A two-day, one-night hot spring trip—honestly, Tetsu had watched films like these in his past life. But his tastes leaned heavier; he always felt hot spring settings lacked intensity, missing that raw, hard-hitting vibe he preferred. So, after watching a few, he stopped paying much attention to the genre.
Still, as the saying goes, "to each their own." Some people love white stockings, others black, and some are into the slick, fishnet vibe—tastes and turn-ons are subjective. When planning the plot, Tetsu couldn't just cater to his own preferences. Market research showed that in Japan and China, plenty of younger audiences with lighter tastes enjoyed the two-day, one-night hot spring trope.
It had a broad audience but was costly to produce.
Mount Fuji, one of Japan's most iconic tourist spots, came with steep accommodation and dining expenses compared to Tokyo. With Surrounded by Beauties already budgeted at one billion yen, funds were tight.
No time for chit-chat—once the crew arrived, Tetsu led everyone straight to the filming location.
This morning's shoot focused on a scene where Haohao's mom confesses to the protagonist on a Mount Fuji cable car.
The scene wasn't overly complex, but a straight-up confession would feel too abrupt. So, before the cable car moment, they filmed a skiing scene at the resort.
"Cut! Tsukitaka, come here."
Winter, early morning sunlight.
At the Mount Fuji ski resort in December, light snow drifted from the sky, blanketing the surrounding peaks in white. Tourists in puffy jackets and ski boards zipped around.
In the crunching snow, under the curious gazes of passersby, Tetsu, script in hand, shouted to stop the scene.
"What's wrong?"
Tetsu's temper flared in work mode. His loud call made other crew members, like the three idol group actresses, visibly nervous. But Tsukitaka Asuka, unfazed as always, calmly approached him.
The scene drew plenty of onlookers.
No surprise there—Tsukitaka Asuka looked stunning today. A pink knit cap sat on her head, and her 1.76-meter frame was wrapped in a cute deer-patterned jacket. Tight jeans hugged her peachy hips, and playful leather boots adorned her long, shapely legs.
Add to that her German-Japanese mixed features—pure yet alluring. She was the definition of it.
But Tetsu just brushed the snow off his black coat and pointed at the script. "You went too hard just now! I get you're aiming for a sweet vibe, but it's too sweet. Remember what I said when you joined the crew? Authenticity—authenticity comes first!
You're not with the protagonist yet, so besides sweetness, you need more shyness, more nervousness about the confession you're about to make. But that's not the key. The key is to be natural. Don't overthink your expressions. Just put yourself in the character's shoes and let it flow naturally."
Authenticity, to Tetsu, was the heart of Surrounded by Beauties.
It was like the difference between Japanese adult films and domestic ones.
Domestic films often lacked fancy lighting or perfect camera angles—sometimes they were even shot on phones. So why did some fans prefer them?
Authenticity!
Every frown, every smile was a genuine emotional expression. The more real it felt, the stronger the audience's immersion.
The original Surrounded by Beauties had polarized reviews. Beyond the bandwagon critics who hadn't even played it, the main issue was that the plot and visuals felt too artificial.
Heavy filters and obvious acting made it hard for some players to connect. Whether tweaking the script or changing filming methods, Tetsu was determined to fix that flaw.
After hearing him out, Tsukitaka Asuka thought for a moment, meeting his eyes. "Got it. Let's try again."
"Good. Relax and go with the feeling."
Tetsu nodded, waving the script and hoisting the camera onto his shoulder. "Everyone, get ready—we're reshooting this scene!"
Yes, he was doubling as the cameraman.
No choice—his height was the only match.
---
Filming flew by, and in no time, it was noon.
"Great work, everyone. Morning shoot's done. Two-hour lunch break—don't be late this afternoon."
"Thanks, boss!"
In the snowy ski resort, Tetsu gave a slight bow to the crew. As the staff and actors like Tsuk Taka Asuka left, he pulled a thermos from his coat pocket, warming his hands and exhaling white puffs of breath.
Mount Fuji was gorgeous, and the morning's footage looked great, but the near-minus-twenty-degree cold was brutal for someone who'd grown up in the south. Just then, a pair of delicate hands in pink fingerless gloves wrapped around his, holding the thermos.
"Tetsu-kun, you're really bad with the cold. Guess we'll have to warm you up later," Sayoko teased, her rosy cheeks glowing under her puffy jacket, her big, watery eyes twinkling.
No denying it—Sayoko was stunning. Not just her beautiful features or curvy figure, but her smooth, fair skin gave her an adorable, pristine charm amidst the snowy resort.
Tetsu smirked. "Whether I need warming up, don't you already know?"
Sayoko's gaze drifted downward, her voice playful. "Hmph, I've heard there's only exhausted oxen, not ruined fields. Besides, in this cold, I bet it's already shrunk to a tiny ball."
"You little—getting bolder by the day! Come here!"
At thirty, Sayoko had grown more comfortable with him as their relationship deepened. Alone together, she was far less shy than at the start.
Tetsu liked this vibe. Feigning annoyance, he glared and tugged at her soft, mochi-like cheeks.
"Ow, ow, ow! Stop it, I just put on moisturizer! Fine, I'm pinching you back!"
Sayoko pouted, hooking her arms around his neck. As they playfully tussled, a sharp voice cut through.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't our eternal spinster, Sayoko-chan! Tsk, tsk, long time no see—looks like you've snagged a golden catch."
The voice was shrill. Tetsu turned to see two stylish, mature women on ski boards behind them.
Trouble?
Tetsu frowned slightly. But then, Sayoko's eyes widened with delight. "Ame-san, Keiko-san, what are you doing here?!" She rushed over, enveloping both women in a hug.
"Pfft, what do you mean 'what are we doing here'? Like only Tokyoites belong here? What, you looking down on us Haruibe country bumpkins?" Ame, the green-haired, fashionable woman, scoffed, though her body didn't resist Sayoko's embrace. As Sayoko hugged her, Ame's gaze, hidden behind sunglasses, scanned Tetsu. After a moment, she turned to Sayoko. "So, is this your boyfriend? Not gonna introduce us?"