The Underworld, Starting with Debt

"Excuse me."

In her haste, Miyajima Tsubaki accidentally turned to someone. After turning around and bowing slightly in apology, she tried to leave quickly.

"Snapped--"

Her slender wrist was gripped tightly, forcing Miyajima Tsubaki to stop in her tracks, anxiously watching Hazuki and Miko's departing figures.

"Excuse me, I have something urgent to attend to. Could you let me go first? I'll leave you my contact information, and I'll apologize to you later, okay?"

Miyajima Tsubaki turned her head and looked at the person she had bumped into, who was the blond-haired girl from the doorway earlier.

"Humph!"

The blond-haired girl gave a huff, not buying into Miyajima Tsubaki's soft apology.

"Auntie! Are you doing this on purpose?! Ah—"

The blond-haired girl raised her head arrogantly, domineering and relentless.

"It was the same at the door just now. I think you came here on purpose to pick a fight with me."

"Hey~"

Miyajima Tsubaki kept turning her head to look at Hazuki and Miko until Hazuki was completely out of sight, and she continued to explain to the girl in a kind and gentle voice.

"No, I don't have such thoughts. Could you please let me go?"

Kindness is often bullied by dogs; giving in only emboldens the blond-haired girl.

"Humph!"

She gave a smug hum, rubbing her fingers together with her other hand.

"Auntie, although you're deliberately picking a fight with me, I'm a magnanimous person. Look at that stained dress; you must have bumped into me and gotten my clothes dirty. Don't you think you should offer some kind of compensation? And..."

"call--"

The girl beside him kept babbling on, her sharp and sarcastic words like a serrated blade slicing through the air, making a jarring noise that wore down Miyajima Tsubaki's patience.

Suddenly, a loud, crisp "snap" echoed down the corridor.

The girl covered her swollen left cheek, staring wide-eyed at Miyajima Tsubaki, as if trying to recall what had just happened.

"You, you actually dared to hit me..."

The blond-haired girl gritted her teeth and pointed her right finger at her.

Miyajima Tsubaki did not answer. She stared coldly at the blond girl in front of her, her aura, cultivated over many years of sword practice, pressing down on her like a raging wave.

"me......"

The fierce aura completely forced out the true nature of the blond girl, who was all bark and no bite; her tongue was tied so badly that she couldn't even utter a single word.

"open."

Looking at her calmly, Miyajima Tsubaki gently withdrew her hand. The hand that had just gripped her wrist was now as soft as a marshmallow, and it loosened as soon as she pulled away.

After glancing at the blond-haired girl, Miyajima Tsubaki left without looking back.

"..."

"Oh, damn it, boohoo..."

......

......

'Faster, faster!'

"Tap tap~~"

Lifting her skirt, Miyajima jogged out of the restroom and into the spacious main hall of the store, looking around in search of something.

Where is it? Where is it?

"Ring-ling——"

The crisp, melodious sound of wind chimes rang out, and Miyajima Tsubaki's gaze involuntarily turned towards the front door.

'Yes, it's Xiaozhi!!!'

Miyajima Tsubaki's eyes narrowed sharply, and she skillfully covered her wide-open mouth with her hand.

Everything around seemed to be blurry, like a white aurora spreading, with only two clear figures in front of me.

A tall and familiar figure, dressed in an exquisite casual outfit (a gift from Rena Kurashiki), had his right arm around the slender waist of the alluring woman beside him.

The woman's bare skin beneath her short skirt shimmered with a crystal-clear luster in the sunlight, as if water droplets were flowing down it.

'Xiao Zhi, have you stooped to the level of someone who sells their purity... or have you been deceived by a bad woman!'

"Xiao Zhi!!!"

Miyajima Tsubaki called out loudly, her clear voice echoing throughout the cafe and attracting the curious gazes of the customers.

But even though she attracted so much attention, she couldn't get the person Tsubaki Miyajima wanted to turn around and look at her.

"Ring-ling——"

Miyajima Tsubaki wanted to chase after her, but the waitress who had splashed water all over her blocked her way with a set of work clothes.

"Miss, why don't you change into this work uniform first? The wet skirt feels sticky and uncomfortable."

