Ashen Moon: Volume 1 - Chapter 4

The content warning is in the footnotes⁰.

◇:*:◆:*:◇

The main residence of the Motohashi group leader, visited after a long time, was still a fortress in the form of a traditional Japanese house. The thick walls surrounding the building and garden were nearly three meters high and imposing. The fence on top of the wall had electricity running through it. Even if someone managed to get over the wall, they would be detected by sensors surrounding the premises and building. 

Anyone trying to enter this mansion without getting the gate opened for them would have to risk their life. If a bomb were thrown in, they’d be helpless, but there were no extremists in the opposing groups to go that far. There was a tacit understanding with the police: “Don’t use bombs or guns, and we’ll turn a blind eye to minor skirmishes.” 

Until he entered this world, Kato didn’t know how deeply the police were involved with the yakuza. In novels, the collusion between police and yakuza is a common theme, but he thought it was just fiction. Behind the light, there is darkness. Without darkness, there is no light. He was a maggot wriggling in the corners of the darkness. No one cares about carrion, but there needs to be “something” to clean it up. Even maggots have a place to belong. 

Walking slowly through the garden, which was so thick with trees that it didn’t make the imposing wall feel out of place, he heard the cicadas’ persistent cries amplifying the humid heat. The sunlight was painfully intense on his skin, and occasionally, a lukewarm breeze brushed the nape of his neck. 

By the artificial pond, the vibrant orange flowers of the daylily were in bloom. He didn’t know the name of the flower and had mentioned “yellow lilies in the garden…” only to be corrected by the leader’s wife, who said, “That’s called a daylily.” The name stuck in his memory. 

The reflection of a human figure in the water caused the koi to splash as they swam towards him with open mouths. The way they piled on top of each other in search of food was comical and clumsy. Despite being high-class fish worth hundreds of thousands of yen, they were not elegant. The leader had boasted about how rare such beautiful patterns were, but he had no interest. He just thought they were flashy. The koi didn’t know the prices humans set for them. They just ate, excreted, and swam as usual. 

“Hey.” 

A sharp voice stabbed at his back. From the veranda, a man with brown hair and sharp eyes in a tracksuit glared at him. His face, which looked somewhat squashed, resembled a pug. 

“What are you doing there?” 

It had been quite some time since he had separated from the leader’s direct command and worked as the treasurer for his son, Motohashi Soichi. He rarely showed his face at the main house, unlike the office. 

“What’s your name?” 

The man looked about twenty years old, maybe younger. His right hand was in the back pocket of his tracksuit, possibly concealing a weapon. 

“Hey, Hachi!” 

A deep voice echoed from the veranda. The young gang member turned around vigorously, “B-Boss!” and jumped. The leader of the Motohashi group, Motohashi Yodo, was looking down at them from the outer corridor. When he went out, he wore a kimono, but at home, he dressed comfortably in a polo shirt and shorts. 

“That’s a member attached to my son. He occasionally shows his face at the office too, right?” 

The gang member called Hachi hastily brought his hand forward, trembling as he apologized, “I-I didn’t know. I’m sorry.” 

“He looked so sharp in his suit that I thought he was a civilian…” 

Kato gave a wry smile. Soichi was particular about the line and tuck of his suits. He even provided meticulously chosen suits for his aides. While they blended in well at high-end hotels, their refined taste sometimes led to them being mistaken for civilians. 

“Hachi, if you even scratch him, I’ll let you get away with a few fingers, but my son will definitely wrap you in a mat and throw you into Tokyo Bay. He’ll make sure you don’t float back up by adding concrete weights.” 

The blood drained from Hachi’s face. 

“I’m really, truly sorry!” 

He bowed deeply on the spot. The leader stroked his beard, looking annoyed. 

“That’s enough, go. Clean the entrance or something.” 

With a dismissive wave of his right hand, Hachi disappeared into the overgrown garden. 

“He’s only been with us for about two months. Cut him some slack.” 

“I’m not concerned,” Kato replied to the leader’s words. 

“A vigilant dog is useful.” 

The leader squinted and laughed heartily, clutching his stomach. 

“True enough… If you visited here more often, you wouldn’t be mistaken for a suspicious person by the underlings.” 

The leader hit a sore spot, and Kato bowed his head, saying, “I apologize.” Until about a year ago, he used to visit the office weekly and the main house monthly, but he hadn’t been around much recently. 

“Is Soichi not around here?” 

The leader scanned the lush garden. 

“He’s probably still with your wife. They were having a deep conversation.” 

The reason for visiting the main house after such a long time was the birthday of Soichi’s mother. About two months ago, she had called the apartment they were using as an office, and Kato had answered the phone. 

“Please tell him that I don’t need a gift, just to come see me on my birthday.” 

