The Underworld, Starting with Debt

Natsumi Murasaki walked gently to Ito Kozue's side, touching his strong arm and feeling the flowing muscle lines. A fiery passion seemed to burn within her, and a hot aura seemed to flow through her body, making her fair cheeks blush pink as if they were dyed by cherry blossoms, adding a touch of allure to her bright face.

Purple Palace Natsume's alluring wine-red eyes surged with emotion, a single glance revealing a thousand pearls of beauty. She said softly, "How about I blow on it for you? Blowing on it will blow away all the pain. Don't overthink it!"

A seductive, fiery passion burned within Ito Koshito, like the eve of a volcanic eruption, brimming with restlessness.

"Well then, thank you for your help." Ito Koshito's breathing became rapid and deep, each inhale like fueling a flame of passion, each exhale like releasing a fiery breath. His heart pounded, like drumbeats pounding fiercely in his chest.

"Ha—whoosh—the pain flies away..." The soft, moist breath, like a gentle spring breeze, accompanied by her sweet voice, gently and moistly patted Ito Koshino's arm, spreading rapidly across her sensitive skin like water conducting electricity, leaving a tingling, numb sensation.

A long, passionate breath wafted through Ito Koshito's nostrils, assaulting Murasaki Natsume's slender, delicate neck, as if draining her of all her strength. A fervent, urgent light shone through Ito Koshito's eyes, like a predator licking her skin.

"Ah—" A soft, warm current flowed through her body, causing Natsumi Murasaki to involuntarily let out a cute moan. A strange, stimulating sensation swept through her body once more. 'This way, Ito-kun won't be easily seduced by bad women, right…'

"The Purple Palace..."

"Um……"

"Your clothes are a bit messy, let me tidy them up for you..."

"Um……"

Unconsciously, Ito Koshito's muscles tensed, as focused and tense as a hunter locking onto its prey. His lips parted slightly, and his breath trembled slightly. His broad hands gently stroked his rounded shoulders, slowly smoothing out the wrinkles in his clothes.

"Your waist is a bit messy too..." After repeatedly caressing and admiring it, his palm followed the soft, white lotus arm, across the peak, and came to the slender waist that could be grasped in one hand.

At this moment, Ito Koshitomo and Murasaki Natsuha appeared from a distance to be an intimate couple. The girl shyly raised her head to kiss her beloved, while the boy wrapped his arms around her waist, responding affectionately.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

From the fragrance of the soil to the hardness of asphalt, Yuta Yamano embarked on a journey that stretched from country lanes to urban avenues. Along the way, his heart was constantly stirred by the prosperity before him, marveling at the vibrancy and energy of city life.

"Wow—is this where Xia Ye studied? It's so bustling." After getting off the bus at a bus stop, Yamano Yuta admired the change in scenery from rural fields to high-rise buildings. He couldn't help but marvel at the bustling traffic on the busy streets.

Yuta Yamano is Natsume Murasaki's childhood friend, who is one year younger than her. When Natsume was in her third year of junior high school, she moved from the countryside to a big city to study due to family reasons. The two, who had been inseparable since childhood, were separated. Although they often visited each other, they could never recapture the feeling of being together day and night. This made Yuta Yamano very regretful, so he also planned to apply to the same school as Natsume Murasaki.

This year, Natsumi Murasaki was admitted to Seishin Academy. Yuta Yamano originally planned to explore Seishin Academy with Natsumi Murasaki and cultivate their relationship. However, he has been very busy for the past month and hasn't had much time to visit Natsumi Murasaki.

"Although I can't experience the fun of exploring the school with Natsume-nee, it's still amazing that Natsume-nee, who is beautiful and has a sweet voice, introduced the school to me." Yamano Yuta only had time a month after the start of the semester. He had originally planned to visit the school with Murasaki Natsume on the weekend, but Yamano Yuta couldn't wait to see Murasaki Natsume, so he came to the city early to give her a surprise.

"Let me use navigation. Seishin Academy should be in that direction." Yuta Yamano walked in the direction of the navigation.

In the dimly lit, narrow alley across from the bus stop, several wolf-like eyes seemed to gleam eerily through the deep darkness, staring maliciously at Yamano Yuta's departing figure.

"Sisters, what do you think? Is he the one?" A deep voice echoed through the alleyway, accompanied by a wisp of smoke. Several scantily clad young women gathered casually together, some standing, some sitting, leaning against the alley wall.

“Sure, judging from his clueless look, he must be from the countryside. These kinds of people are the easiest to handle.”

"He's quite my type, hehe∽"

"That's him then, let's follow him."

Chapter Eighteen: Manipulation (Part Two)

Cherry blossoms fluttered down, caressed by the gentle breeze, and could only fall sadly onto the concrete ground. Yuta Yamano walked uphill along the cherry blossom avenue.

"There are so few students from the home club. Just as Natsume-nee said, Seishin Academy is very strict with its students!" Looking at the few students from the home club, Yamano Yuta sighed. "Natsume-nee is probably participating in club activities in the karate club right now. I'll wander around the neighborhood for a bit." He felt embarrassed to go to Seishin Academy alone, so he could only wander around the neighborhood waiting for Shinomiya Natsume.

