46-50

Chapter 46: The Woman Pretending to Be Aloof 

“You!” 

The blunt remark, “The world doesn’t revolve around you,” completely threw Mitei Miyano off her game. But she clearly realized her usual mind games weren’t working on Tetsu Fuyukawa. 

“You’d better watch yourself at the company from now on!” she snapped. 

Outtalked and outmatched, she let out a huff, stormed out, and slammed the door so hard the glass partition rattled. But— 

-1000! 

+3000! 

“What a tsundere,” Tetsu muttered, shrugging as he stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. 

He wasn’t fazed by Mitei’s threat. Judging by her emotional values, she seemed to have enjoyed their little exchange anyway. 

And if things really escalated? He’d just quit. Sure, staying at NTsoft to lay the groundwork for Fate before going independent would be safer, but it wasn’t the only path. As the saying goes, “When you want for nothing, you fear nothing.” Mitei’s little jab didn’t rattle him one bit. 

After finishing his smoke, Tetsu sat back down at his computer, fingers flying across the keyboard. 

But the screen wasn’t showing the script for Surrounded by Beauties. Instead, it displayed a game engine called Zeus. 

He’d already wrapped up today’s script revisions and was now getting familiar with this world’s new engine. 

The foundation shapes the structure. 

Due to different gaming trends in this world, classic engines like Unity 3D, Frostbite, or Unreal Engine from his previous life didn’t exist. While Zeus wasn’t bad, its interface and mechanics were different. 

“The usage is different, but not by much. I’ll get the hang of it soon enough,” Tetsu mused, sipping his goji berry tea. “But… engines, huh.” 

Anyone who lived through 2023 knows one thing: selling products is nowhere near as profitable as building a platform. 

It’s true across industries. E-commerce platforms take about a 10% cut; food delivery apps like Meituan skim 20%; iOS in-app purchases take 30%; web novel platforms grab over 50%. Some Chinese app stores were the worst, hitting a jaw-dropping 90% cut at their peak. 

Yes, 90% to the platform, 10% to the creators. 

As Let the Bullets Fly so aptly put it, some things never go out of style. 

The gaming industry was slightly better, but platforms still took around 30%. 

“They just siphon off 30% of the revenue,” Tetsu thought. “In the future, I’ll definitely build my own gaming platform. But the market’s already saturated. To get other games to publish on my platform, I need to give them a reason to come. Low fees alone won’t cut it—I need a killer game engine.” 

“Epic tried that route, but they entered too late, and their platform experience was garbage, so they never caught up to Steam’s shadow. Steam’s got massive traffic and top-notch user experience. Epic’s was a mess, but their Unreal Engine gave them a fighting chance. If I could combine the two…” 

His eyes lit up with excitement, but he quickly calmed himself. “A platform’s operating model and engine development would cost way too many points—far more than what I’d need for game music. Plus, the startup capital would be insane.” 

“Slow and steady,” he told himself, taking another sip of tea and diving back into studying the Zeus engine. 

When you’re deep in work, time flies. 

With Hao Hao’s Mom, Leqing Lin, locked in as the key actress, Surrounded by Beauties was picking up steam. 

The next morning, Tetsu called in Ms. Mariri Shiraishi. After another audition, he assigned her the role of Miki Okura (Yun Si Li). 

Mariri was over the moon! 

It wasn’t a starring role, but for someone like her, with no financial backing and who’d shown up on day one for auditions, landing this part was a huge win. 

No surprise, then, that at noon she cornered Tetsu in the parking lot, ready for a “love wrestling match” in the car. She’d even brought a cherry blossom-themed kimono, hinting she was down for a hotel rendezvous too. 

Tempting, no doubt. But her luck wasn’t great. 

Sayoko didn’t show up this time, but Mitei Miyano did. 

Under Mitei’s venomous, snake-like glare, Mariri’s legs turned to jelly. She hopped into her corgi-like K-Car and peeled out. What left Tetsu speechless, though, was that Mitei didn’t say a word to him either—she just hopped into her Porsche and sped off. 

“Is this woman keeping tabs on me?” Tetsu muttered, scratching his head in frustration as he watched her car disappear. 

Ever since that night in the office, Mitei had been giving him the cold shoulder, her face like ice, only talking business and not sparing a single smile. 

Classic PUA move. 

