Tokyo, but I'm a deceitful scumbag.

“I just used the word ‘almost’ to describe the small number of whistleblowers. On the other hand, there is actually one. You can use her as a breakthrough point.”

Hideyuki Hoshino glanced at the photo on the paper.

She was a young woman in her twenties carrying a guitar.

The black sweater on her upper body was so loose that it almost exposed her snow-white shoulders, and the jeans on her lower body perfectly outlined her rounded hip curves and her long, slender yet curvy legs.

Paired with her long ponytail with burgundy highlights and her already delicate features, she exudes a beauty that combines elegance and style.

She's definitely a stunning beauty in the eyes of ordinary people.

The only problem is that she's a bit tall, I'd guess 1.75 meters—don't get me wrong, Hideyuki Hoshino really appreciates tall figures, but the situation is different here in Japan, where it's generally believed that women are better off being petite, and that being over 1.7 meters tall isn't considered attractive.

He then looked at the text next to the photo:

"Former band vocalist, Ijichi Kikuri...?"

Snapped!

Pat pat!

The next morning, next to an ordinary apartment building.

Iji Chikiku, carrying a bag of half-price bento boxes, ran quickly into the house, turned around and locked the door before awkwardly sitting down on the floor against the door panel.

Soon, a loud knocking sound and a series of clicking sounds came from behind.

"Hey, you bastard!"

"Stop hiding, we know you're in there!"

"Pay back your money now! Or I'll kill you!"

Ijichi Kikuri slowly stood up, covered her ears, but still couldn't stop the sound from penetrating her brain.

She sighed, placed the groceries on the dining table, and happened to catch a glimpse of herself in the full-length mirror out of the corner of her eye.

Sunken eyes, disheveled hair, and clothes full of wrinkles...

It has absolutely nothing to do with the words "chic and stylish".

They completely lacked the flair they had when they were in the band.

Why did things turn out this way...?

He was determined that after the band disbanded, he would use the money he had saved to open an amazing live house (a special venue with dedicated sound equipment for bands and idols to perform), with the best music performances and the coolest drinks...

Mingming initially only wanted to learn some experience in opening a shop and only planned to attend two free lectures...

Even though she realized halfway through that these lessons were meaningless and wanted to turn around and leave...

But why are you confused?

So foolishly, he not only invested all his savings but also borrowed money at exorbitant interest rates.

Bang bang bang!

The knocking grew louder and louder, to the point that it could be described as banging on the door.

Although reason repeatedly told Iji Chikiku that the yakuza were just bluffing and wouldn't actually break in, she still couldn't help but tremble.

For a moment, she thought, why not just end it all?

Anyway, burdened with such a huge debt, she didn't see any future in life. She was utterly rotten...

Snapped.

Kikuri Ichi patted her cheeks, regaining her senses.

Damn it, how could I have such a thought!

Show some backbone!

She pursed her lips, turned around, and took a baseball bat covered in stickers from the bedroom closet.

Although it's not outwardly apparent, Kikuto Ijichi was actually a delinquent who dominated her school during high school, and this baseball bat was her weapon back then. However, she never used it again after she decided to walk the straight path.

But if those damn yakuza do anything excessive...

She was determined to fight them with this!

If destruction is inevitable, at least make it spectacular!

"Hey, what are you all doing here?"

Just then, a flippant male voice came from outside the door.

"It has nothing to do with you!"

"Mind your own business!"

"Huh? Hey, didn't your boss teach you to be polite when talking to the police?"

"Police, police..."

"This guy really has identification, damn it..."

"Tch, what's there to be afraid of? So what if there are police? We're law-abiding citizens..."

Although the yakuza members remained verbally firm, their footsteps grew farther and farther away from the door until they could no longer be heard.

They've left?

Have the police arrived?

Kikuchi Iji breathed a sigh of relief, carefully put down the baseball bat, and pressed her eyes against the cat's eye.

A man who looked a little younger than her appeared in her field of vision.

She's very attractive, especially her fox-like eyes, but...

Are police officers really that young?

This guy clearly looks like a freshman in college!

Something's suspicious!

"Miss Ijichi, I can feel your gaze~"

The man outside knocked on the door and said, "May I come in?"

"...Are you really a police officer?"

"To be honest, no, the stuff is all fake. I was just lying to people."

Huh?

That's even more suspicious!

Kikuri Ijichi's hand stopped on the door lock.

"But I am indeed someone who can help you."

"……What's the meaning?"

"1505 million yen, right? That's how much money you were scammed out of."

"!"

"I can help you get your money back, all of it."

Click.

Subconsciously.

Kikuri Ijichi opened the door.

Outside, a handsome man stood with his back to the sunlight, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

Chapter 6 You're finished, you let the fox into the chicken coop.

"Excuse me~"

Hoshino Hideyuki walked into Iji Chikiri's house with a smile, making no attempt to hide his gaze as he looked around.

Several garbage bags were piled up at the door, there was a bunch of empty wine cans on the dining table, and a beige guitar case, covered in dust, sat in the corner.

what.

There's a positive and optimistic spirit everywhere!

On the other side, Ijichi Kikuri also noticed Hoshino Hideyuki's gaze.

Oh no, we should have cleaned it up at least a bit first!

It's one thing to be depraved in private, but quite another to be watched in the act by others.

She lowered her head with a slight sense of shame. But as if things weren't going to go wrong, a typhoon struck overnight. She then noticed that her black sock on her left foot had a tear, revealing two delicate, white toes.

This is even more shameful.

Don't let them see me, please don't let them see me!

She quickly twisted her ankle, trying to cover the tear in her sock, while trying to explain something.

Unfortunately, I couldn't think of anything to say at the moment.

My throat felt blocked.

At this moment, Hideyuki Hoshino preemptively fired off a string of long sentences:

"Hey, you should at least tidy yourself up a bit, otherwise you won't be able to compete with those thirty-something uncles who still won't admit it! You should learn from Ishida Mitsunari, who even on the execution ground, would use health as an excuse not to eat phlegm-producing persimmons~"

"Also, I don't like the Onishi Sake (a type of sake whose name implies that it can make even ghosts drunk). I recommend you try Higashino's sake instead. It's cheaper and has a smoother taste, which is more suitable for women."

"But you have a really good eye for choosing bento boxes. This teriyaki chicken rice is the most palatable one in its price range, so I won't be polite!"

With that, Hoshino Hideyuki sat down at the uncleaned table without a care in the world and took out his chopsticks.

Ijichi Kikuri: ?

"Why are you looking at me like that? Oh, you're hungry too, aren't you! Come, sit down, don't be shy~"

Ijichi Kikuri: ?!

This is my home!