The Underworld, Starting with Debt

Upon arriving at the bedside curtain of Itō Koshitomo's hospital bed, Tsubakizō Mira noticed some rustling sounds inside and, without thinking much of it, simply pulled back the curtain.

"Zhi Jiang..."

------

"Zhi-chan... Oh, the nurse is here too."

Tsubaki Mira was slightly surprised to see Ito Kozuki facing Hazuki Kazuko, who was sitting on the hospital bed. Wasn't the hospital still not delivering meals at this time?

"Is Miss Tsubakizono here to visit Shichi... Ito-kun?"

“Yes,” Tsubakizō Mira looked at Hazuki and Miko’s smiles, feeling slightly puzzled. 'Her smile is a little stiff, and her posture is a little odd too.'

“Now that Miss Tsubakizono is here, Ito-kun will be in your care,” Hazuki Kazuko stood up, slightly crossed her legs, and slowly walked away with tiny, cat-like steps.

Tsubaki Mirai was astonished by the nurse's attire. She noticed a button undone on Hazuki and Miko's collar, and the white lace stockings straps peeking out from under her nurse's uniform skirt, leaving marks on her plump thighs.

"Shi-chan, let me feed you!" Tsubaki Mira was slightly excited, she was about to see Shi-chan eating.

She went to where Hazuki and Miko had been, but suddenly smelled a strange, damp odor, like the salty smell of the sea breeze carrying moisture as she enjoyed the seaside. However, nothing was more important than feeding Shizuka-chan, so Tsubaki Mira didn't suspect anything and sat on the hospital bed.

"Come on, ah~" Tsubakizawa Mira sat on the hospital bed feeding Ito Koshitomo, chatting with him to keep him entertained. However, she was puzzled by his strange sleeping posture—why was he hunched over? And why did his voice sound so muffled? And why was his face so red?

"Tomo-chan, are you alright? Your face is so red." Tsubakizō Mira put down her bowl and spoon, looking at Ito Koshito with concern. She reached out to touch his forehead, finding it not too hot. Then, she brushed aside her soft hair, leaned closer to Ito Koshito, and pressed her forehead against his. 'Hmm, not too hot, he should be fine. But Tomo-chan's breathing is so rapid, hehe, he's actually shy about Auntie's actions. Tomo-chan has really grown up, starting to be interested in girls.'

Tsubakizawa Mira, wanting to tease Ito Koshitomo, remained motionless, head to head, without saying a word. The temperature in the quiet little corner gradually rose, and the air seemed to thicken, trapping the pink scent and gradually forming a pink mist.

'Mmm—mmm—it's so hot! Shizuka's eyes are fierce too, like a wild beast, about to pounce and devour me! Hehe…hmm? Wait…devour me?'

Mira Chunyuan snapped out of her daze, raised her head, sniffed, and carefully examined the hospital bed. She noticed a noticeable mark, reached out and touched it; it was wet.

Tsubaki Mira finally discovered the reason for all the strange things: her incredibly cute and perfectly adorable cabbage, which she had painstakingly raised and that suited her perfectly, had been stolen and eaten!

Having finally figured it out, Tsubakizō Mira understood why Hazuki and Miko's smiles were so stiff, why her posture was so strange, and why her uniform was so disheveled. Why was Shizuka hunched over, why was her voice muffled, and why was her face flushed? And why was there a strange smell and dampness near the hospital bed? It was all just self-deception. Tsubakizō Mira understood; she knew everything!

Mila Tsubaki's hands hung limply on her thighs, her face expressionless. Her bright eyes seemed dim and lifeless, like an abyss, radiating a chilling, eerie light.

Ito Koshitomo looked at Tsubakizawa Mira. He seemed to see the dark aura surrounding her, feel the immensely oppressive atmosphere emanating from her, and perhaps even foresee his own endless life of exploitation as a serf. His voice trembled with worry as he asked, "Aunt Mira, are you... alright?"

Mila Tsubaki snapped out of her daze, covering her delicate face with her hands. 'Ah, how could I have thought of that? Locking Shizuka in the basement and training her, training her to only be with me…'

And this was overheard by Ito Koshitomo!

Tsubaki Mira gently patted her cheeks, regained her smile, and said to Ito Koshitomo, "Auntie is fine, Koshitomo-chan, don't worry. Koshitomo-chan, you should rest well. Auntie has to go back first."

After finishing her sentence, Tsubakizawa Mira left without waiting for Ito Koshito's reply.

"Aunt Mira..."

[Spring Breeze]: I already had the curtains remind you!