For a regular employee, it’d be effective. Mitei, as department head, held serious power. One word from her could double someone’s salary, saving years of struggle—or wipe out years of effort in an instant. 

Too bad for her, Tetsu wasn’t buying it. 

Worst case, he’d quit. No big deal. 

Watching Tetsu in her rearview mirror, getting farther away without even a hint of chasing after her to talk, Mitei’s teeth itched with irritation. Her manicured fingers gripped the steering wheel tighter. 

“Just a guy!” she fumed. 

She hated how Tetsu kept the upper hand, but she was out of moves. The worst part? His work was impeccable—reports, proposals, and attitude were all flawless.  

“So infuriating! I can’t outtalk him, can’t outmaneuver him, and he doesn’t even try to smooth things over!” It was driving her up the wall. 

Tetsu, oblivious to her thoughts, kept to his own rhythm. 

That morning, he finalized Yun Si Li’s role, bringing Surrounded by Beauties to three confirmed female leads. That left Ziyan Zheng, Xiao Lu, and Huixing Shen—the younger roles. 

These three had bigger parts and higher popularity than Zhong Zhen or Yun Si Li, but casting them was easier. For Hao Hao’s Mom, you needed an actress who could pull off the charm of a woman in her thirties while looking like she was in her mid-twenties—a tall order for acting chops. But for Ziyan, Xiao, and Huixing? Just find good-looking women in their early twenties who didn’t break immersion. The acting bar was lower. 

Japan’s idol scene, while not as intense as Korea’s, was still packed with girl groups—SKE48 (home of former star Mikami-sensei), AKB48 (which launched Risa Tachibana), Nogizaka46 (Asuka Saito’s old group), and more. 

With plenty of options and lower acting demands—plus many candidates free from major gigs—Tetsu shortlisted twelve actresses in a single afternoon. 

The lineup included idol group trainees, students from nearby art universities, and young women who’d dropped out of high school to chase dreams in Tokyo. 

All were stunning—pure, captivating beauties who could make boys lose sleep, the kind you’d reminisce about years later, thinking, “She was so beautiful in that sunset glow.” 

But in one afternoon, Tetsu got at least twenty dinner invites or “love sumo match” offers. It was a bit harsh, but there’s truth to the saying: “Beauty is rare for the masses but dime-a-dozen for the elite.” 

Ignoring the messages, Tetsu stuck to his standards for casting. 

Days passed like this—interviewing actresses by day, tweaking Surrounded by Beauties scripts on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings, and working on Fate on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. 

Before he knew it, it was Thursday of the second week. 

Chapter 47: Ready to Roll! 

“Good morning, Section Chief Fuyukawa!” 

“Miss Hatano, looking stunning as always.” 

“Oh, stop it, Chief, you’re teasing again.” 

Tetsu Fuyukawa strode into NTsoft’s lobby, briefcase in hand, brimming with energy.  

He’d worked until past 1 a.m. last night, but thanks to the system’s boost to his stamina, he felt as fresh as ever. Still, after flashing a smile at the receptionist and stepping into the elevator, his expression turned serious. 

This week had gone smoothly for him. All six actors were hired, the script for Surrounded by Beauties was finalized, and this afternoon was the first full-team meeting before shooting began. Everything was on track, and the vibe in his studio was great. But the company as a whole? Not so much. 

Ever since Kazuma Studio announced they were making a Galgame to compete head-on with Hikari Studio, a gloomy atmosphere had settled over NTsoft. 

At first, most employees treated it like a sideshow. But gradually, people started sensing something was off. 

“An outsider dropped into Department Four, and now cozying up with Chairman Ozuru.” 

“This isn’t as simple as it looks.” 

In the elevator, Fuyukawa’s face was grim. 

The clash between Kazuma Studio and Hikari Studio was initially seen as a rookie squabble. Galgames and interactive live-action movie games were low-budget projects, so even though the two studios were going toe-to-toe, it seemed more like a petty rivalry than a real threat. 

But people had underestimated Miyami Miyano’s ambition—and Chairman Ozuru’s motives for bringing her to NTsoft and back to the front lines. 

Chairman Ozuru was pushing for a company-wide overhaul. 

Founded in 1894, NTsoft was a globally renowned gaming giant, but old didn’t always mean strong—sometimes it meant stagnant. Over the years, NTsoft’s six game development departments had developed an unspoken rule: once a department dominated a game genre, others stayed clear. 

