Honestly, working at a big company like NTsoft gave Tetsu Fuyukawa a lot of advantages.
Take the high salary, for instance—something you'd usually only see for top execs at smaller firms. Then there's the social status. Someone like Ms. Shiraishi, who'd normally have guys lining up to chase her, had to play nice with him just because he was Tetsu Fuyukawa.
The perks were great, but the pressure was no joke.
From the moment he got to the office today, Tetsu hadn't had a second to breathe. He was either picking actors or tweaking scripts, his mind constantly on edge. But finally, with a firm press of his hands, he let out a long sigh.
"Phew—Tetsu-kun, you're always so intense," came a playful voice.
A while later, at the vegetable market.
"Geoduck sashimi? This one's got a milder flavor," Sayoko said, her voice light.
In the seafood section, Sayoko, wearing a sultry camisole dress that turned every guy's head, clung to Tetsu's arm. She leaned down to inspect a geoduck wriggling in the tank, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
"It's your fault for being such a clingy little minx," Tetsu teased, scratching the tip of his nose with a sheepish grin.
Once some things got started, there was no stopping them. He and Sayoko hadn't gone all the way yet, but these past couple of days, any free moment had them all over each other. It was honestly a bit overwhelming.
"Pfft, that's why you need to recharge," Sayoko said, her ears turning red as she tightened her grip on his arm.
Her camisole dress was a breezy, long number, and her full figure was practically spilling out, drawing envious stares from nearby guys.
Ignoring the onlookers, Tetsu kept his hands in his pockets. "Alright, fine. But geoduck… can you cook it? I'm not big on sashimi."
He wasn't picky—he'd eat anything from French cuisine to Korean or Japanese dishes. But if he had to choose, he preferred bold, stir-fried flavors.
"Your taste is surprisingly heavy, Tetsu-kun," Sayoko said with a giggle. "I'll give it a shot using an online recipe. Boss, I'll take this one. Oh, and this flower crab, this lobster, and… that one. No need to clean them."
As the saying goes, you eat what's near you—mountains if you're by mountains, seafood if you're by the sea. In Japan, red meat, vegetables, and fruits could be pricey, but seafood was a steal.
Sayoko stood on her tiptoes, carefully picking out the most "nourishing" items. The fishmonger lady kept shooting Tetsu suggestive smirks, making him roll his eyes. Just then, Sayoko's handbag started ringing.
"Huh? A call from Teacher Aoi?" Sayoko blinked, answering the phone. "Hello, Teacher Tsukitake, this is Kawachi. Yes… wait, what? She's been drinking?! Okay, okay, I'll head over now."
As Sayoko nodded and hummed into the phone, Tetsu took the bag from the fishmonger lady and grabbed some vegetables with Sayoko in tow. She hung up just as they finished.
"What's up?" Tetsu asked, handing a tomato to the stall owner.
Sayoko slipped her phone back into her bag, took the grocery bag, and pouted. "That little troublemaker Aoi went and got drunk with some friends. The training institute doesn't feel safe letting her go home alone. Tetsu-kun, could we swing by to pick her up first?"
"She's just a kid—drinking already? And the shop sold to her?" Tetsu raised an eyebrow.
Japanese laws were quirky. You could get married at 18, but drinking and smoking were off-limits until 20. If a shop got caught selling alcohol or cigarettes to a minor, they could face a fine of up to 500,000 yen.
"Apparently, it was a friend's birthday, and they snuck some whiskey from an adult," Sayoko said, tightening her grip on Tetsu's arm as they headed toward the exit, worry in her eyes. "Ugh, the older she gets, the more trouble she is."
Tetsu chuckled. "Kids are like that. The more you tell them no, the more curious they get. Don't stress too much—she's already earning enough to pay for her own classes at the institute, right?"
"I know, I know, but I can't help worrying," Sayoko sighed. "What if she runs into a big bad wolf like you, Tetsu-kun? Hey, there are people around!"
Before she could finish her teasing, Tetsu gave her curvy backside a playful pat.
Sayoko, just stepping into the parking lot, froze for a second but didn't pull away from his wandering hand. She glanced around nervously, only relaxing when she saw just two old guys squatting and smoking by the market entrance. Blushing, she pinched Tetsu's arm.
Her body tensed, her toes lifting in her crystal sandals. Tetsu let go of her, sliding his arm around her soft waist instead, grinning. "Teasing your boss? That's not what a good subordinate does."
His warm breath tickled her ear, and Sayoko's eyes fluttered. She turned, ready to steal a kiss, but Tetsu had already slipped into the car.
"Tetsu-kun!" she huffed, her face beet red, realizing she'd been played. With a cute wrinkle of her nose and a stomp of her foot, she obediently opened the trunk and loaded the groceries.
Catching her curvy figure in the rearview mirror, Tetsu lit a cigarette, his eyes sparkling with amusement and relaxation. Five times in two days—honestly, he wasn't exactly burning with desire right now. But teasing this shy, adorable woman? That was always fun.
When Sayoko climbed into the passenger seat, her cheeks still flushed, Tetsu couldn't hold back a laugh.
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Taito Ward, Tokyo University of the Arts
As night fell, the area around the university's entrance was buzzing. Scantily clad female students lounged in milk tea shops, while guys with basketballs headed to the courts.
As one of the prestigious "Tokyo Six Arts Universities," Tokyo University of the Arts had a row of shops across from its gates—think quiet bars, beer joints, and music stores. Fashionable seniors over 20 called up friends, ready to dive into the nightlife.
On the neon-lit street, a black Volkswagen pulled up in front of Takenouchi Music Shop.
"This is the place? No wonder she got plastered," Tetsu remarked, glancing at the flashy students outside with a nostalgic smile.
He didn't mind college kids drinking or hitting bars. In fact, he missed those high school and college days from his past life, knocking back drinks with friends. Once you're in the working world, that pure, carefree vibe is hard to recapture.
"It's up there. Are you waiting in the car, Tetsu-kun?" Sayoko asked, her cheeks still faintly pink as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
Tetsu unbuckled his own and grabbed the car keys. "That kid's drunk—you probably can't handle her alone. Plus, I need to hit the restroom anyway."
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