I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 173 The Truth or No? (Seeking votes at the beginning of the month~)

"Huh? Matsushita, why are you here all alone?"

When Shin Aoki walked over carrying a beer bottle, he saw a girl sitting in a seat looking at her phone.

Matsushita looked up and said irritably, "Rin has been kidnapped, so I can only look at my phone."

Aoki Shin paused for a moment, then understood the meaning of those words.

He did feel a little bitter inside, but he was ultimately a rational person, and under the family's demands, he couldn't be as willful as he was when he was a child.

His attitude towards many things is that if he can't get what he wants, he should let it go and not dwell on it.

That's a thankless task, especially when it comes to relationships.

"You're quite pathetic. But people come here to enjoy themselves, what's the point of you being a third wheel? Come on, have a drink with us."

As he spoke, he pulled Matsushita to her feet.

They were already drinking and playing some light camping games over there, with their camping lights on.

"What do you mean by being a third wheel? I think that Tsukino is just too good at fooling girls. I'm afraid Rin will be completely fooled by him."

Liar?

Aoki Shin didn't think Asagiri Rin was such a foolish girl, nor was she the so-called love-obsessed person.

He was more inclined to believe that Asagiri Rin's apparent favoritism towards Tsukino Gen stemmed from their current heightened sense of excitement and the subtle dynamics of the game. In this game, they could find enjoyment in each other's attraction, provocation, and torment.

Is it worthy of criticism? Should it be dismissed? Not really. After all, many people have fallen into this trap, which is exactly what is meant by "playing with fire."

As for whether Tsukino Gen is the kind of awful scumbag, that seems to be even less of her concern. She'll handle it herself; she doesn't need anyone else to stand up for her. Otherwise, it might just cause more disgust.

but
"What are they doing?"

"They said there's a mixed-gender bath here, let's try it out. Tsk. I didn't expect Rin to be so outgoing now. I thought she was still as withdrawn as before."

Matsushita sighed.

He seemed not to notice the change in Aoki Shin's expression at that moment.

"Hey, you guys are finally here! Aoki, look! The beer's all ready!"

A simple wooden table was set up, and the table was big enough that it looked like a banquet in the village, with chairs arranged in a circle.

More importantly, the beer piled up next to it looked like a mountain.

No one should think they could finish all that beer in one night, but the same principle applies to drinking and eating. Since it's a party, there can only be more, not less.

There is no such thing as "just right".

However, after Aoki Shin looked at it, his gaze fell on the other person.

"Don't you have any stronger liquor?"

The man scratched his head. "Hey? Didn't you say that if there are girls, just get some beer? What if they drink too much?"

Aoki Shin simply sighed deeply, "It's just that I want to drink something strong right now."

Why are you so melancholy?

His friend was curious about this when suddenly his gaze fell on the back of Aoki Shin, and he waved with a smile.

"You've come at the perfect time! I was just about to ask you where you'd been!"

Aoki Shin paused, then turned around, only to see Tsukino Gen and Asagiri Rin walking back side by side, who were supposed to be going to the mixed bath. Their expressions were normal; there was no indication that they had argued. So what had ruined their plans?

Did you forget to bring something back to get it?

No, that shouldn't be the case that both of them came back, and they shouldn't have left so easily and leisurely either.
Regardless of the reason, a sense of relief and joy welled up in Aoki's heart.

It's like when you find out a moment ago that you got the lowest score in the class and feel like the sky is falling, and then the teacher tells you that there was a mistake in the score and you are actually third from the bottom.

It's not that the situation is much better, but it's still a bit better than before.

"Want to play games together?"

Aoki Shin immediately adjusted his expression and smiled at the two people walking towards him.

Gen Tsukino simply looked at the girl beside him and asked, "What do you think?"

Asagiri Rin calmly replied, "I don't care, it's still early anyway."

"Alright, feel free to sit down anywhere. Here's a little drinking game."

As Aoki Shin called out, Matsushita immediately rushed to Asagiri Rin's side, leaned in, and whispered, "Weren't you going to the mixed bath? So soon?"

The young lady rolled her eyes at her. "What do you mean by fast or slow? They said the mixed bathing area was closed today, so we came back."

"Goodness, if mixed bathing isn't allowed, you might as well not go to the hot springs at all. Your intentions are pretty clear."

"I do not know what you're talking about."

Asagiri Rin turned her head away in denial, but everyone could see the unusual blush creeping onto her cheeks. Because such a color was uncommon on her, it seemed all the more precious.

Gen Tsukino naturally sat on the other side of Rin Asagiri, but he didn't expect that as soon as he sat down, another figure would sit down next to him so naturally.

