Let's be real, while gaming and anime conventions are packed with all sorts of performance art, a tall, handsome guy like Fuyukawa Tetsu carrying a pure and beautiful gothic lolita through the crowd still turns heads like nobody's business.
"Has Sasa been kidnapped?! What kind of plot twist is this?!"
"That guy's so hot! Is he just gonna whisk her off to a hotel or what?! So exciting just thinking about it!"
"Isn't the height difference a bit too much? It's like a lion and a little lamb!"
"Hey, ask her if she wants to join for some fun!"
"Hold up, doesn't this Sasa cosplayer look kinda familiar?"
The crowd buzzed with chatter, and some girls even ran up to ask for Tetsu's contact info, hoping for a group adventure. Naturally, he ignored them, but his cool, aloof vibe only made the young fangirls even more obsessed. If security hadn't stepped in, he probably wouldn't have escaped the mob.
"Ugh, I knew I shouldn't have come to a place like this," Tetsu muttered. "Hey, you little klutz who busted your skirt's zipper, where's the changing room?"
The convention center was massive, and after wandering for ages without finding the changing room, Tetsu stopped at a less crowded corner. With his right arm wrapped around the middle of Izumi Himawari's thighs, he hoisted her over his shoulder, glancing around in mild frustration.
Himawari's innocent little face twisted into a pout as she tossed her head. "You just hit me, and now you expect me to help you? No way!"
Before she could finish, a sharp smack landed on her heart-shaped behind—this time, with no coat to cushion the blow!
Just a thin layer of cute bear-patterned cotton!
?!
Himawari's eyes widened in shock, her legs—clad in black stockings—going rigid as her delicate, pale toes curled tight.
Noticing the shift on his shoulder, a sly grin crept across Tetsu's face. He grabbed the bear-patterned fabric and gave it a firm squeeze. "Still wanna test me? Seems like Sayoko's been spoiling you a bit too much."
"Hiss—"
The force wasn't gentle, and her little peach was practically squished out of shape.
Himawari panicked completely. In that moment, her mind inexplicably flashed back to last night, when she'd seen Sayoko in the car on the balcony, getting her own peach smacked.
Even Sayoko listens to him…
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Her heart raced, but her body gradually softened. "Kui… knows she messed up, okay?"
"That's more like it."
"This jerk…"
Himawari's face flushed bright red, her cheeks buried in Tetsu's shoulder. The +300, -200, +300 emotional values practically floating above her head betrayed her anything-but-calm state of mind. Luckily, at that moment, a row of simple changing rooms—wooden frames draped with curtains—came into view. Countless guys and girls in cosplay outfits were going in and out.
"A huge gaming expo, and the changing rooms are this basic?" Tetsu grumbled.
Muttering complaints, Tetsu crouched down, carefully setting Himawari—still wrapped in his coat—onto the ground. He brushed off the spot on his waist where her little boots had left some dirt. "I'll be waiting over in the smoking area. If anything happens, just shout."
He pointed to a nearby windowed hallway and gave her a quick heads-up. No way around it—conventions like these were full of innocent kids, but also creeps. In his past life, he'd seen plenty of "convention upskirt" or "changing room" scandals. With flimsy setups like these curtained booths, it was way too easy for someone to sneak a photo or "accidentally" wander into the wrong room.
"Got it, Kui understands," Himawari replied softly.
Feeling cared for warmed her heart, but the lingering sting on her peach kept her blushing. She lowered her head, nodding shyly.
"Phew, didn't expect that flat-chested girl to have such a surprisingly perky peach," Tetsu mused.
As he watched Kui head into the changing room, Tetsu strolled over to the smoking area. He glanced at a few yellow-haired guys squatting in a corner, laughing and puffing away. Leaning against the window, he lit a cigarette and gazed out at the distant sky.
Honestly, he hadn't expected today to turn out like this. He'd just wanted to take Sayoko out to unwind a bit. Work had been intense lately, and he was exhausted. Plus, Surrounded by Beauties was almost ready to launch after some final polishing.
The pressure was real, and he'd just wanted a breather. But…
"The stress relief was definitely effective," he thought.
Recalling Himawari's reactions, Tetsu exhaled a cloud of smoke, a hint of amusement in his eyes. Just then, a cool, familiar voice cut through.
"What are you doing here?"
"?"
The voice came from behind. Tetsu, leaning on the windowsill, turned to look. His brow arched slightly. "Me? You're the one who's out of place here."
In his puzzled gaze stood Miyano Mitei, someone he hadn't seen in a while. Her eyes held a flicker of surprise, but she still looked at him with her usual icy demeanor.
