A journey through the underworld, starting from the Tsubakihara family.

Page 22

……

This should be the place.

Standing in front of an elegant three-story house, Makoto Jingu carefully checked the house number.

After confirming that everything was correct, he took out his phone and sent a message: "Aunt Kyoka, I'm at the door."

Shortly after the message was sent, hurried footsteps could be heard from inside the house.

The door opened, and Kyoka Tachibana appeared in the doorway.

Unlike the professional image I saw that day, Kyoka Tachibana is now wearing a loose white sundress and a yellow floral apron, her homey attire adding a touch of gentleness.

The rise and fall of her chest made the apron seem a little small, and her fair and plump legs were revealed under the hem of the skirt.

"Please come in, Mr. Cheng, lunch will be ready soon." Kyoka Tachibana smiled and stepped aside to make way for him.

Jingu Makoto handed over a carefully prepared fruit gift box: "Aunt Kyoka, this is a small token of my appreciation for your visit."

"Oh, you silly child." Kyoka Tachibana accepted the gift from Makoto Jingu with a smile, and said reproachfully, "I should be thanking you for your help last time, how come you're the one spending money?"

"Of course." Jingu Makoto smiled and followed her into the house.

The living room is decorated in a warm and elegant style, with light-colored furniture and a few potted plants, showcasing the homeowner's meticulous attention to detail. Sunlight streams in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

"Please sit wherever you like, I'll make you some tea." Kyoka Tachibana turned and went into the kitchen.

A moment later, she came out carrying an exquisite glass teapot.

When she bent over to pour tea, her loose collar drooped slightly, creating a striking visual contrast between her milky-white skin and the black fabric.

Jingu Makoto quickly looked away, but the fleeting impression of that glimpse remained in his mind.

"Try it, this is my special black tea." Kyoka Tachibana pushed the teacup in front of him.

The aroma of tea wafted through the air. Jingu Makoto took a small sip, and the rich flavor blossomed on his tongue.

"It's so delicious! This is the best black tea I've ever had," Jingu Makoto exclaimed without reservation.

A satisfied smile appeared on Tachibana Kyoka's face: "I'm glad you like it. I'll go prepare lunch; you can chat with my daughters for a bit."

She called upstairs, "Yukika, Koharu, the guests have arrived, come down quickly!"

"Coming!" Two crisp replies came from upstairs, followed by the sound of thumping footsteps.

Kyoka Tachibana winked at Makoto Jingu, then turned and went into the kitchen.

Just as Jingu Makoto stood up, two beautiful figures appeared at the top of the stairs.

"Hello, I'm Makoto Jingu." He greeted them politely.

"Hello, Jingu-kun." Walking in front was Tachibana Koharu. Her chestnut hair, inherited from her mother, reached her waist. She had a cute face and a plump, voluptuous figure. Her slightly droopy eyes revealed her quiet personality. "My name is Tachibana Koharu. You can call me Koharu. This is my older sister, Tachibana Yuuka."

"You can just call me Yuka. So you're the one who saved Mom? Thank you so much!" The woman behind Tachibana Haru said casually.

She was a hot and beautiful woman with big eyes, a high nose, and a great figure, with her long, black hair tied in a ponytail that hung down her back.

Yuuka Tachibana's eyes lit up when she saw the handsome Makoto Jingu, and she suddenly rushed forward.

She was wearing a white sports vest, and there were beads of sweat on her forehead, clearly indicating that she had just finished exercising.

Before Jingu Makoto could react, she had already tiptoed and wrapped her arms around his neck, the faint scent of sweat mixed with the unique fragrance of a young girl wafting towards him.

"Mom was right, he really is handsome!" She pinched Jingu Makoto's arm muscles without any hesitation. "Wow, you've got great training!"

"Sister! You're being silly again! Let go of Jingu-kun!"

As she spoke, Tachibana Koharu quickly stepped forward, grabbed Tachibana Yuka's arm, and pulled her away.

"Okay, okay, I'll let go." Tachibana Yuuka laughed and released her hand. "But Jingu-kun is indeed very handsome, and his body is quite muscular. Haru, do you want to touch him too~"

"Sister!" Tachibana Koharu's face flushed slightly as she said, embarrassed and annoyed, "If you keep going like this, I'll tell Mom!"

"Hehe, I'm going to change my clothes first, you guys chat." Then, Tachibana Yuka leaned closer to Tachibana Haru's ear, "Mom told us to get closer to him, Haru, good luck!"

Tachibana Koharu's face immediately turned as red as a ripe apple. Just as she was about to say something, Tachibana Yuuka had already run upstairs.

Jingu Makoto had excellent hearing and overheard the sisters' whispered conversation perfectly.

He wondered why Tachibana Yuuka was being so proactive; it turned out that Aunt Kyoka was the one pushing things along.