He completely ignored Asagiri Rin's gaze, which seemed to have a tangible presence.

"Ms. Miura?"

Gen Tsukino felt that it was a little too deliberate, so he gave the other person a hint.

Ayaka Miura glanced at Gen Tsukino and asked innocently, "Is there anyone else sitting here?"

"No, that's not it, it's just..."

"It's okay, it's fine sitting here."

The young lady spoke in a cold voice, as if she were forgiving an ignorant subject for defying a nobleman.

Ayaka Miura seemed oblivious to the odd tone in the other person's voice, and said with a smile, "That's good. Speaking of which, what games do so many people play?"

She seemed curious about strange things.

No, that seems to be the more serious aspect. As for what Tsukino Gen felt in that situation, that doesn't seem to belong in this context.

Aoki Shin brought out playing cards, and soon someone else prepared beer and glasses.

"The game is very simple, just for fun. It's Texas Hold'em, everyone knows the rules, just follow those rules. The betting is free, it's just a few drinks. Everyone can drink as much as they want, no pressure or urging. If you feel like you can't drink anymore, just take a break."

It wasn't some intense drinking game.

The main problem is that there are a lot of people, and if things get heated, the scene could easily descend into chaos.

Almost everyone present knew how to have fun, it was just a matter of skill level and personality. They were divided into conservatives and radicals who just wanted to drink and not lose money.

There are also those who only care about causing trouble and don't care how much they drink.

During the process, Tsukino Gen didn't show much participation; he didn't drink the most, nor the least.

The young lady beside him had a distinct personality; she wouldn't bother with any big names she wasn't confident in.

After a dozen or so rounds, the night gradually deepened, and the campsite was filled with the chirping of cicadas and the croaking of frogs from who-knows-where.

Many people were already feeling a bit bloated from drinking, while others, seeing that it was getting late, prepared to get up and go home.

In any case, none of this mattered to Tsukino Gen and Asagiri Rin; it was just a way to pass the time and watch the moon slowly climb to the very center of the night.

The voices gradually subsided, and it seemed that the entire night was also heading towards a gloomy mood.

At this moment, Matsushita, who seemed to have had enough to drink, suddenly banged on the table.

"Hey, now it's just the few of us left, how about we play something a little more exciting?" Aoki Shin had drunk quite a bit, since almost everyone who came was his friend, and there was no reason for him to drink less. Besides, his complicated mood seemed to be artificially increasing his alcohol tolerance.

Slightly tipsy, he said, "What's so exciting about it? Don't cause any trouble."

Matsushita grinned and said, "Hehe, what's there to be afraid of? Let's play Truth or Dare! What trouble could possibly happen? If you're worried about getting into trouble, then let's play Truth. Only sharp questions are allowed! If you can't answer, you have to drink a bottle!"

"This"

Aoki Shin was somewhat tempted.

But can these people on the scene really afford to play this game?

He first looked at Tsukino Gen, and the boy, feeling his gaze, calmly shrugged. "I don't have any problems, but I might not have anything that interests you, and I'm not particularly familiar with you."

"What does it matter? You have someone to handle it! What did Xiao Lin say?"

Matsushita blinked and looked at Asagiri Rin.

The girl remained nonchalant, saying, "A boring game."

"That's better than doing nothing, don't you think?"

".casual."

Finally, there's Ayaka Miura, who's still on the field and hasn't gone home yet. She seems to have drunk quite a bit, and her fair skin has taken on a peach-colored hue, making her look like she's wearing incredibly natural and beautiful makeup.

She looked at them.

"Sure, I can ask you anything. But can I really ask you anything? Won't you hit me?"

Several people looked at each other.

What are you trying to ask?

Without further ado, Matsushita, seeing that it was about time, took out the playing cards.

"That's it, keep it simple! I'll deal the cards. Whoever has the lowest score is the one who gets asked! The person with the highest score asks them the question. The question can't be something as trivial as 'What did you eat today?' It has to be sharp! It has to hit home! The person being asked can only tell the truth, or they have to chug a bottle! It's up to them. I'll deal the cards!"

Watching Matsushita deal the cards with great enthusiasm, Tsukino Gen thought to himself that in all the times he'd drunk, and with so many different people, he'd never encountered a game as old-fashioned and legendary as Truth or Dare.

I did run into him here.

During this time, he secretly glanced at Asagiri Rin's expression; he wondered what the girl was thinking.

Is he pondering what to ask to get his honest opinion? He doesn't seem that uninterested.

As for whether I should feel nervous or even fearful about the unknown that is about to come, it seems unnecessary.

