Surrounded by Beauties was just a small-scale game with a budget of 100 million yen, but having only twelve people show up for auditions was still way too few.
With no other choice, even though it was almost lunchtime, Tetsu Fuyukawa called Kawaguchi and Nogi into the small office to assign tasks.
"Sayoko, could you order some takeout? I'll cover the cost later. Also, everyone's working through lunch today—try to get at least fifty people for this afternoon's auditions."
Tetsu Fuyukawa took a sip of his goji berry tea, rubbed his temples, and lit a cigarette.
Sayoko swayed her hips gracefully as she left to place the order, while Nogi and Kawaguchi sat stiffly on the sofa.
Maybe it was the grim look on his face, but both of them seemed nervous, sitting ramrod straight. Kawaguchi, in particular, was so tense he swallowed hard, his fingers typing on his laptop while his eyes kept darting toward Tetsu.
Noticing their unease, Tetsu gave a reassuring wave and a smile. "No need to be so on edge. The situation isn't dire—it's just a bit of a time crunch. Relax, you two."
"Yes, Team Leader!" they replied in unison.
"Thank you, Team Leader," Kawaguchi added.
They visibly relaxed a bit.
To be honest, Tetsu's expression was a little stern. "Looks like, given the circumstances, we'll have to bring in complete amateurs for the auditions." He stubbed out his cigarette and leaned back in his boss's chair.
The original audition pool was supposed to range from minor actors to amateurs, but these "amateurs" weren't entirely green—they were typically people with agents, the kind who had regular jobs but took on side gigs for extra cash.
These amateurs, while still novices, had at least some experience in the industry, which would make filming smoother. Plus, their agents would vet their backgrounds to avoid any scandals that could tank their debut after investing resources.
In simple terms, these amateurs were a safer bet. But now, there was no choice.
It wasn't that no one wanted to audition—the problem was the low turnout, which would seriously slow things down. And Tetsu had a bet riding on this with Minister Miyano!
If the auditions dragged on too long and missed the spring break release window, the sales would take a hit during the back-to-school season. And then…
"If you lose, you'll have to lick my feet."
The image of Miyano Mitei's cold, venomous beauty flashed in his mind, sending a shiver down Tetsu's spine.
He appreciated a delicate foot, sure, but he preferred to be in control, admiring from above—not groveling on the ground, licking or, worse, being stepped on.
A man's pride is worth its weight in gold!
Licking feet? Absolutely dame dame—no way!
With renewed determination, Tetsu dug into his lunch as Sayoko returned with bags of takeout. He typed furiously on his laptop between bites.
Yes, typing.
Pure amateurs weren't registered in the company's "Actress Contact List" software. To find them, he'd have to rely on personal connections and niche forums for recruitment.
Posting on forums was easy enough—anyone with fingers could do it—but connections were trickier.
Tetsu, a former programmer, didn't exactly have a wide network in this area. Still, his efforts paid off spectacularly.
For established actors, an unheard-of "interactive game movie" with modest pay and a grueling three-month shooting schedule that clashed with other gigs was a tough sell. Surrounded by Beauties was, at best, a backup option for them. But for complete amateurs who hadn't yet broken into the industry, this could be a life-changing opportunity!
As the saying goes, "The dry die of drought, the flooded drown in excess." The same applies to the job market.
The moment Tetsu posted the casting call, it created a tidal wave of responses!
NTsoft Game Company - Division 4 - Lightbird Studio Team Leader
A team leader from a major company personally recruiting? With Tetsu's verified profile picture, the amateurs who fit the criteria went wild!
MapleNono: Oniisan, I'm Mahiro Yukiyama from Kanagawa High School. I'm 18, 168 cm tall, measurements 88-64-87, with drama club experience. My specialty? I'm obedient and can meet any request! (Click to view photo)
Molly: Hello, Team Leader. I'm Molly Shiraishi, 33, divorced, 163 cm tall, measurements 89-66-88. I've done extra work at Toei Kyoto Studio Park. I hope you'll consider me! (Click to view photo)
Takizawa…
The post went live, and Tetsu's inbox was flooded with messages.
"Tokyo's culture and entertainment industries are so developed, yet these people still can't even find a steady agent. There's a reason for that," he muttered.
He clicked through the photos one by one.
To be fair, since he'd noted in the post that Surrounded by Beauties was an interactive romance game, the applicants were "thoughtful" enough to attach revealing photos. But the quality? Not great.
It wasn't just about looks or figures—most lacked the right vibe.
After scrolling through photos for a while—some of which got him a bit too excited—Tetsu shook his head and leaned back in his chair.
"Too much of a hostess vibe."
The key difference between Surrounded by Beauties and adult films was that this game wasn't just about physical attraction. It focused on emotional connection, giving players a deeper sense of fulfillment.
How many people fall in love with the heroine of an adult film? None. You just hit sage mode afterward. That's because love has a quasi-religious quality.
This quasi-religious nature has three distinct traits: blindness, martyrdom, and purity.
Blindness is easy to grasp. People in unrequited love know it's a bit foolish, yet they can't turn back, clinging to a sliver of hope.
Martyrdom is similar. When teachers or parents oppose young love, it only deepens the teenagers' feelings. The "trials" make their love feel grander.
Finally, purity. This doesn't mean virginity or the absence of physicality—love includes the physical but transcends it.
Love comes before lust.
Simply put, a man's unlikely to fall for a woman who cracks crude jokes at their first meeting. But he'll adore a partner who teases playfully after they're together.
And these women sending photos?
"Too much of a hostess vibe. But maybe they misunderstood the brief. Let's audition them and see."
After some thought, Tetsu leaned forward, carefully selected candidates, and handed the list to Sayoko to contact.
The lunch break flew by in this flurry of work. When the hallway outside the office grew noisy, Tetsu finally looked up from his computer, stretched, checked his watch, and slipped on his suit jacket. "Alright, everyone, let's go meet these women."
"Yes, Team Leader!" Kawaguchi replied, barely containing his excitement at the prospect of reviewing beauties.
"Yes~" Sayoko and Nogi exchanged awkward smiles, clutching their folders as they followed Tetsu downstairs.