When he conveyed the message, the only son turned his gaze silently out the window. He knew he hadn’t been visiting the main house enough for his mother to become so desperate to see him that she called. 

On the birthday itself, he finally stopped by the main house he had been avoiding. He planned to leave quickly after giving his gift, but his mother didn’t let him go so easily after he showed his face for the first time in a while. 

She had various reasons to keep him there, like tasting delicious sweets or trying on a newly made yukata. At first, he stayed behind the boss, but eventually, he excused himself, thinking it was better for them to have some mother-son time. Soichi noticed this and gave him a resentful look as if to say, “Are you leaving me alone?” He simply responded with a “Please take your time.” 

“Soichi is not around…” Muttering, the leader looked at Kato. “...Just as well. Come with me.” 

Although Kato intended to go through the front door, he was told, “That’s fine from there,” and removed his shoes on the veranda, stepping up to the outer corridor. 

The glass windows facing the garden were traditional-style sashes and very bright, but they were also bulletproof. Even understanding the need to protect his life, living in a world where he needed bodyguards outside and had to stay inside a fortress at home gave him a sense of emptiness. It was inevitable for someone bearing the group’s emblem. 

In front of the office stood an old member of the gang and the leader’s bodyguard, Hanada. 

“Long time no see,” He bowed his head and glanced at Kato with bulging eyes, slightly nodding. Hanada, taciturn and unrefined but earnest, was a favorite of the boss. 

“We’re going to talk privately, so unless there’s an emergency, don’t let anyone in.” 

After dismissing everyone, the boss invited Kato into the office. In the center of the roughly 20 square meters room was a set of leather sofas, and beyond that, a heavy oak desk. On the front wall hung pictures of successive leaders of the group. It had been years since Kato last entered this room, but nothing had changed. 

“Well, have a seat.” 

Prompted, Kato stood in front of the sofa and said, “Excuse me.” Once the boss sat down, Kato also lowered himself into his seat. The boss immediately picked up a cigarette. Kato took out a lighter from his chest pocket, shielding it with his hand as he leaned forward to light the cigarette. 

“Hmm.” 

The boss took a deep drag on the lit cigarette and exhaled a puff of purple smoke. The air conditioner hummed softly. Despite calling Kato here to talk, the boss showed no signs of bringing up the topic. 

“How’s Soichi doing lately?” 

It was a vague question. 

“He’s doing well. The finances are in good shape.” 

“I’m not worried about the money.” 

The boss crushed his cigarette into the ashtray. 

“I can confirm the finances with those handling the accounts here.” 

When the boss seemed about to light a second cigarette, Kato made to rise again, but the boss stopped him with his right hand. 

“Sometimes I need to use my own fingers. Otherwise, they get dull.” 

He lit the cigarette himself with a finely engraved silver lighter. The smoke he exhaled drifted lazily towards the ceiling. 

“There are rumors about Soichi among the higher-ups.” 

It was easy to guess that the “rumors” referred to Soichi’s relationships with men. Kato had also heard whispers that “the Motohashi group leader’s son is like a bitch in heat.” 

Although Soichi chose his partners carefully and kept his identity hidden, with so many partners, cracks inevitably appeared. Small gaps grew larger, and rumors started to spread. Recently, Soichi had become so dependent on sex with men that he couldn’t sleep without it. Moreover, he quickly grew bored with the men provided for him, always wanting “the next one.” He often instructed multiple partners to play together, making them hard to manage. Finding safe men for the boss had become a real headache for Kato. 

Despite enjoying being played with by men, Soichi feared them. The memory of being gang-raped and nearly killed hadn’t faded, and he still hated being alone with strangers, always wanting Kato to witness the acts. His nightly depravity—eagerly sucking a man’s penis, ravenously taking in men, his seemingly pure tightness, and his heat-driven, cat-like cries for “more, more”—was something Kato didn’t want to see or know about, but had no choice. Light has its shadows. While generating immense wealth, in the dim rooms of the night, Soichi indulged in a carnal frenzy with men like maggots. 

“I need to know, was Soichi always like this?” 

He likely wanted to know if Soichi was gay. His sexual preference might have leaned towards men, but he controlled it with reason and pride. Even if his sex with women was of an abnormal kind, it balanced him as a person. The trigger that made him turn towards men was undoubtedly that incident. It caused his phobia of people and broke his relationship with his lover, leading him to the taste of men. 

“I can’t fathom Soichi’s state of mind…” 

At Kato’s evasive reply, the boss sighed heavily and slumped into the sofa. 

“There are many like that in our world. I wouldn’t complain if he did it quietly, but he’s a bit too much.” 

The boss must have heard quite a bit about Soichi’s debauchery. Soichi had avoided the main house and office for the past year, likely to dodge his father’s scolding about his flamboyant affairs. 

