The Underworld, Starting with Debt

Reaching the bookshelf, Tsukishima Matsuichiro bent down and placed it on the lower shelf so his wife could easily reach it. Just as he looked up, he noticed a familiar notebook leaning slightly to one side on the upper shelf.

"This is... my diary!"

Chapter Thirty-Six: The Covered Wedding Photo

The bright moonlight, like a silver curtain of water, flowed between the earth and the sky. A gentle evening breeze stirred, softly ruffling Ito Koshito's fine, smooth hair.

After getting off the tram, walking home and enjoying the pleasant scenery around him, Ito Koshitomo was in an exceptionally good mood today.

'Today was truly...' Recalling all the events of the day, Ito Koshitoshi didn't know what words to use to describe his excitement. He wanted to let out a long howl to express his inner excitement.

Walking onto the small grassy area I visited last night, I realized that I had fallen in love with this beautiful little garden ever since Ito Koshitoki came here last night.

Sitting on the grass, the supple blades of grass dance gracefully in the gentle breeze under the moonlight, creating a symphony woven by nature.

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.

"Mmm~" Yamada Yumiko groaned softly, lying lazily on the soft bed, quietly enjoying a moment of satisfaction.

However... one's happiness is only fleeting. The cold and empty room quickly pulled Yamada Yumiko back to reality, leaving only emptiness and loneliness.

"Sigh—" Yamada Yumiko sighed, got up and went to the bathroom to change her clothes, tidying up her somewhat disheveled appearance.

"Sigh—" Stepping out of the bathroom and back into the empty, cold room, Yamada Yumiko sighed again, complaining about her husband, "Jun, when are you coming back? I'm so lonely all by myself!"

One person's complaints go unheard and cannot resolve their resentment. Yamada Yumiko stopped talking and walked towards the balcony. "Let's go to the balcony and get some fresh air."

Opening the balcony door, one is greeted by a lush green lawn not far away. Whenever she encounters troubles, Yumiko Yamada always comes to the balcony to receive the healing power of nature, and this time was no exception.

"Hmm? It's that handsome young man from yesterday!"

Under the bright moonlight, Yumiko Yamada was drawn to the figure sitting on the grass. Upon closer inspection, she recognized him as the handsome young man from yesterday.

A smile involuntarily crept onto his lips. The unexpected surprise dispelled the vexation and resentment in his heart, filling him with a slightly excited feeling.

On the balcony, Yumiko Yamada secretly gazed at Koichi Ito. Yesterday, she was so focused on his muscles that she forgot to observe his appearance.

With his striking, arched eyebrows, high nose bridge, and thin lips, his handsome features, crafted with a gentle touch, perfectly suited Yumiko Yamada's ideal facial features.

Unbeknownst to her, the flames that had just been extinguished began to reignite, growing ever stronger. Silently, this caused a noticeable indentation to form in her soft, enormous conscience.

A gentle breeze helped to clear Yamada Yumiko's dazed mind.

"Ah! Yumiko, what are you doing... You're a married woman!"

Looking at the wedding ring on her ring finger, shimmering silver in the moonlight, Yumiko Yamada felt a pang of guilt, and her thoughts drifted to her husband.

But she couldn't help but compare her husband to the handsome young man in front of her.

'That young man is really strong... If my husband were that strong, it would be... very exciting...'

Ito Koshito took out his phone to check the time and realized it was almost 23 p.m. He got up from the grass, dusted himself off, and prepared to go home.

He had just turned around when he saw a beautiful figure standing on the balcony of the apartment across the street, watching him. He immediately returned a polite smile, waved goodbye, and walked towards his small rented room.

"He's gone..." When she saw Ito Koshichi waving and smiling at her, Yamada Yumiko quickly brushed her hair back, straightened her clothes, and prepared to respond, but only saw Ito Koshichi's departing figure. She muttered regretfully.

"Alright, it's getting late, time to sleep. Staying up late is a woman's worst enemy! There will be other opportunities to meet her in the future!" Yamada Yumiko patted her cheeks to perk herself up, and went back to her bedroom after watching Ito Koshitoshi's figure disappear.

Although it was time to sleep, Yumiko Yamada sat quietly on the soft bed, her slender fingers constantly stroking the wedding ring on her ring finger, lost in thought.

The moonlight slanted down like water, illuminating the wedding photo on the bedside table. In the photo, Yumiko Yamada wore a pure white wedding dress, held a bouquet of white roses, and intimately linked arms with her husband, Shun Yamada. An atmosphere of happiness permeated their sweet smiles.

Yumiko Yamada gazed at the wedding photo for a long time, then gently moved to the bedside, covered it on the bedside table, and reached out her right hand to gently remove the wedding ring from her right ring finger and place it on the covered frame.

Silence reigned in the quiet room, save for a bulging blanket on the bed, which occasionally trembled for some reason. A closer look revealed strange rustling sounds.

In this silent space, even the slightest movement is magnified infinitely.

"Splash, splash—splash, splash—"

"Hmm~"

After a long while, everything returned to calm, and a sweet, seductive voice came from under the covers.

Goodnight∽

But it's unclear to whom Yumiko Yamada is saying goodnight, because, alas, the protagonist of her fantasy is no longer her husband...

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.

As I strolled leisurely into the grove, thick clouds began to gather in the sky, obscuring the bright moon and casting a dim light on the ground.

