I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 171 A good suggestion~
After that shot, the field fell silent for a moment.

Because probably no one expected that Matsushita, who has a semi-professional level of skill, would have his serve returned directly and be scored by his opponent with a single shot.

Matsushita also began to have doubts.

Could this boy be a tennis player? Has Asagiri Rin been hiding something?
That's unlikely. What would be the point of hiding it?

And by now, everyone knows more or less about this boy's background. In other words, he has no connections; he's an orphan. How could he possibly have the means to learn tennis?
This is not a movement for ordinary people.

Many schools don't even have tennis courts.

Is it a talent? Or is it just a lucky break due to the newbie's aura?

Perhaps there is such a possibility, so let's try again and we'll know.

Let's try a different approach.

"Are you OK?"

Tsukino Gen even offered a rather 'thoughtful' comment about the other person.

Matsushita's eyes twitched, then he forced a sweet smile.

"Of course it's okay, it's just that Tsukino-kun is so rough. How could he be so rough with a girl on their first meeting? Be gentle, please~"

Good guy.

You're quite the experienced driver, aren't you?
Gen Tsukino smiled brightly, "I'm sorry, it was my first time fighting, so I didn't control my strength well and scared you, didn't I?"

First time playing?

You're telling me this is your first time playing?

You must have practiced this kind of exercise a lot in private to please Rin Asagiri, right? Your little scheme is obvious, and you'll find out soon enough!
"A little bit~ Tsukino-kun, please don't scare people anymore."

"Okay, I'll pay attention."

Gen Tsukino made a solemn promise.

His standing posture was also noticeably more relaxed and languid, as if he was fully prepared to release the water.

They even put water in my tank?
Matsushita's fighting spirit was burning brightly. To be honest, she hadn't had professional tennis training for a long time. Her ambitions didn't lie in this area, despite showing some talent in her youth. But compared to true geniuses, she was incomparable.

Moreover, his family was not short of money or opportunities, so he simply turned it into a hobby.

Since the national competition, she seemed to have not felt such a strong fighting spirit in a long time.

They might even use their entire body as a weapon, such as rolling up their shorts slightly to expose more of their thighs, in an attempt to attract the other person's attention.

This time, the ball was tossed high into the air again, but it was just a deceptive feint.

"Snapped!"

The ball speed was noticeably slower than the first time, indicating an intention to engage in a long, drawn-out rally. Such back-and-forth rallies better highlight the difference in skill between the two players and can also reveal whether the opponent is a first-time tennis player.

As Genji Tsukino leisurely chased the ball, preparing to swing his racket...

Matsushita had already made her decision, and she went straight to the net.

"Tsukino-kun, over here!"

She even called out the other person's name, trying to cause them to deviate from their intended action.

When the ball comes, she will show her opponent what professional-level net play looks like!

Gen Tsukino immediately looked up at his opponent, then swung his racket with a smile.

"Snapped!"

The force wasn't heavy this time, but...
Isn't it a bit too high?!

Matsushita looked up; it was clearly too high for her to intercept. She was still wondering if it would go out of bounds at that height.
Wait! We're falling!

It won't go out of bounds!

She ran back in a panic, looking utterly disheveled.

"Snapped!"

When she finally caught up, she swung her racket back with a somewhat strained and disheveled expression, while turning to look at her opponent.

But then they discovered...
What is he doing there?!

Tsukino Gen had somehow arrived at the net, facing Matsushita's seemingly strained return.

His actions were as follows.
"Snapped!!"

A horizontal swing at the net.

It has the power to lift a thousand pounds!
The moment the ball hits the racket, then lands on the grass, and then bounces.

Matsushita felt like he was hallucinating; was the grass sinking in?

Why are all the grass clippings flying around?!
"boom!"

She didn't even have time to see the afterimage.

The sound came from the guardrail behind us.

This almost instantly shattered her fighting spirit.

She stared blankly at the racket in her hand, then looked at her opponent.

Gen Tsukino seemed embarrassed. "Sorry. I got so excited I forgot how much force I used. Did I scare you?"

"Snapped."

Unexpectedly, Matsushita simply threw the racket away.

Then he shouted.

"This isn't his first time playing tennis! Waaah! You're lying!!"

He ran all the way to the locker room.

They looked at each other on the tennis court.

Everyone was looking at Tsukino Gen.

The boy was also quite helpless, but he still cautiously asked, "Did she really win the bronze medal in the national competition?"

Everyone:.
What? You want to win the women's championship?
As the organizer of this event, Aoki Shin quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Hahaha, it's not a big problem. Panasonic is fine, everyone keep playing, don't worry."

Gen Tsukino looked at Shin Aoki.

"Mr. Aoki, how about you play a couple of rounds with me?"

Aoki Shin glanced at the boy, who seemed to still be itching to fight and hadn't had enough, and his lips twitched.

"Hey Suzuki, you fight Tsukino-kun for a bit. I'm not playing anymore, I'm a little tired from what I just did, sorry about that, hehehe."

