Kyoto has its share of talented performers.
But Sayoko Kawai clearly wasn't one of them. Her technique was pretty raw, though the thrill of pinning her down in the kitchen overshadowed any lack of finesse.
A while later…
"That girl's got a nice singing voice. Ugh—Tetsu-kun, stop teasing, I just got out of the shower!"
"You're so sensitive. Come on, open up—'ahh'~"
Outside, the moon hung high, casting dim light into the living room where a comedy show played on the TV. The soft glow illuminated the plush sofa behind the coffee table.
Tetsu slid his hand from her shoulder, pulling Sayoko close as they lounged on the sofa. With his other hand, he picked up a piece of fried tempura. Nestled in his arms, Sayoko's cheeks flushed as she took a bite, then rested her face against his chest, chewing like a soft mochi. "Mmm, it's a bit overcooked. Hmph, it's all your fault, Tetsu-kun."
"Blame me for taking too long? Your skills still need some work, you know," Tetsu teased, chewing on a piece of sushi with a playful glint in his eyes.
His bold words made Sayoko blush harder. She shyly turned her gaze to the TV, pinching his waist lightly. "I've never done this stuff before, okay? Plus, yours is… super…"
"Super what?"
"Super big!"
"Haha, hearing that from shy little Sayoko feels kinda out of character."
"Then you don't like—mmph!"
After a long moment, their lips parted. Sayoko's face was as red as if she'd been drinking, her glossy lips pouting as she lightly smacked Tetsu's chest. "You jerk, you never let me finish talking. So domineering!"
"Don't like it?" Tetsu raised an eyebrow, grinning.
Sayoko puffed out her cheeks, letting out a soft humph without answering, but she leaned in and planted a gentle kiss on his side.
It was an intimate gesture, but having already "settled things" twice, Tetsu wasn't exactly burning with desire. His left hand brushed her soft cheek in response, and they settled quietly on the sofa, watching TV.
The room, not too empty, was filled only with the sound of the TV and their heartbeats. It was cozy, and both were content. Then, the phone on the coffee table lit up.
"It's a message from Sunflower," Sayoko said, grabbing her phone. She propped herself up, the thin air-conditioned blanket slipping off her smooth shoulder. "She says her performance is over and is asking when I'll be home."
Sunflower Izumi's parents were migrant workers in Tokyo, with no home here and their ancestral house back home passed to the eldest son. After a car accident left her without family, Sunflower moved in with relatives. Despite compensation and social subsidies, living under someone else's roof wasn't easy. She didn't get along with her relatives and often stayed at Sayoko's place, like now.
Hearing this, Tetsu glanced at the time. "It's past 11. I'll drive you."
"No need! I'll call a—hey, don't just toss that around!"
Before she could finish, Tetsu was already getting dressed, chuckling as he flung her panties at her face.
Panties to the face.
Flustered, Sayoko grabbed them, but her annoyance melted as she looked at Tetsu's toned back muscles under his black T-shirt. Her eyes softened with affection as she hugged his waist. "Really, no need. Plus, you had some wine this afternoon. If the cops catch you, it'll be trouble."
True, he'd had a glass of red wine earlier. Tetsu patted her hip. "Alright, be safe tonight."
"Got it!"
Sayoko leaned up for a quick peck on his lips, then grabbed the blanket to get dressed.
Under the TV's glow, her curvy figure was a sight. Naturally, a bit more playful interaction followed. It wasn't until midnight that Sayoko, now dressed, left Tetsu's place. After another quick shower, Tetsu settled back on the sofa, watching TV as he drifted off to sleep.
Once certain floodgates open, it's hard to stop the deluge.
The next day, a light rain fell.
At 8 a.m., Sayoko, her skirt slightly damp, had barely stepped inside when Tetsu pinned her against the entryway, her soft murmurs filling the air.
Outside, the rain pattered fast and slow, drumming on banana leaves.
After a flurry of activity, a blushing Sayoko obediently went to make breakfast. A satisfied Tetsu sat in the living room, reviewing scripts—not for Fate, but for I'm Surrounded by Beautiful Women.
With Sayoko's improving art skills, Fate was on track, needing less oversight. But I'm Surrounded by Beautiful Women was set to start production tomorrow. Honestly, its script wasn't deep—mostly romantic daily life, not much to analyze. The issue was, it wasn't strictly a game. Ninety percent of the work was filming-related.
Tetsu had planned for this. The proposal included it, and the company had already contacted studios. His role was to oversee the big picture, guide the story, and—most crucially—audition actresses.
Casting was the toughest part. Good actresses weren't cheap, and cheap ones weren't good. Many with even a bit of experience looked down on projects like this.
It was a headache.
Staring at the tablet's screen full of beautiful faces, Tetsu looked like he was judging a beauty pageant, but he was actually stressing out.
The whole day, aside from guiding Sayoko on character illustrations, discussing plot details, and sharing his expertise, he poured his energy into casting.
Time flies when you're working hard.
In a blink, it was Monday morning.
"Hiss—"
Outside, birds chirped. Inside, another kind of "bird" was making noise.
Tetsu woke from his sleep, groggy. Looking down, he saw the blanket bulging, a strange, sticky sensation washing over him. His limbs tensed, toes curling, until a slight tremble gave way to full relaxation.
"Good morning, Tetsu-kun."
Wearing only panties, Sayoko lifted the blanket, licking her lips. Her glossy eyes met his as she leaned in for a kiss.
Tetsu chuckled, pinching her lips. "You little minx, go rinse your mouth."
"Hmph, you're so mean!" Sayoko pouted playfully but soon giggled shyly. She slinked to the trash can to spit, then said, "I'll go make breakfast. The bathwater's ready—oh, wait, we're short on time!"
Before she could head downstairs, Tetsu wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her with a flex of his core. "It's only 7. Plenty of time for a bath together."
"Such a naughty guy," she teased.
"Hm?"
"…Mmm~"