It was a day off, so Miyano wasn't in her usual sharp minister's uniform and killer heels. Instead, she wore a sophisticated light gray coat over a high-neck sweater that hugged her impressive figure. Her curvy yet slender legs were clad in loose, playful suit pants, paired with black high-top Martin boots. Compared to her NTsoft look, this outfit was more chic and relaxed. Her usually pinned-up wavy hair was down, softening her sharp, black-rose-like allure into something more like an elegant, slightly aloof noblewoman.
Clothes can change a person's vibe, but only until they open their mouth.
"As NTsoft's minister, I was invited to this gaming expo. What's so strange about that?" Miyano shot back, not missing a beat.
Under the envious stares of the yellow-haired guys nearby, she strode up to Tetsu, plucked the cigarette from his mouth, and stubbed it out. "I don't want my subordinate dying early from lung cancer. No more smoking!"
Before she finished, Tetsu had already pulled out another cigarette, lit it, and winked at her playfully. "The law says I can smoke in the smoking area. Isn't Minister Miyano overstepping a bit?"
Her brows furrowed, that cool, seductive aura resurfacing. But after a moment, she let out a soft laugh, giving him a sultry side-eye. She took the cigarette from his mouth again, but this time, she didn't stub it out. Instead, she took an elegant drag. Clearly not a newbie, but it'd been a while—she coughed lightly after one puff, then shoved the cigarette back into his mouth with a playful glare. "Cut back on these things, or you'll regret it later."
"Don't worry, I've had no complaints so far."
"Ugh, you're incorrigible." Rolling her eyes again, Miyano leaned against the window, letting the cold breeze tousle her hair. "But you seem pretty relaxed. Game progress going well?"
"Yeah, filming's done. Was gonna head to the company tomorrow to talk to you."
"What do you need me to do?"
Her reply was sharp and to the point. Looking at this confident, alluring woman, a glint of appreciation flashed in Tetsu's eyes. He turned, leaning back against the window with his elbows on the sill. "Just follow the original plan. But…"
"But?" Miyano raised an eyebrow, waiting.
Tetsu took a drag and grinned. "Interested in jumping ship to work with me later?"
"Work with you?" Her eyes widened slightly, but the surprise wasn't overwhelming. Instead of answering, she leaned on the windowsill, gazing at the sky. "Once this game's done, you're thinking of going solo?"
"Nah, for the next game." Tetsu shook his head, stepping closer to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with her. "I'm not that cocky. I think this game's gonna be a hit, but I won't get much of the profits. Plus, it's not exactly gameplay-heavy, so it's not gonna make me a big name in the industry. No money, no fame, no team. Without a team, I can't make something big, so there's no reason to leave NTsoft."
"You're not as dumb as I thought," Miyano teased, glancing at the clouds. "Japan's gaming industry looks thriving with all its classic IPs, but it's like NTsoft—once glorious, now rotting. Tech's fallen behind the West, but the seniority system keeps young talent with big dreams stuck. Guys like you don't stay under someone else's thumb for long. I've known that from the start. But the problem is, those talents are also elites who fought tooth and nail to get where they are. You've got no money or name to pull them together."
Tucking her hair behind her ear, she adjusted her black silk gloves. "So, what's your plan?"
"For the next game, I want the most resources from Division Four, diving into action games. I'll use NTsoft's staff but outsource a ton to capable new companies. And don't push for my promotion unless it comes without a non-compete clause."
Tetsu exhaled a puff of smoke, frowning. Miyano's brows knitted too. "You want to… borrow the hen to lay your eggs?"
"Yeah, but it won't hurt NTsoft. It'll actually benefit them," Tetsu said earnestly. He wasn't lying—his next game was Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice!
The reason for Sekiro was simple. Miyano was leading Division Four into ARPGs, and unless he jumped ship or gave up resources, that's what he had to work with. Big ARPG IPs like God of War, Devil May Cry, Dark Souls, or Assassin's Creed could spawn sequels, but Sekiro was different.
Sekiro was unique. When Black Myth: Wukong's trailer dropped, millions of Sekiro fans popped up overnight, just like the "million Zelda fans" before. But Sekiro took years to hit 10 million sales by 2023, while Cyberpunk 2077 surpassed that on launch day. Still, Sekiro wasn't a flop. Its sales weren't top-tier even among Souls games, but it was the first Souls game to break into mainstream hype. Why? Its combat was brutally tough but didn't require a steep learning curve.
No reading barrier. Some hype Sekiro as art, unlike the casual Surrounded by Beauties, but its success came from hitting the casual market's sweet spot. Devil May Cry's combos are flashy, but casual viewers can't follow. God of War feels visceral but leans toward button-mashing, leaving spectators detached. Sekiro, though? Watching it is like watching basketball, soccer, or chess.