I'll fight you?

Are you kidding me?
Judging from your swing just now, I was afraid you might accidentally smash me to death!

Although men are inherently competitive, they will spare no effort to show off in front of the girls they like.

However, Aoki Shin understood the principle of playing to one's strengths and avoiding one's weaknesses. Tennis was not his forte; it was just one of his favorite sports. There was no need for him to lose face in front of the obviously stronger Tsukino Gen.

So find someone to replace you as soon as possible to avoid getting into trouble.

However, a few boys were still willing to try out Tsukino Gen's quality to see if it was really that exaggerated, or if Matsushita was too weak, or if the difference between men and women was too obvious.

And soon, they all accepted the facts.

"Snapped!"

"Damn, I thought it was a bullet! Is it real?"

"boom!"

"Big brother, be gentle! Be gentle, you've broken the racket!"

"Snapped!"

"I'm not playing anymore! It'll be over in a few serves, and I can't even touch the ball. Give it back to me, I'm going home!"

"boom!!"

"Earthquake!!!"

A jumble of shouts came from the stadium.

Whether exaggerated or restrained, it's all hilarious, but Tsukino Gen knew when to stop and quickly left the scene.

When Tsukino Gen returned to Asagiri Rin's side, he didn't seem to have broken a sweat.

In this situation, there's no question of feeling tired or strained.

Ayaka Miura is no longer by Asagiri Rin's side; she's already on the court playing.

And you know what? When Ayaka Miura, wearing a gray tracksuit, started exercising, she seemed much less dull.

She hadn't completely lost it, and some silly mistakes still occurred that made people burst out laughing. While everyone else was laughing so hard they were doubled over, she just stood there scratching her head.

It wasn't frustration, but rather a lack of understanding of how things had come to this.

"Is it pretty? Why don't you go up and help her with doubles?"

"You can even play doubles?"

"You really want to, don't you?"

Asagiri Rin looked over with a cold gaze, Tsukino Gen smiled and said, "Of course I want to fight with you; others aren't good enough."

This made Asagiri Rin's expression much better, and she gave a soft hum.

"With your current skill level, it's unlikely anyone will want to fight you."

"Sigh, there's nothing I can do. I've done everything I could for the barbecue you grilled yourself."

"Exerting all your strength means not even breaking a sweat?"

Asagiri Rin could certainly see Tsukino Gen's ease. Although she couldn't know all the secrets about him, she knew from a young age that this boy was extraordinary and definitely not someone that ordinary people could compare to.

So she wouldn't be surprised no matter how exaggerated her behavior was.

"I'm just naturally averse to sweating," Tsukino Gen shrugged.

Then he naturally sat down next to Asagiri Rin. He subconsciously picked up the orange juice he had put down earlier. He didn't have the habit of wasting things, so it was best to finish it.

just
"Why is it gone?"

The cup was empty, and then I looked at the young lady beside me.

Asagiri Rin's face flushed slightly. "The person who got the drinks wasn't here, so I only had a few sips."

"How many sips did he take? He's already finished half of it, hasn't he?"

Gen Tsukino feigned shock.

The girl said irritably, "You should be grateful that I drank the orange juice you drank. Why ask so many questions? Are you showing off?"

Is this something to brag about?

Gen Tsukino asked strangely.

Asagiri Rin raised an eyebrow as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Isn't that right?"

Gen Tsukino picked up his phone. "I'll take a picture and post it on Self to show off."

"Screw you!"

Asagiri Rin snatched the cup away in annoyance, then quickly tossed it into the trash can with small, quick steps. Watching her shuffling movements, Tsukino Gen could only laugh.

"What are you laughing at? I'm going to change my clothes."

"Would you like some help?"

"No, you smell bad."

The girl proudly tossed her high ponytail and strode away.

Soon, the tennis activity came to an end as the sun set, a brilliant sunset that seemed perfect for an outdoor barbecue.

As the organizer, Aoki Shin made very thorough preparations, bringing the prepared ingredients to the outdoor barbecue area.

It's not just pork belly, beef tongue, and short ribs. There are also vegetables and fruits that girls might prefer. Plenty of barbecue seasonings and charcoal are also prepared. Beer, sesame seed cakes, sparkling wine, red wine, and other beverages are all ready.

I have to say, if your friend is someone like Shin Aoki, you'd feel pretty reassured.

"Alright, everyone, grill over here. Be careful, and feel free to call me if you need any help."

At Aoki Shin's signal, the barbecue began.

Gen Tsukino stared at the charcoal fire and the meat, but didn't touch it.

Morita Kaoru, who had rested all afternoon, did not move.

Asagiri Rin also did not move.

The three of us looked at each other.

Finally, Tsukino Gen said irritably, "Why are you all looking at me? Didn't you say you were going to bake it for me?"

Asagiri Rin nodded, "But I didn't say I'd do things like starting the fire, it's filthy."