"Is it going to rain? Then we'd better hurry back."

Just as Ito was about to run back, a man and a woman suddenly emerged from the grove.

"Hazuki, it's about to rain, let's go back quickly!"

"Okay, Odosan."

The girl affectionately linked arms with the middle-aged man beside her and spoke in a sweet voice. To outsiders, their conversation might have seemed like that of a loving family.

However… Ito Koshitomo looked at Takahara Hazuki’s flushed face, messy hair, and disheveled collar with a strange expression. ‘So, this grove really is the legendary play spot?’

"Hello, Mr. Ito."

"Hello, Ito-nii-san."

The two who came out happened to see Ito Koshitomo standing to the side and nodded to him. Calm and composed, apart from slightly rapid breathing, they seemed normal, as if it were just an ordinary walk during a family activity.

"Hello..." Ito Koshito couldn't help but admire their mental fortitude; they were able to calm down so quickly after such strenuous exercise.

As residents of the same building, and with Ito Koshitomo's house located at the top of the stairs, Ito Koshitomo got to know everyone in the Takahara family during this week.

"Drip, drip"

Rain began to fall from the sky, and Ito Koshitoshi stopped talking to them and hurried home.

In the dim light of the stairwell in the rented apartment, a still-attractive and beautiful figure stood quietly. Ito Koshito noticed her as soon as he arrived at the apartment, and Takahara Kasumi also noticed them hurrying back.

"Mr. Ito." Kasumi Takahara forced a smile and greeted Ito Etsutoshi before looking at her husband and daughter beside her.

"You...you're back..."

His voice was somewhat low, but Mr. Gaoyuan seemed not to notice, speaking calmly over the high plateau clouds.

"Well, we're back."

"Ogasan, let's go back." Hazuki Takahara took Mr. Takahara's arm and walked up the stairs together, turning to look at Kasumi Takahara and urging her on.

Gao Yuanxia followed quietly, without saying a word.

Standing in front of the door, Ito Koshitoki looked at this deformed family with a deep, melancholy gaze.

depressed

Chapter 13 passed the review before, and the content of the chapter was not changed at all. It was reviewed again and still failed!

This is infuriating! (；′⌒`)

I'm so angry! I'm so angry! I'm so angry! I'm so angry! I'm so angry! I'm so angry! I'm so angry! I'm so angry! I'm so angry! I'm so angry! I'm so angry! I'm so angry! I'm so angry! I'm so angry! I'm so angry! I'm so angry! I'm so angry!

It's strange, why are chapters that were approved before now being reviewed again?

Chapter Thirty-Six or Seven: The Plan

"This is... my diary!"

Tsukishima Matsuichiro, somewhat flustered, took the notebook that Ito Koshitomo had just pulled out from the gap on the bookshelf.

"Kyoko...she probably hasn't seen it yet! Yes, she's not the kind of person who would snoop into other people's privacy like that!"

Matsuichiro Tsukishima took a deep breath and slowly opened the several special diary entries tucked inside.

"Boom—" It was as if lightning had sprung from the void and struck Tsukishima Matsuichiro. He broke out in a cold sweat, and his usual composure and calmness vanished. He leaned on the desk and finally slumped helplessly into the chair.

'Oh no, I wonder what Kyoko will think of me. Will she divorce me?' Tsukishima Matsuichiro thought with some fear.

After sitting slumped for a while, he gradually calmed down and recalled the details of when he entered the room.

'Kyoko didn't seem unusual, nor was she angry. But perhaps she was mindful of her student being present… But that doesn't make sense either; she didn't question me after that student named Ito left… Maybe she understands me? Perhaps I should test her later!'

Matsuichiro Tsukishima sat upright, his fingers tapping lightly and rhythmically on the table—a habit he had when he was thinking.

The study door was not closed. When Kyoko Tsukishima came in with fruit, she saw Matsuichiro Tsukishima tapping on the table, his brows furrowed and his expression constantly changing.

"Is something bothering you?"

"I was thinking about the diary..."

The sound stopped abruptly. Matsuichiro Tsukishima stiffly looked up at Kyoko Tsukishima. He had been so engrossed in his thoughts that he was a little dazed, and he had subconsciously answered Kyoko's question.

"Why did you come in without making a sound?"

"The door is not closed."

"..."

After a long silence, Tsukishima Matsuichiro finally spoke again.

"What's your opinion on diaries...?"

“A diary…” After her husband’s long silence, Tsukishima Kyoko immediately realized he was hiding something from her, recalling the notebook Ito Koshitomo had just found. ‘That might be Matsuichiro’s diary; perhaps it contains some secret he’s keeping from me.’

Matsuichiro Tsukishima waited anxiously for Kyoko Tsukishima's answer, as he was utterly incapable of lying to her.

“The diary…” Kyoko Tsukishima looked at Matsuichiro Tsukishima, placed the fruit on the writing desk, came behind him, and gently pressed his temples with her slender hands.

"Matsuichiro, are you hiding something from me?"

"..."

"Don't rush to answer. We're husband and wife. I won't force you to tell me your secrets. I just hope that if you have any difficulties, we can solve them together."

"..."

Matsuichiro Tsukishima felt a sense of relief; he had received good news: his wife hadn't seen his diary entries yet.

but……