Tokyo: Starting with taking on his wife's debts

When all hope was lost, she succumbed to Xiuming.

He's already married. It's not that he's unfaithful—after all, if he weren't, I wouldn't have had a chance—but he's a jerk…and so immature. Eri's experience is a cautionary tale; it always makes me feel insecure…

If you can't bring yourself to leave him, you might as well let him drive you away.

The feeling of almost dying when I fainted just now wasn't so scary after all...

Even though that's what I planned to do, saying it out loud still makes my heart feel heavy, like something is pressing down on it, and it's uncomfortable... Couldn't you just give me a promise or say something nice?

"How is that even possible?"

Xiuming suddenly rolled to Misako's feet and said confidently, "You must have heard of the 'honey trap,' right? It's a tactic that appeared thousands of years ago and is still in use today. There are still very few men who can resist this temptation. It's the weakness of every man in the world, and I'm no exception. What I'm going to do is bring all the beauties I fancy into my home, so I'll never have to worry about falling into a 'honey trap' again."

“I’ve never used that on you. I just asked you to help me move. You, you insist on making me call you husband. I…” Misako secretly observed Hideaki’s expression and continued, “I’ve never even been in a relationship, and I’m not married yet, but… I’m just used to calling you that… What am I supposed to do?”

"If you were uglier or had a worse character, do you think I would even acknowledge you? I clearly fell for your honey trap."

"You...I..." Misako almost choked. Shouldn't this be a compliment? Why couldn't she feel happy at all? She blurted out, "Is it my fault?"

“It’s not your fault, it’s all the same to all men,” Xiuming said, reaching out to pinch the hem of her skirt. “Take your legs, for example, they’re so white and long, and the skin is so smooth, no man could… oh dear…”

Misako plopped down on the mattress, instinctively stepping on Hideaki's face with her foot and kicking him away.

"You awful guy, don't lift my skirt!"

"Do you think I wanted to lift it?" Hideaki slid down the mattress to a leg's distance from Misako and stopped. "If you just openly show your legs, would I lift them?"

"Nonsense! Childish, childish! You little brat!" Misako was both ashamed and angry. Just as she was about to pull her foot back, Hideaki grabbed her ankle.

Misako's heart skipped a beat. She didn't pull her foot back forcefully, and whispered, "What, what are you going to do? If you don't let go, I, I'm going to scream..."

"Heh!" Hideaki sat cross-legged, holding Misako's feet in front of him. He held her ankle with his left hand and placed his right hand on the sole of her foot, which was soft like a kitten's paw pad. "You still have to give me a good review for protecting your head just now, or I'll tickle your soles."

"What?" Misako was stunned: Wasn't this topic already over?! She already said she wouldn't give it even if she had to beg, and she still wants a good review?

Xiuming narrowed his eyes and began tickling the soles of her feet with his five fingers.

"Ahhh!" Misako couldn't help but scream, falling onto the mattress. Her left foot, which wasn't caught, instinctively kicked at Hideaki, but he caught it again, tickling both soles. "Let go... let go... wrong, good review! Good review... I'll give you a good review!"

[One good achievement achieved]

“What exactly did I teach you?” Xiuming paused, then continued, “You should say, ‘Honey, you’re so great, I give you a good review.’”

The achievement was made, but half of it was forced and did not conform to the rules of equality. Therefore, the rest should be made to speak from her heart.

"You, you can't be so childish, okay?"

Misako's breath hitched, her heart pounded, and disregarding her shame, she slid down to Hideaki and whispered, "Riko is still outside. If I... if I call her 'husband,' won't she be upset?"

She glanced instinctively at the closed bedroom door and shouted in her heart: You know what I mean! I want to get married... I don't even want to register our marriage, I just want a wedding, to make my relatives and friends proud, and to stop my parents from worrying...

Hideaki turned around and said loudly, "Riko-chan, Misako wants to call me husband. She's worried you'll be upset."