"Phew—thankfully he didn't go to Seishin Academy, otherwise it would have been really difficult to deal with him." The group of delinquent girls following behind Yamano Yuta breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that their trip was going to be a waste.

Not far from Seishin Academy, a small street is filled with the aroma of delicious food, as if every stone slab is imbued with an enticing scent. On both sides of the street, a dazzling array of food stalls and restaurants are densely packed, forming a bustling food street.

"Wow, so much delicious food! I'll definitely get into Seishun Academy!" Yuta Yamano, who has loved food since childhood, was captivated by the dazzling array of food and couldn't help but stop at each stall to savor the delicacies. By the time he reached the end of the street, his arms were stuffed with various dishes. "This is really good. I'll ask Natsume-nee to try some too."

At the end of the food street lies a small grove of trees. Towering trees stand tall, their lush foliage intertwining to form a natural barrier. Bright sunlight streams down, creating a juxtaposition of light and darkness beneath this barrier, lending an air of mystery and intrigue.

Upon reaching this point, Yuta Yamano suddenly had a whimsical idea and turned into a secluded path in the woods. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, as if they were whispering.

"How comfortable," Yuta Yamano said, closing his eyes slightly, focusing his mind, feeling the gentle breeze on his cheeks, and the sunlight filtering through the leaves, warm and pleasant. The distant chirping of birds added to the soothing atmosphere. "If only Natsume-nee were here to chat with me right now."

"Hehehe, handsome young man, how about we keep you company and chat with you!"

Yuta Yamano looked back and saw three beautiful women quickly approach him and surround him.

The one who spoke just now seemed to be the leader of this group of delinquent girls. She had short, yellow hair that cascaded down her shoulders, and the earrings on her ears shimmered. Although her features weren't stunning, her makeup was heavy, concealing her flaws. Long eyelashes were framed by purple eyeshadow, and her lip gloss was bright and eye-catching. Through her slightly open mouth, you could also see a tongue stud adorning her tongue.

"Hey kid, how about you chat with us?" The blond-haired punk grabbed Yamano Yuta and tucked him under her arm. She rubbed his not-so-impressive breasts against him forcefully. Her white shirt was knotted at the chest, revealing her waist, which was often exposed and tanned by the sun.

"What, what do you want to do!" Yamano Yuta's not-so-tall body was forced to bend over, his cowardly words trembling.

The three girls exchanged glances. 'We've found someone easy to bully.' The blonde girl shook her head, signaling two other girls dressed similarly to her to come and restrain Yamano Yuta. The two girls understood and each grabbed one of Yamano Yuta's arms.

"Boy, what's your name?"

"Yama... Yamano Yuta."

The blonde-haired delinquent lifted Yamano Yuta's chin and examined him closely, as if assessing the value of her new toy.

"Did Yamano-kun come to the city from the countryside all by himself?"

"I... I came with Natsume-nee." Although Yamano Yuta was trembling with fear, he wasn't so flustered as to blurt out everything.

"Hehe~ Liar! We saw you get off the bus. Tell me, how should a bad kid who lies be punished!"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please forgive me, I'll do anything you want, just don't hit me!"

"Tch, trash," the blond-haired punk suddenly slapped Yamano Yuta across the face, looking at his pathetic performance with disdain. "We're a little short on cash lately, let's borrow some money to spend."

"Okay! Okay! Don't hit me! My wallet is in the right pocket of my pants."

The blond-haired punk girl squatted down next to Yamano Yuta, rummaging through her pockets. Because of her revealing clothing, her shirt was knotted at the chest, exposing her bra. So, when she reached for her wallet, she also found **.

"Hehe~ It's small and cute." The blond-haired punk girl smiled contemptuously again, emptying her wallet. "Let's go, sisters, let's have some fun."

"Big sister, you know, I like this kind of thing." Just as the blond-haired punk was about to leave after robbing someone, one of the green-haired punks' eyes lit up after hearing the blond-haired punk's evaluation, and she said to the blond-haired punk.

"Hmm... this place isn't suitable either..." The blond-haired punk stroked her chin thoughtfully, then glanced at Yamano Yuta. He was meek and cautious, carefully avoiding her eyes. A smile immediately crept onto her lips. If Yamano Yuta had acted even slightly more forcefully, she might have let it go, but... Yamano Yuta certainly didn't disappoint her. Since that's the case, then... the blond-haired punk's wish would be fulfilled! "Take him away!"

"Wait, didn't you say you'd send the money to me once you paid me?" Yuta Yamano asked in surprise, somewhat fearfully.

"What did I say? Okay, stop arguing, or I'll beat you up!"

"I..." The words that were about to come out of his throat were swallowed back down by Yuta Yamano.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Your waist is a bit messy too..."

The sweet fragrance of the young girl was like a soft feather, gently brushing against Ito Koshito's tense heartstrings, as if trying to snap the string of his reason.

Encircling her soft, slender waist, Ito Koshi unconsciously pulled her into his arms, squeezing her heavy, greasy fat into a flat, meaty pancake—soft, sticky, and incredibly comfortable.

