The Underworld, Starting with Debt

The birds outside the window seemed to feel helpless in the sweltering summer heat, raising their heads and chirping as if venting their inner irritation.

"Shasha~~"

The silky gauze gently caressed Yamada Yumiko's delicate abdomen under Ito Koshito's large hands, making a series of shy sounds. While kneading her soft belly, Ito Koshito bent down, lowered his head, and whispered in Yamada Yumiko's ear.

"Madam, are you also interested in doujinshi?"

The young man's warm breath lingered on the earlobe of the beautiful woman, who rarely saw her husband, like a light feather constantly stirring the depths of her heart.

Upon hearing the boy's question, Yamada Yumiko reluctantly lifted her head from her embrace and looked at Ito Koshino with a puzzled expression.

"Fan...comics...?"

"Yes, it's that book on the shelf, that's a doujinshi, a comic book that's a secondary creation based on a favorite character."

"I see... Wait, that book on the shelf, you... you read it...?!"

The beautiful young woman in his arms stared wide-eyed, her ears flushing red with embarrassment. Her moist eyes became even more unfocused, and Yamada Yumiko's lips trembled slightly as she opened and closed them.

"I...Ito-kun, I'm not a...I'm not a promiscuous woman, that book, that publication..."

"I understand. Mrs. Yamada really likes the character Minamoto no Yorimitsu, which is why she bought that book."

Seeing Yamada Yumiko's predicament, Ito Koshitomo offered her a way out.

"Yes, yes, I like the character Minamoto no Yorimitsu, but I absolutely do not like the content of the book!"

Yumiko Yamada looked flustered and hurriedly followed Ito Kozue's words, but unintentionally, she seemed to have revealed her own preferences.

'Do you prefer to be treated roughly...?'

The corners of his mouth curved upwards without being stopped, and a strange light shone in Ito Koshitomo's eyes, as deep as an abyss.

'Mrs. Yamada...'

"What, what's wrong?"

Still reeling from the lingering embarrassment, Yumiko Yamada stammered her reply.

"Madam, could you do me a small favor?" After a pause, Ito Koshito continued.

“A friend gave me a camera, and in return, she asked me to take pictures for her. But I’ve never done photography before, and the results weren’t very good. And it just so happens that you’re quite interested in fan art, so I’d like to ask you to be my model so I can practice my photography skills… I wonder if you would be willing to grant my request.”

"Um, can I really do it?"

"Don't belittle yourself. Madam, no, may I call you Sister Yumiko?"

Ito Koshi smiled slightly, withdrew his hand from stroking her small belly, and placed both hands on Yamada Yumiko's smooth shoulders, staring intently into her eyes.

The boy's eyes, like sparkling stars, reflected Yamada Yumiko's alluring demeanor, making her blush. Yamada Yumiko turned her head slightly, avoiding Ito Kozue's gaze, and softly responded.

"Um......"

"Hehe~ Yumiko-nee, you don't need to be so modest. I'm completely captivated by your charm. I would be so happy if you could be my model!"

"Really..."

"Really, because I really like Yumiko-nee~"

"You like it?!"

Her delicate body was slightly tense, and Yumiko Yamada's heart was pounding like a drum. A few drops of warm, damp sweat seeped from her palms, and the corners of her mouth curved up uncontrollably, as if she had tasted honey, sweet and delightful.

She hurriedly avoided Ito Koshi's gaze, her cheeks flushed with a rosy blush, and her soft hand gently pressed against Ito Koshi's chest.

"No, please don't do this, Ito-kun~ I, I'm a married man."

Seeing this, Ito Koshichi raised an eyebrow slightly; the beautiful woman hadn't explicitly refused!

However... there's plenty of time. What's more important now is to get Yumiko Yamada to agree to be his model, so that they can have a bridge to communicate in the days to come.

"Yumiko-nee~ Did you say yes?"

The boy's sudden change of topic startled Yamada Yumiko, who was slightly unsure of Ito Koshitomo's thoughts. Was it just simple liking, or was it liking mixed with romantic feelings? If it was the former, Yamada Yumiko wanted to disappear into a crack in the ground—it was just too embarrassing!

Yumiko Yamada pursed her lips tightly, feeling an intense itch inside, as if a million ants were crawling all over her.

'Ito-kun, does he have feelings for me? ...He probably does, otherwise he wouldn't have responded to me... But he always avoids the topic at crucial moments and changes the subject. What is he really thinking...?'

"Yumiko-nee?" A large hand waved in front of Yamada Yumiko's eyes, bringing her back to her senses.

"Ah, um, um, I'd be happy to help Ito-kun."

"Yay, thank you, Yumiko-nee~ Oh, by the way, Yumiko-nee, you can just call me A-zhi."

“Ah Zhi…”

Like a happy little pig. Ito Koshichi lowered his head and nuzzled against Yamada Yumiko's neck, stray strands of hair gently brushing against her neck, making her sensitive skin feel tingly and itchy.

"嘤咛~"

Perhaps the embrace was too warm, because Yumiko Yamada felt a thin layer of sweat on her forehead. It gathered into a drop, which flowed down her cheek and into her mouth. It was like the wine brewed by Dionysus, the god of wine. Just one drop made her drunk, her face flushed, and her eyes were so hazy that they seemed to be able to draw out silk threads.

Yumiko Yamada let out a soft moan, wrapped her arms around Ito Koshitoshi's mischievous head, and gazed out the window with unfocused eyes, her thoughts drifting away with the passing breeze.

'Ah Zhi, what... exactly are you thinking?'

Chapter Ninety-Eight: "Mei and Sang, you don't want this either..."

