The Underworld, Starting with Debt

"Ito-kun, Ito-kun..." Haruno Ayato excitedly raised his arms and waved them vigorously, calling out Ito Koshitoshi in a low voice, trying to attract his attention.

That makes sense; although the literature clubroom was quite spacious, it was still easy to scan it from top to bottom, so Haruno Ayato's movements naturally drew attention. Ito Koshitomo was also drawn to it.

"Shiina-kun, it sounds like Haruno-kun is calling me."

Upon hearing what Ito Koshizumi was referring to, Shiina Chizuru followed his gaze and recognized Haruno Ayato's figure.

A delicate, fair-skinned, and handsome young boy like Ayato Haruno is the prey of some of the hot girls at school. Therefore, whenever Kasumi Haruno is not around, Ayato Haruno is often bullied and harassed by these girls.

Shiina Chizuru happened to pass by and witnessed this situation. Upright and full of a sense of justice, she could not tolerate this behavior that violated school rules.

Over time, she, who was ostracized by her classmates because of her sense of justice, gradually became familiar with Haruno Ayato, who was isolated because of his timid personality, and they started talking to each other.

Of course, the most important reason is that he is Kasumi Haruno's younger brother.

"Ito-kun, Shiina-san."

Haruno Ayato greeted him with a smile.

"Haruno-kun."

Following Ito Koshitomo, Shiina Chizuru nodded to Haruno Ayato.

"Haruno-san."

She then turned to look at Kasumi Haruno and gave her a sweet smile.

"Kazumi-senpai."

"Chizuru."

At this moment, Kasumi Haruno had also suppressed the excitement in her heart and responded with a smile.

"Ito-kun, let me introduce you. This is my older sister, Haruno Kasumi!"

"Sister, this is my friend, Ito Koshitomo!"

Ayato Haruno proudly introduced his first friend at Seishin Academy to Kasumi Haruno.

"Ito... hello, thank you for taking care of Ayato these past few days."

Kasumi Haruno gazed at Koji Ito with a smile, her voice gentle and kind, like a warm current that warmed one's heart.

"No, Haruno-senpai, Haruno-kun is also very reliable. Last week, he helped me, a newcomer, integrate into the class."

Kasumi Haruno looked up, her smile bright and captivating, and began chatting with Kotori Ito about her younger brother, Ayato Haruno. She understood her brother, knew his inner world, and comprehended his shyness and introversion.

In her observations over the past few days, Kasumi Haruno noticed that while Ayato Haruno had become more cheerful, his personality hadn't changed much, so...

'It must have been Ito who took the initiative to befriend Ayato!'

Faced with the gentle and approachable Ito Koshitomo, Haruno Kasumi felt even more admiration and affection for him. Therefore, she seized the opportunity to take the initiative to talk to Ito Koshitomo, casually trying to find topics to discuss, and trying to praise Haruno Ayatomo's strengths as much as possible to help him consolidate this precious friendship.

"Ito-san! Kaori-senpai!"

At this moment, Shiina Chizuru spoke up, interrupting Ito Koshitomo and Haruno Kasumi's conversation.

"Let's chat later, I need to tutor Ito now."

"I see... then let's do it together. I'm fairly confident in my grades, so I should be able to help you guys. Chizuru, what do you think?"

Kasumi Haruno tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her pretty face beaming with an expectant smile.

"Ito-kun, what do you think?" Upon hearing this, Shiina Chizuru looked at Ito Kozue.

"I, I'm fine."

"Okay, since there are no problems, then I'll trouble you, Kasumi-senpai."

"With great pleasure."

……

The study session was spent amidst the three's discussion and Haruno Ayato's scratching his head in frustration.

Goodbye x2

Goodbye x2

As the sun sets, the evening glow paints the sky like a magnificent oil painting. Red, orange, and purple hues intertwine, like ribbons of color drawn by a divine brush, quietly spreading across the boundless firmament.

At the entrance of Seishin Academy, watching the Haruno siblings leave, Ito Koshitomo turned to look at Shiina Chizuru beside him.

"Shiina-san."

"Ok?"

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on Shiina Chizuru's lovely face, illuminating her wine-red eyes as she watched the Haruno siblings return home together, a hint of envy in her eyes.

Hearing Ito Koshino call her name, Shiina Chizuru turned to look at him, blinking in confusion.

"Let me take you home!"

"I……"

The blush of the sunset painted Ito Koshitomo's smiling face. Gazing at that smile, Shiina Chizuru suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness wash over her. The words she wanted to say in refusal stuck in her throat, unable to be uttered.