When Miyami Miyano founded Hikari Studio, she’d aimed to break into ARPGs (action role-playing games), a domain long controlled by Department Three. Despite Department Three’s lackluster output in recent years, they refused to let go of the genre, leading to a heated clash between Miyano and their department head at a company meeting. 

In the end, she didn’t get the president’s approval and had to pivot Hikari Studio to Galgames—a field no other department had claimed. That’s when she promoted Fuyukawa. 

And that’s where the trouble started. 

Sure, internal competition existed, but it was cushioned—everyone was part of the same team, so the pressure wasn’t as intense as facing external rivals. Some department heads, to avoid big losses, stuck to rehashing old successes, tweaking just enough to call it new. 

They might miss out on bonuses, but they could coast on steady salaries. After all, their department was the only one making that type of game, and with years of loyalty to the company, it was unlikely they’d be axed. 

But Miyano was out to smash those unwritten rules. 

This was great for talented employees stuck without upward mobility—better work meant bigger bonuses. But for those coasting on mediocrity, connections, or nepotism, the pressure was real. 

The kicker? Miyano’s bold personality. She’d openly declared at a company meeting that some departments could be scrapped entirely without issue. 

“Cutting into others’ turf—she’s got support from capable people, but to really rally the troops, she needs results. Otherwise, it could end badly for her.” 

“Damn it, so the pressure’s back on me, huh?” 

Fuyukawa shook his head, exasperated. 

Whether he liked it or not, Miyano had handpicked him. If she fell, he’d go down with her. Getting fired wouldn’t ruin him, but… 

“Ohayo, Tetsu-kun.” 

Sayoko was bent over, wiping down his desk in the office partition, her hips swaying. 

“Ohayo.” 

Fuyukawa set his briefcase down, sank into his chair, and let his right hand glide over her soft, curvaceous figure—number 92, as he playfully called it. 

At just under 5’5”, Sayoko wasn’t tall, but her body was soft in all the right ways—plush where it counted, with fingers sinking into her curves. Yet she was slim where it mattered: defined collarbones, a delicate face, and a waist that only carried a hint of softness at her belly, making her undeniably alluring. 

Starting the morning with such a beauty eased Fuyukawa’s tension. His hand lingered, savoring the warmth through her tight skirt. 

“Mmm, Tetsu-kun, always causing trouble first thing in the morning,” Sayoko murmured, letting out a soft whimper but not pulling away. She wiggled playfully, continuing to wipe the desk while teasing, “But not today, okay? It’s the first day of shooting. Your first time leading a game project—you need to stay focused.” 

“Giving your boss lessons now?” 

His fingers pressed a bit harder, sinking into her softness, earning another whimper. But he pulled back, leaning into his chair and staring at the ceiling. 

If Miyano failed and he got sacked, it wouldn’t derail his future too badly. But… 

He couldn’t look weak in front of his woman. 

Glancing at Sayoko’s beautiful profile, a smile tugged at his lips. With a swift move, he pulled her into his lap amidst her surprised yelp. 

He held her tight, arms locking around her, as if melding her softness into him. Little Fuyukawa stirred, and Sayoko tensed briefly before relaxing, her eyes shimmering with warmth. 

Three weeks together, and though Fuyukawa respected her boundaries—still not crossing that final line—she’d grown used to this closeness. 

After a moment, noticing he wasn’t pushing further, she shifted in his lap, lying on her side. Her hand reached up to smooth his furrowed brow, her voice tender. “Tetsu-kun… is the company stuff stressing you out?” 

“Yeah, a bit.” 

He buried his face in her swan-like neck, inhaling deeply, then nodded. But when her delicate fingers started sliding downward, he caught them, grinning at her confused look. “Didn’t you just say I need to focus?” 

“Ugh, you jerk! I was just… worried about your stress!”  

“Haha, you little vixen.” 

“Hmph, don’t like it?” 

“Love it, love it. But let’s try something different today.” 

“Different? Wait, that’s too—” 

In her shy gaze, Fuyukawa stretched out his legs, lifted her gently, and set her in front of him, facing away, her back against his chest. 

Feeling everything behind her and staring at the office window ahead, Sayoko’s face flushed crimson. But slowly, she began to relax… 

“…Jerk.” 

