"Good morning, Section Chief Fuyukawa!"
"Hey, Ms. Hatayama, you're full of energy today, huh?"
At 8:35 a.m., dressed in a sharp black suit, Tetsu Fuyukawa strides into the NTsoft company lobby with Sayoko by his side, greeted by the cheerful voice of the receptionist.
NTsoft's workday starts with clock-in at 9:00 a.m., so aside from the receptionist, the lobby is nearly empty of employees.
"Should've soaked in the bath a bit longer," Tetsu muses.
As they step into the elevator, Tetsu slips his hands into his pockets and flashes a playful grin.
Sayoko, holding her briefcase in front of her, moves closer to him, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Bathing too long in the morning isn't good for you! And anyway... it wasn't just soaking. You were teasing me!"
"Teasing? Was I now?"
Tetsu pulls his left hand from his pocket and places it on Sayoko's hip-hugging skirt.
"Eek!"
The bold move, right there in the company elevator, makes Sayoko's eyes widen like autumn pools, her body tensing as she nervously glances at the security camera. Yet, she doesn't pull away.
Feeling his exploring touch, her face grows redder, and she shifts her hips slightly, her voice barely a whisper. "Tetsu-kun... we're at the company..."
"You don't like it?"
"..."
No answer, but Tetsu can feel her subtly leaning back, brushing against his hand.
The air grows thick with tension, his fingers pressing a bit harder. Just then, the elevator dings, arriving at their floor.
Like a startled deer, Sayoko scurries out with quick "tap-tap-tap" steps, shooting Tetsu a flustered glare. But when he raises his left hand, her face turns as red as a ripe peach.
Once they reach the office floor, Tetsu reins in his playful mood. He ruffles Sayoko's hair gently. "Alright, let's get to work."
"Mm."
As expected, when they arrive at the office, Mrs. Nogi and that guy Kawaguchi are already at their posts.
"Morning, Team Leader!"
"Good morning, Team Leader Fuyukawa!"
Mrs. Nogi and Kawaguchi greet him with enthusiasm. Both are older, and normally, their passion for work might have faded with time. But today, their faces brim with excitement.
It's the first official day of work for the studio!
The success of their game, Surrounded by Beauties, could make or break their careers moving forward.
Tetsu senses their drive. After hanging his suit jacket in his cubicle, he pulls a few documents from his briefcase and steps out.
"Sayoko, contact the agents of these actors. First, confirm who can come for interviews this afternoon, then schedule the rest."
"Got it, I'll handle it now."
"Good."
Handing her a file with actor profiles marked, Tetsu turns to Mrs. Nogi. "Nogi, take these documents to Minister Miyano for approval, then request an available office from the general affairs department. We'll need it for this afternoon's interviews."
"Right away!"
Mrs. Nogi, mid-sip of water, sets her cup down and takes the papers. Instead of rushing off to the minister's office, she flips through the documents first.
Tetsu notices and a glint of approval flickers in his eyes.
Mrs. Nogi used to work in the general affairs department.
General affairs handles what Japanese companies call "miscellaneous tasks," but don't underestimate them. From arranging cleaners' schedules to managing meeting room bookings and even coordinating executive transportation, it's a department that deals heavily with people.
Though Mrs. Nogi may not have strong technical skills, her twenty years in general affairs have made her seasoned and meticulous—a steady hand.
Her role diminished as office software streamlined processes, reducing the need for manpower. That's how she ended up at Hikari Bird Studio, facing potential layoffs.
Tetsu doesn't linger on the thought. He hands the final document to the portly Kawaguchi. "Take this budget plan to Minister Miyano for approval, then get it stamped by the finance department. I need the funds approved by the executive board by tomorrow."
NTsoft is a large gaming company with many departments. While Tetsu has full control over Hikari Bird Studio's internal affairs, finances are another matter.
The process starts with project approval, where the total budget is set with the minister. The minister then negotiates with upper management, but funds aren't disbursed all at once—they come weekly.
Typically, a budget plan for the next week is submitted by Thursday, entering the company's approval software. It's reviewed first by Tetsu as team leader, then by Minister Miyano. Once the department approves, it moves to the finance department.
There, it undergoes initial review by a staff member and final approval by the finance minister before reaching upper management's system.
Finally, the funds hit Hikari Bird Studio's account only after approval from the executive director, managing director, and president.
It's a tedious process, but for most projects, unless the budget is unusually large, the minister and finance minister's signatures are enough. Upper management usually rubber-stamps it, sometimes delegating smaller project approvals to their secretaries.
With Minister Miyano already on board, the speed of the funds' release depends on the finance department's efficiency—and navigating that involves some finesse. After all, even with software, it's still people running the show.
Getting the finance department on their side is a job that tests social skills!
Tetsu knows this, and so does Kawaguchi. He stands with a loud clunk. "I'll get it done, Team Leader!"
"Good. If you run into any stubborn clerks, let me know. You're part of Hikari Bird now."
Dressed in a crisp white shirt, Tetsu's brows furrow slightly, his aura commanding and serious. Kawaguchi instinctively snaps to attention with a sharp "Yes, Team Leader!"
"Alright, get to it."
With that, Tetsu turns the knob of his cubicle door, leaving the three with just his back.
"Phew—when the Team Leader switches to work mode, his presence is intense," Kawaguchi exhales, glancing at the clock. Five minutes until work starts. He takes a sip of water.
Mrs. Nogi nods. "Yeah, he seems so approachable usually, but... wow. No wonder the company promoted him so quickly. That guy's going places."
"Seriously," Kawaguchi agrees. "Handsome, capable, and that aura? I've got to learn from him."
"Exactly. Oh, Kawaguchi, I've got a decent connection with Nanako in finance. She's new, but if you hit a snag, try talking to her first."
"Sugei! Thanks a ton!"
"No problem. If the project succeeds, it's good for both of us. Oh, and let me tell you about that one guy in finance..."
As Kawaguchi and Mrs. Nogi chat, Sayoko's gaze drifts to Tetsu behind the blinds, a proud and admiring smile tugging at her lips.
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