Everything Begins With a Debt in the Hentai World

Haruno Kasumi, as the only daughter in her family, lived under the intertwined pressures of her parents' affection and expectations.

She was the hope of her family, and her parents had strict academic requirements for her, hoping she would become an outstanding individual. 

When Haruno Ayato's parents left for business reasons and he came to stay at Haruno Kasumi's home, as his cousin, she felt a sense of responsibility to protect and take care of him.

Since Haruno Ayato seemed even smaller than her, Haruno Kasumi took on the role of his guardian, looking after and protecting him.

Though Haruno Kasumi never complained about her family's arrangements, at times she still felt overwhelmed by the expectations from relatives and friends, which could lead to her feeling down.

Whenever those emotions surfaced, she would fantasize about having a gentle and considerate boyfriend—someone who saw her as a simple girl, rather than the attention-drawing younger cousin or older sister.

She longed to be pampered and cared for, to experience the safety and warmth of being nurtured like a child in need of care.

This warm and sweet fantasy became her heart's most cherished aspiration.

Naturally, when she first laid eyes on Ito Yoshito, for some reason, her tender heart was suddenly touched, and a sense of safety washed over her, making her blush.

"Ito-kun, Ito-kun…"

Haruno Ayato excitedly raised his arms and waved vigorously, calling out to Ito Yoshito in a hushed voice, hoping to attract his attention.

Indeed, although the Literature Club room was quite spacious, it was still easy to catch sight of Haruno Ayato's actions, which naturally drew Ito Yoshito's notice.

"Shiina-san, it seems like Haruno-kun is calling me," Ito Yoshito said.

Hearing Yoshito's comments, Shiina Chizuru followed his gaze and was not unfamiliar with Haruno Ayato's figure. 

The slender and delicate-looking boy with fair skin was often a target for the attention of some of the school's more aggressive girls.

Therefore, whenever Haruno Kasumi was not by his side, Haruno Ayato would often find himself bullied and pursued by those girls. 

On occasion, Shiina Chizuru had witnessed such situations, and as a principled and just person, she could not tolerate these violations of the school rules. 

As time went by, Chizuru, pushed away by classmates due to her sense of justice, started to become familiar with the timid and isolated Haruno Ayato, to the point where they could actually talk.

The most important reason for this was, of course, that he was Haruno Kasumi's brother.

"Ito-kun, Shiina-san." Haruno Ayato greeted them with a smile.

"Haruno-kun." Shiina Chizuru nodded to Haruno Ayato while walking alongside Ito Yoshito.

"Haruno-san." Then she turned to Haruno Kasumi and flashed her a sweet smile.

"Kasumi-senpai."

"Chizuru."

At this moment, Haruno Kasumi had already pushed down the fluttering feelings inside her and responded with a smile.

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

"Kasumi, this is my friend, Ito Yoshito!" 

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

"Ito…kun, nice to meet you. Thank you for taking care of Ayato these past few days," Haruno Kasumi said, gazing warmly at Ito Yoshito, her voice gentle and kind, like a warm current that filled one with comfort.

"Not at all, Haruno-senpai. Haruno-kun has been very reliable; he helped me blend into the class when I first arrived last week." 

Haruno Kasumi lifted her head, beaming brightly as she chatted with Ito Yoshito about her brother, Haruno Ayato. She knew her brother well, understood his inner world, and grasped his shyness and introversion. 

In the past few days of observation, Haruno Kasumi had noticed that while Haruno Ayato had become a bit more cheerful, his personality hadn't changed much.

Therefore...

'It must be Ito-kun who took the initiative to befriend Ayato!' 

In light of the gentle and affable nature of Ito Yoshito, Haruno Kasumi felt even greater appreciation and fondness for him.

Thus, she seized the opportunity to speak actively with him, trying to praise Haruno Ayato's strengths and help solidify this precious friendship.

"Ito-kun! Kasumi-senpai!" 

At that moment, Shiina Chizuru interrupted Ito Yoshito and Haruno Kasumi's conversation. 

"Let's save the chit-chat for later. I need to help Ito-kun with his studies now." 

"Oh, I see... then I'll join too. I'm somewhat confident in my grades and should be able to help you both. What do you think, Chizuru?" 

Haruno Kasumi twirled a strand of hair at her ear, her lively face wearing an expectant smile. 

"Ito-kun, what do you think?" Hearing this, Shiina Chizuru looked at Ito Yoshito. 