When the cards are dealt, there is only one card, so you can tell what card it is at a glance, without needing any memory. Ace is the highest, and 2 is the lowest.

Matsushita was the first to excitedly slap his hand on the table.

"I'm J! And you guys?"

Gen Tsukino turned over a card; it was a 9.

Not too big, not too small, relatively safe.

The young lady, on the other hand, seems to have always been synonymous with luck, immediately pulling out a Q. She also avoids the risk of being interrogated in the first round.

Aoki Shin looked at the group of people. "They're all this big? Holy crap. How come I'm a 4?!"

A four of hearts was placed on the table.

"Hahahaha." Matsushita laughed exaggeratedly, squinting her eyes as she said, "Now only Ayaka can save you, but the chances of her being younger than you are practically zero. Holy crap! An A-rank?!"

Ayaka Miura dazedly flipped over the playing cards in her hand, revealing an Ace of Spades.

She didn't seem to understand the rules yet. "Huh? Am I the youngest?"

Aoki Shin said with a wry smile, "No, you're the oldest. Goodness, you're asking me now."

Although he was the first to be questioned, Aoki Shin wasn't actually that flustered, especially since the one asking the question was the seemingly most harmless Miura Ayaka. She could get lost even with GPS, so what bad intentions could she possibly have? Besides, judging by how much she drank, she probably didn't even know what the world was like anymore.

"I'm asking?"

"Yes, make it sharper!"

Matsushita was itching to ask, wishing he could ask the question himself, and wanted to hand over his question to the other party.

So Ayaka Miura, with a slightly confused expression, looked at Shin Aoki and said...

"Hmm, let me think... Hmm... How about this one?" She nodded before speaking, as if to encourage herself. "Is there a girl you like here?"

"."

Aoki Shin was stunned when he heard this question. How could someone with thick eyebrows and big eyes be so ruthless?!
Matsushita gasped.

"Holy crap. Is this a bombshell right off the bat?"

They all knew, to varying degrees, that Aoki Shin's attitude towards Asagiri Rin was quite special, but knowing it in one's heart and saying it out loud are two completely different things. Moreover, Tsukino Gen was right there; this was practically a challenge to a man's courage. And what man could back down at a time like this? Wouldn't not backing down lead to an atmosphere of tension?
However, Tsukino Gen showed no expression.

Ayaka Miura's question seemed harsh, coming up with it right from the start, but it actually showed her tact. There were three other girls present, but she didn't name them. That meant she left room for maneuver, satisfying people's curiosity while avoiding a complete breakdown in relations.

She's not stupid at all.

Aoki's expression froze for a moment, and he forcefully restrained himself from looking in that direction.

Then say.

"some."

"Wow!!"

Matsushita shouted it out exaggeratedly.

Aoki Shin said irritably, "What are you yelling for! Let's see how I yell when it's your turn."

As he spoke, he picked up a beer and started drinking it by himself. Matsushita asked mischievously, "That's a matter for later. Besides, you've already told the truth, so why are you still drinking?"

"Can't I be thirsty?"

Actually, it was all to cover up his insecurity and embarrassment. What good did it do to speak the truth like that? Even if that person were right there on the field, he couldn't even make eye contact. It seemed brave, but it was all in vain. It seemed like he had taken a crucial step, but in reality, he had lost completely, with no chance whatsoever.

Damn it, you think you can mess with me because I'm a foreigner? None of you will get away with this!
Shin Aoki is already preparing to turn to the dark side.

And the next round begins.

This time.
Surprisingly, the young lady got a 3.

And the biggest one this time is...
"Why are you always using Aces or Kings? Are you hiding your cards?"

Aoki Shin stared in astonishment at Miura Ayaka, who was holding the cards in a daze. Goodness, is it true that fools are lucky?

The key point is that this person is not stupid at all; the things they asked were all genuinely hurtful!
Matsushita was somewhat deflated. Such a good opportunity to ask Asagiri Rin a question... and this girl got it.

She said with a hint of regret, "That's Ayaka's question again, remember not to hold back!"

She didn't hold out much hope; after all, Ayaka Miura was only somewhat familiar with Shin Aoki, so it was understandable that she would target him. However, she probably wouldn't dare ask anything radical about a girl like Rin Asagiri, whom she didn't know well and who possessed a powerful aura and background.
"Are you still a virgin?"

"."

A gentle night breeze brushed across everyone's face, yet they all seemed frozen in place, like sculptures.

Their minds were blank at that moment, but similar thoughts appeared.

'Does she not want to live anymore?'

……

(End of this chapter)