I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 108 In my life, you are the most important.
The match ended after 45 minutes.

For most of these teenagers who have never experienced a football match and are just playing for fun, this is already a fairly high-intensity sport.

Naturally, many people were exhausted.

Even though they didn't seem to have many opportunities to touch the football, they still experienced the joy of the sport while chasing it. Moreover, this friendly match involved a sense of class honor, adding even more significance.

In short, once the competition ended, the tension between the two classes dissipated. It wasn't really an incident stemming from any conflict; most people remained friends, especially Suzuki.

After celebrating with his classmates, he immediately ran over to show off to numbers nine, ten, and seven.

"Hahaha, a narrow victory, a close one!"

The three boys from the school team looked helpless. "Look at you, so smug. Anyone who didn't know better would think you scored! Did you score?"

"Did I provide an assist? Did I participate in the attack? And what about the tactical free kick that sealed the victory?"

"What's it to you?! That was some ridiculous free kick! They just shot it straight!"

"Never mind that~ I've provided the idea anyway. It's a treat, nobody can escape it!"

"Oh, I know, I know. What bad luck!"

"But isn't that number 7 in your class a bit too outrageous? I thought you'd found a foreign player for the national team!"

"Hahaha, awesome, right?"

Of course, Tsukino Gen, who stole the show, was the main character after the match.

Well, that fulfills the purpose of Tsukino Gen's participation in this match. He said he wouldn't participate, but he insisted. There's no point in coming for nothing. No need for any sense of participation or teamwork.

All of this seems futile in the face of absolute individual ability.

I didn't intend to destroy these young people's football world, but some people are just meant to do certain things at certain times. Circumstances create heroes? Perhaps that's a valid point.

The time and place for the subsequent dinner were quickly arranged.

Dozens of people gathered, led by the homeroom teachers of both sides. Of course, the school team coach, who was also the referee, was also invited. After all, it's not an easy task to officiate for a group of kids who have never played football before, and also to explain the rules.

When inexperienced players play football, chaos easily ensues. With many people mixed together, it's impossible to see clearly, let alone tell whether someone is kicking the ball or just kicking their foot.

Kazama Sakura, of course, wouldn't miss out either, and together with several other girls who had taken on cheerleading duties, she excitedly joined in.

Gen Tsukino originally didn't want to attend such a large gathering; it wasn't like they were throwing an in-person party.

But there was no way around it; as the absolute hero who single-handedly scored four goals, there was truly no reason for him to remain uninvolved this time.

When I went out after changing my clothes, I saw a rather unexpected figure.

"Senior?"

Karen Saionji stood outside the door, ignoring the gazes that lingered on her as they passed by. Her smiling eyes seemed to focus solely on this handsome young man.

"You did a great job, Tsukino-kun."

I don't know what this girl is here for, but I seem to have gotten used to this familiar scenario of her appearing out of nowhere and saying strange things.

He shook his head. "Just lucky."

"Pfft, getting in one is fine if you're lucky, but getting in four is also just luck?"

"Senior, did you see that?"

"Wow, you even watched the whole thing! Pretty impressive, huh?"

With a self-satisfied smile, hands behind her back, and a slight forward lean, she exuded the quintessential anime heroine's posture and image. Her entire demeanor felt perfectly natural. Perhaps she inherently possessed an 'unreal' quality.

"That's impressive. I thought you wouldn't be interested in something like that."

"why?"

"It's highly likely that most people assume girls aren't very interested in games and sports."

Gen Tsukino gave a calm reply.

The girl with medium-length hair smiled and shook her hair, her eyes curving into crescent moons. "Generally speaking, I wouldn't be too interested. But it depends on who's doing it. For example, if it's Tsukino-kun, it makes me really want to watch."

"Hahaha, senior, you're so good at praising people, I'm almost embarrassed."

"You're putting on an act again~"

The girl smiled and squinted, her eyes seeming to say that she had seen right through the boy.

"Is there anything else? I have to go to a dinner party with my classmates."

This was a clear message to leave, which Saionji understood perfectly. She wasn't angry; she simply smiled gently and said so.

"That's all, just congratulations."

"Thank you, senior."

"correct."

"Ok?"

Why do you always pretend to suddenly remember something and then say, "Oh, right"? Can't you just say it all at once? Are you trying to force a plot twist?

Gen Tsukino had no choice but to quietly watch the other person.

"Rin watched you play soccer too."

she says.

Gen Tsukino wasn't surprised, as he saw her immediately upon entering. It's hard not to see her, isn't it? Yuki Sakuraba, Sakura Kazama, Rin Asagiri, and Kaoru Morita were almost all sitting together; if anyone couldn't see this beautiful sight, they should donate their corneas to someone in need.

It's like not picking up your best gear when you get a rare item in an online game.

"Oh, I see. Then she has great taste."

"Ok?"

Karen Saionji blinked her beautiful eyes, looking almost too cute.

"Okay, is there anything else, senior?"