"Um, I'm sorry, that's just how I am, I like to fool around, please don't mind," Tachibana Koharu quickly apologized.

"It's alright, please sit down." Makoto Jingu smiled gently, trying to ease her tension. "I heard you study at Seika Girls' Academy?"

Seeing that Makoto Jingu had taken the initiative to start the conversation, Haru Tachibana relaxed a little and then replied with a smile.

"Yes, my sister and I are both in our final year of high school. How did you know, Jingu-kun?"

Jingu-kun is so gentle...

“My two older sisters are there too, Yuna Tsubakihara and Nina Tsubakihara, but they’re in university. I wonder if Haru has heard of them?”

"Ah! It's Tsubakihara-senpai!" Hearing the familiar name, Tachibana Koharu's eyes lit up, and she became more talkative. "They're quite famous at school. Nina-senpai used to be the captain of the track and field club, and she's very close to my older sister..."

Just as the two were chatting enthusiastically, Tachibana Yuka, who had changed her clothes, joined them in a flurry of activity.

Ju Yuka has a lively and bold personality, and under her influence, the conversation quickly became lively.

"By the way, you guys are about to go to high school, you must be under a lot of pressure, right?" Jingu Makoto asked casually. "I remember Yuna-nee and Nina-nee often studied very late back then."

"Hmm." Tachibana Koharu sighed, "The academy has excellent benefits and resources, so the entrance exams are very rigorous."

"Yes, I've also heard that several classmates committed suicide because of too much pressure," Tachibana Yuka said in a low, mysterious voice.

"Is this just a rumor?" Tachibana Koharu frowned, speaking with some uncertainty.

“It’s true, do you remember what Ba told us?” Tachibana Yuuka shook her head and said affirmatively.

Tomoe? Kisaragi Tomoe? Jingu Makoto's heart skipped a beat, and he continued to steer the conversation: "Hasn't the school taken any measures?"

After a moment's thought, Tachibana Yuka said, "It seems like they're hiring a school counselor, so it must be for this issue."

"It seems like Jingu-kun is quite interested in this?" Tachibana Koharu asked curiously.

"Haha, no, I was just asking casually." Makoto Jingu laughed it off and quickly changed the subject.

The school counselor—that must be the male escort system.

If I remember correctly, the original story hinted that this academy was used by the higher-ups for evil purposes.

To protect the safety of the Tsubakihara sisters and those innocent girls, Makoto Jingu decides to venture into the lion's den to find out what's going on.

Chapter 35 The Promise and the Snow Woman

"Lunch is ready, everyone come over!"

Kyoka Tachibana peeked out from the kitchen, her smooth chestnut hair falling beside her cheeks, and her apron still covered in flour.

She smiled as she looked at the three people chatting happily in the living room, her gaze lingering on Jingu Makoto for a second longer.

"Great! I can smell the fragrance!" Ju Yihua sprang up from the sofa like a happy little deer, her black ponytail drawing a lively arc in the air with her movement.

"Jingu-kun, Mom's cooking is absolutely delicious!" She turned around and grabbed Jingu Makoto's wrist, pulling him up from the sofa with just the right amount of force. "Come and see, I guarantee you'll be amazed!"

Tachibana Koharu also stood up, her slender fingers gently smoothing the wrinkles on her skirt.

"Mom started preparing this morning..." she added softly, her eyes secretly glancing at Jingu Makoto's wrist, which was being held by his older sister, a hint of curiosity showing on her innocent face.

It seems like my older sister is quite close to Jingu-kun...

On the table, the grilled fish was golden and crispy, the tempura was fried to perfection, the miso soup was steaming hot, and various side dishes were neatly arranged on plates.

Looking at the table full of dishes, Jingu Makoto was somewhat surprised: "Aunt Kyoka, did you prepare all of this by yourself?"

As Kyoka Tachibana untied her apron, the movement revealed glimpses of her ample bust beneath her white halter dress.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the heat of the kitchen, and a few beads of sweat slid down her neckline into her collar.

"I just made some simple home-style dishes," Kyoka Tachibana said gently, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I don't know if it suits your taste."

"Mom is too modest." Tachibana Yuuka had already sat down impatiently. "It's not usually this lavish. Today's feast is all for Jingu-kun!"

"Sister!" Tachibana Koharu gently tugged at Tachibana Yuuka's sleeve, glancing at Jingu Makoto somewhat shyly.

Kyoka Tachibana pretended not to hear her eldest daughter's teasing and naturally pointed to the seat next to her, "Makoto-kun, please sit between Yuka and Koharu."

After the four sat down, they put their hands together and said in unison, "Let's begin."

Jingu Makoto picked up a piece of teriyaki chicken and put it in his mouth. The chicken was tender and juicy, and the sauce was just the right balance of sweet and salty. "It's so delicious! Aunt Kyoka's cooking skills are good enough to open a restaurant."

