"Good morning, Section Chief Fuyukawa!"
"Miss Hatano, looking stunning as always."
"Oh, stop it, Chief, you're teasing again."
Tetsu Fuyukawa strode into NTsoft's lobby, briefcase in hand, brimming with energy.
He'd worked until past 1 a.m. last night, but thanks to the system's boost to his stamina, he felt as fresh as ever. Still, after flashing a smile at the receptionist and stepping into the elevator, his expression turned serious.
This week had gone smoothly for him. All six actors were hired, the script for Surrounded by Beauties was finalized, and this afternoon was the first full-team meeting before shooting began. Everything was on track, and the vibe in his studio was great. But the company as a whole? Not so much.
Ever since Kazuma Studio announced they were making a Galgame to compete head-on with Hikari Studio, a gloomy atmosphere had settled over NTsoft.
At first, most employees treated it like a sideshow. But gradually, people started sensing something was off.
"An outsider dropped into Department Four, and now cozying up with Chairman Ozuru."
"This isn't as simple as it looks."
In the elevator, Fuyukawa's face was grim.
The clash between Kazuma Studio and Hikari Studio was initially seen as a rookie squabble. Galgames and interactive live-action movie games were low-budget projects, so even though the two studios were going toe-to-toe, it seemed more like a petty rivalry than a real threat.
But people had underestimated Miyami Miyano's ambition—and Chairman Ozuru's motives for bringing her to NTsoft and back to the front lines.
Chairman Ozuru was pushing for a company-wide overhaul.
Founded in 1894, NTsoft was a globally renowned gaming giant, but old didn't always mean strong—sometimes it meant stagnant. Over the years, NTsoft's six game development departments had developed an unspoken rule: once a department dominated a game genre, others stayed clear.
When Miyami Miyano founded Hikari Studio, she'd aimed to break into ARPGs (action role-playing games), a domain long controlled by Department Three. Despite Department Three's lackluster output in recent years, they refused to let go of the genre, leading to a heated clash between Miyano and their department head at a company meeting.
In the end, she didn't get the president's approval and had to pivot Hikari Studio to Galgames—a field no other department had claimed. That's when she promoted Fuyukawa.
And that's where the trouble started.
Sure, internal competition existed, but it was cushioned—everyone was part of the same team, so the pressure wasn't as intense as facing external rivals. Some department heads, to avoid big losses, stuck to rehashing old successes, tweaking just enough to call it new.
They might miss out on bonuses, but they could coast on steady salaries. After all, their department was the only one making that type of game, and with years of loyalty to the company, it was unlikely they'd be axed.
But Miyano was out to smash those unwritten rules.
This was great for talented employees stuck without upward mobility—better work meant bigger bonuses. But for those coasting on mediocrity, connections, or nepotism, the pressure was real.
The kicker? Miyano's bold personality. She'd openly declared at a company meeting that some departments could be scrapped entirely without issue.
"Cutting into others' turf—she's got support from capable people, but to really rally the troops, she needs results. Otherwise, it could end badly for her."
"Damn it, so the pressure's back on me, huh?"
Fuyukawa shook his head, exasperated.
Whether he liked it or not, Miyano had handpicked him. If she fell, he'd go down with her. Getting fired wouldn't ruin him, but…
"Ohayo, Tetsu-kun."
Sayoko was bent over, wiping down his desk in the office partition, her hips swaying.
"Ohayo."
Fuyukawa set his briefcase down, sank into his chair, and let his right hand glide over her soft, curvaceous figure—number 92, as he playfully called it.
At just under 5'5", Sayoko wasn't tall, but her body was soft in all the right ways—plush where it counted, with fingers sinking into her curves. Yet she was slim where it mattered: defined collarbones, a delicate face, and a waist that only carried a hint of softness at her belly, making her undeniably alluring.
Starting the morning with such a beauty eased Fuyukawa's tension. His hand lingered, savoring the warmth through her tight skirt.
"Mmm, Tetsu-kun, always causing trouble first thing in the morning," Sayoko murmured, letting out a soft whimper but not pulling away. She wiggled playfully, continuing to wipe the desk while teasing, "But not today, okay? It's the first day of shooting. Your first time leading a game project—you need to stay focused."
"Giving your boss lessons now?"
His fingers pressed a bit harder, sinking into her softness, earning another whimper. But he pulled back, leaning into his chair and staring at the ceiling.
If Miyano failed and he got sacked, it wouldn't derail his future too badly. But…
He couldn't look weak in front of his woman.
Glancing at Sayoko's beautiful profile, a smile tugged at his lips. With a swift move, he pulled her into his lap amidst her surprised yelp.
He held her tight, arms locking around her, as if melding her softness into him. Little Fuyukawa stirred, and Sayoko tensed briefly before relaxing, her eyes shimmering with warmth.
Three weeks together, and though Fuyukawa respected her boundaries—still not crossing that final line—she'd grown used to this closeness.
After a moment, noticing he wasn't pushing further, she shifted in his lap, lying on her side. Her hand reached up to smooth his furrowed brow, her voice tender. "Tetsu-kun… is the company stuff stressing you out?"
"Yeah, a bit."
He buried his face in her swan-like neck, inhaling deeply, then nodded. But when her delicate fingers started sliding downward, he caught them, grinning at her confused look. "Didn't you just say I need to focus?"
"Ugh, you jerk! I was just… worried about your stress!"
"Haha, you little vixen."
"Hmph, don't like it?"
"Love it, love it. But let's try something different today."
"Different? Wait, that's too—"
In her shy gaze, Fuyukawa stretched out his legs, lifted her gently, and set her in front of him, facing away, her back against his chest.
Feeling everything behind her and staring at the office window ahead, Sayoko's face flushed crimson. But slowly, she began to relax…
"…Jerk."