Japan's entertainment industry is relatively grounded.
Unlike in some places where idols with zero acting skills but massive fanbases are coddled by directors, in Japan, even the biggest idols have to humble themselves to break into TV dramas, let alone the big screen—and most still get turned away.
It's like how songwriters here often earn more than the singers themselves.
Put simply, people with real skills are respected and paid better than those who just coast on looks. Similarly, if Tetsu Fuyukawa wants to make his own games in the future without a big name, he'd need to offer top-tier salaries to attract industry elites.
Trading hefty bonuses for the title of "fastest to reach ten million sales as a game producer."
Honestly, Tetsu wasn't too disappointed. It was still a decent payoff, and he couldn't control everything. President Asai's strategy of boosting marketing costs to minimize "bonus losses" while expanding NTsoft's influence in Western markets? That was out of his hands as a mere section chief.
"Might as well be this way."
"Business is business. Makes it easier to walk away when the time comes."
At 5 p.m. in Lightbird Studio, Tetsu stared at the financial report in his hands, shaking his head. The bonus listed was a lot smaller than he'd expected.
By the time he got the report, The Binding of Isaac had sold nearly six million copies under massive marketing spend, totaling close to five billion yen!
By all accounts, that kind of revenue should've made him filthy rich overnight. But after Asai funneled more funds into promotion, the game's net profit dwindled to under 500 million yen.
Eighty percent of 500 million was 400 million. After a 45% top-tier personal tax, he was left with about 200 million yen—roughly 1.36 million USD.
Five billion shrunk to 500 million!
His wealth had taken a nosedive!
Sure, the fame would help him recruit talent later with "lower salaries, higher bonuses," trading time for leverage. But still… it stung!
Frowning, he heard the door handle turn.
---
"Still sulking, Tetsu-kun?"
Sayoko stepped in, a small handbag on her arm. Seeing Tetsu sprawled in his boss chair, a glint of amusement flickered in her eyes.
To be honest, she'd been pretty upset with Asai's tactics at first. But time had passed, and with everyone online and at NTsoft singing Tetsu's praises, she'd mellowed out.
Still, seeing Tetsu's pained expression, she shyly locked the door, swayed her curvy hips—wrapped in a floral bodycon skirt—and plopped into his lap, her soft 92 cm peach nestling close. Sniffing his neck, her fair face flushed.
"Don't be down. We're leaving after Sekiro's done, right? Besides, knowing you, if you just milked NTsoft dry and bailed, you'd probably feel bad about it."
"You little minx, reading me like an open book."
Tetsu squeezed her soft curves, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead. His mood lightened. Sure, he didn't make bank this time, but the fame was worth something, and his heart felt lighter.
After Sekiro, he planned to leave, taking Mitei Miyano and much of Lightbird Studio with him. Asai and Minister Koharu had been good to him, though—he knew it was partly due to internal company politics, but they'd given a rookie like him plenty of opportunities.
Judge actions, not intentions—nobody's perfect.
No matter their motives, help was help. You can't say it's not support just because it serves their faction's interests. And with the Asai-Kotsume faction feud likely dragging on even after Sekiro, bailing at a critical moment might've left him feeling indebted. But now? Everything was clear.
Asai and his faction had made one thing loud and clear: it's all about profit.
When it's just business, things get simple.
With that, Tetsu's mood fully relaxed.
Sensing the shift, Sayoko's eyes sparkled with joy. Wiggling her curvy frame in his lap, she teased, "An open book? That's mean, Tetsu-kun~ I just know that, despite how cold and decisive you are with business, you're a softie at heart."
Rubbing against him, she sat up slightly, kissing his neck as her fair hand slid down. "All that tough-guy stuff? It's just your way of protecting yourself, isn't it?"
"You little—get over there!"
Caught off guard by her teasing, Tetsu was riled up, ready to "enforce house rules." But Sayoko, in her floral skirt, beat him to it, obediently draping herself over the desk, her flushed face turning to him. "If Tetsu-kun's feeling down…"
"Pull it down yourself!"
"Hmph~ naughty guy~"
---
The section chief's office was a whirlwind of heat. Meanwhile, at the door…
"Those two think this place is what exactly?!"
Mitei Miyano's forehead vein throbbed as she glared at the locked door. Knowing Tetsu as she did, and hearing from a staffer that Sayoko was inside discussing "confidential info," how could she not guess what was going on?
She'd been thrilled when Tetsu invited her to the celebration tonight, even sneaking in some makeup. But running into this? Her sharp, glamorous eyes burned with fury. She nearly kicked the door down but, noticing the few employees still lingering over their bento dinners, she huffed, plopped into a nearby chair, crossed her legs, and tapped her arm with folded hands.
Her icy aura was so intense it sent shivers through the bento-munching staff!
And as time ticked by, that aura grew even darker.
"This guy, seriously? How long can he go?!"
"Damn it! I'm gonna end him later!"
Teeth gritted, Mitei was on the verge of exploding when—click—the door opened. Sayoko stepped out, face glowing, only to freeze at the sight of Mitei, radiating a dark, menacing fog.
"Eek!"
Startled, Sayoko instinctively moved to bow, but an arm slid around her still-warm waist.
"Yo, you're here."
"You jerk! Do you know I've been waiting out here for—let's talk in the car!"
Tetsu, looking refreshed, greeted her with a cheeky grin. His flippant tone lit Mitei's fuse, but as she started to snap, a group of employees returning from dinner walked in.
