I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 26 You Are the Only Exception
In fact, Tsukino Gen was remembering something that Miura Akihiko had mentioned to him before.

A senior member of the kendo club is very interested in Kazama Sakura.
Yes, this looks like it.

Gen Tsukino could actually understand the jealousy and rivalry among teenagers of that age over a pretty girl. It wasn't that they were being silly or wasting their time on unnecessary things.

There's no need to blindly condemn and belittle girls; they haven't cleaned up the relationships around them.

Because such demands are beyond the capabilities of most teenagers, if human nature did not favor conflict, there would be no war.

If you don't strive for good things and always hope that someone will choose you without you doing anything, even giving up better options for you, that's arrogance and wishful thinking. Such a rule doesn't exist in this world.

Most of them are just fantasies in novels.

However, this does not mean that Kazama Sakura is the kind of girl Tsukino Gen described.

Just like now.

Gen Tsukino simply met the other's gaze calmly, while Sakura Kazama, after a brief moment of surprise, immediately spoke.

"I'm sorry, it might not be convenient."

Although Kazama Sakura's voice wasn't loud, it was very clear. She looked up to meet his gaze, without any hesitation or reluctance.

This made the girls around him feel a little strange.

"Oh, I remember now, wasn't it said that this senior is pursuing Kazama?"

"Is this a rejection? Is it because of Tsukino-kun?"

"Although Tsukino-kun seems better looking, he appears too frail. And I heard Tsukino-kun is an orphan, right? Is Kazama one?"

Kazama Sakura seemed oblivious to these discussions; she simply made what she felt was the right choice in a very short time.

Perhaps this is not a choice at all.

Because apart from the boy next to her, she didn't want any other boy to sit on the other side.

Watanabe Kakeru frowned noticeably, but he, who prided himself on his strong will, did not give up. Instead, he looked at Tsukino Gen, whose expression remained calm, and asked, "Is it alright for me to sit next to you?"

Gen Tsukino smiled and said, "If you don't feel embarrassed, of course it's fine."

"."

Watanabe Kazuya couldn't help but clench his fists slightly at his sides.

He certainly understood what the other person meant.

Look, they don't even want you to be a third wheel here, yet you still come over. Aren't you a little shameless?
unfortunately.

His life principle is to strive for what he wants, and so far, there is really no goal he has failed to achieve.

So he really gritted his teeth and sat down next to Gen Tsukino.

Suddenly, the whole atmosphere seemed to become interesting in the eyes of onlookers.

Since you're not the one in the picture, what psychological burden could you possibly have from just watching the spectacle?
It seems like the most melodramatic love triangle ever. Can't we just start fighting?
Kazama Sakura had a headache. She didn't know what Tsukino Gen meant by those words. Didn't he understand what she meant?

Why invite trouble? Is it because of the competitive spirit among boys, wanting to confront things head-on to prove they aren't cowards?
No. Gen Tsukino is not that kind of person at all.

The fact that he was willing to go directly to Yamazaki Jihei's office to confront him shows that he didn't care about the so-called conflict and wasn't afraid to take risks.

What was the purpose of that?

Watanabe He didn't care about any of that. After sitting down, he immediately grabbed a beer from the side.

Then he looked coldly at Tsukino Gen beside him, "Want a drink?"

Gen Tsukino feigned surprise as he looked at the other person, "I thought Watanabe-senpai would challenge me to a duel using kendo, but it turns out you're planning to have a drinking contest?"

"."

Watanabe Hisa's eye twitched slightly.

Take a shallow breath.

"It doesn't make sense to use my area of ​​expertise; I just think it's fairer that way."

He opened two bottles of beer, placing one in front of Tsukino Gen and keeping the other for himself.

"How about it?"

His provocation became more obvious.

Gen Tsukino gripped the bottle, then looked at him and said, "There's no such thing as fairness in these things, and whether you drink or not won't determine the outcome. I think you understand."

"Of course I understand, and I know you too, you're very famous."

"Really? More famous than you?"

Watanabe He gave a cold laugh.

"Of course, after all, many girls only care about looks and don't care about other qualities and hard skills. Sometimes it's hard to tell what's better in a short time, but most of the time, time will tell."

Kazama Sakura couldn't listen to this anymore.

What is all this talk about? I didn't intend for things to become this complicated, and I know Watanabe He likes me and is pursuing me. I've already rejected him directly.

Is drinking this really necessary? Is this just some weird competitive spirit among guys?

"Watanabe-senpai, I think I've made myself clear before, regarding our relationship..."

"Wait."

Gen Tsukino held down Sakura Kazama's leg.

His large hand covered Kazama Sakura's soft yet firm thigh flesh. He didn't do it on purpose; he just subconsciously thought that the other person's hand was there.

But it seems that's not the case.

Sakura Kazama was also stunned for a moment, staring wide-eyed at the boy.

Then her gaze shifted downwards, her cheeks flushed rapidly, and an unknown, alluring emotion began to brew in her eyes.

All of this seemed to be a sign of shyness, yet she didn't remove Tsukino Gen's hand.

Until the boy casually removed it, and then said.

"This is a battle between men, isn't it, Watanabe?"

When Tsukino Gen looked over, Watanabe He's eye was twitching.

You think that just because you've removed your hand now, I won't see that you were touching her leg?

Damn it, I've never been this relaxed and natural when wielding a sword!
But now it seems there is no way out. After all, in everyone's eyes, he has already issued a declaration of war, and he has accepted the challenge. Even if Kazama Sakura's stance is ultimately not changed because of this.

He wanted to at least make Tsukino Gen suffer a bit.

