While Tetsu Fuyukawa was deep in discussion with Miyano Mitei in the office, elsewhere, the Third Department was buzzing with focus.
"Relax, Yamanaka. He's just a greenhorn who barely knows the ropes. Against Serizawa, he doesn't stand a chance," said Yosuke Nobi, the 58-year-old head of the Third Department. He lounged behind his boss's desk, a cigar in one hand and a pretty secretary perched on his lap.
Hearing this, Deputy Director Yamanaka, a bald man in a flashy gold suit, sat up straighter on the U-shaped sofa. He'd been nervously glancing at the clock but now bowed slightly, keeping his head low. "Yes, sir! You're absolutely right, Director Nobi! In front of Deputy Director Serizawa, that kid's nothing. But this matter is so critical to me, it's hard to stay as calm as a seasoned veteran like you. I still have so much to learn from you!"
His flattery hit the mark. Nobi's face lit up with a pleased smirk, his hand growing bolder on the secretary's thigh. He laughed heartily. "Well said! That's the spirit! Japan needs steady men like you who reflect and respect their seniors!"
"You're too kind, sir," Yamanaka replied, his posture even more rigid, his face beaming with pride.
Nobi let out a boisterous laugh. "Hahaha, I speak from the heart! Tomomi, light a cigar for Deputy Director Yamanaka!"
"Oh, no need… Thank you, Miss Tomomi, I can handle it," Yamanaka stammered, standing to bow as the heavily perfumed secretary approached. He accepted the cigar with both hands.
Tomomi's eyes flashed with a hint of arrogance, while Nobi's gaze carried a trace of disdain and control. Taking a puff of his cigar, Nobi's expression turned serious. He tapped the desk. "Yamanaka, I've always had high hopes for you."
"Yes, sir!" Yamanaka snapped to attention, startled by the sudden praise but sensing the real topic was coming. Ignoring the half-lit cigar, he bowed deeply. "It's an honor to have your recognition, Director Nobi!"
"Good." Nobi nodded, waving the secretary away as he puffed on his cigar. "Dealing with that Fuyukawa kid is no big deal. I've never taken him seriously—just an arrogant brat. Once this is over, I'll have him out of the company. But you know why I'm giving you this chance to transfer to my department."
"Yes, I understand!" Yamanaka bowed again, then raised his head with a fawning smile. "When that guy's game flops, I'll be the first to storm Miyano's office!"
"Excellent! That's the spirit!" Nobi roared with laughter. Just then, Tomomi glanced at her watch and whispered something in his ear.
"Got it. Call everyone in the department to the meeting room. Let's all watch Miyano's downfall!" Nobi grinned, giving Tomomi's hip a playful pat. He stood, grabbing his briefcase, and nodded at Yamanaka. "It's almost launch time. Want to head to the Third Department's meeting room early?"
The Third Department's meeting room?
Yamanaka's polite smile faltered. Though his transfer to the Third Department was set, he was still technically with the Fourth Department. Showing up at the Third's meeting room now…
That Fuyukawa kid can't possibly turn this around!
With that thought, he relaxed and nodded obsequiously. "Of course, Director."
"Hahaha, let's go!"
---
As noon approached, the entire company grew restless. When Yosuke Nobi, the Third Department's director, led a large group toward the meeting room—with Deputy Director Yamanaka from the Fourth Department in tow—the company's atmosphere exploded.
"My god, Yamanaka's jumping ship? He's all in!" one employee whispered.
"He had no choice. Miyano wouldn't keep him either way. Joining the Third Department now is like offering a loyalty pledge," another replied.
"Tch, what a sleaze. Always preaching about 'Showa-era grit' to new hires, telling them not to chase money but to have dreams and backbone. Look at him now," someone scoffed.
"Shh, keep it down! Don't let him hear you."
"What's there to fear? If he loses, he's out of headquarters!"
"The problem is, it's hard for him to lose! Serizawa's Kazuma Studio has churned out solid titles for years. Their team's stacked, and their galgame is based on a novel with built-in hype. Plus, it's got B-tier promotional weight and a prime spot on OTTO's homepage! Anyone who plays galgames will see it. Meanwhile, Fuyukawa's new studio has no IP and only C-tier promotion. No way they win!"
"Yamanaka's hitched himself to the right horse!"
The company was abuzz with chatter. Sensing the shift in gazes from disdain to fear or envy, Yamanaka's confidence surged as he followed the group into the Third Department's meeting room.
Truth be told, this clash between the two departments was intense, but like everyone else, the Third Department's staff knew Kazuma Studio's strength. The meeting room's vibe was far from tense—some team leads were even joking about which hostess at the karaoke bars was cuter for their victory party.
In this lighthearted atmosphere, the clock hit 12:00.
"It's here! It's here!" someone shouted.
"It's live! Whoa, the numbers are climbing! Even with just a week of pre-orders, tons of users bought in. Novel adaptations really bring the hype!" another cheered.
"No kidding! My Stepmom Can't Be This Cute was a deal Director Nobi personally sealed. Of course it's a big deal!" someone added.