“Managing the affairs of those at the top, including their personal matters, is your job, isn’t it?” 

At the heavy reproach in his words, Kato could only bow and apologize. He should have been more thorough in screening Soichi’s partners before the rumors started. But the boss’s sexual appetite was insatiable, and he kept demanding more men who “would listen, keep secrets, and not harm him.” 

Soichi’s uncontrollable behavior stemmed from his viewing sex as a cleansing ritual. He would engage in exhaustive intercourse with men to expel his sexual desires, then face work the next morning with a calm, unruffled demeanor. Though it seemed distorted from the outside, this balanced him in a way. But the world didn’t revolve around Soichi. He needed to be mindful of others. This industry values dignity and prestige. The boss was pointing out Kato’s failure to maintain that. 

He had even considered sleeping with Soichi himself to avoid the hassle of arranging men, but dismissed the idea. Soichi was destined to lead the group one day. Knowing that Soichi had romantic feelings for him, Kato couldn’t let him become emotionally dependent. No matter how he indulged in the shadows, Soichi needed to stand strong on his own two feet. 

The boss’s silence felt like needles on his skin. Thinking of managing Soichi’s relationships more strictly than before weighed heavily on him. It would be easy if the men were mute livestock, but since they were human, it was a complicated affair. 

“I’ve thought a lot after getting some advice from an acquaintance. I’ve decided to have Soichi get a wife.” 

Kato jerked his head up. 

“His partner will be Ayami, the second daughter of the Sakai group’s leader.” 

Even hearing the name, no face came to mind. While he knew the leaders and executives of the affiliated groups, he hadn’t kept track of their children. 

“I thought it would be good to strengthen our ties with the Sakai group.” 

Standing up, the boss walked to the window. Considering Soichi’s age, marriage wasn’t surprising. However, realizing the timing amidst the rumors, it became clear that the boss intended to quell the rumors through marriage. 

“What does Soichi say about the marriage?” 

“I’m going to talk to him about it. I wanted you to know first. We’re already planning the initial meeting.” 

It was already a done deal. However, given Soichi’s current state, Kato couldn’t see the marriage or his sex life with a woman going smoothly. 

“You don’t look convinced,” the boss said, peering into Kato’s face. 

“Does the woman know about Soichi’s preferences?” 

The boss snorted. 

“Who knows? She’s not in a position to be picky either. She’s a returnee alcoholic who’s slept around with the group’s young men.” 

It felt odd that a group leader would offer his daughter to such a notorious man, but it seemed like they were eager to get rid of their troublesome daughter. 

“Men running to men is a sickness. Unfortunately, it’s not something that can be cured at a hospital. But you reap what you sow. Don’t you think, Kato?” 

The boss wanted his son to clean up his own mess. 

“Having a wife should calm the rumors a bit. And if they happen to have a child, all the better.” 

The boss fully understood the implications of Soichi’s behavior. Kato also realized that this marriage had nothing to do with Soichi’s happiness.

◇:*:◆:*:◇

Soichi leaned deeply into the back seat and sighed. He had been wary when invited to lunch after showing up in the morning. Despite arriving at an odd time around 1 PM, he had been held back by his mother and ended up staying for dinner at the main house. He could only leave after 8 PM.

Around evening, he had stepped out with his father for a while. He probably discussed the marriage arrangement then, but Soichi's expression in the rearview mirror remained unchanged from the way there. Being someone whose emotions show easily, it seemed he had accepted the matter straightforwardly, which was surprising.

He tilted his head, eyes closed. He seemed tired, and Kato wanted to get him back to the apartment quickly, but the roads were congested. Although this area was prone to traffic jams, this complete standstill was unusual.

Many young women in yukatas were walking around. There might be a festival somewhere today. Thinking it was bad timing, a low, dull sound echoed from the direction of Tokyo Bay. A round burst of fireworks lit up the sky, followed by the delayed boom.

“...Fireworks, huh,” Soichi muttered from the back seat.

“Yes, it seems so. I apologize for the car not moving,” Kato replied. He checked the GPS for a detour, but it would take time to get there. The car was moving so slowly that it felt like they could be overtaken by a turtle. Meanwhile, more fireworks bloomed and burst in the gaps between buildings.

There were also a fair number of men in yukatas on the sidewalk, but their collars were sloppy, and they were not dressed smartly. Earlier in the day, Soichi had reluctantly donned a new yukata tailored by his mother, wearing it neatly and stylishly.

“The yukata your mother tailored for you suited you well,” Kato commented. Soichi's sleepy eyes slowly opened.

“...My mother's hobby is troublesome.”

