Christmas is definitely a wild day, and with TGS being a top-tier gaming expo, the changing room area was packed to the brim. All sorts of cosplayers and staff were weaving through the crowd.
Honestly, in an environment like this, things felt more thrilling but also more nerve-wracking. What Fuyukawa Tetsu didn't expect, though, was that the moment they stepped into the booth, Sayoko Kawai turned around and kissed him passionately, her fair arms tightly wrapping around his back.
"Pony or bento box?" she teased.
Tetsu leaned down slightly, his arms circling the spot where Sayoko's waist met her curvy hips, then he flexed his core and lifted her up.
"Eek! Bento box it is!" Sayoko squealed.
Her feet left the ground, her whole body lifted into the air. Her flushed face let out a soft gasp, but she kept her eyes closed, lost in the kiss with Tetsu. Her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, moving with a practiced ease.
The outside world was a chaotic mess, but inside the booth, it was like their own little universe.
To be honest, the feel of her cotton leggings was great—but not exactly convenient.
Then again, not that inconvenient.
After a while, their lips parted, but their breathing grew heavier.
Sayoko, her eyes completely dazed, loosened her legs and let them dangle in the air. Her hands tugged at the waistband of her leggings.
One leg of the pants slipped down.
"You're getting bolder," Tetsu remarked.
"Don't like it?" she shot back.
Her body still suspended, Sayoko's eyes shimmered with a playful spark. She wrapped her arms around Tetsu's neck again, lightly nibbling his earlobe. "Hmph, no way I'm letting you save any energy for that Miyano-senpai," she murmured with a soft moan.
---
Most women are emotional creatures.
Even though Sayoko had accepted Tetsu's flirtatious nature, that didn't mean she was totally fine with it.
Much later, when they returned to the main venue, Sayoko's face glowed with a rosy flush. Tetsu, whose arm she clung to, felt a bit drained in the waist.
"Sunflower's draining me... This girl's terrifying when she lets loose. Gotta step up my workouts," Tetsu thought, his steps a little shaky. It felt amazing, but also left him a bit hollow. A wry smile crept onto his face.
Lately, work had been so busy that he'd slacked on training. His physique was still solid—abs and pecs intact—but less training meant fewer buffs from his system. And Sayoko's soft curves were just as intense as her personality—fierce.
He prided himself on being a powerhouse, but in less than half an hour, he'd already "unloaded" twice. It left him a bit spent, especially since it was Christmas. Before leaving that morning, he'd caught a glimpse of Sayoko preparing a special "outfit" for the evening.
"No way. I'm loading up on oysters and clams at dinner," he decided. Even if he was only a little drained and confident he could go a few more rounds, this lifestyle was a marathon. To keep the fun going strong, he needed to stay fueled!
Lost in his thoughts, Tetsu soon followed Sayoko to the Date A Live exhibition booth. As they arrived, he spotted Himawari Izumi, dressed in a gothic lolita outfit, taking the stage with a group of girls in cosplay costumes.
---
Yup, a girl group.
Himawari had signed a short-term contract with great perks, but the entertainment company wasn't running a charity. To capitalize on her buzz, they'd packed her winter break schedule with commercial gigs and auditions for music variety shows.
Since it was a short-term deal, she didn't get the company's promotional support. Whether it was auditions or later stages, she had to rely purely on her own talent to gain traction.
In short, the company wanted to milk her for all she was worth without investing much. If she blew up, great. If not, no loss for them.
It was the same deal here. The girl group was made up of the company's idol trainees, using Himawari's popularity to boost their own. She was the lead singer, but there was another lead vocalist, and during the dance segments, she was pushed to the side.
Still, it worked for her. She didn't need fame right now—just quick cash.
But...
"Haha, this is her girl group? No way, I'm recording this," Tetsu chuckled.
Watching Himawari in her gothic lolita dress, holding a mic and dancing a bit awkwardly, Tetsu nearly burst out laughing. He quickly pulled out his phone to snap a photo.
At 6'2", he towered over the crowd, standing out like a crane among chickens. The moment he raised his phone, Himawari spotted him from the stage. It was a commercial gig, so she couldn't lose her cool. Instead, she pouted slightly, shooting him a "you're in trouble tonight" glare before flashing a sweet smile for the cameras and continuing her otaku dance.
It was a hilarious scene, and Tetsu couldn't stop grinning. He was teasing her, but Sayoko was all in for the event. She'd already pulled out a hand-drawn support poster from her bag. Her shorter height and Tetsu's reluctance to push through the crowd made her sign less noticeable, though.
This wouldn't do.
At her playful pleading, Tetsu sighed, crouched down, and hoisted her onto his shoulders.
Seeing Sayoko cheering for her, Himawari's smile grew brighter. Tetsu, with Sayoko perched on him, shifted his neck slightly, feeling a lingering warmth from earlier.