“It’s okay… I don’t mind…” Riko’s gentle and concerned voice came from outside the door. “As long as Misako-chan is happy.”

The promise Hideaki made to Riko made her feel extremely at ease.

"Are you relieved now?" Xiuming released her feet, then, remembering the second piece of information, asked, "Is my head round? How does it feel to step on it?"

"It's...it's alright..."

I don't know if Hideaki didn't understand or was just pretending to be stupid...

Misako subconsciously turned her head away, her mind clearly elsewhere.

Riko said: As long as you're happy.

She suddenly wanted more and was eager to say what she had been thinking. She hoped Riko wouldn't be angry.

“Then give me another good review for my head,” Hideaki said, grabbing Misako’s two fair feet and pressing the soft, perfectly curved soles against his cheeks. “The one that kicked me from behind just now, did you wash your feet with shampoo? Why does it smell so good?”

"You, you, you... Good review, I'll give you a good review..." Misako's heart skipped a beat. Hideaki's face was hot, and he had stubble. The sensation of his feet instantly shot to her heart, and she was overwhelmed with shame. She quickly pulled her feet back, climbed off the mattress, and staggered as she opened the door, saying, "I, I'll go out first... I'll help Riko... It's too much to leave her to do all the work alone..."

She dared not voice her true thoughts. Even if Riko were incredibly magnanimous, she wouldn't be able to accept them if she did...

I feel ashamed of my thoughts.

Moreover, Xiuming's attitude is always inexplicable, making it impossible to guess what he will say next. He doesn't follow any set pattern, and it's hard to tell whether he's telling the truth or not.

I'm going crazy... It seems like no one likes me anymore except him... And it seems like no one can make my heart flutter except him... There's still time, there's still time, I must calm down and think this through...

Misako was still thinking about time, starting from this moment tonight and ending before she goes to work the day after tomorrow.

After all, she was staying at Xiuming's house. Everyone knew what was going to happen. The secret was about to be revealed; it was just one step away.

But at this crucial moment, Misako became conflicted. After all, she suffered from depression due to sensitive emotions, and she tended to overthink things...

If I still can't make a decision by the morning after tomorrow, I'll just quit and disappear! Consider it just being dramatic... That wretched succubus man, saying he's afraid of falling for someone else's honey trap...

With Misako's help, the cleanup was completed very quickly. In less than ten minutes, all the tableware and kitchen utensils were washed and neatly placed in the cupboard.

Riko was stunned, and crossed her arms in admiration, saying, "Misako-neechan, you're amazing!"

"Uh... it's, it's alright..." Misako couldn't stand Riko's adoring gaze, and her face flushed.

"Riko-chan, you should learn more about cooking from Misako," Hideaki's voice called out from the bedroom. "You can only cook soba noodles, not udon. And your udon is terrible too!"

"Okay...okay..." Riko's shoulders trembled as if startled, and she pouted with a wronged expression, whispering, "Misako-neechan, can you teach me how to cook?"

"Okay, okay."

Misako was taken aback. Was Riko's reaction too extreme?

Does Hideaki have a side he doesn't know about? He's really awful. Riko is such a good person, why did he yell at her?

"Look at the time, it's time to sleep, Riko-chan, come here!" Hideaki's voice came from the bedroom again.

Misako's suitcase was placed on the tatami mat in the Japanese-style room by Chieko, where she would be sleeping tonight.

"Okay...okay..."

Riko trembled as if she'd been electrocuted, her hair seemed to stand on end, her face flushed red, she lowered her head, her trembling eyelashes fluttered, and she moved her pink lips as if she wanted to say something but couldn't, before walking into the bedroom with her head down.

Misako stared blankly as the bedroom door was gently closed.

Riko-chan, such a polite person, was so startled that she forgot to say goodnight and even forgot to turn off the living room light...

Could Hideaki be a pervert with sadistic tendencies?