In the back seat on the left side was a box containing the yukata. Soichi had tried to leave it at the main house, saying, “If I want it, I'll send someone to pick it up.” However, his mother had insisted, “These things should be at hand when you want to wear them.”

“I'm tired. Book a hotel for me to rest,” Soichi ordered. A detour was visible, and if all went well, they could reach the apartment in about thirty minutes. But there was no guarantee the detour wouldn’t be congested either.

“Understood,” Kato responded. Due to past incidents, there weren't many hotels with bulletproof windows that Soichi, who was extremely afraid of external attacks, would stay at. However, there was a suitable hotel nearby.

Kato contacted the hotel and booked the usual VIP room, then informed the bodyguards in the following car that they would head to the hotel instead of the apartment. As they took a side road, the traffic flowed, and they reached the hotel's underground parking in about ten minutes. One of the bodyguards handled the check-in, and after he returned, they took the private elevator to the VIP floor.

Leaving Soichi outside with the bodyguards, Kato checked the room. Even though the stay was irregular and the likelihood of an ambush by rival gang members was virtually nonexistent, they took their usual precautions. After inspecting the bathroom, closet, and under the bed, Kato invited the boss in.

Soichi headed straight for the bedroom. He might lie down immediately. Kato considered arranging drinks but decided to wait and see. He hadn’t done anything strenuous, so it was probably mental fatigue. If he could sleep through the night, there would be no need to arrange a man as a sleep aid.

A dull thud sounded. Kato approached the window and looked out through a gap in the curtains. Being on a high floor, the fireworks and their sound were closer than from the car. He reflexively turned at the presence of someone. Soichi, in his yukata, was walking barefoot towards the window and sat on the sofa, crossing his legs.

The black yukata with waterfall-like stripes complemented his fair skin, enhancing his refined aura. His mother knew well what suited her son.

“Turn off the lights and open the curtains,” Soichi ordered.

“Are you sure?” Kato asked. They never opened the curtains at the apartment, fearing snipers.

“No gang would hire a sniper to target this room from outside now,” Soichi replied with a soft smile. He seemed genuinely intent on enjoying the fireworks. Perhaps he thought it was safer in the dark, but either way, Kato turned off the lights. The large VIP room was plunged into darkness, lit only by footlights. Slowly, Kato drew the curtains. The dazzling fireworks glittered in the night sky, and Soichi, propped on one elbow on the sofa, watched them with satisfaction.

“Shall I bring some drinks?” Kato offered.

“Dry sake,” Soichi ordered, still watching the fireworks. The room service menu didn’t include it, but the concierge quickly delivered chilled sake from Niigata and two glasses within ten minutes. Kato hadn’t specified the number of glasses, but they had thoughtfully included two. The young bellboy cheerfully offered, “Let me know if you need more glasses,” as he handed them to Kato outside the room.

Pouring the chilled sake into a glass, Kato handed it to Soichi. “You drink too,” Soichi ordered, gesturing with his chin.

“But I...” Kato began.

“It’s an order,” Soichi insisted. Kato rarely drank outside of meetings because he worried about being caught off guard. However, with bodyguards stationed outside the door and at the hotel entrance, the room itself was secure. Deciding it would be impolite to refuse strongly, Kato said, “Then, excuse me,” and poured himself a drink.

Kato sat on the armrest of the sofa opposite Soichi, sipping the sake while gazing out the window. The colorful summer fireworks burst spectacularly. It had been a long time since he had leisurely watched them. He recalled going out with a girlfriend who had begged him to take her, but that was over ten years ago.

With each bright burst of fireworks, Soichi’s pale outline softly illuminated. Now, his refined features and slender frame stood out, but in ten or twenty years, he would gain the presence and stature to lead the group, becoming an even more impressive figure.

Imagining Soichi’s future, Kato watched the fireworks. Their fleeting beauty, vanishing instantly, was poignant. Perhaps the predecessors who compared life to fireworks felt a sense of emptiness.

Just before nine o’clock, the sky lit up with a barrage of fireworks, making it as bright as day, only to return to the dark void moments later. The show had ended.

“Shall I turn on the lights?” Kato asked.

“No, it’s fine,” Soichi replied, shaking his head. He seemed to want to savor the aftermath of the fireworks. Kato noticed the empty glass on the table and quietly refilled it.

“Are you drinking?” Soichi asked.

“Yes,” Kato replied, gently swirling his half-full glass.

Soichi downed his drink like it was water. Usually, he savored a glass slowly, but tonight he was drinking faster. Worried about him drinking too much, Kato thought about the fact that their only remaining plan was for Soichi to sleep. He decided against scolding him, figuring it would be annoying.

“By the way,” Soichi began. Kato knew Soichi was looking at him but couldn’t see his expression in the dark.

“My father told me to go on an arranged marriage meeting.”