Sekiro's high skill ceiling revolves around simple concepts—parry, counter, execute—that anyone can grasp. It gives casual viewers that "I could do that" feeling, like watching a chess match or a soccer game. From a business perspective, that's gold. That sense of involvement sparks chatter, chatter builds buzz, and buzz drives hype.
Sekiro's sales weren't the best, but it put the Souls series on the map for casual players. Its story doesn't lend itself to sequels, so the IP isn't a huge loss. Ten million sales is solid, not phenomenal, but it's enough to repay NTsoft's investment while letting Tetsu build his "Souls creator" brand for the future.
Tetsu had a lot on his mind, but Miyano didn't know that. "Good for NTsoft?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "You think your next game's a guaranteed hit?"
"You'll see."
He shrugged, avoiding empty promises about the Souls concept. Smart adults, especially someone like Miyano—an elite who became a corporate minister in her early thirties—don't buy hot air.
Sure enough, his restraint earned a glint of approval in her eyes. She crossed her arms, smiling. "Alright. But you've got some guts asking me to jump ship. Do you even know my resume?"
"I do. Five Sate Game Alliance titles with over five million sales, two with ten million, and one with 15.37 million, all under your marketing leadership," Tetsu rattled off, grinning. "That's why I want you."
"Knowing all that, you still dare?" Miyano's lips curled with pride. "You know how much NTsoft paid to poach me? The non-compete penalties?"
"Nope, but I know you won't stay at NTsoft long."
Her proud smile faltered. Tetsu leaned against the window, taking a drag. "I don't know how much NTsoft paid or what your penalty is, but I know Chairman Tsuru brought you in. You asked if I know your resume—do you know hers?"
Miyano's brows furrowed. She clearly did.
"You left Sate because its internal politics and zaibatsu ties made it impossible for a non-insider like you to climb past minister without decades of seniority. NTsoft's a mess too, but it's a mess that needs reform. You saw a chance to rack up achievements and maybe hit the board—Director Miyano, right?"
Before he finished, she snatched his cigarette again. Looking at the stunning, slightly troubled woman elegantly puffing away, Tetsu crossed his arms, smiling. "But it's not happening. Your resume and skills are top-notch, but NTsoft's seniority system won't let you break through. Chairman Tsuru ran NTsoft for 24 years, and not one person got promoted for skill alone. The average section chief was 32. That's what tanked NTsoft.
"She's not clueless, though. Whenever NTsoft hits a crisis, she reforms, like bringing you in. But how many of her past 'reform tools' are still at NTsoft? And why did the board let her back in?"
Silence.
Miyano knew the answer.
As she puffed harder, her cheeks hollowing, Tetsu took the cigarette from her lips and stubbed it out. "People think differently depending on their position. Tsuru, the president, the board—they're all living in mansions, driving luxury cars, with young escorts on call. Why risk that? They'd rather take a steady 200,000 yen a month than a 50-million-yen gamble. Their goal is to preserve wealth, not grow it.
"And like Deputy Director Yamanaka, most board members rose through seniority. The system that tortured them in their youth now protects their power. They won't shift promotions to merit, especially not for a 'young' early-30s upstart like you. Once NTsoft stabilizes, a creative, risky, rule-breaking talent like you won't just miss the board—you'll struggle to keep your current influence."
As Tetsu rambled, Miyano's frown deepened, then softened. She looked up, her eyes a mix of admiration and amusement. "They brought me in for a reason, I know. But you're not just saying this to poach me, are you?"
"Sharp as ever," Tetsu chuckled. "I'm confident in my next game, but it's expensive—over $70 million in production costs, plus equal marketing. I need you to secure those resources."
"$70 million? Matching marketing? That's Hollywood blockbuster money!" Miyano's eyes widened, looking at him like he was nuts. "You think the company will give a 25-year-old newbie a $140 million budget? Or that my face is made of gold?"
"I'm not asking for a decision now," Tetsu said calmly. "We'll talk after this game launches."
He's serious?
His lack of pushiness only surprised Miyano more. But it was too far-off to dwell on. She took his lighter, toying with it. "Fine. Two weeks, and we'll see. Oh, by the way, you didn't say why you're here—"
"Who's she?!"
Before Miyano could finish, an aggressive voice cut in. A stunning gothic lolita stormed over, glaring at Miyano, then at the lighter in her hand, before awkwardly latching onto Tetsu's arm.
"Otosan, who's this obasan? You two looked pretty cozy. Are you abandoning Kui?!"
"…"
Goddamn, I'm losing my mind writing this.