He gave what he considered a cruel sneer, then looked at Tsukino Gen coldly and said, "Using swordsmanship is bullying the weak, but you will understand that your so-called advantages mean nothing in front of me."

Gripping the beer can tightly felt like grasping a familiar sword hilt.

He looked up and gulped it down.

In contrast, Tsukino Gen's movements were much more refined, lacking the exaggerated and beastly style.

However, he drank very quickly. He drank the same amount as his opponent.

Sakura Kazama was almost frantic with worry.

are you crazy!

I went to great lengths to get him out here, and it wasn't just to bring him to karaoke. I've prepared quite a few things for him! If you get him drunk, won't that mean the day is over?

Are you sick in the head?!
Does drinking between men even count as a fight? Isn't that a bit too childish?
However, Sakura Kazama was powerless to stop it, because not only were the two of them drinking recklessly, but it was as if the entire private room was left with only the two of them.

The boys and girls around them stopped singing and stared intently, even fanatically, at this side, cheering wildly.

"Go for it, Tsukino-kun, you can do it! Do you want me to drink it for you?"

Who's this green tea bitch? Get out of here!
"Watanabe-senpai is amazing! He even crushed the bottle after finishing the drink!"

Why don't you just drink the bottle too?

"Wow, they're both working so hard! Can't they take their clothes off and drink like that? Then put their arms around each other's shoulders and look into each other's eyes."

No fujoshi (female fans of male-male romance) are allowed to eat at the table!!

This seemingly endless drinking contest had initially caused some concern, especially since the people in the private room hadn't drunk much.

Seeing this, she nodded in satisfaction at Kazama Sakura.

"Very good, none of the drinks ordered today will go to waste. Kazama, you did a great job. I'll call you again next time."

Kazama Sakura: ? ? ?

Beer certainly doesn't have the same potency as whiskey or spirits, and it takes longer to get you drunk.

Most of the time, I'm just stuffing myself.

So basically, beer tolerance often depends purely on body size.

To be honest, after drinking three or four bottles, Watanabe Kazuya was already feeling a bit overwhelmed because he was drinking so fast and in such a hurry.

However, he glanced at Tsukino Gen's side and saw that the other was still drinking calmly, with the same empty bottle on the table as him.

He gritted his teeth and drank two more bottles. Because he couldn't go to the toilet or vomit, he was forced to stop after that bottle.

My eyes were a little red, I don’t know if it was from choking or just from being drunk.

He felt that if he moved even slightly, he might spit out the alcohol—yes, spit it out directly.

It's like a fountain.

Needless to say, the consequences would be incredibly embarrassing, especially since people are taking photos and videos now. It's hard to say whether the entire school forum will be filled with pictures of me turning into a fountain.

So he really couldn't force himself to continue.

Until he saw Tsukino Gen casually put down the bottle.

Then I opened another bottle, looked at his unconvinced eyes, and smiled as I spoke.

"I actually think it's a good thing to bravely express your feelings and pursue the person you like."

"You haven't won yet."

Watanabe He didn't like the way the other person comforted him from the perspective of a victor, because that was often what he himself did.

Why the hell did I have to choose to drink so much?!
That's unfair! That's unfair! Let's have a rematch!
Then, Tsukino Gen finished the bottle right in front of him, and then casually opened another bottle amidst Watanabe He's increasingly terrified gaze.

He said.

"Actually, given the situation today, there's absolutely no need for me to engage in your so-called drinking contest. I'm not that immature, and besides, drinking contests aren't exactly healthy competition. But..."

"What.?"

He frowned deeply, and his breathing became heavy.

Kazama Sakura, who was standing next to him, didn't want Tsukino Gen to continue drinking, because there was no need for him to drink anymore. Even though he seemed to be fine, who would be okay after drinking so much in one go?

Is he just putting on a brave face?

After all, he's such an arrogant person.
She tried to reach out to stop him, but Tsukino Gen was faster. He finished the bottle in one gulp and calmly placed the empty bottle on the table.

It was neatly arranged next to the ones he had finished drinking earlier.

He then looked at Watanabe He with a smile and said, "But I don't want Sakura to think that I don't care about her."

"."

Watanabe He was speechless.

He suddenly felt a strong sense of frustration.

I hadn't felt this sense of frustration in a long time; it was when I was learning kendo and facing my older brother.

At the time, Watanabe thought he was a genius, but he only realized it after actually fighting his brother.

My brother's swordsmanship is superior to mine; it's a kind of dimensional reduction attack, a different realm.

And now, in this strange aspect.

He actually thought that this boy named Tsukino Gen was just a pretty face used to fool girls.
His emotions were on a completely different level from my own.

Compared to him, I seem more naive, immature, and even selfish.

Gen Tsukino spoke these words very softly, and Sakura Kazama didn't hear them clearly.

She only saw Tsukino Gen calmly stand up, while Watanabe Kazuya beside him remained silent with his head down, not saying a word.

The boy looked at himself.

His expression was fine; it was still that lingering smile that made people both love and hate him.

"Sorry, I've had a bit too much to drink, I might have to go first. Would you like to see me off?"

".certainly."

Sakura Kazama suppressed the urge for her heart to race wildly.

She stood up, then boldly reached out and grasped the boy's arm.

It was the kind of action one would take to help a drunk person, but only she knew the reason behind it.

She didn't want others to think that she was using the 'rivalry' between two remarkable boys to boost her own reputation and satisfy her vanity.

She hoped they could understand, and that Tsukino Gen could feel it too.

I have always been brave and determined.

The chosen path is followed without deviation.

In his presence, only Tsukino Gen was an exception.

……

(End of this chapter)