Miyajima Tsubaki opened her mouth, looked at the apologetic waitress in front of her, looked up at the vast sea of ​​people outside the glass door, and sighed softly.

"Trouble..."

............

"Hmm? It sounds like someone is calling me."

Touching his head, Ito Koshitomo looked around curiously.

"Hmm~ No way~ You must have misheard me."

Hazuki Kazuko leaned limply against Ito Koshizumi's chest. She had some difficulty moving and needed Ito Koshizumi's support to stand. She walked with a shaky gait, as if something was stuck between her legs.

"Really? Then it's probably just a hallucination."

"Hmm~ Xiao Zhi, forget about that, now~ we should get down to business~"

The sun was blazing, and the scorching heat was relentless. Hazuki and Miko's faces were flushed red, as if they could bleed.

Her cherry lips parted slightly, and a strand of silver thread dangled from the corner of her delicate pink mouth, radiating a faint warmth.

His deep eyes fixed on Hazuki and Miko's cheeks and bewildered gaze, Ito Kozue's throat bobbed a few times, and his fingers, hidden in his pocket, fidgeted involuntarily.

"Buzz↗Buzz↘"

It seemed like something was vibrating, sometimes loudly, sometimes softly.

With this rhythmic vibration, Hazuki Kazuko's curvaceous body trembled and shook like a butterfly in flight. She no longer had the strength to stand, and with her arms around Ito Koshito's strong waist, she slowly slid down to the ground.

"Bad guy~"

"tick~tick~"

Under a clear blue sky and bright sunshine, where did the sound of raindrops come from? Holding Hazuki and Miko tightly to prevent her from actually lying down on the ground, Ito Koshino looked around in confusion.

"Stop looking~ I've already booked a hotel~ Please help me over there, I feel so lightheaded, I can't even stand up straight."

A summer breeze blew gently by, bringing a slight coolness and dispelling the surrounding heat, but in Ito Koshitoshi's heart, an even bigger and fiercer storm was brewing.

Ito Koshito naturally placed his hand on Hazuki Kazuko's thigh, his fingers slightly hooking the lace camisole.

"Snapped"

The taut suspenders might hit the firm, supple flesh of my legs, leaving a faint red mark.

"With such great thigh muscles, how could you not have the strength to walk? You and Miko-nee will have to walk the rest of the way by yourselves~"

"Hmm~"

With a sweet, muffled groan, Hazuki Kazuko looked up at Ito Kozue's wicked smile. Her heart was pounding, especially as the crowds passed by on the street. Her heart felt like it was being violently pounded by a deer, causing the curves of her top to rise and fall as if the delicate straps were about to snap.

"Ah."

With her head slightly lowered, Hazuki Kazuko responded shyly, using her small hands to prop herself up from the embrace of Ito Kozue.

'Hmm? You accepted it so quickly?'

Ito Koshito gazed intently at Hazuki and Miko's flushed faces. His glasses were blurred by their alluring, misty eyes, but Ito Koshito could still sense their excitement from their expressions.

"..."

"Tap tap~~"

The sound of high heels leaving was exceptionally loud, but it seemed insignificant in the noisy crowd.

Ito and his group left, disappearing into the crowd without leaving any trace.

Oh no~

A gentle breeze stirred, creating ripples and damp patches on the street.

......

......

Actually, while I suggested that Hazuki and Miko walk on their own, I didn't intend to bully her in the bustling streets, as that would have greatly increased the chances of them being exposed.

"Tap-tap-tap"

From the secluded alley, a series of strange sounds came, like the splashing sound of shoes stomping on puddles.

"Hoo~"

"Hoo~"

"Hoo~"

The walls of the residential buildings in the alley are very tall, blocking out the bright sunlight and making the alley appear somewhat dark. Occasionally, a few strong rays of light will break in, leaving a few mottled shadows.

Supported by Qiang, Hazuki and Miko had to stop and rest every few steps, panting heavily in their soft voices, which suggested they weren't tired.

"Kazuko-nee, have we gone to the wrong place? It seems like we're getting more and more remote."

Following Hazuki and Miko, Ito Koshitomo kept shifting his gaze to see if anyone else was around.