"If Team Leader Fuyukawa can sell over 60,000 copies of this game, I might just grant you one not-too-extravagant request," she said with a teasing lilt.
What the—?!
Fuyukawa Tetsu, caught off guard by the subtle fragrance of the stunning woman beside him, was utterly baffled.
What was she playing at?!
Miyano Mitei, a high-powered, icy beauty like her, naturally piqued his interest. But the workplace was a battlefield, and diving in recklessly without understanding her motives could lead to a real misstep. Japanese corporate culture thrives on reading between the lines, after all—rushing in headfirst was a rookie mistake.
With that in mind, Fuyukawa focused his gaze on the center of Miyano Mitei's forehead, as if trying to decipher her intentions.
[Name: Miyano Mitei]
[Age: 31]
[Measurements: 92, 64, 93]
[Skills: Master-Level PUA, Lv9 (can be imprinted upon reversal), Master-Level Project Management Lv7 (currently non-imprintable), Master-Level Marketing Lv9 (currently non-imprintable)] (Click to expand additional skills)
[Relationship: Friendly]
[Recent Status 1: Recently joined a new company, a driven single career woman eager to make her mark, but her overly assertive personality has made things tough at work.]
[Recent Status 2: The challenging work environment has only fueled her ambition and desire to dominate. Meeting a man who once helped her has left her feeling conflicted.]
A burning desire to dominate?!
A man who helped her?!
What was all this?!
Fuyukawa was floored but quickly regained his composure. The situation was unclear—better to play it safe.
After a moment's thought, under Kawauchi Sayoko's slightly worried gaze, Fuyukawa looked up with a gentle smile. "It sounds like you have high hopes for this game?"
Trying to change the subject?
Not rattled by my pressure. Interesting.
+50.
A green number floated above Miyano Mitei's head. She gave Fuyukawa a playful glance, straightened up, and chuckled. "Clever little guy. Alright, take your little sidekick and go."
"Have a good day, Director," Fuyukawa replied smoothly.
An abrupt dismissal.
But knowing she was a woman who enjoyed PUA tactics, Fuyukawa didn't let suspicion show. He stood, gave a slight bow—politeness is key in Japanese workplaces—and left the director's office with Kawauchi Sayoko in tow.
As the door clicked shut, Miyano Mitei walked over to the spot where Fuyukawa had been sitting.
At 186 cm tall with a habit of morning jogs, Fuyukawa wasn't built like an athlete, but his toned abs and solid frame left a noticeable dent in the sofa.
Staring at the indentation, Miyano Mitei tapped her sharp chin thoughtfully. Then, turning around, she plopped down onto the seat, her hips sinking into the warm, slightly cool leather. The sensation sent a shiver through her inner thighs.
"Hiss—"
Her body instinctively tensed, but after a moment, her shoulders relaxed.
"The same warmth as back then," she murmured.
Her eyes gleamed with a hint of desire as she gazed toward the door, a mix of longing and admiration in her expression. "I only meant to repay a favor, but his skills are the real deal. He might actually be useful to me in this company. Though… his personality is much stronger than I expected."
"A strong man, huh…"
Miyano leaned back, resting her head on the sofa, legs propped up on the coffee table. Her dark hair cascaded down, and her cold, elegant eyes sparkled with growing excitement.
"Phew!"
The moment they stepped out of the office, Kawauchi Sayoko patted her chest in relief, trailing behind Fuyukawa. "Thank goodness she didn't call on me. Director Miyano's presence is so intense—I couldn't even speak!"
"She's just a person with two shoulders and a head, same as you. What's there to fear?" Fuyukawa teased.
The proposal had been approved, and Fuyukawa was in high spirits. He nodded politely to colleagues bowing in greeting as they walked down the corridor—a common gesture in Japanese offices—while keeping up the light banter.
"Only someone as capable as you, Team Leader, could face the director without flinching," Kawauchi said, her face flushing.
+500.
Her cheeks glowed red, and her gaze, fixed on Fuyukawa's back, shimmered with admiration and… something deeper, her big, watery eyes sparkling like jelly.
But before she could bask in the moment, they stepped into the elevator. Fuyukawa slipped his hands into his pockets and grinned. "That's because the gap in status between you two is so wide, you're stuck looking up to her. Once Fate is done and you're a nationally renowned artist, you'll feel differently when you see her."
"A nationally renowned artist?!" Kawauchi's eyes lit up with dreams, her breathing quickening. But then her head dipped, doubt creeping in. "Can I really do that—?"
Before she could finish, she gasped, eyes wide with disbelief.
Fuyukawa, one hand in his pocket, used the other to gently ruffle her hair. "First, you've got to believe in yourself, got it? Even if you don't, at least trust my judgment. I think you've got serious potential."
"...Mmm."
Her head cradled under his hand, Kawauchi felt the warmth radiating from him. Her face turned as red as a boiled shrimp, her throat tight, unable to form words. But the green numbers floating above her head betrayed how much she was enjoying the moment.
They chatted quietly as they returned to the floor housing Light Bird Studio.
Though they'd only discussed one matter in the director's office, it had taken a while. By the time Fuyukawa stepped out of the elevator, night had fallen outside the corridor windows. The other studios on the floor had already cleared out, but Light Bird Studio was different.
Kawaguchi, the chubby programmer, and Nogi, the older office lady, were waiting anxiously in the office.
Yes, anxiously.
Even though Light Bird Studio was established, it wasn't uncommon in Japan's game industry for a studio to dissolve if a proposal flopped. For marginal employees like them, failing to deliver or being caught in a downtime could spell disaster.
No surprise, then, that as Kawaguchi and Nogi trembled with worry, and Kawauchi stifled a giggle, Fuyukawa strode in with a serious face before breaking into a grin, announcing the proposal's approval.
The room erupted in cheers. Kawaguchi even shouted, "Long live the Team Leader!"—a playful nod to the camaraderie often seen in Japanese work culture.
The team was thrilled, and as Fuyukawa returned to his cubicle to pack his briefcase, he felt the same. But more than joy, he felt relief.
The production process for Surrounded by Beauties wasn't complex. The main challenges were the script and casting.
For the script, he'd make localized tweaks based on the original, incorporating feedback from his past life's online discussions—like how Zhong Zhen's role was too small or how minor logic issues could be smoothed out with a bit of polish.
With those highly upvoted comments in mind, a few tweaks would sort out the script. Not a huge workload.
With the script settled, casting was next.
That would take a few days, but casting didn't require constant mental strain, so it was less taxing.
This freed up time and energy to focus on Fate.
His thoughts cleared, and his mood lifted.
Grabbing his briefcase, Fuyukawa was mulling over where to grab dinner when he pushed open his cubicle door. There stood Kawauchi Sayoko, clutching her purse, her face a mix of nerves. "Um… Team Leader, are you free tonight?"
"Hm? Yeah, I'm free. What's up?" Fuyukawa asked, caught off guard.
Kawauchi fidgeted, her voice soft. "Could you… walk me home? I'm running late."