The morning sunlight, like a soft ray, pierced through the sheer curtains and streamed into the bathroom, mingling with the rising steam, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a golden, dreamlike fairyland.

Ito Koshichi lay comfortably in the bathtub, enjoying this rare moment of relaxation. His head rested on the edge of the tub, his eyes closed, basking in the warmth of the sunlight on his face.

The rising mist shimmered in the sunlight, scattering countless tiny rays of light like sparkling diamonds dancing in the air.

The dust particles outside the window, illuminated by the sunlight, shimmered like lit stars. The dust and mist intertwined in the air, creating a beautiful and dazzling scene, making one feel as if they were in a mysterious dream.

"Phew, taking a bath is so comfortable."

I grabbed my phone and checked the time. It was almost time to leave and meet up with Shirakawa Miwa.

"Wow~"

Splashes of water flew as Ito Koshichi stepped out of the bathtub, his muscular physique exposed to the air. Water droplets shimmered on his strong muscles, casting a hazy glow that made him appear as soft light and shadow.

"Luckily, Rena helped me pick out some outfits last time, otherwise I really wouldn't know what to wear to support Miwa-nee."

............

In a café not far from the Ikebukuro shopping mall, Shirakawa Miwa sat in a window booth on the second floor, a slight polite smile on her face, talking to a man across from her who was dressed in a well-fitting suit and whose appearance was impeccable.

The sun hung high in the sky, and golden rays from the horizon pierced through the glass walls, gently caressing Shirakawa Miwa's gentle face, making her long chestnut hair seem to glow.

Her eyes were soft, her eyebrows were curved like willow leaves, her nose was small and delicate, her lips were cherry-like, and her skin was so white and translucent that it was almost transparent.

A simple, light white short-sleeved chiffon dress perfectly showcased her graceful figure. Her slender waist and proudly full breasts were tightly wrapped, making her look particularly alluring.

"Miss Miwa, it's a pleasure to have you here."

Gao Zongfei quietly swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed. His burning gaze, which he thought was being discreet, was fixed on Shirakawa Miwa's ample bosom. He smiled slightly, and despite his neat attire, he looked quite handsome and presentable.

Shirakawa Miwa frowned slightly, looking troubled, and nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. The feeling she got from Takamune Tobiki's gaze and smile was completely different from that of Ito Koshitomo, and a faint sense of unease filled her heart.

"Mr. Gaozong..."

"Miss Miwa, you can just call me Tobiki."

Shirakawa Miwa pursed her lips and did not take Takamune Tobiki's advice. If it weren't for the fact that Takamune Tobiki was familiar with her parents and had learned her address from them, she would have blocked his contact information to cut off his harassment.

"Mr. Gaozong, I came here today to tell you that I already have a boyfriend, so please stop bothering me."

'You bitch, you're so disrespectful to me, just wait until I get my hands on you...'

A hint of annoyance flashed in his eyes, but Gao Zongfei remained calm and smiling.

"Hehe~ Miss Miwa, lying isn't good~"

“Mr. Gaozong, I’m not lying. Look, this is a picture of my boyfriend. And my boyfriend will be picking me up in a little while.”

With a gentle and shy smile, Shirakawa Miwa opened her phone's photo album. It was a picture of her and Ito Koshichi lying on the floor embracing. It was a photo that Ito Koshichi had secretly taken when he was tutoring her at her home, and that he had sent to her.

"Haha~"

Even after Shirakawa Miwa produced the photos, Takamune Tobiki still didn't believe them.

“Miss Miwa, I told you, lying is wrong. Look at the boy in this photo, he's too young. Even if you're going to find someone to play the role, you should find someone around the same age, don't you think?”

"We're in a relationship where the woman is older than the man..."

"Alright, Miss Miwa!"

Suddenly, Takamune Tobiki raised his voice. Shirakawa Miwa's repeated refusals and excuses infuriated him, and he no longer bothered to maintain his refined and amiable demeanor.

Takamune Tobiki made no attempt to hide his burning gaze as he stared at Shirakawa Miwa, a wicked smile playing on his lips.

"Miss Miwa, look at me, I'd say I'm a high-quality man. First of all, in terms of appearance, I wouldn't dare say I'm one in a million, but I'd definitely call myself a handsome guy."

“Then let’s talk about career. I’m the same age as you, 27, but I’ve already climbed to the position of section chief at a game company. Would you call that young and promising?”

“Miss Meihe, I have some assets, both in terms of looks and career. We're both at the age where we should get married, and I happen to be interested in you too. Isn't this perfect? ​​Stop being so stubborn?”

Gao Zongfei spoke with great passion, but a sinister glint gleamed deep in his eyes.

Upon hearing Takamune Tobiki's words, Shirakawa Miwa felt as if she were suffocating, and sat stiffly in her chair.

She never imagined that Gao Zongfei would utter such bold and absurd words.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Gaozong, we are not suitable!"

"Shirakawa Miwa! I know you've always been a good daughter in your parents' eyes. Now they're worried about your marriage. Miwa-san, don't you want your parents to..."

The evil aura of Takamune Tobiki was almost overflowing, and Shirakawa Miwa frowned uncomfortably, her eyebrows raised, trying to suppress her anger.

"you......"

"Beep beep beep~~"

A special notification tone rang from the phone, interrupting Shirakawa Miwa's words. She picked up the phone and saw that it was indeed a message from Ito Koshitomo.

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.

Ito Koshitomo: [Miwa-nee, I've arrived. Where are you?] (Read)

Miwa Shirakawa: [Ito-kun, where are you? I'm coming down now, wait for me.] (Read)

Ito Koshitomo: [Okay, Miwa-nee, I'm under that billboard in the square.] (Read)