They'd been living together long enough to be like an old married couple, so he didn't mind too much. He swayed to the music, casually listening. And, to be fair, Himawari's singing, honed since she was five, was incredible. As the song hit its climax and she moved to center stage, her high notes soared, igniting the crowd.
Not just their booth—people from nearby exhibits flocked over to watch.
"Is that the girl who sang 'I Once Thought of Ending It All'?"
"You saw that video too? It's so good!"
"Haha, I hadn't, but my little sister was crying to it the other day. Her voice is legit!"
"She's gorgeous too! A cosplayer who gives you that 'wow' factor in real life is rare. Just... her chest is a bit small."
"Petite lolis are the best! You wouldn't get it!"
"No way! I'm all about the curves! Lolis are heresy!"
"You're the heretic, you boob-obsessed creep!"
"Guys, stop fighting!"
"..."
Was this the raw passion of Japanese otaku culture?
A few guys nearby started arguing over their preferences, and the debate only grew louder as more joined in. Tetsu, exasperated, shifted Sayoko a couple of steps away to avoid any "collateral damage," silently thinking, Can't you just like both?
Himawari's performance lasted over an hour. By the time Tetsu and Sayoko returned from wandering around, it was wrapping up.
"Get down. Let's grab Himawari and head home for dinner," Tetsu said.
"Aw, let me stay up here a bit longer! This view is amazing—I've never seen things from this high!" Sayoko giggled, playfully tugging his earlobe.
Tetsu rolled his eyes but didn't object, shaking his head with a smile as he carried her toward the backstage area.
---
"Himawari's voice is insane. Our performances never got that kind of hype," one of the girl group idols said backstage, peeling off her cosplay outfit.
"No kidding. Why do you think the company shelled out to sign her?" another replied.
A round-faced girl glanced at Himawari, who was removing her earrings and chatting with the makeup artist. "She's so confident, though. Not signing a long-term contract to secure a future? If she graduates college and can't write another hit song, she might be in trouble."
"Who knows? People make their own choices. Instead of focusing on her, think about how to use her popularity to boost your own. She's going back to school after summer."
"Oh, right. Hey, if I take a selfie with her and post it on LINE, would that seem too obvious—oh! Director Nanya!"
The round-faced girl was mid-ramble when a handsome middle-aged man entered. The group stood and bowed.
"Good work, everyone," Director Nanya said, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes at not catching anyone changing. He didn't linger, heading to speak with the makeup artist.
"Director Nanya's aura is still so intense. But a young, successful guy like him? Total man vibes. Being his girlfriend would be such a flex," the round-faced girl whispered, her eyes a mix of awe and nerves.
Her teammate shrugged. "Stop daydreaming. Tons of women are after him—you're not even on the list."
"Don't crush my dreams, Hui! Maybe he's into cute, curvy girls like me—huh, who's that?"
As she spoke, Director Nanya hurried to the door, bowing deeply to greet a tall, handsome man with a female companion.
"Merry Christmas, Manager Fuyukawa!" Nanya said formally, his face breaking into a slightly fawning smile.
Tetsu returned a casual nod, glancing at the row of girl group members. "Merry Christmas. Your company's idols are talented. That performance drew a big crowd."
"You're too kind, Manager Fuyukawa! If there's ever a chance to collaborate with NTsoft, please keep Sistar in mind. We'd deliver top-notch promotional performances for your projects!"
"Sure, we'll see about future collaborations," Tetsu replied offhandedly, scanning the room. "Where's Himawari?"
"Oh! Izumi-chan's in the restroom. Please wait a moment. By the way, her performance today was phenomenal—her voice is like a gift from the heavens, thanks to your guidance, Manager Fuyukawa!"
"..."
Tetsu wasn't new to flattery, but this level of over-the-top praise was rare. It wasn't a workday, and he wasn't in the mood for small talk. After a brief exchange, he chatted casually with Sayoko while waiting for Himawari. Director Nanya, ever the professional, bustled around, fetching tea and event souvenirs.
The girl group members watched, wide-eyed.
"Who's that guy? Why's Director Nanya acting like that?" the round-faced girl whispered.
"You don't know? You're so out of the loop," her teammate scoffed, changing her shoes. "That's Himawari's 'brother.' Not blood-related, if you catch my drift. Rumor is, he got Deputy Director Tanaka to sign her with our company."
"Deputy Director Tanaka?!"
"Yup. He's NTsoft's youngest manager. NTsoft's a gaming giant, way bigger than Sistar. A manager like him at headquarters? His salary and status outrank Tanaka's. When he visits our company, even the director rolls out the red carpet. Nanya's at least four or five levels below him."
Glancing at Himawari, who was playfully bickering with Tetsu as they left, the teammate added with a hint of envy, "Now you get why she's confident enough to skip a long-term contract."
---