The Underworld, Starting with Debt

Chapter Sixty-Four: I Can't Do Anything! (4k4)

Unaware of the undercurrents beneath the seemingly peaceful interaction between the two women, Ito Koshitoshi approached the sofa.

"Ayato, Ayato..."

Kasumi Haruno gently shook Ayato Haruno, a little worried. Ayato had fallen into a deep sleep after drinking that beverage.

'He must have been drugged by those bastards... Hopefully there won't be any lasting effects...'

After thinking for a moment, Haruno Kasumi picked up the bags brought by the delinquents, rummaged through them, and found an instruction manual.

"...One drop is enough to make a person fall into a deep sleep for two hours, and it also increases the body's sensitivity, causing the body to react accordingly even in sleep..."

"This medicine has no obvious side effects. You will only feel a little weak after using it, but you will recover after resting for 3-4 hours."

"call--"

"It's good that there aren't too many side effects..."

Patting her chubby, rounded figure, Haruno Kasumi let out a long sigh of relief, finally putting her mind at ease.

Ito Kozue, who happened to be standing behind Haruno Kasumi, was fortunate enough to witness a surge of waves, and couldn't help but compare her to Kurashiki Rena and Murasomiya Natsuha.

'As expected, Xia Ye's strength is still the strongest...'

Noticing a shadow behind her, Haruno Kasumi turned around and saw a tall, imposing figure standing before her. The light seemed to be swallowed by him, casting a shadow on his rugged face. Yet, this shadow gave Haruno Kasumi a sense of security, as if she were surrounded by an impenetrable wall.

"Ito-kun..."

Upon hearing this, he coughed lightly, reluctantly turned his gaze away, and Ito Kozue reached out and patted Haruno Kasumi on the shoulder.

Noticing Ito Etsu's gaze, Haruno Kasumi's pretty face flushed red. For some unknown reason, she suppressed her embarrassment, covered her face, and squeezed it out.

"Haruno-senpai, Haruno-kun, is he okay?"

Faced with Ito Koshino's question, Haruno Kasumi snapped out of her daze, patted her round, chubby cheeks, and answered.

“Ito-kun, Ayato is fine. He just drank a beverage that was laced with sedatives and passed out.”

Ito Koshito wanted to ask something more, but more and more people gathered in the messy private room, and Haruno Kasumi's face was disheveled with red eyes.

"Senior Haruno, let's leave here first."

……

Carrying Haruno Ayato, who was as slender and light as a girl, Ito Koshito called out to Murasomiya Natsuha, who was next to Kurashiki Rena.

"Xia Ye, let's go."

With Natsumi Murasaki and Kasumi Haruno on his back, Ito Koshitoshi, carrying Ayato Haruno, left the private room with the help of the girls.

……

The setting sun, as brilliant as molten gold, spilled across the sky, turning the azure canvas into a fiery tapestry of orange and red. Hanging near the horizon, its soft, warm afterglow filtered through the thin clouds.

The rows of telephone poles along the street, bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, created a series of flowing light and shadow paintings in the eyes of Ito and his companions as they continued their journey.

With Haruno Ayato on his back, Ito Koshito looked at Haruno Kasumi and Murasomiya Natsuha, who were standing on either side of him, and asked, "Haruno-senpai, Natsuha, why are you in a karaoke bar, and without any friends? Don't you know that's dangerous?"

"I'm sorry, Ito-kun, it's all my fault..."

Kasumi Haruno felt a little ashamed and lowered her head, burying herself in her arms.

"Actually, I was forced to attend this party..."

“An Chenggui is my colleague and senior from school at the convenience store where I work. A few days ago, he invited me to this gathering after get off work.”

"I originally wanted to refuse, but the convenience store manager is his uncle, so..."

"So you agreed?" Ito Koshino glared at Haruno Kasumi.

"Um……"

"Fool!"

"Ugh... Later, Ayato found out, and he came with me." Kasumi Haruno let out a mournful cry and continued her story.

"Then why was Haruno-kun also captivated?"

"There's a psychopath among them!"

Murasaki no Natsume interrupted, her face filled with disgust and loathing for the group of delinquents.

"Xia Ye, do you mean... one of them has taken a liking to Haruno-kun?"

"That's right! Those disgusting guys, seeing Haruno-kun's delicate and fair appearance, actually, actually... ugh~"

Shivering, Natsumi Murasaki recalled the disgusting expression on the blond-haired man who had been called to guard the door.

It was because that blond guy had taken a liking to Haruno Ayato that he was called to guard the gate. Since Haruno Ayato had already been drugged, he wasn't in a hurry.

"Luckily, Haruno-san drank those drinks for us first, otherwise..."

Patting Natsume Murasaki's shoulder, Ito Koshiji gently comforted her, "It's alright, Natsume. I've already asked Reina for help, and she'll handle it."

"Hmph~ Rena~ calling me so intimately..."