Kato wasn’t surprised.

“The partner is the Sakai group leader’s daughter,” Soichi continued, speaking in a detached manner. Kato couldn’t gauge Soichi’s feelings about the proposal. Was he accepting marriage for the sake of the group, or did he find the idea of marrying a woman bothersome?

“Did you already know about this?” Soichi’s tone suddenly became sharp. A lie would be immediately apparent.

“I heard it directly from the boss at the main house,” Kato admitted. Soichi laughed bitterly, pressing his right hand to his forehead.

“No wonder you didn’t react. What do you think about this arrangement?”

How had the boss broached the topic? He wouldn’t have said it was to quash rumors about Soichi’s affairs. Likely, he presented it as strengthening ties with the Sakai group. Regardless of the reasons given, it was unclear whether the arrangement would be beneficial or detrimental for Soichi. Soichi, addicted to sex with men, and the returning alcoholic woman, whose family might just be happy to be rid of her, were an unlikely pair.

Aware his answer wasn’t satisfactory, Kato hedged, “It’s up to you to decide, Mr. Soichi.”

“Do you think I should get married?” Soichi pressed his chest as he asked. Did he want Kato to say it was a bad idea?

“I can’t say anything definitively. Please consider the group and your future and decide for yourself,” Kato advised.

Soichi stood up, swaying slightly with the glass in hand.

“...The sake tastes bad,” he muttered, throwing the drink at Kato. The sensation of wetness and the strong smell of alcohol hit Kato’s head as the dry sake dripped from his face onto the carpet.

“I’m sorry,” Kato apologized, wiping his face with his hand.

“I’ll have a different brand prepared.”

“No need,” Soichi said, throwing the empty glass on the floor.

“I’m done with sake. Call a man.”

Soichi ordered in an emotionless voice, issuing the worst command possible.

◇:*:◆:*:◇

Even after wiping with a towel, the sticky feeling of the alcohol splashed on his head wouldn't go away, so he rinsed it off with water. Though soaked from the neck up, the stickiness and alcohol smell finally disappeared. As he wiped his dripping hair with a towel, he noticed a message from a subordinate on the smartphone placed in front of the mirror.

He roughly dried his hair, shoved the wet towel into the laundry basket, and headed for the door. After a light knock from the inside, the gang member outside called out through the door, “Your package has arrived.”

Kato checked the faces of the “packages” through the door scope and invited the two men into the room. 

“Hey there. It’s rare to get called to a hotel,” said Kuwata, a short-haired man with a friendly smile. At twenty-eight, he worked in construction and had a solid build. Although he had a wife and children, he was bisexual and treated this job as a hobby and part-time gig, making him easy to call on without complications. The other man, Ishizuchi, was a skinny, nervous-looking twenty-three-year-old motorcycle messenger who had some experience in gay videos as a side job.

Even when Kato brought them to the bedroom, Soichi, who had summoned them, remained lying on the bed reading a paperback without even turning around. The book he was reading was one Kato had been carrying around for days. Although it had been taken out of his bag without permission, it wasn't something to get angry about.

“Long time no see, Mr. Mizuhara,” Kuwata greeted Soichi with the alias Kato had prepared, approaching the bed cheerfully despite Soichi's sullen aura. The living dildos only knew their partner as “Mizuhara Makoto, the son of a company president.”

“Today, you're in a yukata,” Kuwata noted, climbing halfway onto the bed and gently stroking Soichi's side from his waist. The body in the yukata shivered slightly. 

“Did you go to see fireworks?” 

“...I watched them here,” Soichi finally closed the book but didn’t let go of it. Kato sat on the sofa at the foot of the two beds.

Ishizuchi approached Soichi from behind. Though unsociable and not chatty like Kuwata, he seemed interested in the yukata, hooking a finger in the collar and peeking at the nape of Soichi's neck. 

“Yukatas are kinda sexy,” Kuwata said, bringing his nose close to Soichi’s chest and sniffing. Ishizuchi, although skinny, had a solid build, making Soichi, sandwiched between the two, look small, like a rabbit caught by carnivores. 

“Shall I show you something indecent?” the rabbit murmured in a low voice. 

“Huh, what?” Kuwata raised his head. Lying down, Soichi bent one knee. The hem of his yukata fell open, revealing his exposed, pale genitals. His shaved pubic area looked extremely vivid. Someone, unsure who, gulped audibly, loud enough for Kato to hear from a distance.

“Where’d you leave your underwear?” Kuwata’s gaze was fixed there. 

“It’s proper etiquette not to wear anything under a yukata,” Soichi lied without batting an eye. In the Edo period (from 1603 to 1868), women might have done so, but no one nowadays would go without underwear under a yukata. However, Kuwata seemed to believe him, saying, “I see,” with narrowed eyes.