Chapter 48: The Female Director’s Invitation 

The intimate moment didn’t last long. As work hours began, the sound of footsteps grew louder in the hallway. Sayoko, covering her mouth, hurried to the bathroom, while a refreshed Tetsu Fuyukawa started his day. Truth be told, there wasn’t much work left to do today. 

Over the past week, he’d not only finalized the cast but also submitted budgets, equipment lists, and schedules to Miyano Mitei. 

With little to do, he dove back into refining the script for Surrounded by Beauties. 

When you focus on something, time flies. But while Tetsu could lose himself in the script, the rest of NTsoft’s staff, including Sayoko, were on edge. 

“I wonder how this company meeting will turn out,” Sayoko said, clutching her teacup and glancing nervously at the corridor outside. Today was the monthly company meeting, where all six department heads, including Miyano Mitei, were reporting to the major shareholders on the top floor. Everyone knew Miyano was pushing for company reforms. 

Aunt Nogi sighed. “Whatever the outcome, our Division 4 will still be under a lot of pressure in the short term. Those shareholders won’t budge without solid results. Miyano’s ideas are great, but getting their support requires hard proof. I think she’s being too hasty.” 

Sayoko sipped her goji berry tea, pursing her lips. “But what choice does she have? Our division used to focus on fighting games, but arcades are all about pachinko now, and side-scrolling fighters are lukewarm at best. If she doesn’t push for the ARPG genre, even with funding, we’d have nowhere to grow.” 

Nogi sighed again. “You’re right. But Miyano’s new here. She was a star at her old company, but at NTsoft, she hasn’t yet delivered a hit game to prove herself to her new colleagues and bosses. It’s hard to win people over like this… Oh! Good morning, Director Miyano!” 

Mid-gossip, the office door swung open, and Miyano Mitei strode in, dressed in a sharp OL uniform. 

The director herself had arrived! 

Nogi froze. Not just her—Sayoko and Kawaguchi shot to their feet, bowing in greeting. 

Japanese companies have a strict hierarchy, but management usually puts on a friendly face with lower-level staff. Not today. 

Miyano Mitei stormed in, her sharp heels clicking loudly, her already icy face now frosted over with a chilling expression. 

The room grew cold. Nogi bowed lower, and Kawaguchi’s legs trembled like a gazelle spotting a leopard. Miyano’s piercing gaze swept over them, lingering briefly on Sayoko’s gentle face, before she marched straight to the office partition. 

“Come with me.” 

“?” 

Tetsu, standing by the window with an iPad reviewing the script, blinked in surprise. From Miyano’s frosty demeanor, he could tell the morning’s meeting had gone poorly for the ambitious director. 

What does this woman want with me now? 

Setting down the tablet, Tetsu’s mind raced, but he didn’t ask questions. He gave a worried Sayoko a reassuring look and followed Miyano out of the office. 

“Good morning, Director!” 

“Ohayo, Director Miyano!” 

“Great work, Director Miyano!” 

Miyano’s presence was undeniably intimidating. 

In the hallway, regular employees and even section chiefs pressed themselves against the walls, hands at their sides, bowing respectfully. Miyano didn’t so much as glance at them, her heels clicking as she swayed forward with purpose. 

It was quite a scene. But aside from bowing to Miyano, the employees were also sneaking curious glances at Tetsu trailing behind her. 

Some envied his glamorous, black-rose-like boss. Others gloated, wondering if he was in trouble—Miyano’s temper was infamous, after all. As the two stepped into the elevator, whispers started to spread. 

Tetsu didn’t care much for the gossip. Watching the elevator numbers tick downward, he raised an eyebrow. “Not going to your office?” 

No response. Miyano just crossed her arms under her chest, her face still icy. 

She’s clearly upset but still trying to play it cool. 

It was obvious she’d taken a hit at the meeting. Since he had no other morning tasks, Tetsu didn’t press and followed her out of the building to the parking lot. 

“Narumi Judo Dojo?” 

Stepping out of the passenger seat of Miyano’s red convertible Porsche 718 in Akihabara, Tetsu ignored the envious stares from passersby and maid-cafe flyer girls. He eyed the traditional dojo sign and raised an eyebrow. “Hey, my contract with the company doesn’t include fighting.” 

“Less talking!” 

