with you... I'm still a long way off."

"I think you've already caught up."

"I know that gratitude and love are different."

"But gratitude can be transformed into love."

Ziyin gave a very confident affirmation.

Because Shion herself started to like Kuroba Akira after he offered her a helping hand, and after awakening her romantic mindset, she fell deeply in love with him.

"I hope so... Anyway, Shion-san, we won't be rivals or competitors. You don't need to worry about me running away or cheating. If you want to know why..."

“I understand, because you care more about a wise ruler than we do, and more than yourself.”

If someone can put their own interests aside and consider so much for another person, what else can this feeling be called if not love?

Ziyin knew she couldn't do that, and probably wouldn't until she died.

Because what she wants is to be loved, to give and receive love. If her feelings are not reciprocated, it would be more unbearable than death.

Therefore, Haruka Tomita, who can 'only give'... is perhaps the true 'woman with heavy emotions'.

Chapter 394 A Love Journey That Will Reach You No Matter How Far It Is

Ziyin was generous with her praise for such an extraordinary pioneer, and admired her nobility from the bottom of her heart.

The idea that "it would be better for us to join us" has actually appeared is a first for Ziyin.

Of course, this is on the premise that Qingxia can be consistent in her words and deeds, and not be a cunning and deceitful person.

However, with the background of being possessed by a god as an endorsement, and Kuroba Akira's reaction being the best profile, Shion felt that Haruka was still trustworthy.

Qingxia was a little embarrassed and scratched her cheek modestly.

"This is nothing. I think it's more admirable that you, like Miss Ziyin, are brave enough to express your love. I'm just a coward..."

“A coward can’t argue with me, let alone convince me.”

"That's because cowards compare in their minds which outcome is 'more terrifying,' and I'm more afraid of being rejected by Kuroba-kun. Rather than forcing myself to join you and then being outdone, it's better to choose a different path that suits me better from the beginning... That's the self-awareness of a coward."

Qingxia laughed at herself.

"If I had the same extraordinary talents and aptitudes as you, perhaps I would have become just like you..."

She looked at Ziyin's arms, which were as round and smooth as lotus roots, with a honey-like sheen flowing beneath her skin, and felt a deep envy in her heart.

She doesn't need much maintenance to have such radiant skin, and this is just one part of the reason why Shion Murasaki is so stunningly beautiful.

However, what Qingxia envied was not their external conditions, but the 'confidence' they gained because of these conditions.

That was what Haruka Tomita lacked most.

She had already backed down when she first met Shion Murasaki and discovered her close relationship with Akira Kuroba.

She might still have a sliver of wishful thinking, but in reality, even she herself didn't believe she could beat her opponent.

Just like Saionji Machi facing Ame-no-Hikaru, mortals know they can never defeat gods.

What's even more tragic is that Haruka Tomita didn't even have the courage to compete with her.

Deep down, I had already given up.

That's probably why they 'didn't pursue it further,' just hoping for a chance encounter, passively waiting for a miracle to happen...

She was clearly the first to meet Kuroba Akira, but it's her own fault that she was the one who chose to give up.

If I had to complain, I could only blame myself for being so useless.

And a miracle really happened, so this time we must persevere no matter what.

Otherwise, if you wait until you miss out and then look back on the past, it will definitely turn into regret and resentment that you will never forget until you die.

Instead of agonizing over it for the rest of your life, it's better to seize this rare second chance... This mindset is actually the same as that of Kuroba Akira and the other world's resurrected individuals, and Tomita Haruka even lives more earnestly than Kuroba Akira and the others.

Although Kuroo didn't use the power of Yomi Rean this time, it was an unexpected stroke of luck that gave the girl a chance to live a second life.

So this time, facing Shion Murasaki is actually Tomita Haruka confronting her own 'psychological shadow'.

And then, she did it.

That's why he was able to sit face-to-face with Ziyin in the same bathtub, and even gain her approval.

For enemies that cannot be defeated, simply turning them into friends is the best course of action. This is the path that Haruka Tomita has chosen.

However, she also thought to herself... if she also possessed talent and was a genius supported by Kuroba Akira, perhaps she wouldn't have to take this roundabout and compromised path.

"So I am actually jealous of you guys, because I can't become like you... I'm still jealous right now."

"Very good……"

However, upon hearing Qingxia's words, Ziyin revealed a relieved smile, which puzzled Qingxia greatly.