Soichi lightly shook his hips, provoking the men. His pale genitals swayed back and forth, searching for playmates. 

“You’re really indecent,” Kuwata said, grabbing the edge of the yukata and spreading it wider to expose more of Soichi's groin. Far from being embarrassed, Soichi, wearing the face of a bitch in heat, spread his bent knee wider in anticipation. 

“Ahh,” his slender body arched back dramatically. Ishizuchi, who had been covering him from behind, was gently biting his white nape. 

“It... hurts...” Soichi complained, but Ishizuchi ignored him, repeatedly biting and slipping a hand inside the overlapping layers of the yukata. Each time he fondled Soichi’s chest, the fabric of the yukata swelled significantly.

“You know,” Kuwata moved his body to Soichi’s waist area, “you’re really spoiled.” Kuwata pinched Soichi’s pale penis, stimulated by the nipple play, as if it were an object. 

“You always let others make you feel good without doing anything yourself,” Kuwata commented, bringing his face closer and sniffing Soichi’s penis like a dog. 

“It smells really musky here,” he murmured, licking the frail penis from base to tip with his thick tongue. 

“Ahh... hmm,” Soichi’s slender hips swayed back and forth. Kuwata supported the half-erect penis with two fingers and started a full-fledged caress, licking the shaft with his tongue as if savoring a candy, and catching the clear droplets oozing from the tip. 

“Ahh... ahh... good... good...” Kuwata managed to take the precum in stride, opening his mouth wide and engulfing the entire penis. Wet, slurping sounds echoed around them.

As Kuwata performed oral sex, he kneaded the soft scrotum. The testicles, handled between Kuwata’s fingers, flexibly changed shape like a soft-bodied animal. Soichi’s moans ceased as Ishizuchi grabbed his hair and kissed him. Though quiet, Ishizuchi’s actions were intense. After a kiss that left them both dripping with saliva, he thrust his fingers into Soichi’s moaning mouth, stirring it. Unable to swallow all the saliva, it foamed and spilled from the corners of Soichi’s mouth.

The hem of the yukata was rolled up, the top slipping off his shoulders, exposing pale pink nipples. Ishizuchi pinched the delicate nipples hard enough to turn them red. 

“You know,” Kuwata, his face buried in Soichi’s groin, turned to Kato, his lips still wet. 

“Do you have that thing?” Kato retrieved a strip of four condoms from the bag at his feet and placed them near Kuwata’s face. 

“Thanks,” Kuwata said, covering his index and middle fingers with a condom and spreading Soichi’s legs wider. He then licked the rim, which had taken countless penises and was now twitching in anticipation.

“Ahh... ah,” sweet moans escaped Soichi’s lips. Ishizuchi stopped kissing, biting Soichi’s white neck, while pinching both nipples. Soichi’s body eagerly accepted the pleasure given, his eyes red and teary, his mouth half-open, endlessly uttering obscene moans.

Even lost in sex, Soichi held the paperback in his right hand. Gripped tightly, the book was crumpled and wrinkled. 

“Ahh... no, no...” Soichi’s slender waist bucked wildly. It seemed like a penis had been inserted, but it was just a finger. Kuwata moved his finger broadly, persistently sucking Soichi’s erect penis.

“Ahh... hmm... ah,” Kato glanced at his watch. At this pace, it would take less than an hour to finish. When there was only one partner, it took longer, but with two, the pace was quicker. Despite his strong sexual desire, Soichi lacked stamina and would pass out after being brought to climax a few times. This tendency had become more pronounced since the increase in multi-partner sessions.

The sound of tearing plastic caught Kato’s attention. Kuwata was putting on a new condom. 

“Hey, I’m gonna do it now,” Kuwata called out, prompting Ishizuchi, who had been passionately caressing Soichi’s upper body, to look up. 

“I want to start with the back,” Kuwata requested. Ishizuchi released Soichi and flipped his already limp body onto its stomach. Kuwata pulled Soichi’s hips up, positioning him with his upper body down and hips raised. Grabbing his white buttocks roughly, Kuwata thrust himself into the narrow gap.

“Ah... ah...” 

Soichi moaned, his spine writhing side to side in agony. 

“Can you feel it inside you?” Kuwata asked. The bitch nodded vigorously. 

“How does it feel?” 

In a hoarse voice, Soichi answered, “It feels... good.” 

“You like being taken from behind, don’t you, Mr. Mizuhara? I’ll make you feel even better with my dick.” 

Without waiting for a response, Kuwata pulled out most of his penis and then thrust back in with a loud slap. 

“Aah!” 

Soichi’s back arched dramatically as he braced himself on his elbows. Kuwata continued to pound away, the slapping sounds of flesh-on-flesh echoing in the room, accompanied by Soichi’s “Ah!” and “Ha!” with each thrust. 