At Misako's previous workplace, she encountered several female colleagues who had long suffered from domestic violence. They always wore long-sleeved and high-necked clothes to cover up the marks on their bodies. Some even had red and swollen marks on their faces and eyes, which they covered with foundation and sunglasses...

Misako turned off the living room lights, deliberately went barefoot, and quietly walked to the master bedroom door, gently pressing her ear against it.

Then came Riko's muffled voice, sounding pained: "Ah~ Honey, what should I do... I'm so embarrassed, so sad..."

Misako's heart clenched. It felt like Riko was being smothered under the covers. Was she going to suffocate?

"Shout it out, it'll make you feel better," Xiuming mumbled incoherently. "Throw away your pillow...don't suffocate yourself..."

"Misako-chan will hear us... What should I do... Honey, help me... Help me..."

A moment later, the sound of hitting someone, along with Riko's cries for help, was heard.

Misako, standing at the door, gasped for breath, her face flushed crimson, and she stiffly turned around, walking back into the tatami room like a zombie.

Then, I crawled under the covers, pulled them over my head, and covered my ears; however, the bedroom wasn't soundproof...

The details that Chieko had vividly described to her before resurfaced in my mind... Damn it!

I have a day off tomorrow, so I have plenty of time tonight.

At 2:30 a.m., the bedroom door suddenly opened a crack.

"She should be asleep... Let's go take a shower..."

Hideaki's furtive voice drifted into Misako's ears as she tossed and turned in bed.

Misako subconsciously lifted a corner of the blanket and peeked out.

Through the gaps in the wooden vertical slat screen, Hideaki carried Riko out of the bedroom.

The lights made them appear translucent and snow-white...

Riko didn't speak, her head resting on Hideaki's shoulder, her shoulder trembling slightly.

Damn it... what are they doing...?

Misako's mind went blank for a moment, and she quickly covered herself with the blanket.

Around 3 a.m., Hideaki, carrying Riko, left a trail of wet footprints on the floor and entered the bedroom.

Riko pulled the blanket over her head, curled up, and turned her back to Hideaki, muttering softly, almost like a sob, but also like a spoiled child: "It's so embarrassing... What if they find out... What will I do..."

She felt ashamed and remorseful for her earlier recklessness and disregard for propriety.

Xiuming patted her smooth shoulder and said, "It's okay, blame it on me. I'm happy to take the blame. Just say 'scumbag' a few more times... Time for bed..."

Riko clutched the blanket and threw herself into Hideaki's arms, her face flushed, and whispered, "Scumbag..."

Seven o'clock in the morning.

Golden sunlight streamed through the window and fell on the floor; it was another bright and sunny day.

Knock! Knock! Two knocks on the door.

Misako's seemingly indifferent voice came from outside the door: "I've made breakfast. Are you getting up to eat?"

Riko was still fast asleep.

Xiuming rubbed his face, gently got out of bed, grabbed a bathrobe and wrapped it around himself, put on slippers and opened the door.

Misako was wearing a sky-blue nightgown and sky-blue slippers, which matched her ascetic expression quite well.

"Misako-chan, good morning, thank you for cooking." Hideaki waved his hand, then suddenly turned around and asked, "Why are your eyes so bloodshot? Didn't you sleep well last night?"

Misako opened her mouth, her face flushed red, glared at Hideaki with a fierce look, and then turned and left.

“Hey,” Xiuming patted her shoulder, “Just say what you have to say. Don’t look at me with such a malicious gaze, or I’ll misunderstand.”

"You can misunderstand me however you want..." Misako shuddered, shrugged her shoulders, and quickly went to the kitchen, asking again, "Should we serve Riko-chan some rice?"

“She’s skipping breakfast; she’ll eat at noon,” Xiuming said as she walked toward the bathroom.

After washing up, when I arrived at the dining room, Misako had already served the food and was sitting motionless at the table.

Hideaki sat down opposite Misako.

This morning's breakfast was leftovers from last night. There's still a lot left in the kitchen, so I guess we'll be eating leftovers all day.