Christmas was a blast, but after the festivities, everyone returns to their usual routine—whether it's calm or grueling.
Still, Christmas leads right into New Year's Day.
In Japan, New Year's is as big as the Spring Festival in China. The streets of Tokyo buzz with cheerful vibes as everyone prepares to welcome the new year.
The Fuyukawa household is no exception.
At just past 7 a.m., a yawning Tetsu Fuyukawa comes downstairs to find Sayoko kneeling at the kotatsu, watching morning news while weaving a shimenawa.
A shimenawa is the straw rope adorned with zigzag-shaped paper streamers you see hanging at shrine torii gates. It's a traditional Japanese craft meant to pray for blessings and divine protection for the home.
Whether the gods actually bless them or not, Tetsu doesn't care. Seeing Sayoko radiating cozy, domestic wife vibes, a warm glint flickers in his eyes. Grabbing his toothbrush from the bathroom, he teases softly, "Up this early weaving a shimenawa? Careful, you might doze off at work later. The 'divine lords' won't help you finish your tasks, you know."
"Ugh… but Tetsu-kun, your game launches today! And besides weaving a shimenawa, Sayoko can't think of any other way to help you." Kneeling on the tatami, Sayoko looks at the rope in her hands, her face a mix of nervousness and disappointment. "Sayoko's so useless, isn't she? Can't help at all."
"Oh, come on, stop doubting yourself every time you're nervous."
After brushing his teeth and wiping his face with a hot towel, Tetsu sits at the head of the kotatsu, pulling her pouty little face close for a couple of quick kisses. He picks up a steaming bowl of ramen, grinning. "Relax, everything's under control. Plus, getting to eat your delicious cooking every day puts me in a great mood. Mmm, this broth's extra rich today."
"Hehe, Tetsu-kun, your taste buds are so sharp! I learned this broth trick from a 'secret recipe' online," Sayoko says, a sweet smile spreading across her face.
Beaming at the praise, she gets up and slides next to Tetsu, her soft, curvy body leaning into his. She nuzzles his chin with her head, still weaving, though a hint of worry creeps back onto her face.
If this game flops, Tetsu-kun's going to have a tough time at the company, won't he?
She's worried—really worried. But seeing the barely concealed exhaustion in Tetsu's sidelong glance, Sayoko opens her mouth, then closes it, swallowing her concerns. Instead, she wiggles her peach in his lap, trying to lighten the mood.
Feeling the playful pressure, Tetsu gives her an exasperated look as she stands up with a sultry grin. "Tetsu-kun's heading into battle today, so you can't tire yourself out too soon~"
"Hey, you're the one stirring up trouble first thing in the morning!" Tetsu retorts, half-annoyed, half-amused, as she teases him with no follow-through. "Alright, alright, go wake up Kui. Didn't she say she's got some music show audition today? Tell her if she's not down here in five minutes, I'm not driving her. She can squeeze onto the subway!"
"Pfft, Tetsu-kun's such a tsundere. You got up twenty minutes early just to drive her~"
"Go already! Stop bugging me!"
"Okay, okay, don't get mad!" Sayoko giggles.
Tetsu playfully swats her grinning behind as she leans down to plant a sweet kiss on his cheek. Then, with a sway of her hips, she heads upstairs.
Watching her go, the lightheartedness in Tetsu's eyes shifts to seriousness, tinged with excitement.
"Today's the day!"
---
Normally, the week or two between Christmas and New Year's brings a bit of festive relief, even for overworked salarymen. But at NTsoft, the atmosphere's growing heavier by the day.
"My god! Divisions Three and Four are launching their games at noon today? They're really going head-to-head!"
"This is gonna be good! I heard Division Three snagged a B-tier marketing push! Their game's getting a prime spot on OTTO's homepage in the galgame category!"
"B-tier marketing?! Tsk, tsk, looks like Division Three's dead set on ruining Minister Miyano's New Year. Throwing that kind of marketing budget at a galgame? Even if it sells like crazy, the profits won't be huge."
"Yeah, the galgame market's small. No matter how much you pump into it, it's hard to make a blockbuster. Division Three's going all in, huh?"
"Not quite all in. They've got ARPGs and strategy turn-based games—big categories with plenty of marketing resources. A B-tier push isn't a huge loss, just a bit painful. If they can block Minister Miyano's advance and keep Division Four out of the ARPG race, they'll secure way more at the annual meeting than a B-tier budget's worth."
"Tch, corporate politics are wild. Just hearing about it feels… oh! Section Chief Fuyukawa's here!"
At 8:50 a.m., under the sneaky glances of countless employees, Tetsu Fuyukawa strides into NTsoft's building, dressed in a sharp suit with Sayoko in tow.
"Good morning, Section Chief Fuyukawa."
"Morning."
As usual, the moment he steps through the door, the receptionist, Miss Hatano, greets him as he adjusts his suit buttons. He nods with a smile, but unlike before, her eyes hold not just admiration but a hint of worry.