“More... more... fuck me harder,” Soichi begged in a sickly-sweet voice, like a rotten peach. 

“...Touch me in the front too.” 

Kuwata leaned over Soichi’s white back, rhythmically shaking his hips while stroking Soichi’s erect penis. 

“Ahh... ahh... good, good, it feels so... good,” Soichi moaned, his body trembling with pleasure. Ishizuchi grabbed Soichi’s hair and pulled it tightly. 

“Ow... it hurts...” 

Soichi’s face was forcibly lifted, and Ishizuchi’s erect member was right in front of him. Without needing to be told, Soichi opened his mouth wide and took it into his mouth. The sound of sucking could be heard, but it wasn’t enough for Ishizuchi, who began thrusting his hips forcefully.

Soichi’s throat made a gagging noise, “Ugh,” but Ishizuchi continued his rough thrusting. This was not an act of love, but a beastly collision of lusts. In the end, Soichi’s yukata was never fully removed; it was just hiked up from the bottom and pulled down from the top, turning into a mere waist wrap around his hips.

The sound of skin slapping, the wet friction of body fluids, heavy breathing, and kitten-like sweet moans filled the room.

...The vibrating smartphone buzzed. Kato didn’t want to answer the call while Soichi was occupied. It was from Hori, the man handling Soichi’s stock trading. With a background in securities, Hori was highly skilled, and Soichi had hired him at a high salary. He now managed the money from an apartment used as an office.

Wondering what Hori needed, Kato saw an email notification from him. Hori’s grandmother had passed away, and he needed permission from Soichi to take a day off for the funeral. Unable to reach Soichi, Hori had contacted Kato instead.

Kato glanced at the bed. At some point, the two men had switched positions, and Soichi was now in a seated position with Ishizuchi penetrating him from behind while aggressively stroking Soichi’s penis. Soichi’s mouth was busy sucking Kuwata’s meat stick as he stood in front of him, eyes closed, face buried in thick pubic hair, working his tongue diligently.

This was not the time to confirm a subordinate’s day off. Kato typed a quick reply, explaining that Soichi was currently occupied and that a response would come late tonight or early tomorrow. He added that Hori could take the day off and should prepare to leave.

The ugly beastly intercourse continued with the men switching positions repeatedly. Kato remembered the security upgrade for the apartment. The company representative was supposed to contact him today, but hadn’t. As he composed an email to follow up, something hit his right temple.

With a thud, a crumpled paperback fell at his feet. He looked at the bed to see Soichi, glaring at him with tear-filled eyes, his face dripping with semen. But this was only for a few seconds. Soichi was soon pinned in the missionary position by Kuwata while Ishizuchi straddled his face, forcing Soichi to take his penis.

As the relentless assault from the penises continued, Soichi’s limbs twitched like a dying frog. Lost in pleasure, he eventually passed out. The carnal feast finally ended. The living dildos had served their purpose. Kato signaled the two men to get dressed and leave the bedroom. After preparing the payment in the living room, he found Ishizuchi sitting on the sofa and Kuwata standing by the window, looking outside.

“This room is amazing,” Kuwata said, grinning like a child, as he ran over to Kato. 

“The son of a company president sure has money. It’s a luxury to hire two men at once.”

Without a word, he handed each of them their promised payment in cash. 

“Thanks a lot,” Kuwata said, folding the banknotes and stuffing them into the back pocket of his jeans. Ishizuchi carefully counted the bills before organizing them and putting them in his wallet.

“If that horny kid wants to do it again, make sure he asks for me,” Kuwata said with a cheerful laugh, showing no signs of fatigue from the sex. 

“He’s really horny and sensitive, right?” Kuwata sought agreement, but Ishizuchi bluntly cut him off. 

“He has no class,” he said. 

“His blowjobs are terrible too,” Ishizuchi added harshly. Kuwata shrugged, “That’s what makes him cute, though.”

“Honestly, working here is great. It’s like going to a soapland and getting paid to come back,” Kuwata laughed. Though the sentiment might be similar, it was hard not to smile wryly at comparing Soichi to a soapland girl.

After sending the two men off, Kato returned to the bedroom, where the pungent smell of sweat and semen hit his nose. Having been in the room all along, he hadn’t noticed it as much, but the remnants of their actions were severe.

Soichi’s body lay curled up on the bed, still in his yukata, now drenched in sweat and semen from the three of them. His penis, peeking out from between his legs, was red and swollen from the rough handling and sucking. His nipples, similarly over-stimulated, were visibly swollen—Soichi liked having them sucked and often begged for it.

Kato untied the sash to undress him and let him rest properly. The yukata, merely held in place by the sash, came off easily. 