"Exactly. Miyano's way too cocky. In terms of influence, she can't hold a candle to Director Nobi!"
"Wait, the Fourth Department's sales are moving. Let's see… 14 copies? Haha, are you kidding? Ten minutes in, and only 14 sold?!"
"With only C-tier promotion, 10 minutes and 14 copies? That's a first!"
On the meeting room screen, two bar charts told the story. The Third Department's chart rocketed upward, while the Fourth's barely budged.
Ten minutes, 14 copies sold!
Sure, it was just 10 minutes, but games get pre-release hype. While launch day isn't the peak, such a low start was telling.
I'm Surrounded by Beauties had a week of promotional buildup, advertised across galgame forums. Yet, 10 minutes in, only 14 copies sold. What did that mean?
Galgame fans weren't interested.
A galgame that galgame fans ignored?
They'd missed the market entirely.
This was a fatal flaw no bug fix or patch could solve.
The sales data sent the Third Department into a frenzy.
A flop!
The Fourth Department's new game was a total flop!
The excitement wasn't confined to the meeting room—it swept through NTsoft's entire building. Everyone was talking about Lightbird Studio's catastrophic launch.
And it was lunchtime, no less!
As the buzz continued and lunch hour ended, as newer Third Department employees planned their karaoke celebrations and the sun began to set, the tone shifted.
"Director, here's the data! The Fourth Department's game sold only 180 copies in five hours! That's a mega-flop!" a finance team member reported.
The Finance Director frowned, shaking his head as he took the tablet. "Five hours, 180 copies, not counting refunds? Something's off. C-tier promotion shouldn't perform this badly."
"But… the sales are real. It's not like OTTO's eating our numbers," a cautious staff member replied.
The Finance Director shot her a look, then stared at the tablet. "Impossible. C-tier promotion guarantees at least 300,000 users see the product. It's not huge, but with OTTO's two-hour refund window, there's no way only 180 copies sold. And only three refunds with a 92% approval rate? With this quality and traffic, there's no way the numbers are this skewed. Something's wrong. Very wrong."
Clutching the tablet, the Finance Director's brows knitted tightly.
He wasn't alone.
Every veteran at NTsoft who saw the data frowned.
Even the Third Department's old-timers, ready to celebrate, sensed something fishy.
"Impossible! This data's rigged! Check it now!" roared Deputy Director Serizawa of Kazuma Studio, slightly tipsy from the lunch celebration. He slammed the table, glaring at his team.
Years of frontline experience told him something was off, but he couldn't pinpoint what.
Turning to the giant screen, the three-digit sales figure stared back.
Three hours ago, it thrilled him.
Two hours ago, it amused him.
One hour ago, it unsettled him.
Now, it filled him with intense anxiety. Then he noticed the time in the screen's corner: 5:58.
"Five fifty-eight… Wait! I get it!" His eyes widened as he rushed to the door, shouting, "Everyone, check the international sales! Now!"
International sales?
The room froze, then realization hit. Kazuma Studio sprang into action.
It wasn't just them—the entire company, catching wind, erupted into chaos.
"They figured it out? Too late," Tetsu Fuyukawa murmured, leaning back in his unlit office, a cigarette between his lips. His gaze flicked to the glowing laptop screen as the commotion outside grew.
OTTO was a global platform, but international data only updated at noon and 6 p.m. Of course, the company could monitor network in real-time, and now…
"All those months of effort didn't go to waste," Tetsu said, exhaling smoke.
The laptop screen showed a towering bar: 11,000 copies versus 137,622 copies.
C-tier promotion, no IP, a 100-million-yen budget, and 137,000 copies sold in five hours on launch day.
Even an idiot could see what that meant.
Success!
As Tetsu took another drag, a muffled voice came from under the desk. "Tetsu-kun… you did it."
Crouched before the boss's chair, Sayoko's cheeks were flushed, her eyes gleaming with joy and… adoration as she glanced at the laptop.
137,000 copies was a ceiling for the galgame industry.
And this was with only C-tier promotion!
This breakout hit would surely get a major push from the company. With increased promotion, the sales…
Tetsu-kun was destined to be a big name, not just in the company but in the entire gaming world!
Her eyes overflowed with admiration, her excitement fueling a growing desire.
The man I love is a big deal.
Her cheeks flushed deeper as she leaned in, but then Tetsu's hands gripped her head, fingers threading through her hair.
"Easy, a bit harder…"
"Mmph—"
Sayoko was thrilled, but just then, the door opened, and the lights flicked on.
Caught in the moment, Tetsu froze, looking toward the door. Miyano Mitei strode in, beaming. "Congrats, you've—"
Her smile faltered as her gaze dropped to the chair. Tetsu, holding Sayoko's head, sucked in a breath. A flush spread across Miyano's face. She closed the door, sat on the U-shaped sofa, and said nothing.
The silence was painfully awkward, but Miyano's red face only fueled Tetsu's excitement.
After a long moment, with a few gulping sounds, things settled.
"Now, can we talk, my lustful little hero?" Miyano finally said.