"I—I don't have a problem with that." 

"Great, since everyone is okay with it, I'll trouble you, Kasumi-senpai." 

"Delighted to oblige." 

…

A study session passed amidst the discussions of the trio and Haruno Ayato's restless fidgeting.

"Goodbye." ×2

"Goodbye." ×2 

As the sun sets, the evening glow paints a vibrant oil painting in the sky. Red, orange, and purple intertwine, like ribbons drawn by a divine brush, quietly spreading across the vast firmament. 

At the entrance of Ousei Academy, watching the Haruno siblings leave, Ito Yoshito turned to Shiina Chizuru beside him. 

"Shiina-san." 

"Mm?" 

The golden rays of the evening sun bathed Shiina Chizuru's adorable face, illuminating her wine-red eyes, which sparkled as they watched the scene of the Haruno siblings heading home together. A hint of envy flickered in Shiina Chizuru's eyes. 

Upon hearing Ito Yoshito call her name, she turned her body to look at him, blinking in confusion. 

"I'll walk you home!" 

"I…" 

The afterglow of the sunset colored Ito Yoshito's smiling face, and gazing at the smile before her, Shiina Chizuru suddenly felt a strong sense of loneliness that surged uncontrollably in her heart.

The words she initially wanted to refuse got caught in her throat, unable to be uttered. 

Remembering that she had always gone to and from school alone, although she had friends, they were always busy with more important people to accompany…

'It seems like I've never gone home with someone else…' 

"...Okay." 

The clouds above shimmered with a golden halo, and under the clouds, Ito Yoshito walked alongside Shiina Chizuru, gradually meandering down the street.

Neither of them spoke, and the tranquil silence spread out, unexpectedly harmonious. 

"Shiina-san." 

"Itō-kun." 

"…" 

"Shiina-san, thank you for helping me with my studies today." 

"Mm." 

"…" The two fell silent again. 

After hesitating for a moment, Shiina Chizuru spoke once more. 

"Ito-kun, do you need my help tomorrow as well?" 

Noticing the somewhat anxious look on Shiina Chizuru's face, it seemed to be her first time inviting someone.

Under Ito Yoshito's scrutinizing gaze, her cute face blushed, and she turned away shyly, avoiding his gaze. 

"Of course, I'll be counting on you again tomorrow, Shiina." 

Ito Yoshito smiled slightly and extended his hand toward Shiina Chizuru. 

Fixating on the hand Ito Yoshito held out, Shiina Chizuru looked up along his arm and met his bright smile, feeling her cheeks heat up, a blend of shyness and happiness. 

"Please take care of me again tomorrow, Ito…kun." 

Reaching out to grasp Ito Yoshito's broad hand, Shiina Chizuru revealed her smile to him for the first time. 

Her bashful eyes and charming smile,

'We… should be friends now—my first time walking home with a friend… hee hee…'

...…..

The sky gradually took on a dusky hue, and the setting sun hung low on the horizon, slowly sinking down. Ito Yoshito stood at the street corner, watching the slightly bouncing figure of Shiina Chizuru until she turned the corner and vanished from sight.

The evening glow bathed her in warmth, illuminating her profile and outlining the graceful lines of her face, as if she were a part of a flowing painting.

Only after she disappeared did Ito Yoshito slowly raise his phone, lightly swipe to unlock it, and check the time

6:36 PM.

'It's still early. I can go to the supermarket to buy some groceries and make dinner.'

The next day, the school bell rang out, and the playground was bustling with noise as students streamed out of classrooms, heading home.

"Ito-kun, let's go," Shiina Chizuru said, standing straight before Ito Yoshito with a shoulder bag slung over one arm. Her clear eyes looked at him with a hint of expectation, and a barely noticeable smile graced her adorable face.

"Wait a moment, Shiina." 

Ito Yoshito nodded, quickly gathering his things before rising to join Shiina Chizuru.

"Ugh, it's that honor student again. So annoying…"

Tsushima Rina grumbled under her breath. She had intended to go chat with Ito Yoshito but turned around to find Shiina Chizuru already standing by his side, abruptly halting her steps.

"The way they address each other seems more intimate now…"

Rina furrowed her brows in dissatisfaction.

Tsushima Rina considered herself a broad-minded person and had generally overlooked Ito Yoshito's flirtations with multiple girls.

She even endured the hostility from Shinomiya Natsuha with a smile.