Miyano slammed the car door, shooting him a cold, sultry glare before pulling a duffel bag from the trunk. “Follow me!” 

“Bossing me around?” Tetsu’s brow twitched, but seeing her sexy yet somehow lonely and weary figure, he sighed and followed. 

Though their strong personalities had led to some friction in past meetings, Tetsu genuinely admired her work ethic and boldness. 

Taking on half the company like this wasn’t a move just anyone could make—especially at a legacy company like NTsoft, where crossing the wrong people could tank your career, not just in the company but in Tokyo’s gaming scene. The pressure was immense. 

Clearly, Miyano Mitei was a woman with ambition and a driveმო  

System: drive to get results. It’s obvious she’d taken a hit at the meeting. Since he had no other morning tasks, Tetsu didn’t press and followed her out of the building to the parking lot. 

“Narumi Judo Dojo?” 

Stepping out of the passenger seat of Miyano’s red convertible Porsche 718 in Akihabara, Tetsu ignored the envious stares from passersby and maid-cafe flyer girls. He eyed the traditional dojo sign and raised an eyebrow. “Hey, my contract with the company doesn’t include fighting.” 

“Less talking!” 

Miyano slammed the car door, shooting him a cold, sultry glare before pulling a duffel bag from the trunk. “Follow me!” 

“Bossing me around?” Tetsu’s brow twitched, but seeing her sexy yet somehow lonely and weary figure, he sighed and followed. 

Though their strong personalities had led to some friction in past meetings, Tetsu genuinely admired her work ethic and boldness. 

Taking on half the company like this wasn’t a move just anyone could make—especially at a legacy company like NTsoft, where crossing the wrong people could tank your career, not just in the company but in Tokyo’s gaming scene. The pressure was immense. 

Clearly, Miyano Mitei was a woman with ambition and a desire to get things done, a trait Tetsu respected. 

Inside the dojo, Miyano was clearly a regular. A sharp female judo instructor greeted them and even had a fresh pair of Muay Thai shorts and underwear ready for Tetsu. 

She’s really here to fight me? 

Holding the clothes, Tetsu’s expression was one of resignation. In his past life, he’d been a bit wild in his youth, dabbling in extreme sports like wingsuit flying and training in Muay Thai for a while. His skills were no match for professional fighters who’d trained since childhood, but at 186 cm, taking on a petite powerhouse like Miyano—under 170 cm—would be a breeze. 

She’s probably stressed and needs to blow off some steam. 

Fine, I’ll go easy on her. Call it looking out for my frustrated boss. 

With those thoughts, Tetsu turned to head to the changing room, but Miyano stopped him. “Don’t you dare go easy on me, or I’ll fire you!” 

“?” 

Her threat made Tetsu scowl. “Hey, don’t push it. I’m already doing you a favor by—” 

“If you win, I’ll… let you hold me and kiss me!” 

“?” 

Tetsu blinked, staring at the still-proud and icy Miyano. Tilting his head, he said, “Why would you think that’s a reward? Please, your kissing skills are terrible.” 

“!!! You’re dead!” 

Chapter 49: Now That’s More Like It 

“Your kissing skills are terrible.” 

That single sentence completely shattered Miyano Mitei’s defenses. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks as she shot a fierce glare before turning and storming into the changing room. 

“Acting all tough when you’re just a rookie,” Fuyukawa Tetsu muttered with a slight smirk, heading into the changing room to get ready. 

You’ve got to admit, this judo dojo was pretty high-end. The changing rooms were private, each equipped with a shower, a sauna, and even an onsen-style hot bath. For Fuyukawa, who’d grown up in southern Japan, these amenities didn’t hold much allure. In fact, memories of a business trip up north—where a bathhouse attendant had scrubbed him so vigorously it left him wincing—made him swear off northern bathhouses for good. 

He slipped into Muay Thai shorts, wrapped his hands with bandages, and put on his gloves before heading to the training room. It was workday hours, and given the dojo’s upscale vibe, the place was empty except for the female judoka who’d greeted him earlier, kneeling quietly to the side. 

“The tatami’s pretty soft,” Fuyukawa remarked, lightly testing the give of the mats with his toes. He glanced at the judoka. “Got any protective gear around here?” 

“Protective gear? One moment, I’ll grab some for you,” she replied, her eyes briefly lingering on Fuyukawa’s chiseled six-pack before she turned to fetch the equipment. 