“...Throw it away,” Soichi said, unexpectedly opening his eyes slightly. His gaze was directed at the yukata in Kato’s hands. 

“But this is from your mother...” Kato began. 

“Get that filthy thing out of my sight,” Soichi snarled in a raspy voice. With no other choice, Kato tossed it into the bathroom’s laundry box. The yukata, which had fit his slender frame perfectly, was now more disgusting than a doormat, stained with bodily fluids.

Since Soichi didn’t have the energy for a shower, Kato wiped his body clean with a warm towel and dressed him in the provided pajamas before laying him in the adjacent, clean bed. The lips that had been sucking eagerly on a man’s penis earlier were now quietly closed as if forgetting the recent debauchery.

It was difficult to ventilate the room, so Kato bundled up the semen and sweat stained sheets and also tossed them into the laundry basket. When he returned to the bedroom, Soichi was lightly snoring, his face peaceful. Glancing at his calm expression, Kato took the crumpled paperback, smartphone, and bag, and returned to the living room, lying down on the sofa. It was past 1 AM.

Though the paperback’s cover was half torn, it was still readable. However, before he could get through a few lines, a powerful drowsiness overcame him. He set the book on the table and closed his eyes.

…He woke to the sound of the door opening and closing. Sensing daylight through the curtain gap, he pulled the watch from the table. It was just past 8 AM. The sound of water suggested Soichi was taking a shower. Kato stretched to ease the stiffness from sleeping in a cramped space. He needed to check on Hori’s situation. Knocking on the bathroom door, he said, 

“Good morning. Sorry to interrupt your bath.” 

The shower stopped. 

“I need to confirm something urgently,” Kato continued. 

“Come in,” Soichi ordered. 

“No, it’s fine here. Yesterday, Hori contacted me…” 

“I already told him he could take the day off,” Soichi replied. Apparently, Hori, frustrated by the lack of response, had contacted Soichi directly. 

“I understand. Thank you,” Kato said, returning to the sofa.

Noticing the smartphone and paperback he had left on the table were missing, Kato turned on the room lights instead of opening the curtains, knowing Soichi disliked it. His smartphone lay on the floor by the wall, severely dented and with a cracked screen, as if something heavy had fallen on it. It was clearly broken and wouldn’t turn on. The paperback, torn to pieces, was in the trash.

The sliding door rattled as the culprit emerged from the bathroom. Soichi, in a bathrobe, dried his hair and slumped onto the sofa with a heavy sigh. 

“Order breakfast from room service,” he commanded, picking up the morning paper. Though he must have noticed Kato holding the broken smartphone, he said nothing. Replacing the phone and the book would be simple enough.

“Understood,” Kato replied curtly and picked up the phone to order breakfast.

◇:*:◆:*:◇

At the entrance to the high-end restaurant Tsukigakure on the outskirts of Ginza, Kato met the gaze of a young man in a suit who hurriedly bowed. Recognizing the face but unable to place it, Kato remembered it was the man who had confronted him at the main house when another gang member called him “Hachi.” The man and other gang members then went around to the back entrance of the restaurant.

When Kato found Soichi’s bodyguard and asked if everything was alright, he nodded, saying, “Yes.” The security was perfect, and the restaurant was reserved, so no outsiders could enter. About thirty gang members were on guard inside and outside the restaurant.

Kato stepped into the restaurant’s famous courtyard. The weather was pleasant with autumn sunshine, and blue-purple bellflowers bloomed at his feet. From his position, Kato had a good view of the best room in the restaurant, diagonally across from him.

Around the low table, from right to left, sat the leader of the Motohashi group, his wife, and Soichi. Opposite them were the leader of the Sakai group, his wife, and their second daughter, Ayami. Ayami, dressed in a purple kimono, was a beautiful woman.

Today was Soichi and Ayami’s arranged marriage meeting. Given Soichi’s decision to meet, the engagement was practically settled. Kato had been surprised to learn from one of the leader’s men that the arrangement was progressing, as he had expected Soichi to refuse.

Soichi had been told it was a lunch meeting with an acquaintance. He had assumed it was to entertain and recruit a promising trader, only to be surprised by the reserved and heavily guarded restaurant, with both the leader and his wife present.

When Soichi had asked Kato what he thought about the arranged marriage, Kato had replied that it wasn’t his place to decide. Since then, the topic hadn’t come up between them, leading Kato to believe the arrangement had been shelved. But Soichi had thought it over and made his decision alone. While Kato trusted Soichi’s judgment, he couldn’t fathom his thoughts.

Seeing Soichi smiling through the glass, Kato felt a twinge of unease but continued to watch from a distance, ready to support as needed.

Footnotes

0. Content warning: NSFW, r*pe mention.

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