Women are fascinating creatures. When they're not into you, you could pluck the stars from the sky, and they'd just shrug and say, "Big deal." But once they catch feelings, they can become surprisingly bold.
"Thanks, Tetsu-kun! Here, this is for you."
In the parking lot, Fuyukawa Tetsu stood by the car hood, scrolling on his phone. Sayoko Kawachi, grinning brightly, handed him a can of juice she'd bought from the vending machine, her face radiating joy.
"Thanks. Let's get going."
Taking the warm can of juice, Tetsu slipped his phone into his pocket and got into the car. But just as he fastened his seatbelt and prepared to drive, a red Porsche 718 convertible zoomed past.
Behind the wheel was Miyabi Miyano, sporting stylish round sunglasses and steering with one hand.
For a fleeting moment, their eyes met. Miyabi flashed a peculiar smile before speeding off.
"She's driving that fast in a parking lot? What a maniac! You okay?"
Tetsu, startled, slammed his left foot on the brake, gripping the steering wheel tightly as he turned to check on Sayoko. But what he saw left him dumbfounded.
The juice she'd just opened had spilled all over her plump thighs, clad in black stockings, soaking them completely.
"Got any tissues?"
"Yeah."
Sayoko spread her legs to keep the juice from dripping onto the seat, while Tetsu hurriedly grabbed tissues from the center console. But it was too late—the warm, sticky sensation, like she'd wet herself, had already crept up her inner thighs to her heart.
"...Can we wait a sec before leaving? I need to deal with this in the back."
Her legs still spread, Sayoko's face flushed red, her voice barely a whisper.
Her stockings were completely soaked, and with sugary juice no less. Clearly, she was heading to the backseat to take them off.
The atmosphere in the car turned subtly charged. Tetsu had no reason to refuse such a request. He reversed the car back into the parking spot, and Sayoko, like a thief in the night, glanced around to ensure no coworkers were nearby before quickly covering her backside and darting to the backseat.
"All set. You can go now."
"Got it."
The car's lights flickered as the black Volkswagen pulled out of the parking spot.
Per traffic rules, Tetsu checked both sides before turning, but his eyes couldn't help drifting to the rearview mirror.
"Tetsu-kun! ~~~"
Their eyes locked. Sayoko, in her tight skirt with one leg curled on the seat, was wiping juice off her pale, delicate foot with a tissue. Her cheeks flushed a bright apple-red, a mix of indignation and shy embarrassment.
"Ahem, carry on, carry on…"
Caught red-handed, Tetsu awkwardly averted his gaze. But soon, a strange thought popped into his head.
Those stockings she's wearing… aren't they the kind that go all the way up to the waist? How's she even taking those off?
As if on cue, the sound of a zipper came from the backseat, followed by the rustle of sticky stockings being peeled off and the crinkle of tissues.
Gulp.
Vivid, colorful images from manga he'd read flashed through his mind. Tetsu swallowed hard, his eyes flicking back to the rearview mirror.
All he could see was half of a pale, peachy curve.
Just then, the car passed the parking lot's exit gate, and a slight push against the back of his seat came from behind.
Her foot's pressing against my seat?
What kind of position is she in?
Nodding with a smile to the gatekeeper, Tetsu turned the wheel to the right, his mind wandering to odd places.
Soon, the pressure on his seat faded, and Sayoko reappeared in the rearview mirror, smoothing out her skirt. But now, beneath that skirt, only her shapely, bare legs were visible.
To be honest, Tetsu wasn't particularly fixated on stockings. In his view, smooth, porcelain legs with barely visible pores—like Sayoko's, milky-white, straight, and just the right amount of softness—had a stronger visual impact than any ordinary stockings.
They were stunning.
He stole a couple more glances.
"Tetsu-kun~"
His gaze a bit too intense, Sayoko wrinkled her cute nose at the rearview mirror. But when she saw him sheepishly look away, her flushed eyes twinkled. Hugging the back of his seat, she leaned close to his ear. "Tetsu-kun… seems to prefer me without stockings, huh?"
"!"
Her warm breath grazed his neck, catching him off guard as he waited at a traffic light. His whole body jolted. "I'm driving here!"
"Oh, my bad, Tetsu-kun," Sayoko said, feigning remorse. But as she glanced at the red light and the empty crosswalk, a mischievous, fox-like grin spread across her face. Leaning even closer to his ear, she teased, "So, should I wear stockings to your place tomorrow? Or… maybe none at all?"
"!"
Feeling a rush of heat, Tetsu turned, ready to give this little vixen a piece of his mind. Just then, the light turned green.
"You're in for it tomorrow!"
Frustrated but flustered, Tetsu shot her a glare through the rearview mirror. Clearly, away from the office and in their own little world, Sayoko was far more relaxed, her true personality shining through. His glare only made her burst into giggles in the backseat.
Is she acting so carefree because she feels safe around me?
Tetsu rolled his eyes, exasperated, but a small smile tugged at his lips.
Night fell, stars twinkling above as the black Volkswagen cruised through Shinjuku's streets.
Tokyo, though bustling, isn't that large. With the world's most advanced subway system, surface traffic wasn't too bad either.
It didn't take long for Tetsu to reach their destination—Kabukicho.
It was around 8:30 PM, the peak of nightlife. The streets buzzed with energy, lit up by dazzling neon signs. There were punky teens with dyed yellow hair, middle-aged men in suits, and high school girls in JK uniforms, glued to their phones by the roadside.
"Are those the famous kami-machi girls?"
Stepping out of the car, Tetsu's eyes were drawn to the JK girls on the street.
Sayoko, her bare legs making her feel a bit exposed, grew even more self-conscious. "P-probably… Tetsu-kun, are you into those younger girls?"
"They're alright, I guess. Just not as stunning as I'd imagined."
Tetsu's tone carried a hint of disappointment. In his past life, he'd read plenty of manga and novels that painted kami-machi girls—teenagers waiting for "sponsors"—as ethereal, almost otherworldly. But thinking about it, Japan's adult entertainment industry was so advanced that any truly striking girls were likely scouted by agencies for films. The ones left, less standout or preferring discretion, probably worked in karaoke bars or soaplands.
Sure enough, Sayoko, leading the way, glanced at the girls with a touch of pity. "It sounds harsh, but Kabukicho's fuzoku scene is huge. The really gorgeous girls usually get snapped up by companies for adult films. The ones who are less striking, or who don't want everyone knowing what they do, often end up in karaoke or soaplands to make money."
"I see."
Tetsu nodded, but curiosity got the better of him. "Soaplands? Like… that kind of place?"
"Eek! That's such a sensitive question!" Sayoko blushed but nodded shyly. "Yeah, that kind. But legally, full-on services aren't allowed, and neither is soliciting—at least not openly. So they usually hand out little cards, and it happens in office buildings… Oh, don't take those cards!"
Sayoko's face burned as Tetsu glanced at a small card a man had just slipped into his hand.
"O-neeto, please give me the power of your love!"
"The wording on this is… bold, to say the least."
Tetsu prided himself on being worldly, but this direct, heart-hitting gal-speak caught him off guard.
Before he could process it, Sayoko snatched the card and tossed it into a trash bin.
"Hey, I was just looking!"
"No looking!"
Tetsu felt a twinge of disappointment, but suddenly, something soft wrapped around his arm. Turning, he saw Sayoko clinging to his arm, looking up at him with starry eyes full of shy affection.
"You're such a perv, obsessing over a card like that. But… does Tetsu-kun really want someone to call him O-neeto?"