The boy then looked at Kaoru Morita.

The innocent Slowpoke came to its senses. "Do you want me to drive?"

Forget it.

Tsukino Gen picked up the charcoal and put it in the grill with a disgruntled expression, then methodically began to light it.

There are special clips so you don't have to use your hands to pick it up, and you don't even know where it got dirty.

"Can we bake it now?"

Gen Tsukino looked at the young lady, who shook her head. "What if the oil splashes on my face when it starts to burn? It will hurt a lot if it gets in my eyes."

"I suddenly have a strong craving for pig brains."

"What do you mean?"

Asagiri Rin frowned.

At this moment, Morita Kaoru looked over as if she had discovered some earth-shattering secret and said, "I understand! He means that the young lady's brain must be very juicy and delicious."

"Thank you for your explanation. So you mean I don't have an IQ?"

Morita Kaoru immediately shut up and looked at the sunset in the distance.

Unfortunately, that's not Litang.

The smiling boy didn't waste any words; he was indeed a bit hungry, having barely eaten anything all day. Although not eating wouldn't affect him, eating wasn't just about filling one's stomach; it had become a spiritual need and a source of enjoyment.

Moreover, the quality of this meat is really quite good, it would be a real shame to waste it.

As Tsukino Gen placed the pieces of meat, the oil sizzled and dripped out, and the boy looked like a professional who had been grilling on the roadside for decades.

Sprinkle the seasonings evenly and selectively.

Meanwhile, Asagiri Rin and Morita Kaoru were already standing to the side, holding plates and chopsticks, waiting.

Tsukino Gen looked over and asked, "When are you planning to bake it for me yourself?"

Asagiri Rin's eyes weren't on Tsukino Gen at all; they were completely fixed on the sizzling, oily beef steak.

"Coming soon, coming soon."

"When is 'soon'?"

"This level of doneness is perfect!"

"."

Gen Tsukino glanced at the other person, then picked up the piece of perfectly grilled beef and ate it right under Rin Akihime's fixed gaze.

Not afraid of getting burned at all.

"What are you doing?! That's mine!"

Asagiri Rin's eyes widened, and she even took a step forward, seemingly unafraid of the oil splashing onto her face, as if she wanted to pry the beef out of Tsukino Gen's mouth.

"As a chef, of course I have to taste it first, just in case it doesn't taste good."

Gen Tsukino smiled and placed the next piece of beef into the other person's plate.

Asagiri Rin rolled her eyes at the boy, too lazy to argue, and quickly enjoyed herself.

The moment the steak enters your mouth, it retains the chewy texture of beef, yet is incredibly juicy, with the seasoning perfectly balanced. It's simply a delight.

Seeing this, Morita Kaoru stopped pretending and handed all the plates to Tsukino Gen's chin.

Gen Tsukino moved his head irritably, "This pig's head meat is not for sale."

The innocent Slowpoke pointed at the beef, "Let me check if it's poisonous."

"I think you're the one who's poisonous."

As someone with more life experience, Tsukino Gen's grilling was noticeably more enthusiastic than the others'. As a result, more and more people gathered around, ostensibly to try the food, but in reality, they took some of the grilled food.

Of course, the basic feedback is a thumbs up.

"I think I can't go camping without Tsukino-kun from now on, it's so delicious!"

"Waaaaah, I just remembered my grandma. Her baking tasted just like this!"

"Wait, I haven't even taken a picture yet! Are there still bastards stealing meat from my plate?!"

Despite being exposed to smoke and fire, the boy had no complaints.

Even now, I haven't had a chance to eat many pieces myself; they've all been grilled by others.

Until the familiar scent drew near.

"for you."

As Tsukino Gen brought a fragrant piece of pork belly to his lips, he saw Asagiri Rin's eyes.

"Ah."

He ate the piece, then smiled and looked at the other person.

"What, is this how you grill meat for me?"

Asagiri Rin gave a soft hum and picked up another piece, handing it to Tsukino Gen.

"You should be grateful to have anything to eat. I'm personally feeding you, so you should be secretly happy."

"Sigh, then I can only suffer the injustice of having my concepts twisted by others."

Seeing the boy's self-righteous act of getting the better deal.

Asagiri Rin leaned close to the boy's ear and whispered, "Are you really going to let me get smoked by this smoke? It'll hurt my skin."

"It's okay, I don't mind it."

Asagiri Rin gritted her teeth, her cheeks turning even redder.

"But...it will smell at night."

"night?"

Gen Tsukino looked at the other person strangely.

Asagiri Rin had already looked away from the other person, picked up another piece, and brought it to the boy's lips.

Then, looking at his inexplicable gaze, she said...

"To make it up to you, I'll do something else, like letting you sleep with me at night."

"Aww."

Gen Tsukino took a vicious bite of the meat.

The act of chewing made the young lady blush inexplicably and feel a burning desire in her heart.

"Nice suggestion."

……

(End of this chapter)