However—

It frustrated her to see Ito Yoshito, fully aware that Shiina Chizuru and she didn't get along, still leaning towards Shiina!

Narrowing her eyes like a fox, Tsushima Rina let out a huff, grinding her teeth in secret.

"Yoshito, perhaps I've been too lenient with you, which is why you don't respect me anymore…"

"I originally planned to experience a sweet high school date at the cinema tomorrow, but since you're being so thoughtless, I'll have to teach you a lesson…"

May 17, Friday, Exam Day.

The azure sky hung bright and clear, and the sun cast golden rays that streamed through the classroom windows, bathing the once-bustling space in silence so profound one could almost hear the heartbeat of every student.

A gentle breeze wafted in, stirring the minds of each student as they felt varying degrees of tension or ease…

Ousei Academy did not conduct midterms or finals but instead held monthly tests designed to help students solidify their knowledge and continually assess their learning outcomes.

Exams weren't inherently terrifying; results depended solely on how hard one studied.

However, the school sent each test score home to the students' parents, often analyzing the data from multiple exams along with evaluations.

For some students, this practice was less than friendly.

...

Leaning against the window, Ito Yoshito propped his chin in his hand, observing the tense Haruno Ayato as he anxiously recited knowledge points.

He sat quietly, zoning out while waiting for the teacher to arrive for proctoring.

"Knock, knock."

The familiar sound of high heels approached, and Tsukishima Kyoko entered the classroom, clutching a stack of sealed test papers.

...

"Ding, ding, ding——"

"Students, put down your pens. The back row, please pass your papers forward."

As the bell rang, Tsukishima Kyoko's cold yet captivating voice immediately filled the room.

Despite students wanting to squeeze in a few more lines, they were compelled to lay down their pens under her icy gaze.

...

"Ughhh…"

After Tsukishima Kyoko left, Haruno Ayato let out a series of meaningless whines, turning to lean on Ito Yoshito's desk.

"How did you do, Ito-kun?"

"Not bad, I guess… about average…"

Seeing Haruno Ayato's distressed expression, Ito Yoshito ultimately swallowed his "so easy" remark.

"Ugh… I messed up again. Kasumi-neesan is going to lecture me for ages."

"Alright, don't worry about that now; there's still another subject to take."

"Ugh… what torture…"

During an exam, time always seemed to fly by, like sand slipping through an hourglass. Students immersed themselves in thought, the characters on their answer sheets multiplying rapidly, pens darting across the pages as if racing against the clock. The sounds of paper rustling, pencils scraping, and unvoiced murmurs intertwined, forming a unique symphony in the examination hall.

Sunlight poured through the window, casting mottled shadows on the desks.

Upon closer inspection, it became clear that sunlight was already streaming in from the west...

"Ding, ding, ding——"

The clear bell signaled the end of the grueling exam!

As soon as the bell rang, Ito Yoshito had just packed his bag when Tsushima Rina grabbed him and hurriedly pulled him out of the classroom.

"Wait, Rina, let me…"

Before he could finish his sentence, he was already dragged outside.

"Bang!"

Shinomiya Natsuha couldn't sit still any longer; she shot up from her seat, and the desks scraped noisily against the floor.

Quickly packing her things, Natsuha prepared to chase after the two but was blocked by several girls from her class.

"Murasakino-san, could you share what skincare products you've been using lately? Your skin is so smooth and dewy!"

Gazing at the grinning girls, Shinomiya Natsuha realized they were clearly sent by Tsushima Rina to obstruct her.

...

"Rina, there's no need to rush, is there?"

Ito Yoshito glanced helplessly at Tsushima Rina, whose arm was firmly linked to his.

"We need to finish what we promised quickly! I've already bought the tickets, unless you're backing out, Yoshito?"

Tsushima Rina narrowed her eyes, her gaze piercing into Ito Yoshito's.

"I won't go back on my word."

"Ding~"

"Slow down; let me check my messages."

Ito Yoshito gestured for Tsushima Rina to slow down and pulled out his phone.

——

Kurashiki Reina: [Ashi, Rina is going home early today. Let's go back together.] (Read)

——

Just as Ito Yoshito intended to reply, Tsushima Rina snatched the phone from his hand.

"Alright, let's hurry up."

"But I haven't replied to Reina yet…"

——

Tsushima Rina: [Reina, I have something on today and will head back first. (○｀ 3′○)] (Read) 

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