A train bento? Never tried one, but it sounds tempting.
A "housewife" bento? Never had that either, but it's got my curiosity.
"Um… Tetsu-kun, I made an extra bento this morning. If you don't mind…"
Sayako Kawai's face flushes with shyness as she speaks. Tetsu Fuyukawa pauses his steps. "Sure, I was just wondering what to have for lunch."
+500!
"I'll go grab it! Please wait a moment, Tetsu-kun!"
A huge number floats above her head, her face beaming with uncontainable joy. She bows quickly to Tetsu before her heels click-clack away from the cubicle.
"Being the boss has its perks," Tetsu mutters with a grin, scratching his head as a whiff of her perfume lingers. He settles back onto the sofa, flipping through documents. Meanwhile, in the office:
"Tch, tch, tch. Sayako-san moves fast, huh?"
Mrs. Nogi, a middle-aged coworker, flashes a teasing smile as she watches Sayako grab the bento.
Sayako's already rosy cheeks deepen in color. Too shy to respond, she clutches the bento and hurries back to the office.
"Team Leader's got it good. Sayako-san's so pretty," Kawaguchi says, pulling out his single-guy bento with a mix of admiration and self-consciousness.
Mrs. Nogi pats his shoulder with a hearty laugh. "Don't worry, Kawaguchi. You might not have the looks, the build, or the fancy degree, but you're honest. Someday, a woman will see your heart and fall for you."
"…Nogi-san, is that supposed to be a compliment or just pity?" Kawaguchi sighs, glancing at the closed blinds of the cubicle. "Still, if Sayako-san's found a guy like the Team Leader, maybe it's the universe making up for her rough past."
There's a weight to his words. Mrs. Nogi, who worked with Sayako in their previous department, seems to recall something too. She sighs. "Who knows? There's a bit of an age gap between them. But if it means Sayako-san gets to live happily for a while, that's not bad. Her past… it's been tough."
Mrs. Nogi's mood dips, and she quietly starts eating her bento, though her eyes keep drifting toward the cubicle door.
"This tempura—is there cream in it?"
Crunch.
Tetsu bites into the fried tempura shrimp, its crispy, springy texture bursting with a rich, creamy flavor.
Sitting on the small sofa, his eyes widen slightly. "This is really good."
"Yes… I added a little cream to the batter. How… how is it?" Sayako sits with her legs crossed at an angle, her gaze a mix of shyness and anticipation.
Tetsu smiles. "Delicious. I've got a sweet tooth, you know. Oh, wait—you're not big on sweets, right? Last night, you only asked for a third of the sugar in your milk tea."
"It's not that!" Sayako fidgets, a bit flustered. "I'm just… trying to lose some weight, so I'm avoiding super sweet stuff."
Lose weight?
Tetsu glances at her curvaceous figure—her full bust, soft waist, and the way her stockings hug her thighs. Picking up a piece of tuna sushi, he chuckles. "No need to slim down. Your figure's already plenty attractive. Losing weight might actually take away some of that charm."
+500.
"Attractive? Tetsu-kun, you always say such bold things!"
Her words sound shy, but under Tetsu's warm gaze, Sayako's eyes betray a spark of deep satisfaction.
Guess I won't diet then.
A little thrilled, she leans forward slightly, her chest drawing attention. Tetsu, chewing his sushi, looks up. "Did you sort things out with your part-time job?"
"Yep, I talked to my boss yesterday. They're already looking for a replacement. Tonight's my last shift."
Sayako's voice carries a hint of wistfulness. Tetsu nods. "Got it. How about starting work tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow? No problem. Oh, um, I don't think I know where the office is yet," she says, sticking out her tongue sheepishly.
Tetsu laughs. "It's at my place."
"Huh?"
Sayako blinks, caught off guard. Tetsu shrugs. "It's just the two of us for now. Renting an office would be a waste. Unless you have—"
"No, no, that's not what I meant!"
Going to Tetsu-kun's house? Just the two of us? Her big, dewy eyes shimmer with a mix of nerves and excitement as she rubs her thighs together. "It's just… a bit unexpected. Um, how about I bring some ingredients tomorrow morning? We could cook lunch instead of eating out or having bentos."
"Already thinking about lunch? Sayako, you're such a perfect wife material," Tetsu teases.
"! Stop it, Tetsu-kun, don't make fun of me!"
The "wife material" quip sends a flush across Sayako's face. Unlike her earlier shyness, this blush comes with a playful pout, her cheeks puffing out adorably. Tetsu almost wants to poke them.
It's clear Sayako's the type to mirror others' emotions. When Tetsu jokes around, she loosens up too.
Time flies when you're having fun.
They eat their bentos, chatting away, until the clock on the wall hits 1:00 p.m.
As other employees return from lunch, the building buzzes back to life. Sayako, swaying with her graceful figure, clears the dishes and heads back to the office. Tetsu returns to his desk.
It's the weekend and the end of the month. Tuesday marks the start of October.
At NTsoft, the end of each month is for planning the next—allocating budgets for studios, coordinating equipment, and so on. There's always room for last-minute changes, but the "monthly plan" serves as an anchor, giving the higher-ups a clear picture.
Submitting the proposal today, rather than waiting for the start of next month when others have already locked in their plans, is the smarter move. Otherwise, they'd likely get a scolding from the director, and equipment requests would be pushed to the back of the line.
A bit of pressure, but it keeps Tetsu on his toes.
"Finally done."
Tetsu types the final period on the proposal, stretches his stiff neck, and checks the clock—2:55 p.m. Still over two hours until the end of the day, but he's not slacking.
Printing the proposal into hard copies, he slips on his suit jacket and steps out. "Sayako, come with me to the director's office."
"Yes, Team Leader Fuyukawa!"
Ready for the task, Sayako stands under the envious gazes of Kawaguchi and Mrs. Nogi. She grabs the folder, a touch nervous, and follows Tetsu out.
The director's office is on the ninth floor. Tetsu steps into the elevator, adjusts his suit, and slips his hands into his pockets. Sayako, staring at the closing elevator doors, clenches her fists in nervous anticipation.
That nervous, huh?
Not good.
Tension can cloud your thoughts. Noticing Sayako's anxious expression and the stifling atmosphere in the elevator, Tetsu leans in slightly. "No need to be nervous. If the director asks you anything, just speak confidently. I've gone over the spreadsheet a few times. Even if you slip up, I've got your back."
+5000!
[Sayako Kawai's emotions have surged significantly, with a chance to break through to the Admiration level!]