……

Meanwhile, on the street, Tsubaki-no-Mira, feeling the gentle breeze, wasn't as extreme as before, but she was still filled with resentment. Her beloved cabbage had been stolen! 'Damn it, it seems the Genji plan I devised with Miyajima has encountered some unexpected problems. I'm sorry, Miyajima, if I don't intervene soon, Shizuka will be snatched away by someone else.'

As if she had made up her mind, Mila Tsubaki, walking down the street, turned around and left.

Chapter Thirteen: The Tsubaki Garden Family (Part Two)

Back in time...

"Zhi Jiang..."

"Aunt Mila..." Her alluring cherry lips drew closer...

"Ogasan, where is Shizuku!" A series of footsteps came from the wooden stairs, followed by a figure that looked very similar to Tsubakizon Nina but not quite.

Tsubakizon Mira subtly took a step back, keeping her distance from Ito Koshitomo, and frowned as she looked at Tsubakizon Yuna, raising her voice slightly, "Yuna, you're not allowed to run on the stairs, it's dangerous!"

The newcomer was none other than Yuna Tsubaki, the elder of the Tsubaki twins. Yuna slowed her pace. Faced with the imposing presence of the Tsubaki family patriarch, she could only pout her pink cherry lips and reply perfunctorily, "I know, I know."

Once they reached the bottom of the stairs, Tsubakizono Yuna threw herself into Ito Koshitomo's arms with lightning speed. "Toshitomo-kun, hug me!"

Ito Koshito quickly reached out and pulled away the kitten-like Yuna Tsubaki, smiling helplessly, "Yuna, this is dangerous, and besides, I'm covered in sweat right now."

The girl in his arms had a pretty face that was very similar to Tsubakizō Nina's, except that while Tsubakizō Yuna's pupils were as green as a grassland, Tsubakizō Nina's pupils were as blue as the sky. Beneath her pink nightgown, the girl's youthful and energetic body swayed, revealing glimpses of her fair and supple skin, showcasing the beauty of spring.

"Hehehe, I believe Shi-kun will protect me," Tsubaki Yuna tiptoed and rubbed against Ito Koshito's neck like a kitten. "Shi-kun's scent is so strong, I like it, hehe..."

Standing to the side, Tsubakizon Mira felt that Tsubakizon Yuna's words sounded familiar, as if she had heard them somewhere before. However, now was not the time to dwell on these things; in a little while, the scent she left behind on Ito Koshitomo would be overwhelmed by Tsubakizon Yuna's. Tsubakizon Mira walked over to Tsubakizon Yuna, patted her head, and said, "Alright, Yuna, let Koshitomo clean himself up first. He's feeling uncomfortable all sticky like this."

Upon hearing this, Yuna Tsubaki reluctantly raised her head, leaving Ito Koshichi's embrace. Before leaving, she gently licked Ito Koshichi's neck with her delicate tongue. Ito Koshichi felt ticklish from Yuna Tsubaki's teasing, not only on his neck but also in his heart.

Yunami Tsubakizawa and Ito Koshitomo shyly turned their heads away, revealing a mischievous smile like little devils, smugly pleased with the success of their prank.

"Alright, Tomo-chan, you can go take a shower in my room's bathroom. Nina is using the shared bathroom." Tsubakizon Mira rolled her eyes at Tsubakizon Yuna, then said to Ito Koshito. Before, seeing Tsubakizon Yuna and Ito Koshito so intimate, she just thought it was childish. But with the thought, 'Tomo-chan isn't pure anymore, so the second person has to be me!', Ms. Mira had become a little possessive.

Tsubakizome Mira shoved Ito Koshito into the room, took out a change of clothes that had been prepared for Ito Koshito from the closet and handed them to him, "Koshito-chan, go take a shower, then it's time to get ready for breakfast."

……

Inside the bathroom, the dripping water from the showerhead mingled with the rising steam, filling the air with a moist, humid atmosphere. As the hot water continued to flow, the bathroom mirror gradually became fogged up, blurring its appearance. Water droplets gathered on the walls and sink, slowly sliding down, like tiny streams drawing flowing patterns on the tiles.

The light, filtered through the mist, became soft and blurry, as if draped in a light veil. With each breath, one could feel the moist air, warm and comforting. Ito Koshito, wrapped only in a scarf, sat on a bench, rubbing her foamy hair, eyes tightly closed, enjoying the hot water sliding down her skin. The warmth and comfort brought relaxation to both her mind and body, causing her to murmur softly in contentment. "Ah...ki mo tiii—"

Ito Koshi reached out again to squeeze out the shampoo, but because his eyes were closed, he couldn't find the exact spot and kept groping with his palm.