"Looks like the whole company's watching," Tetsu mutters.
Sensing the stares from all directions, his brows furrow slightly, but he doesn't acknowledge them, not even with a glance. He just leads Sayoko swiftly to the elevator.
Amusingly, when he arrives, many employees waiting for the elevator bow respectfully, then scurry to another door, stealing timid yet hopeful glances his way.
Timid, yet expectant!
Too scared to ride the same elevator!
Afraid he might take out his bad mood on them!
But also thinking, If Section Chief Fuyukawa wins, he's gonna skyrocket. Should I say something to get on his good side early?
"These guys…"
Tetsu had been feeling serious, but the awkward, almost comical vibe lightens his mood as the elevator doors close.
Sayoko, unaware of his thoughts, has been tense ever since they got out of the car, feeling the weight of everyone's stares. Her head stays down, but once the elevator doors shut, she sneaks a glance at Tetsu's expressionless profile, her heart aching for him.
Her eyes shimmer with emotion. Checking the rising floor numbers to ensure no one's coming, her face flushes as she grabs Tetsu's hand and places it on her soft peach.
"If… if Tetsu-kun's feeling stressed, you can take it out on Sayoko."
"?!"
Caught off guard, Tetsu freezes. But seeing her blushing, almost steaming face, a smile tugs at his lips.
His hand slides from her peach, along her waist, up her back, and pulls her into his arms. Leaning down, he kisses her shampoo-scented hair gently. "Having you by my side right now is the best stress relief I could ask for."
"!"
Her heart skips a beat.
She'd braced for a playful squeeze, but his sudden tenderness makes her wide eyes—shimmering with emotion—snap up to meet his smiling gaze. "Tetsu-kun…"
Before she can finish, he lifts her chin.
Looking into her teary eyes, Tetsu's grin widens. "But if I win this battle, tonight you're wearing your old school uniform and waiting by the bed."
"Pfft~ Geez, Tetsu-kun's such a perv at heart!" The emotional moment lightens with his teasing, and Sayoko wrinkles her nose cutely. But thinking of her old sailor uniform—and glancing at her impressive figure—she blushes harder. "That… that size won't even fit anymore!"
"That's what makes it fun. Oh, and don't forget the strawberry-patterned cotton."
Strawberry cotton and her size-93 peach? Sayoko's face burns, and she tosses her head. "Tetsu-kun's definitely into younger girls, huh!"
Her mind flashes back to their first trip to Kabukicho, when Tetsu got handed a card that read, "Give me your love, Otosan."
Recalling the spark in his eyes back then, Sayoko clenches her little fists, stands on her tiptoes, and pecks his neck, her face crimson. "Well, come back victorious, Otosan."
"!"
---
Divisions Three and Four's games are both launching on the OTTO platform at noon, and the whole company's buzzing with anticipation. Though both are small-scale games, for Division Four, aiming to break into the ARPG market, and Division Three, desperate to block them and hog the resources, this is the starting line!
If Surrounded by Beauties is a hit, Minister Miyano will have the clout at the post-New Year shareholder meeting to challenge Division Three and demand ARPG rights!
The annual meetings—start-of-year, mid-year, and year-end—are NTsoft's biggest events, where major decisions like department roles are finalized!
If Miyano fails this time, she'll have to wait until the mid-year meeting. And the company's old foxes all know why Chairman Tsuru brought her in!
She's a blade!
A blade to cut out NTsoft's internal rot!
If that blade isn't sharp, fast, or precise enough, Tsuru will dial back support—or replace it with a new one without mercy!
But none of this chaos fazes Tetsu. He's calmly handling paperwork in his office when, at 10 a.m., the door swings open.
Under his gaze, Miyano Mitei, back in her sharp OL uniform, sways in with her signature strut.
Her stilettos click as she strides to his desk, leaning forward to reveal a glimpse of lacy white trim, her tone sharp. "You're awfully calm, huh? Do you know how long I've been waiting in my office—hey, hey, hey! What are you—mmph!"
Before she can finish, Tetsu pulls her into his lap.
Her curvy figure feels plush as she lands, and Tetsu's clearly enjoying it. But she's no lightweight—her judo training means her weight sends his chair sliding back.
"Been working on your glutes? They're feeling extra springy," he teases.
"You jerk! We're talking business here!"
She loves the scent of him, but today's too important. Miyano squirms, but Tetsu doesn't let her resist, wrapping his arms around her waist and burying his face in her fragrant neck for a deep inhale.
"This is business," he says.
"Business? My ass! Let me go!"
She struggles fiercely, clearly annoyed, this thorny rose not in the mood. Tetsu laughs, releasing her, then turns his laptop screen toward her. "I'm serious. Look at this."
"My ass, you horndog—" She stands, smoothing her skirt, glaring at him. But when her eyes hit the laptop screen, she freezes, turning to him in disbelief. "F**?"
Grabbing lunch, two more chapters tonight.