The morning breeze in Akihabara is nice and cool.
At 7 a.m., Fuyukawa Tetsu stepped out of his apartment in a grey-white tracksuit. It's the weekend, so no work today, but he still got up early for his morning run.
Morning runs aren't just about staying in shape. Sure, that's part of it, but the real perk is how much sharper your mind feels after consistent exercise. It's like your brain wakes up clearer.
Ignoring the neighbor's barking dog, Tetsu popped in his earphones and jogged east along Kanda Bridge.
Akihabara sits in Chiyoda Ward, often called the "aristocrat district" in anime and manga. For one, the real estate here is insanely expensive, among Tokyo's priciest. For another, the Emperor of Japan lives in Chiyoda. Not that Tetsu cares much about the Emperor—jokingly, he'd say the real emperor lives on the Pacific's east coast. But it's not just the Emperor; Japan's Supreme Court and National Diet are also in Chiyoda.
A district full of big shots like that naturally has top-notch security and cleanliness. You won't spot a single piece of trash on the streets.
Earphones in, Tetsu jogged eastward, passing over Eitai Bridge, which connects Chuo Ward to Koto Ward.
By the time he reached the bridge, he'd already run over two kilometers. Even for someone who exercises regularly, Tetsu was starting to sweat, but this was his favorite part of the run. Eitai Bridge spans Tokyo Bay, and when you're dripping with sweat, the cool, slightly salty sea breeze feels amazing.
What's more amusing is that the bridge was, as usual, stuck in traffic. Office workers on the bus, probably heading to overtime, shot him envious looks as he jogged freely. A few young girls even whispered, "Whoa, that onii-san is so hot!"
Tetsu didn't care much about the stares. He kept his pace, music in his ears, running down Eitai Bridge until he reached Koto Ward's Seaside Park. Only then did he stop.
He grabbed a bottle of water from a nearby convenience store, rehydrated, rested briefly, and headed back the same way.
The whole run was over eight kilometers. He left just after 7 a.m., and by the time he got close to home, it was nearly 8:30.
"Phew, that felt good."
"We're meeting at nine, so I've got time for a shower and breakfast."
"After eating, I'll go over the storyline, make a work plan, and then…"
"Hi, Tetsu-kun!"
You're not supposed to sit right after a long run. As Tetsu walked the last corner to his place, still sweaty and mulling over his day, a familiar voice called out.
Looking up, he saw Sayoko Kawai standing at his doorstep, waving cheerfully. Since it was the weekend, she wasn't in her usual office-lady uniform. Instead, she wore a mature-looking floral sundress. The dress itself was simple, without flashy patterns, but on Sayoko's 160cm-plus frame with her 91-63-92 figure, it looked striking. The soft fabric was stretched dramatically over her "snowy mountains," creating bold curves. But what really caught Tetsu's eye—and sparked a flicker of heat—was the slight, soft curve of her tummy under the dress. Sure, he'd seen curvier figures, like Minister Miyano at the office, but Sayoko's subtle, natural allure hit differently.
But then.
His gaze shifted to the person next to her, and Tetsu's expression froze.
Why's she here?
It wasn't just Sayoko. Sunflower Izumi, the sly, dark-haired high school girl with her deadpan vibe, had tagged along. She wasn't wearing her JK uniform from yesterday. Instead, she had on a loose white T-shirt, black hot pants that barely showed a white hem, and white sneakers. Her long, slender, pale legs stood out, and she had a guitar slung over her back.
A gorgeous, cool rocker chick?
Their eyes met. Sunflower, hands in her pockets, raised an eyebrow slightly, her large, lifeless eyes staring at him like a dead fish.
Noticing the exasperation in Tetsu's look, Sayoko gave an awkward smile. "Sorry, Tetsu-kun. This kid insisted on coming along, and I couldn't say no. But don't worry, she said she'll only stay for a bit and then leave."
"I see," Tetsu said, glancing at Sunflower. "It's fine if she's here, but we'll need to keep her out of the game production stuff."
Sure, for a text-heavy galge like Fate, leaking a bit of the plot isn't a huge deal. The story unfolds layer by layer, so knowing a single plot point or character detail doesn't ruin much. Plus, the same story can feel totally different depending on the writer's style. Still, better safe than sorry.
Tetsu trusted Sayoko, but this Sunflower girl, whom he'd only met yesterday, was another story.
"No worries, Tetsu-kun. Little Sunflower won't spill a thing. Right, Sunflower?" Sayoko said.
"Yes, don't worry, Uncle," Sunflower replied, bowing obediently under Sayoko's stare, though her tone and that "Uncle" jab made it clear she wasn't thrilled.
Tetsu didn't care about her attitude. He pulled out his keys and led them inside.
"Surprisingly clean. Yo, Uncle, don't tell me you scrubbed the place just for today—ow! Sayoko, what gives?" Sunflower said, kicking off her shoes and slipping into slippers, her long legs bare without stockings. Her deadpan expression stayed unchanged, but before she could finish, Sayoko pinched her soft, mochi-like cheeks.
"Sorry, Tetsu-kun, this kid's too cheeky," Sayoko said with an apologetic smile, then held up a bag of ingredients. "By the way, have you eaten breakfast yet?"
"Was just about to. You guys got here earlier than I expected."
"Perfect, then I'll handle breakfast!"
Having a lovely "housewife" make breakfast? Tetsu nodded. "Thanks, I'll leave it to you. I'm gonna take a quick shower. Feel free to move around the first floor, but don't go upstairs."
"No problem!" Sayoko chirped.
As she set the ingredients on the kitchen counter, she glanced over and saw Tetsu tossing his clothes into the washing machine at the bathroom door. His toned muscles made her cheeks flush and her heart race.
"Tch, tch, tch. That look in your eyes? You're done for," Sunflower teased darkly from the side. "A few months from now, you'll probably be that drunk lady at the Tokyo Bay docks, yelling, 'Men are all trash!' And you'll drag me along to—ow, stop pulling my cheeks!"
Her expression barely changed even as Sayoko stretched her cheeks, only rubbing them after a loud Duang! when Sayoko let go.
Sayoko put her hands on her hips, adopting a rare "big sister" stance. "Kids shouldn't meddle in grown-up stuff. Alright, you've seen the place now. No creepy basement dungeons, no 'computer parts.' You can go now."
"No rush. My band doesn't meet up for a while. I'll just chill and—huh, Uncle plays guitar too?" Sunflower flopped onto the couch, sprawling out, but something hard poked her stomach. Wincing, she flipped over and found an orange guitar tucked under a pillow.
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