"Hmm? This is..." Feeling that what he was touching wasn't a shampoo bottle, but a rubbery plastic material, Ito Koshito opened his eyes and looked curiously at the object in his hand. Upon first seeing it, a complex mix of emotions welled up inside him. 'Aunt Mila...she must be under a lot of pressure.' Remembering how Mila had single-handedly raised the Tsubaki sisters for over a decade, he felt a mixture of admiration and pity. Then he recalled the thoughts Mila had overheard when she visited him in the hospital, and his once calm heart was stirred by a spring breeze, rippling with gentle, spring-like waves.

Meanwhile, Tsubakizawa Mira was cooking in the kitchen. As she busied herself, she hummed a tune in her sweet, melodious voice, seemingly expressing her joy. "Hmph hmph hmph... Tomo-chan, come to my bed, be a good girl!" That item was, of course, deliberately placed there by Tsubakizawa Mira to make Ito Koshito realize that his Aunt Mira was also a woman who needed to be loved.

……

About ten minutes later, Ito Koshichi finished cleaning himself and came out of the bathroom. When Ito Koshichi dried his hair and came to Tsubakizon Mira's bedroom, Tsubakizon Mira was already sitting in front of her dressing table with a hairdryer, waiting.

"Shizuka, let Auntie help you blow-dry your hair." As soon as Tsubakizawa Mira saw Ito Koshizuka come out, she waved to her eagerly, signaling her to come over.

"Aunt Mira, thank you for your help." Although Ito Koshitomo's opinion of Tsubakizawa Mira had changed somewhat, he still treated her as warmly as usual.

After adjusting the hairdryer to a suitable airflow and comfortable temperature, Tsubakizawa Mira aimed the nozzle at Ito Koshichi's wet hair, while her soft hands gently stroked the top of Ito Koshichi's head through the strands of hair.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—" Only when the hair dryer was working did Ito Koshitomo and Tsubakizawa Mira remain silent, yet they did not appear awkward, for they had long since developed a tacit understanding. The whooshing sound of the hair dryer seemed restless, but it could not penetrate the warm atmosphere between them.

Just as Ito Koshichi was enjoying the gentle caress of Tsubakizon Mira's hand on his head and was about to fall asleep, Tsubakizon Mira thoughtfully offered him two soft, large pillows. However, this backfired, interrupting Ito Koshichi's sleep and startling him awake from his drowsy state.

"Um, Aunt Mira..."

"Hmm, what's wrong, Shi-chan?"

"...No, it's nothing."

Tsubakizō Mira secretly grinned mischievously, 'Looks like Shizuka is starting to care about me, but... Shizuka, you have to be punished for doing something wrong!'

Tsubakizō Mira smiled slightly, hugged Ito Koshitomo's head even tighter, and spoke again, "Tomotomo-chan, are you comfortable?"

“…Hmm,” Ito Koshitomo’s usually strong and resonant voice seemed to have gone hoarse, uttering only a soft, barely audible response. If Tsubakizon Mira hadn’t been so close, she probably wouldn’t have heard it either.

"Oh, I see. It seems Shizuka has grown up and is interested in girls now!"

Ito Koshitoshi was confused, wondering why Tsubakizon Mira was saying all this, but he still replied, "Aunt Mira, I've grown up a long time ago. I'm a mature man now."

"Oh, really? Then, Shi-chan, can you tell me when you first realized you were a 'mature man'? Was it when you were hospitalized?" Tsubakizawa Mira grabbed Ito Koshito's cheeks with both hands, making him face her.

Through the deep snow-covered valley, Ito Koshige looked at Tsubakizō Mira. She was smiling gently, yet she seemed to emanate no warmth whatsoever. It was as if a biting, cold valley wind, like a sharp sword, pierced Ito Koshige's body, causing him to break out in a cold sweat. 'Oh no, Aunt Mira isn't going to lock me in a dark room and turn me into a sex machine, is she?'

"..."

"Good children shouldn't lie!" Seeing that Ito Koshichi didn't say anything, Tsubakizawa Mira smiled even more gently and hugged Ito Koshichi's head even tighter.

"..." Ito Koshitoshi couldn't speak now because his mouth was gagged.

"Ogasan, Shi-kun, dinner's ready," Luckily, Tsubakizono Nina had just finished cleaning herself and saw Tsubakizono Yuna serving dishes, so she came to find Ito Koshitoshi and Tsubakizono Mira to have dinner.

'Nina, you are truly my angel!' Filled with endless gratitude towards Tsubakizono Nina and the feeling of escaping a calamity, Ito Koshitoshi was mercilessly slapped across the face by Tsubakizono Mira.

"Let's let it go this time, let's go eat." After giving Ito Koshito a little punishment, Tsubakizome Mira pulled Ito Koshito to the dining table.