"The Purple Palace..."

The warm, cozy passion, like a small stove, penetrated the heart of Natsume Murasaki, leaving her dizzy. With each breath of Ito Kozue, her heart inexplicably pounded, each beat rippling with increasing intensity, gradually forming a surging torrent.

Just as the Murasaki Palace was about to sink into the warm ocean, a rough but warm hand climbed onto her buttocks, the heat passing through her skirt and dispelling the wet and sticky feeling.

This also snapped her out of her daze. 'I was just blowing away Ito-kun's pain! Yes, that's it! Yuuta... should understand me!'

"Ito-kun, can you let me go...?"

The surging, violent energy within Ito Koshitomo's body gradually subsided under the slight rejection of Murasomiya Natsume. The beast that was about to break free of its cage was also brought back into the defensive line of reason under Ito Koshitomo's control.

“Sorry,” Ito Koshichi said, withdrawing his round hands and taking a step back.

"It doesn't matter……"

Seeing that Murasaki Natsume didn't seem angry, Ito Koshitomo breathed a sigh of relief. 'It seems Murasaki Natsume isn't blaming me, but... why is her skirt wet?'

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Yamano-kun, I'll make you feel very comfortable."

On a street near Seishin Academy, a green-haired delinquent girl walked by with her arm around the timid, girlish-looking Yamano Yuta. Yamano Yuta wanted to plead for her, but when he looked up, he saw a scene that was like a bolt from the blue for him.

A shower of cherry blossoms, like a delicate dance, falls and sways under the careful arrangement of nature, gently landing on the beautiful couple beneath the cherry trees. Time seems to slow down; the noise of the crowd is absorbed by this tender scene, leaving only the whispers of the petals and the wind.

This seemingly beautiful scene, however, was something Yamano Yuta couldn't accept. 'Why? Why would Natsume-nee, whom I've always admired, throw herself into someone else's arms?'

Yuta Yamano wanted to question her, but when he saw Ito Koshito's tall and imposing figure that intimidated him, he couldn't bring himself to take the first step. He could only raise his tear-filled, lifeless eyes to look at the green-haired delinquent.

Can you comfort me?

The green-haired delinquent didn't know what had gotten into Yamano Yuta; after suddenly bursting into tears, he became proactive. However, she didn't care. She brought her heavily made-up face close to Yamano Yuta's ear, chuckling wickedly as she breathed softly into his ear. "Of course, I'll comfort you properly in bed!"

Chapter Nineteen: The Gaoyuan Family

They stared at each other in silence for several minutes before calmly suppressing the flutter in their hearts, their passionate emotions gradually cooling down.

"Ito-kun, can you come with me to the supermarket? I want to buy something."

Murasaki no Natsume gently patted her blushing cheeks, trying her best to sound nonchalant.

"Okay, but what do you want to buy?" Ito Koshitoshi had regained his senses from the romantic atmosphere he had just returned from and asked curiously.

"It's a gift for the boy!"

"Give it away? Is it for Yamano Yuta?" Ito Koshizumi's calm words seemed to carry a hint of resentment, and a slight sourness of jealousy wafted into Murasaki Natsume's heart like a pungent odor. Well, even though he was the villain who bullied others' childhood friends! Ito Koshizumi still felt jealous that a girl he had interacted closely with and had feelings for could have feelings for someone else.

As if she had tasted the emotions of Ito Koshino, knowing that it was wrong and a betrayal of her childhood friend Yamano Yuta, with whom she had a mutual affection, Shinomiya Natsuha couldn't help but feel a slight joy in her heart. Not knowing how to answer, she could only tell the truth in the end.

"...Yuta is coming to see me on Saturday, and as his childhood friend, I have to treat him well! As a guy, could you give me some suggestions on a gift?"

"..."

"Please," Natsumi Murasaki said, clinging to Ito Kozue's arm. Her curvaceous, full body swayed gently like a puppy, nuzzling against his ear and pleading in a sweet, coquettish voice, her alluring, crimson eyes brimming with a pitiful look.

"...I didn't say I refused."

"Thank you for helping me, Ito-kun," said Shinomiya Natsuha happily. For some reason, Shinomiya Natsuha gradually mentioned the name of her childhood friend, Yamano Yuta, less and less often. Even when Yamano Yuta came to visit her this time, she did not feel the sweet emotions she used to have.

"Call me Zhi!"

“…Of course, you can call me Natsuha too, Toshi-kun!” After a long silence, Natsuha Murasaki gently uttered the name of Toshi Ito. This name seemed to have some kind of magic, making the image of Yuta Yamano in Natsuha Murasaki’s heart seem to be gradually covered up, like a ghost in the morning mist, gradually fading out of the fresh air as the light grew brighter.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

In the bustling shop, Natsumi Murasaki asked Koshitomo Ito a question.

"Zhi-kun, what do you think about giving me a hat? After all, summer is almost here."

Ito Koshito thought for a moment. For boys, their thoughts on gifts may vary from person to person, but most people usually prefer practical and functional items.

"Hmm, this is a pretty good gift choice."