"a ha ha ha……"

"that……"

"Ito-kun, Murasaki-kun." Haruno Kasumi suddenly quickened her pace, standing gracefully in front of Ito Kozue, looking at them cautiously.

"Thank you! Thank you so much for today! Without you... I don't know what would have become of me! But the ending would definitely have been terrible!"

Kasumi Haruno's waist folded softly like a serpent as she bowed deeply to Koshitomo Ito and Natsumi Murasaki, her movements rippling like waves.

Murasaki Natsumi glanced at Ito Kotetsu and saw that he was indeed leering at her. She snorted in dissatisfaction and went forward to help Haruno Kasumi up.

"It's alright! Senior Haruno, now that things here have been resolved, let's hurry back."

"Yes, thank you. May I call you Natsume?" Haruno Kasumi nodded.

"Of course, then can I call you Senior Orange?"

"Ok!"

"Girls form friendships so quickly!" Ito Koshito remarked, looking at Haruno Kasumi.

"Senior Haruno, if anything like this happens again, please remember to ask me for help! It's very dangerous for a girl to be out alone!"

As the sun set, gazing at Ito Koshino's constant admonitions, Haruno Kasumi felt an overwhelming surge of emotion.

"Um... Ito-kun, just call me Kasumi..."

Ito Koshito was taken aback for a moment, then smiled even more broadly. "Then, Kasumi, just call me by my name. If you ever have any trouble in the future, be sure to ask me for help!"

Gazing at the smile before me, it was like a sunflower swaying gently in the evening breeze, not only capturing the afterglow of the setting sun, but also seemingly absorbing the light of the day, condensing it in the blooming of the lips.

Kasumi Haruno's eyes gradually became hazy, and a blush quietly crept onto her soft, round face.

"I understand, Shi... Shi-kun~"

Looking at the shy Haruno Kasumi beside her, Murasomiya Natsuha's eyes twitched slightly, even though it was precisely because of Ito Koshitomo's charm that she had fallen for him.

But... he quietly approached Ito Koshino and pinched the soft flesh around her waist.

'Zhi-kun is really something! He's hooked up with another girl... Being a womanizer isn't good!'

…………

Goodbye, Zhijun, Xiaye.

"Goodbye, Kasumi."

Goodbye, Kasumi-senpai.

Supporting the still unconscious Ayato Haruno, Kasumi Haruno stood at the door of her house and said goodbye to Koshito Ito and Natsumi Murasomiya.

Because Ayato Haruno is rather petite, Kasumi Haruno can manage on her own.

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.

At dusk, the islanders like to call this time "the hour of the demons." They firmly believe that this is a cursed time, when all evil spirits and ghosts appear in the sky.

In this mysterious moment between day and night, the afterglow of the sun dyes the sky blood red, which does indeed have a touch of "demonic" charm.

"Stop, my lord."

"What's wrong, Xia Ye?"

Turning her head to look, she saw that Natsumi Murasaki was intimately holding onto Ito Koshito's arm. It seemed that after the karaoke party, Natsumi Murasaki had let go of her slight reserve and, like Rina Tsushima or Reina Kurashiki, boldly displayed her charm to Ito Koshito.

A slight tremor flickered deep within her eyes, like ripples gently spreading across a lake. Her soft gaze met Ito Koshito's, and a faint blush unconsciously rose to her cheeks.

"Zhi Jun, didn't I say a few days ago that I wanted to visit your home and taste your cooking, which I've been looking forward to for a long time?"

Scratching his head, Ito Kozue looked somewhat troubled: "Natsume, could we find another time? I still have to go to Tsukishima Morisai for 'tutoring' tonight!"

If possible, Kyoko Tsukishima would like to immerse herself in the pleasure of tutoring Ito Koshito every day.

However, such intense training raises concerns not only about whether her body can withstand it, but more importantly, it will undoubtedly negatively impact Ito Koshino's performance. Tsukishima Kyoko is determined not to let this become a reality.

However, how could Kyoko Tsukishima, who had already tasted the sweetness of it, possibly miss this opportunity and let Ito Koshitomo go?

Even if she wanted to let go, her husband, who was demanding of "self-discipline," would never tolerate it.

Therefore, every Saturday night, Kyoko Tsukishima would force Koshito Itō to receive her rigorous "tutoring" at a fixed time.

This process is not only about imparting knowledge, but also about challenges and trials, allowing Ito Koshitoshi's leader to grow continuously under pressure.

"Tuition?"

"Yes, Tsukishima Mori noticed that I hadn't been to school last month and had fallen behind in many courses, so she decided to help me catch up."

"Oh, I see... How about tomorrow? Can I come to your house tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow, I have to go to my part-time job..."

Ito Koshitoshi smiled awkwardly; he really hadn't had much time these past two days.

"Tsk."

Murasaki Natsume gritted her teeth in dissatisfaction, 'I'm not free on weekends... It's supposed to be the most free time of the week, I could... stay as long as I want...'