Hirashima Hideko had previously studied at Waseda University, where she excelled in every aspect, which was why she also found a husband who matched her abilities very well.
She had thought that together with her husband, they could carve out a significant enterprise in Japan.
But the two of them had vastly underestimated the strength of Japan's class rigidity.
They also underestimated the savagery of big fish eating little fish. It was merciless and irrational predation that small fish couldn't fend off, no matter how hard they tried.
To save their family business, finding themselves with no way out, the couple had no choice but to borrow money from Ishita Financial Company for working capital.
Thinking they would just need to get through this rough patch, the two university graduates took another big loss.
They couldn't resolve their financial problems in the time they had anticipated.
The clients unexpectedly delayed payments, forcing them to face the risk of overdue debts.
Once overdue, the interest would double.
By then, the company would be embroiled in a real bankruptcy crisis.
To avoid such a situation, Hirashima Hideko felt she had no choice but to offer herself.
The couple knew all too well what Ishida Taizan meant by giving "extra lessons" to his younger brother.
In the past, Hirashima Hideko wouldn't have even glanced at men with Yakuza ties.
But times had changed. In order not to let the precious business they had built together fail, Hirashima Hideko had to make a difficult decision.
After carefully getting dressed and putting on makeup, she decided not to wait until tomorrow. Instead, she chose to visit today to prevent Ishida Taizan from unexpectedly changing his mind.
Hirashima Hideko couldn't bear to look at her husband, and she knew he couldn't bear to look at her.
Normally, once she dressed up, she would be praised as a delicate rose.
But now, only silence emanated from the living room.
A powerless silence enveloped the home.
"I'm heading out," Hirashima Hideko said in a soft voice, faintly hearing a choked sound from behind.
A flash of pain crossed her eyes but was immediately covered by determined resolve. I absolutely cannot let the company fall. If I can just get through this, it'll be like letting a dog crawl over me for a few days.
Hirashima Hideko consoled herself with this thought as she took a car to the streets of Kabukicho Ichi-chome.
The gentle sunlight shone on the sign of Ishita Financial Company. The ground floor housed an adult entertainment establishment; the company was on the second floor, accessible by a side staircase.
She made her way to the second floor.
The clicking of her bright red high heels echoed on the stairs.
Hirashima Hideko was dressed like a corporate office worker. She wore a white short-sleeved T-shirt, a black form-fitting short skirt, and grey stockings that clung to her full, fleshy legs.
Her black hair was pinned up at the back of her head, and she wore round glasses, exuding the intellectual aura of a prestigious university graduate.
But this aura will soon be shattered. Hirashima Hideko could almost imagine the humiliation that awaited her.
But for the sake of the company and her husband, she had to bear it all, her heart filled with a sense of helplessness.
This truly is a society that devours people.
Hirashima Hideko stopped at the door of Ishita Financial Company. She took a deep breath and turned the knob with her right hand.
Instantly, a strong smell of blood hit her.
She flung the door open. Inside the large office, people lay in pools of blood amid overturned tables and chairs. There were about a dozen of them.
A Yakuza feud?
Amid the shock, Hirashima Hideko also felt a twinge of excitement.
If the creditor is dead, then I won't have to repay the debt!
She was about to call the police when a thought struck her. She took two steps back. If I call now and the ambulance arrives too quickly, what if these bastards aren't completely dead? They have to die first.
Hirashima Hideko's eyes glittered with a cold light as she slowly closed the door, then dialed her husband's number to share the joyful news with him.
The high-interest loans owed by the company might be gone with the death of the creditor.
From the bottom of her heart, she thanked the unknown Yakuza organization that had saved her family.
「Around ten in the morning.」
Aozawa wandered the streets of Shinjuku with his hands in his pockets, pondering who should be the next to fall into slumber.
Beyond the Yakuza, who else is worth testing my Superpower on?
Two questions flashed through his mind as he scanned the surroundings, unsure of what to do next.
Suddenly a voice soft as a breeze floated to his ears, "Pervert, ah, no, that's not right, Aozawa-senpai, would you like a cup of coffee?"
Such a tender voice immediately let Aozawa recognize who was calling out to him. He stopped in his tracks and turned his head to see the girl standing at the entrance of a cafe with a theme sign.
Atop her head were cute bunny ears. She wasn't wearing a typical skinny bunny girl outfit but rather a fluffy bunny costume, making her look more like a plush toy.
The costume was so thick that a layer of sweat beaded on her fair forehead. Her dark eyes sparkled, and she smiled as brightly as sunshine, saying, "We have a big discount today—lattes are 30% off!"
Aozawa approached, saying with an exasperated face, "Shouko, I think you're a bit mistaken about me."
Hojo Shouko blinked, seemingly puzzled as to why he would say such a thing. Isn't that an undeniable fact?
Seeking an explanation, she asked, "Last time, senpai, weren't you interested in that pit bull?"
"Of course not."
"Then why did senpai have such a reaction?"
Her blunt question made Aozawa pause. He didn't know how to answer. He couldn't very well admit he'd been using his X-ray Ability to watch the intense fight inside the house.
"Aozawa-senpai, all you need to do is get rid of that perverted interest of yours. There's no need to lie to me."
"I'm lying?!"
Suddenly, Aozawa felt his blood pressure spike. He really wanted to stop time and spank her bottom three hundred times!
But he couldn't bring himself to do such a thing. He could only say irritably, "Aren't you going to open the door for your God already?!"
Hojo Shouko tilted her head and said with a grin, "Whose God are you talking about? Believe it or not, I'll stomp you underfoot and grind my heel into your face a couple of times, you perverted senpai."
Aozawa was stunned, his gaze unconsciously drifting to the sign of the theme cafe nearby, beneath which there was a line of text.
Today's Theme: Sharp Tongues.
We welcome all guests with masochistic tendencies to our establishment.
"Shouko, I'm not that kind of person. Don't talk to me in such coarse language."
"Aren't you happy, senpai? Everyone I've spoken to like this today has been absolutely thrilled. Seeing them so happy makes me happy too."
Hojo Shouko's face was all smiles.
Sometimes, Aozawa suspected it was a deliberately mischievous smile, but her eyes and expression seemed too innocent to be premeditated.
Truly, natural-born manipulators are terrifying.
"Remember, only when you call me master will I be happy."
"Oh, I see! As expected of you, perverted senpai. You always do things differently from others."
Hojo Shouko nodded, her smile sweet as she said, "Welcome, my perverted master!"
"Hey, don't add 'perverted' to it!"
Aozawa retorted and walked into the café, deciding to have a cup of coffee and think things over slowly.