"Nothing."

"Then I'm leaving, goodbye senior."

"Okay, bye-bye." Saionji watched the boy leave without any lingering attachment, and she wasn't too disappointed. She just kept fiddling with her phone as she walked away.

He sent several very well-taken photos of Tsukino Gen playing soccer to a girl.

Less than ten seconds later, the other party replied to the message.

"?"

A simple question mark made Saionji Karen laugh so hard she almost fell over, her well-endowed chest trembling slightly.

She replied to the message with a laugh, "I just congratulated him, but he asked me if I came to watch the game. Should I tell the truth, Xiao Lin?"

About twenty seconds passed.

Rin Asagiri: "Nonsense."

"Hahahahaha."

……

"I'm not kidding, I deserve at least half the credit for Tsukino's second goal, right? I was getting kicked around like a sieve, and I still managed to pass that ball with perfect accuracy. I was practically Xavi reincarnated!"

"No, Xavi Miura just retired, he didn't die."

"Anyway, that's the gist of it, you understand?"

The best kind of gathering has to be a barbecue around a table with a group of people. The relatively affordable barbecue restaurants were practically booked out today.

After all, about sixty students from two classes suddenly flooded in. The boss was grinning from ear to ear, looking like he was about to go home and rest after finishing this order.

This kind of spectacle would be unimaginable in a regular school, but it's just right for Zhaori Private High School. After all, these students are almost all well-off, except for those like Tsukino Gen and Kazama Sakura; treating someone is no problem for them. Besides, there's a discount for so many people.

The two classes were randomly assigned together, and the barbecue restaurant was soon filled with smoke.

Since they were all students, they couldn't drink alcohol, so they were a little short on food. Tsukino Genya also tried to keep a low profile, sitting quietly next to Kazama Sakura and eating his grilled meat.

During that time, a few boys from Class 1 who were good at soccer even came over to greet Tsukino Gen.

"With skills like that, why don't you join the school team? You're absolutely amazing."

"Yeah, I feel like you were holding back. By the way, how did you do that knuckleball? I can never seem to get it right, it's so damn cool."

Gen Tsukino was quite unaccustomed to such flattery and praise.

"Good luck, good luck!"

Even the school team coach, who used to be a referee, came over and offered him a helping hand.

"Have you ever thought about joining the school team? I've seen your talent and your ball control. It's simply one in a million. It would be such a waste if you didn't pursue football!"

Gen Tsukino really wanted to say that the only reason he didn't play basketball for you guys was because you'd feel even more disappointed. Of course, baseball would have been fine too. But if it were rugby, there would be so many things to do that he wouldn't want to do anything at all.

"I don't have that plan for now. Playing football is too tiring. I'd better focus on my studies."

"?"

The people nearby looked at each other.

Is studying really easier than playing football? Unbelievable, even a bit shocking.

After spending some time managing to divert attention from him, Tsukino Gen prepared to find an opportunity to leave and return home as soon as possible.

With so many people around, it still felt a little strange. Although these youthful faces, laughing and joking, were undeniably beautiful, after all this time, the boy still felt somewhat out of place. It wasn't that he was deliberately trying to be the only one sober in a world of fools.

I also know clearly that the longer I live in this world, the easier it is to gradually get used to it and integrate into it. And then I become no different from anyone else.

As Tsukino Gen was about to leave, someone noticed the boy's actions.

"Tsuno."

"Yes, Sakuraba-sensei."

"Ready to leave?"

It was Sakuraba Yuki who appeared at the door after using the restroom. She was a woman in a teacher's uniform with black-rimmed glasses. She had slightly toned down her alluring charm, but gained a more approachable and intellectual beauty.

"Yes, we've almost finished eating."

Gen Tsukino answered with a smile.

Sakuraba Yuki looked into the boy's eyes and slightly curved the corners of her mouth, "Is it because there are too many people that you're not used to it?"

"Ah, not really that pretentious."

"Stop pretending. You keep saying you shouldn't be pretentious, but you're the most pretentious one yourself."

is it?

Gen Tsukino hadn't considered this angle.

The woman smiled and said, "Come on, let's talk before you go."

"Let's talk. There are still so many people inside. Is it alright if Sakuraba-sensei isn't here?"

Tsukino Gen felt that she should at least consider whether her relationship with him would seem too special in other people's eyes.

He wasn't afraid of rumors or gossip; who he got involved with or cut ties with wouldn't have much of an impact on him. It was simply a profession that Sakuraba Yuki loved and had pursued for a long time.

They should at least cherish their reputation a little.

Sakuraba Yuki didn't seem to understand Tsukino Gen's implied meaning; she looked at the boy with a smile.

"Of course it doesn't matter. Although a teacher's professional ethics should be to treat all students equally, there's no way around it; people's feelings are always different."

"Ok?"

"You're more important to me."

"."

The eyes behind the glasses were breathtakingly beautiful.

……

(End of this chapter)