What a hot guy, she thought. Working as a coach in a dojo like this, she’d seen plenty of fit men, but someone like Fuyukawa—handsome, muscular, and clearly successful at a young age—was rare. 

Fuyukawa, oblivious to her thoughts, focused on stretching and strapping on the gear. The protective pads were the kind you’d see on TV—red and blue foam armor worn for sparring. In judo or any combat sport, adults could hit or kick hard enough to cause serious injury without gear. But Fuyukawa wasn’t wearing it to protect himself—he was making sure he didn’t accidentally hurt Miyano Mitei. 

For this, he didn’t need a chest guard or headgear, just shin pads. As he finished adjusting them, the soft patter of bare feet on the floor caught his attention. 

Fuyukawa looked up—and froze. 

A stunning woman in a white judo gi stepped onto the tatami, her bare feet pale and delicate. Miyano Mitei, now in her judo uniform, was breathtaking. 

Her long, jet-black hair was tied back into a neat bun, revealing a refined yet alluring face. The bun softened her sharp, icy demeanor, giving her an almost playful, mischievous charm that didn’t quite match her age. Her swan-like neck led to the deep V-neck of her gi, which hugged her curvaceous figure. Below the black obi belt, her full, shapely thighs were on display. 

At 5’6”, Miyano had an enviable figure—long legs, a shorter torso, and a perfect balance of slim and curvy. From a distance, she looked slender, but up close, her legs had a voluptuous, fleshy appeal. The combination of her mature, feminine allure and the innocent vibe from her bun made Fuyukawa pause, caught off guard by the mix of desire and charm in her presence. 

Miyano noticed his gaze and smirked proudly. Still got it, she thought. Says my kissing’s bad? I’ll make you swoon! 

Keeping her composure, she coughed lightly, sneaking a glance at Fuyukawa’s abs before noticing his shin pads. Her brow furrowed. “Why the gear?” 

Fuyukawa tore his eyes away from her delicate feet. “So I don’t accidentally kick you too hard.” 

“Don’t underestimate me!” Miyano snapped, annoyed by his cocky tone. Done with banter, she stepped forward, aiming to grab his shoulders. But as she closed the distance, whoosh—his right leg, clad in red shin pads, swung toward her waist like a battle axe. 

“Not that fast—another feint kick?!” Miyano braced her arms to block, ready for a shift in his attack. But the next second—bam! 

“Got you—wait, what?!” Her hands caught his sweeping leg, a flash of triumph in her eyes as she prepared for a judo throw. But… 

“Too strong,” she realized too late. 

With a dull thud, the female judoka watching from the side wasn’t surprised. Miyano was swept off her feet by Fuyukawa’s whip-like kick, flying sideways like a discarded doll before crashing onto the tatami. As she struggled to get up, Fuyukawa’s gloved right fist was already inches from her face, lightly tapping her chin in a teasing, almost intimate gesture. 

“Your reflexes are quick, but your strength’s lacking,” he said with a grin. 

That did it. “Shut up!” Miyano growled, humiliated. She sprang up, launching a whip kick of her own. But whip kicks, while powerful, left openings. Fuyukawa could’ve easily swept her supporting leg, but instead, he blocked her kick with his left arm. 

The female judoka frowned, and so did Miyano. As a black belt in judo, she could tell he was holding back. But instead of feeling grateful, it only fueled her irritation. 

Thinks I’m weak because I’m a woman? Just like every other arrogant guy! Her eyes turned icy, her kicks growing heavier, eventually swinging both legs in a relentless barrage. 

Crack, crack, crack—the sound of her feet smacking against his arms echoed through the training room. As her body warmed up, a flush of excitement spread across her face. 

We haven’t settled this yet—don’t underestimate me just because I’m a woman!  

Miyano reveled in the one-sided “domination,” but something felt off. Her kicks grew fiercer, her emotions a tangled mix of frustration and thrill. Then—snap—Fuyukawa caught her right leg mid-kick, not letting go this time. Instead, he gripped her thigh with both fists and shoved hard. 

“Eek!” Caught off guard, Miyano stumbled back several steps. 

“Looks like one-sided dominance isn’t enough to loosen you up,” Fuyukawa said. 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Miyano’s eyes widened. 