Kyoka Tachibana covered her mouth and chuckled, "Makoto-kun is so good with words. Haru, please serve Makoto-kun a bowl of soup."

"Okay." Tachibana Koharu quickly picked up a soup spoon, carefully ladled a bowl of miso soup and handed it to Jingu Makoto. Her fingers accidentally touched the back of his hand, but she quickly withdrew them, her ears turning slightly red.

Seeing this, Tachibana Yuuka winked mischievously: "Mom, why are you only concerned about Jingu-kun today? Don't you usually serve me the soup first?"

"You silly child~" Tachibana Kyoka gave her eldest daughter a reproachful look. "Makoto-kun is a guest. Here, this is your favorite fried shrimp." As she spoke, she picked up a large shrimp and put it in her bowl.

Ju Yihua immediately beamed, picked up a fried shrimp, took a big bite, and squinted her eyes in satisfaction.

"Oh, right!" She suddenly put down her chopsticks, placed her hands on the table, leaned forward, and her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Let's go to the beach this summer vacation! Jingu-kun, come along too!"

"The seaside?" Ju Xiaochun blinked her big eyes, her chopsticks hovering in mid-air, a few grains of rice stuck to the corner of her mouth without her noticing.

"Hmm, speaking of which, it's been a long time since our family went on a trip," Tachibana Yuka turned to her mother. "Mom, what do you say?"

Kyoka Tachibana gently wiped her lips, her gaze shifting between Makoto Jingu and her daughters: "If Jingu-kun is willing..."

"If it's not a bother, I should be fine." Jingu Makoto nodded with a smile.

He was planning to deal with those blond-haired guys properly, so naturally he wouldn't refuse.

"How could that be!" Tachibana Yuka exclaimed excitedly. "We can swim, hit watermelons, and play with fireworks! Oh, and by the way, Haru looks so cute in her swimsuit!"

"Sigh!" Ju Xiaochun's face instantly turned red to her ears, and she almost knocked over her water glass.

……

Lunch proceeded in a pleasant atmosphere. Kyoka Tachibana would occasionally serve food to Makoto Jingu, while secretly observing his interactions with his two daughters.

Yuka is lively and cheerful, constantly finding topics to chat with Jingu Makoto; Koharu, though shy, will also join the conversation under her sister's encouragement.

After the meal, when Jingu Makoto got up to say goodbye, Tachibana Kyoka said to her daughters, "Go and see Jingu-kun off."

As the three of them reached the door, Tachibana Yuuka suddenly tugged at Jingu Makoto's sleeve: "Jingu-kun, what do you think of my sister?"

"Huh?" When she was suddenly mentioned, a look of confusion appeared on Tachibana Koharu's somewhat blank face.

"Isn't Haru cute?" Tachibana Yuka smiled mischievously, leaned close to Jingu Makoto's ear, and breathed a seductive breath. "Although she's a little shy, you'll find she's actually quite interesting once you get to know her."

"Sis, why are you here again? If you keep doing this, I'm really going to tell Mom." Tachibana Koharu quickly pulled Tachibana Yuka aside.

Tachibana Yuuka didn't mind at all. She happily squinted her eyes and waved to Jingu Makoto: "See you next time! Remember our beach date!"

Jingu Makoto gazed at the two smiling faces, then glanced at the faintly visible figure of Tachibana Kyoka inside the room.

"See you next time!"

At that moment, a kind of inexplicable expectation welled up in Jingu Makoto's heart.

……

After leaving the Tachibana family home, Makoto Jingu did not go straight home, but instead went to a nearby apartment building.

"Nightwood Apartment, Miwa lives here, right? Come to think of it, this name sounds familiar."

"I was planning to give Mi a surprise." Makoto Jingu glanced at the guards at the gate and shook his head with some regret.

Just as he took out his phone to call Shirakawa Miwa, he heard a soft, seductive panting sound behind him.

Jingu Makoto turned his head and saw a stunningly beautiful young woman with snow-white hair struggling to drag a large pile of luggage toward the apartment.

Her features were exquisite, her aquamarine eyes were like a clear lake, her long silver hair was coiled on top of her head, her skin was so white that you could see the pale blue veins underneath, and her figure was curvaceous...

Wait, this looks familiar... Nightwood Apartment... Could this be that yokai snow woman?

"Um... sir, is there something you need from me?"

It wasn't until he heard a gentle voice, tinged with confusion, that Jingu Makoto snapped back to reality.

Before she knew it, the beautiful white-haired woman had stopped and was staring at her uneasily with her large, water-blue eyes.

"Ah, how rude of me." Makoto Jingu scratched the back of his head and gave a hearty smile. "It's all because you are so beautiful, madam, that I couldn't help but be mesmerized."

"Eh?" The beautiful young woman's fair cheeks instantly flushed a light pink, and she lowered her eyes shyly. "You...you're exaggerating...I'm just an ordinary person..."