When you're deep in work, time slips away like it's on fast-forward.
As the distant sunset dipped into the sea, as Tokyo's neon signs blinked to life under the night sky, and as Tetsu Fuyukawa typed the final line of code for the day, he leaned back in his chair, stretching with a big yawn.
"Progress is solid. At this rate, I'll have the game framework done in no time."
Galgames are basically visual novels—gameplay's minimal, so the coding's relatively straightforward.
With things moving smoothly, Tetsu's mood lifted. He got up and walked over to Sayoko Kawachi, who was so focused she didn't even notice him behind her.
"When she's relaxed, her art's on a whole different level!"
Catching a faint whiff of her perfume, Tetsu leaned in to look at her computer screen, a spark of excitement in his eyes.
Sayoko was drawing Rin Tohsaka, the twin-tailed girl in a red outfit and thigh-high stockings. Compared to her earlier work, this Rin was alive. The glint in her eyes, the fluid lines of her body, the sway of her hair—all of it was leaps and bounds better than before.
It wasn't just a feeling; the system panel confirmed it.
[Name: Sayoko Kawachi]
[Age: 30]
[Measurements: 91, 63, 92]
[Skills: Near-Advanced Character Art (requires time to stabilize), Intermediate Scene Art Lv5, Advanced Cooking Lv1 (currently non-transferable)]
"She's touching the edge of advanced character art! The 'requires time to stabilize' bit probably means she's found her path but needs a bit to fully settle into it."
"Not too tough. But this style of hers… whew, she's got a naughty side."
Tetsu grinned, eyeing the Rin on the screen.
Every artist has a unique flair. Compared to the original, Sayoko's Rin was still slim and high-school-girl-esque, but her "snowy peaks" were fuller, and the edges of her thigh-highs hugged her legs with a subtle, fleshy curve.
"Overall, it's not too far off from the vibe of my past life's version, but it's got an extra dose of… spiciness."
"Not sure if that's good or bad."
A sexier character design could heighten user expectations, but not necessarily for the story—more for the steamy stuff. If the plot delivered on that front, great. If not, it'd lead to mismatched expectations, leaving players disappointed.
It's like a massage parlor advertising a 398-yen special with a kimono-clad beauty at the door, only for it to be a standard rubdown. No matter how skilled the massage, you'd leave feeling, "Damn, I got scammed."
"Looks like we'll need to weave in more 18+ content without messing up the overall vibe or pacing," Tetsu mused, rubbing his chin as he stared at the screen. His attention drifted to the lower half of the system panel.
[Name: Sayoko Kawachi]
[Relationship: Transitioning Phase]
[Transition Paths: Admiration → Affection (Normal); Admiration → Affection (S); Admiration → Affection (M)]
[Note 1: The relationship is currently in a transitioning phase. Your actions and her personality traits will soon determine its final direction.]
[Note 2: Relationships aren't set in stone. A meek lamb might wield a whip, and a high-and-mighty career woman might end up with a cowbell collar, but reversing a dynamic requires an intense emotional trigger.]
[Recent Status: A widow starved for affection, she's currently basking in emotional fulfillment, but certain psychological factors seem to be holding her back.]
Relationship transitioning… and those letters—do they mean what I think they mean?
Tetsu raised an eyebrow. Just then—
"Eek! Tetsu-kun, when did you get here?"
Sayoko spun her chair around, startled to see him.
She'd polished off most of a bottle of red wine by herself, her cheeks flushed with a drunken glow, her eyes slightly hazy. But it only made her look cuter.
Tetsu poked her cheek, chuckling. "Just a minute ago. This is some great work you've got here."
"Really?! You don't have to flatter me, Tetsu-kun…"
Thrilled, Sayoko clutched her hands to her chest, looking up at him. Her slightly dazed eyes, thanks to the wine, widened with excitement, though the joy quickly mixed with nervousness, shyness, and intense anticipation.
Even tipsy, once she stepped out of her story world, she reverted to that shy, mature woman.
Tetsu ruffled her hair, smiling. "I'm dead serious about work, so trust me—I'm not just saying this to make you feel good. You've really outdone yourself this time. You've completely surpassed the old Sayoko."
"R-really?!"
Her eyes widened again, sparkling. In the next moment, she threw her arms around his waist, her soft, wine-scented cheek pressing against him.
"…"
The position was a bit suggestive, and "Little Tetsu" took a hit, making Tetsu's lips twitch. But what happened next sent his heart racing even faster.
"Can Sayoko get a little reward, then?"
Looking down, he saw Sayoko, still clinging to his waist, lift her flushed, tipsy face. Her hazy eyes locked onto his, her lips parting slightly, exhaling warm breath.
"…"
Thump, thump—
The scene was too much. Tetsu's heart pounded, and without hesitation, he scooped up her curvy frame from the chair, pinning her against the door and kissing her fiercely.
"Too rough… Tetsu-kun," she murmured.
"Don't like it?"
"I… I like it."
Sayoko let out a soft whimper, her delicate fingers gently cradling his face.
The warm scent of wine filled the air as her long, pale legs slowly wrapped around his waist.
"Little Tetsu" was ready to argue back, and Sayoko's face flushed deeper, her head turning slightly. "At most…"
The summer night breeze drifted in, mingling with the sound of frying tempura from the Fuyukawa kitchen.
"Fried food at night isn't great, but… it's probably good for recharging, right?"
Wearing only an oversized white T-shirt, her plump, fair thighs slipped into clear slippers, Sayoko's cheeks reddened as she thought back to what just happened.
And then—"Smack!"
A sudden jolt made her gasp. Turning, she saw Tetsu had snuck up behind her.
"Sayoko-chan, this outfit of yours… it's got me really fired up."