Her loud outburst startled them, and even Mitei, rarely flustered, faltered. Shooting Tetsu a mortified glare and glancing at the still-blushing Sayoko, a flicker of jealousy crossed her eyes. But she turned, her snake-like hips swaying, and stormed out.
"This woman, always so fiery."
"Ugh, Tetsu-kun, don't say that~~~"
Realizing their moment had been caught, and feeling the staff's eyes, Sayoko's blush deepened. She hurriedly pushed Tetsu downstairs. At the parking lot, Mitei was already waiting by the black BMW.
"No car?"
"I'm drinking tonight—why would I drive?!"
Mitei shot him a glare, yanking the door open. Tetsu chuckled, shaking his head as he got in. Sayoko, ever gentle, skipped the front seat to sit in the back with Mitei, chatting away.
Truth be told, the two women weren't super close, but they'd known each other a while. Unlike Sunflower, Sayoko wasn't ambitious—her love for art was pure passion, not career-driven. She lacked a competitive streak and harbored no real hostility toward Mitei. And Mitei…
Tetsu glanced in the rearview mirror, seeing Mitei's proud demeanor soften as she chatted with Sayoko, even offering work advice. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
A natural airhead taming a scheming queen? Not quite, but Sayoko's warmth seemed to dull the thorns of Mitei's wild rose.
Seeing them getting along, Tetsu focused on driving.
Tonight was a celebration for The Binding of Isaac, though that was just an excuse. The company's official party was done—this was for Sayoko's Pisces birthday at home. Tetsu hadn't expected her to ask him to invite Mitei.
"Pisces women, too emotional for their own good."
---
At the home party, besides Sayoko and Mitei, a certain Scorpio couldn't escape either.
At just past 6 p.m., the black BMW pulled up to Tokiwadai High School.
Late March in Japanese high schools meant cherry blossoms swirling, the campus steeped in romance and… bittersweetness.
March, with its fluttering petals, was graduation season for seniors.
Perhaps due to Japan's history of earthquakes, typhoons, and tsunamis, the culture leaned into mono no aware—the beauty of transience—and placed heavy emphasis on rituals like coming-of-age ceremonies and graduations.
Graduation photos, school festivals, sports days, school trips, and confessions all happened in March. And, by pure coincidence, today was White Day.
In some cultures, Valentine's Day is mostly about men gifting women. But in Japan, it's a two-way street. On February 14, girls give "true love" chocolates to the boys they like. If the boy accepts, he returns the gesture on March 14. Even without receiving chocolates, boys can use White Day to confess.
White Day plus graduation season? March's romantic vibe was off the charts.
Case in point: while waiting at a milk tea shop near the school gate, sipping boba with the two women, Tetsu spotted plenty of boys, rejected chocolates in hand, sulking on the curb, questioning their existence.
"Idiots. Why wait till graduation to confess? What's the point now?"
Leaning against the counter, slurping his boba, Tetsu muttered under his breath. Mitei, sipping her own milk tea, rolled her eyes. "Tch, at least they know to give gifts to the women they love. Unlike someone who can't be bothered on such an important day and a birthday. Hey, Sayoko, you gave him chocolates last month, right?"
"...Um."
Caught off guard with students around, Sayoko nodded shyly. That was all the ammo Mitei needed. Her sharp eyes glared at Tetsu. "See? This guy doesn't even take you seriously. Total selfish jerk. Hey! I'm talking to you! You listening?!"
"Huh? What'd you say?"
Tetsu turned, milk tea in hand, looking clueless.
"...You've got some nerve!"
Realizing she'd been played, Mitei shot him a look but dropped it. The blow wasn't over, though. Sayoko, clinging to Tetsu's arm, smiled sweetly. "As long as Tetsu-kun's by my side, I'm happy."
"You're the one spoiling him, you silly woman!"
"I'm just happy today."
"You're hopeless!"
The three bantered, and soon, a pure high school girl with a backpack appeared on the street.
Sunflower Izumi was in her JK uniform, long socks hugging her slender legs, little leather boots on her feet. The big red bow on her chest added a lively spark to her cool, delicate features.
Their VIP had arrived. Tetsu slurped the last of his milk tea and, under the envious gazes of male classmates, led the two stunning women out. But just as he stepped outside, a dark figure darted toward Sunflower.
It was Haruyama, the guy from the basketball game.
"Confession?"
Spotting the gift box in Haruyama's hand, Tetsu raised an eyebrow but didn't hurry over. As expected, Sunflower, cool as ever, said something to Haruyama that left him petrified. Then her gaze turned to Tetsu.
"Stinky Uncle! Sayoko-san!"
Her cool facade melted, replaced by a sweet smile as she ran toward Tetsu under the onlookers' stares. But when she spotted Mitei, her face fell.
Still, it was Sayoko's birthday, so she held back, not stirring trouble. She just shot Tetsu a side-eye, muttered under her breath, and linked arms with Sayoko, chatting and laughing as they climbed into the car. Meanwhile, as the BMW pulled away from the school gate, Haruyama stood in the chilly March breeze, tears streaming down his face, frozen in a state of "lonely, cold despair."
"Haruyama, Haruyama, she's gone, man. Come on, she's just one girl! Once you get to Tsukuba University, you'll find plenty of girls!"
A friend patted Haruyama's shoulder, trying to console him. Wiping his tears with his sleeve, Haruyama sniffled. "You're right! She's not worth my tears!"
"Exactly! Let's go! I found this awesome new roguelike game. Come over to my place and play!"