He shrugged. “I thought you needed to vent some work stress, but it seems what you really need isn’t reckless release…” He met her gaze, his smile sharp. “It’s an explosion after being pushed to your limits.” 

An explosion after being pushed to my limits? Miyano’s sweat-drenched shoulders trembled, a surge of unfamiliar excitement in her eyes. “What are you—?!” 

“Try it and see.” 

No more holding back. Fuyukawa lunged forward—a left jab followed by a right straight punch. Miyano, guarding her face, staggered back three steps. Before she could recover, he closed in again—a quick left jab, then a low right kick to her inner thigh. Crack! A sharp sting followed by a pained groan. 

The force sent Miyano stumbling, but Fuyukawa showed no mercy. A left hook to her abdomen—not her jaw, mind you—landed with a thud. “Ugh!” Pain flared, but… why did this oppressive feeling feel better than just kicking him? 

The hook hit her guarded arms, but it still forced her to curl forward. Yet, in her lowered gaze, her eyes gleamed with a twisted excitement—a rush far beyond her earlier one-sided attacks. 

Left jab, right straight, leg sweep, hook, straight punch, backhand fist—Fuyukawa’s relentless assault overwhelmed her defenses. As the pressure mounted, Miyano felt like she was suffocating, on the verge of collapse. But just as she hit her limit, his attacks slowed, like surfacing from underwater to gulp air. A wave of relief washed over her, but before she could savor it, he struck again. 

Oxygen-starved, yet exhilarated, Miyano’s eyes locked onto Fuyukawa, tracking his every move like a cat waiting for a treat. Sure enough, when she was red-faced and gasping, he eased up again. Seizing the chance, she abandoned her mid-range kicks, lunging forward to grab his left arm. Her legs wrapped around, aiming for a Brazilian jiu-jitsu triangle choke. 

Got you! she thought, her flushed face alight with triumph. But in the next instant, her body lifted off the ground. Before she could react, Fuyukawa had reversed the hold, scooping her into his arms. 

“You think I’d let a judoka get that close?” he whispered in her ear, his left arm around her waist, his right locking her throat. Her curvaceous figure pressed against him, her feet dangling. At 5’6”, she was tall, but in Fuyukawa’s grip, she felt small, unable to touch the ground or break free. 

“Again with this…” she muttered. 

“Don’t like it?” His arm tightened slightly on her neck. 

A choking sensation hit her, her eyes fluttering upward. Fuyukawa’s voice dropped lower. “Didn’t you say something about what happens if I win?” 

“…” Miyano’s legs rubbed together instinctively, a mix of humiliation and excitement in her eyes. Noticing the female judoka had slipped out of the room, she relaxed slightly. Turning her face toward Fuyukawa’s, she closed her eyes. “Just… just this once!” 

Her words were defiant, but after a pause, the expected kiss didn’t come. Opening her eyes, she saw Fuyukawa smirking at her lips, his teasing gaze saying it all. 

“You jerk…” Her eyes held a mix of grievance and longing. Then, her warm breath brushed his face. 

“Now that’s more like it.” 

Chapter 50: Let’s Make Another Bet 

Training was exhausting, and Tetsu Fuyukawa, clad only in Muay Thai shorts, was drenched in sweat, his muscles glistening. Miyako Miyano, held tightly against his chest in mid-air, was no different. 

Her thin white judo uniform, soaked with sweat, clung to Tetsu’s abs and chest. 

Their lips met, and in the heat of the moment, Tetsu’s grip on Miyako’s arms tightened, his strength making her eyes roll back. Her pale, delicate feet, dangling in the air, curled instinctively before going limp, hanging loosely. 

The training room fell silent, save for the soft ticking of the clock. 

After a long moment, their lips parted. 

“You jerk,” Miyako muttered. 

“Didn’t like it?” Tetsu teased. 

Letting go, he allowed the slightly wobbly Miyako to slump onto the tatami mat. Without bothering to hide the obvious bulge in his shorts, he ignored her flushed, sneaky glance and grabbed two bottles of mineral water from the side. 

“Like it, my foot! That was absolutely the last time!” Miyako snapped, taking a sip of water. Her eyes still held a faint pinkish glow, but she quickly put on a cold, composed face. 