Looking back on myself, I was always alone going to and from school. It wasn't that I didn't have friends at school, but... they had more important people to keep them company...

'It seems like I've never gone home with anyone...'

"……it is good."

Above the clouds, the entire sky seemed to be coated with a golden halo.

Beneath the clouds, Ito Koshino accompanied Shiina Chizuru as they walked slowly down the street. Neither of them spoke, and a quiet stillness filled the air, yet it was unexpectedly harmonious.

"Shiina-san."

"Ito-san."

"..."

"Shiina-kun, thank you for helping me with my lessons today."

"Ah."

Silence returned between the two.

After hesitating for a moment, Shiina Chizuru spoke again.

"Ito-san, do you need my help tomorrow?"

Seeing Shiina Chizuru's somewhat apprehensive expression, as if it were her first time inviting someone, Shiina Chizuru's cute face flushed red under Ito Koshiji's scrutinizing gaze. She twisted her body to avoid Ito Koshiji's eyes.

"Of course, I'll need your help again tomorrow, Shiina."

Ito Koshitomo smiled slightly and extended his hand to Shiina Chizuru.

With her gaze fixed on Ito Koshige's hand, Shiina Chizuru looked up along his arm and saw Ito Koshige's cheerful smile. Her face flushed slightly, a mixture of shyness and happiness on her face.

"Please take good care of me tomorrow, Ito...-kun."

Reaching out to grasp Ito Koshito's broad hand, Shiina Chizuru smiled at Ito Koshito for the first time.

The charming eyes are closed in shyness, and the red lips are opened in smile.

'We... should be friends now. This is the first time I've walked home from school with a friend... hehe...'

……

The sky gradually turned a dusky yellow, and the setting sun, like a red sun, hung on the horizon, slowly sinking.

Ito Koshito stood at the street corner, watching Shiina Chizuru's slightly bouncy figure until she turned the corner and disappeared from sight.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on her, illuminating her profile and outlining the soft lines of her face, like a flowing painting.

After she disappeared, Ito Koshito slowly raised his phone, gently swiped to unlock it, and carefully checked the time—18:36.

'It's not too late yet. If I go to the supermarket now to buy groceries, I can make dinner for Mei Baihe on my way back.'

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.

The next day, the school bell rang, and the playground was bustling with noise as students left their classrooms and headed home.

"Ito-kun, let's go."

With a shoulder bag slung over her shoulder, Shiina Chizuru stood straight in front of Ito Kozue, her clear eyes gazing at him with a hint of anticipation, and a barely perceptible smile curving her lips on her cute face.

"Wait a moment, Shiina."

Ito Koshito nodded, quickened his pace, and got up to go to Shiina Chizuru's side.

"Tsk, it's that top student again, so annoying..."

Rina Tsushima grumbled in dissatisfaction. She was about to go over and chat with Ito Koshito when she turned around and found that Chizuru Shiina, whom she didn't get along with, was already standing next to Ito Koshito. Her steps immediately stopped.

"The way they address each other has become more intimate..."

Frowning, Rina Tsushima was extremely dissatisfied.

Rina Tsushima considered herself a magnanimous person, and she didn't take it too seriously despite Ito Koshito's womanizing ways and his designs on multiple girls.

Even when Natsume Murasaki harbored hostility towards her, she accepted it all with a smile.

but--

Even though she knew that Shiina Chizuru and she didn't get along, Ito Kozue still couldn't control her lust and went to Shiina Chizuru!

With her foxy eyes narrowing, Tsushima Rina snorted coldly and gritted her teeth inwardly.

"Zhi-jun, perhaps I've spoiled you too much, which is why you're so disrespectful to me..."

"I was originally planning to go to the movie theater tomorrow to experience a sweet high school girl's romantic date, but since you're so careless, I have to teach you a lesson..."

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.

May 17th, Friday, exam day.

The clear blue sky and the sun high in the sky cast golden rays that shone through the windowpanes into the classroom, which was once filled with the sound of students reading aloud, but was now so quiet that you could almost hear the heartbeat of each student.

A gentle breeze stirs the thoughts of each student, some tense, some relaxed...

Cheng Shen Academy does not conduct midterm or final exams, but instead holds monthly tests. These frequent tests aim to help students solidify their knowledge and allow them to continuously assess their learning outcomes.

Actually, exams aren't that important; good or bad grades depend entirely on how hard you work.

However, the school will send the report cards for each test to the students' parents, and may even analyze the data from several tests and send the evaluation to the parents as well.