The system didn't just let you redeem games—it also offered music and other data.
When Fuyukawa Tetsu opened his newbie gift pack, he didn't just get Fate. He also snagged Beyond's Glory Days.
But, honestly, it wasn't all that useful.
In his past life, Fuyukawa was a huge music fan, and with the [Intermediate Music Theory] he'd absorbed from this body's soul fragments, he could recreate those songs from memory. At most, he'd need to chat with a professional about instruments. The sheet music in the system didn't mean much to him, and he had zero interest in becoming a singer.
Hanging his towel on the rack, Fuyukawa glanced at Izumi Himawari, who was bobbing her head to music through her earphones. Fresh from a shower, he felt refreshed but said nothing, quietly sitting back at the table to sip plain water.
Releasing songs anonymously wasn't just about sharing the classic hits from his past life—it was also a backup plan.
Signing with a management agency to debut as a singer could rake in cash, but the cost? His private life would be gone. In Japan, where idol culture and public scrutiny are intense, that's a steep price.
No need for that now.
He owned a place in Akihabara and had a steady job paying 700,000 yen a month. His biggest expense was the production cost of Fate. Money wasn't an issue for now, but the future was unpredictable.
If Surrounded by Beauties or even Fate flopped, and he lost his job with no funds to make another game, things could get dicey. That's why he anonymously released songs—a safety net to avoid some melodramatic scenario where he's desperately pitching Beyond's Greatest Hits to an agency while broke.
This approach gave him a fallback. If push came to shove, he could debut as a singer. But it was flexible. If his games took off and his career stabilized, he'd dial back on releasing songs to keep the spotlight off.
For now, he had no desire to be a singer, standing in the public eye. The pressure-free, low-profile life he had now? That suited him just fine.
Fuyukawa liked it this way.
His thoughts wandered as he sat there. Soon, Sayoko brought out the last of the fried eggs and miso soup, smoothed her floral dress, and sat to his left.
October in Tokyo wasn't too warm, hovering around 20°C, and the AC was on. Still, after bustling by the stove, Sayoko's fair shoulders glistened with sweat, and a faint scent of body wash lingered around her.
She'd showered before coming over?
Women with long hair rarely wash it in the morning since it takes so long to dry—let alone take a full shower. In Japan, where morning routines are often rushed, her effort stood out.
Fuyukawa raised an eyebrow and reached toward Sayoko's cheek.
"Tetsu-kun…"
What's he up to?
With Himawari right there.
Caught off guard, Sayoko froze as she sat, but she didn't pull away. Her hands, resting on her soft, pale thighs, clenched slightly, and she even leaned her face toward him. But then she paused, her blush deepening.
Fuyukawa's left hand didn't caress her cheek. Instead, he gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"Blushing? What're you thinking about, you total perv?" he teased, giving her soft earlobe a playful pinch before resting his arm on the table and picking up a fried egg with his chopsticks.
"Tetsu-kun, you're getting meaner by the day!"
Embarrassed by the interaction and her own misunderstanding, Sayoko turned her head with a mock huff. Her floral dress shifted, her curves making the chair creak, but her eyes sparkled with sweetness and shyness.
When she turned back, though, her gaze met Izumi Himawari's deadpan stare.
"Flirting with a guy in front of a high school girl? Really?" Himawari said, munching on a fried egg, her tone bold.
Before she could finish, Sayoko grabbed her mochi-like cheeks.
"You little brat, don't talk nonsense in front of Tetsu-kun!"
"Your temper's showing," Himawari shot back.
"…"
That hit hard. Sayoko, who'd been leaning forward with her hips up to pinch Himawari's face, flushed and sat back down. Sneaking a glance at Fuyukawa, who was slurping ramen with a grin, she relaxed. Clearing her throat, she adopted a motherly tone. "Alright, you've eaten. Now go home, okay?"
"It's almost 9:30 p.m.! Let me stay for lunch," Himawari whined.
"No way!"
"Such a heartless woman, abandoning poor little Himawari for some guy."
"Himawari! You're really asking for it!"
Sayoko's fists clenched on her thighs, ready to explode. Seeing she'd pushed too far, Himawari quickly pulled out her earphones, flashing a sheepish grin. "Kidding, kidding! Oh, I just found this amazing song. Wanna hear?"
"No way—huh, the melody's kinda nice," Sayoko said, softening.
[Woo~ Do you know, who's willing to let go~~]
The catchy tune hit her ears, and Sayoko's eyes lit up. Curious, she asked, "Didn't you used to look down on songs? Why the change?"
"It's different," Himawari said, chewing her egg and waving her chopsticks. "Most songs back then were just covers of J-pop. Who cares about covers? It's like Japanese people wouldn't buy a translation of Byakuyakou.
But Beyond? Totally original. And it's not just catchy. Look at the lyrics—'Is it fate, love, innocence, or chance?' The structure and vibe are completely different from anything here. No cover, no J-pop could match this feeling.
Plus, his vocals are insane. Sure, some pronunciations aren't super clear, and the breathing's a bit heavy, but the emotion? It pulls you right in. Those rough edges are probably intentional—makes it feel real. Yup, definitely. That's the mark of a master, returning to raw authenticity."
"It is pretty good," Sayoko agreed.
Himawari rambled on, and while Sayoko didn't catch all of it, as the song hit its climax, she frowned slightly.
This voice sounds so familiar. Where have I heard it?
Her brows furrowed. Then, glancing at Fuyukawa's profile as he ate, her eyes widened. "Tetsu-kun, this singer sounds a lot like you!"
"…That's quite a coincidence," he replied, unfazed.
She could tell? Lovers was in Cantonese, for crying out loud. Fuyukawa was inwardly shocked at Sayoko's sensitivity, but before he could dwell on it, Himawari snorted.
"Please, don't inflate your crush's ego just because you're into him. They sound nothing alike!"
"But they really do!" Sayoko insisted.
"Not! Even! Close!"
Feeling her idol was being insulted, Himawari puffed up her mochi-like cheeks. "If he could sing with that kind of soul, I'd run two laps around the school field upside down in a skirt!"
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