"Ogasan, Shizuku, where did you two go?" Yuna asked suspiciously after the four of them sat down. She had only gone back to her room to change her clothes, and the two of them had disappeared when she came out.

"Oh my, Shi-chan, what did we do just now?" Tsubakizon Mira looked at Ito Koshito with a smile.

“I asked Aunt Mira to blow-dry my hair,” Ito Koshito said, slightly nervous under Mira’s gaze. Ito Koshito, the hapless guy, was once again easily manipulated by a mature woman!

A delighted smile played on Tsubakizawa Mira's lips, as cunning as a fox. Her favorite thing was to tease Ito Koshichi, and she couldn't resist watching Ito Koshichi's embarrassed expression.

"Hmph, Shizuku, you didn't even ask me to help you blow it. I'm ignoring you. I have to pat your head to forgive you." Tsubaki Yuna gave a coquettish huff, the red ribbon in her bangs fluttering as she shook her head.

"Next time for sure, next time for sure." Ito Koshichi, pleased with the beauty's request, stroked Tsubaki Yuna's soft hair.

“Stare,” Ito Koshitomo couldn’t help but free one hand to touch the top of Tsubakizon Nina’s head.

The twin sisters sat on either side of Ito Koshitomo, while Tsubakizon Mira sat opposite Ito Koshitomo.

"Alright, alright, let's eat," Mila Tsubaki interrupted the farce.

The warm and pleasant spring breeze of May carried the fragrance of flowers from Chunyuan's courtyard, filling the breakfast at Chunyuan's house with a refreshing aroma. The warm sunshine seemed to want to break into the gathering of four, cascading down on them, complementing the steaming food and warming their bodies and minds.

Ito Koshito, who was quietly eating, suddenly felt someone touch his calf. At first, he didn't pay much attention, assuming it was just his twin sisters or Aunt Mira accidentally bumping into him while stretching her leg. But...

Soft little feet, like valiant little snakes, meandered and coiled on Ito Koshiji's strong calves. The delicate and tender touch was like the gentle affection of the misty rain in Jiangnan, lingering in Ito Koshiji's heart and tickling his calves.

Ito Koshito, suppressing the itch, quietly raised his head. The first thing he saw was Tsubakizō Mira's alluring face, which held a half-smile. Ito Koshito didn't even need to observe the other two to know that the culprit was the biggest boss of the Tsubakizō family, Tsubakizō Mira.

Mila Tsubaki watched as Ito Koshino quietly raised her head, captivated by her adorable pose. Her delicate brows gleamed with spring-like allure, and she couldn't help but send flirtatious glances through her blue eyes, which were brimming with spring-like water. Her legs, too, continued to flutter playfully. The foundation of a ballerina's graceful movements lies in the footwork skills honed through countless hours of rigorous training.

When the dancer named Tsubakizawa Mira gracefully leaped onto the stage, her feet seemed weightless, delicately touching the stage with each touch, gentle and soothing. Her toes were refined yet powerful; one could feel every bend and extension of her toes, as if they were telling a silent story of allure.

Tsubaki Mira picked up the famous thick white miso soup and took a sip. However, it seemed that the soup was too hot for her, and she couldn't help but stick out her small tongue, which was covered with white soup, and exhaled hot air from her slightly open mouth.

'This is punishment!' The silent words, carried by the succubus's alluring dance, reached Ito Koshitoki without a sound.

The meal was enjoyed by both the guests and the host. Ito Koshi tried his best to suppress the evil dragon to prevent it from breaking the seal and causing chaos in the world; while Tsubakizō Mira was all smiles and full of joy.

After Ito Koshi helped carry the dishes to the dishwasher, he was about to leave the Tsubaki-en house, which was full of spring colors, when he was stopped by Tsubaki-en Mira.

"Zhi-chan, wait a minute, I have something to tell you!"

Warm-toned lighting illuminated the spacious living room. Tsubakizawa Mira sat on the soft sofa, smiling at Ito Koshinobu.

"Zhi-chan, do you know about the private St. Hua Girls' Academy?"

"Private St. Hua Girls' Academy? Isn't that the academy that Yuna and Nina attended?" Ito Kozue pondered for a moment, recalling the look of utter shock on Yuna and Nina's faces when they were unexpectedly admitted to Private St. Hua Girls' Academy instead of attending the same school as Ito Kozue, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"The private St. Hua Girls' Academy is a prestigious school that only admits female students, and the principal of that school, Sumire Rikka, is my friend! Recently, I was chatting with her and she mentioned that their school needs to recruit a strong and rational staff member. Although I don't know what the job entails, Rikka is really making it so mysterious! But the job pays very well, so I recommended you, Shizuka, to her."