Classic tsundere, Tetsu thought, rolling his eyes. He pulled off his boxing gloves, sat cross-legged on the tatami, and took a swig of water, changing the subject. “So, what happened at the company meeting today? You seem stressed out.” 

“None of your business, junior!” Miyako shot back. 

“Feeling sassy again, huh?” 

“…” 

Her lips, red and slightly swollen, met Tetsu’s intense gaze. Miyako tried to act tough, but her eyes betrayed her as she glared at him. “Who do you think you’re talking to, huh? No respect for your seniors! Fine, since you worked hard just now, I’ll let you in on it. This morning, the guys from Department 3 signed a bet with me at the meeting.” 

“A bet?” Tetsu asked, wiping sweat from his chin, curiosity piqued as he sipped his water. 

Miyako’s expression turned serious as she nodded. “Yeah, a bet. I want to secure the rights to develop an ARPG from Department 3. But… even though they haven’t produced anything great in years, they’re NTsoft’s veteran department. And, most importantly, President Asai came from Department 3. 

During the meeting, my proposal hit a wall. They told me I need to use the ten billion yen I currently have to create a product that sells over 100,000 units before they’ll let me touch ARPGs. If I can’t hit that mark with our next two projects, Department 4’s budget for the next game gets slashed in half.” 

“100,000 units?” Tetsu blinked, not entirely shocked but still processing. 

Miyako’s face darkened. ARPGs—action role-playing games—are a subset of RPGs, like Sekiro, Dark Souls, NieR: Automata, or Devil May Cry. They’re heavy on character progression but lean more toward action-packed gameplay. The ARPG market is bigger, with a wider audience, but compared to the fighting games Department 4 has been making, ARPGs require a much larger investment to succeed. 

High investment, high reward—but also high risk. 

In this case, the company was testing Miyako, the new department head, to prove herself before granting her funding and creative control. It was a reasonable demand… on the surface. 

Due to NTsoft’s internal politics, Department 4 was stuck making fighting games, a genre that once ruled the gaming world with titles like The King of Fighters and Street Fighter.  

But with the rise of the internet and the steep learning curve of fighting games, they’ve fallen out of favor in today’s fast-paced world. These games demand time and skill to master, and their audience has dwindled. Even sequels to iconic IPs struggle to sell unless they’re big-budget, iterative blockbusters. 

If Miyako couldn’t hit 100,000 sales, she couldn’t break into other genres. But staying in fighting games made reaching 100,000 sales nearly impossible. 

It was a vicious cycle. 

Seeing Miyako’s frustrated, exhausted expression, Tetsu shrugged. “Sounds like they’re trying to scare off the loud, new kid on the block. Your plans are stepping on a lot of toes, after all.” 

“I know!” Miyako chugged the rest of her water, her slender fingers crushing the bottle with a crunch. Her eyes burned with defiance. “Big, old company? Famous game devs? They’re all garbage! Cowards! 

That Yosuke Nobi—bragging to women over drinks about being a ‘big-shot department head’ or ‘the games I made back in the day’ or ‘my wife adores me.’ But in reality, he’s just a spineless loser who buries his head in the sand when challenged! 

Why does a guy like that get to hog all the resources just because he was born a decade earlier? Spineless jerk! The entire board is full of spineless jerks!” 

“Whoa, calm down,” Tetsu said, chuckling. He’d met tough women before, but one who’d openly call the board a bunch of spineless cowards? That was new. 

She’s a riot, he thought. 

Noticing her mix of anger, exasperation, and fatigue, Tetsu playfully flicked her glossy red lips and grinned. “Yelling here won’t change anything. Just make a game that sells 100,000 copies, and they’ll have to watch us snatch their precious resources, right?” 

“Touch me again, and I’m calling the cops! I said that was the last time!” Miyako swatted his hand away, glaring. “And what’s this ‘just make a game that sells 100,000 copies’ nonsense? For a classic IP sequel or a big-budget project, 100,000 is easy. But with just ten billion yen? 

That’s not enough to turn our fighting game IPs into trendy open-world games. And you know how hard it is to break 100,000 sales with a fighting game these days? In the past two years, only two fighting games hit that mark, and they only did because of massive production and marketing budgets. Both of those games lost money! 

Get how tough this is now, you cocky kid? You might be good at throwing punches, but you’ve got a lot to learn about game development, you silly little brother.” 

The pressure was clearly getting to her, and Miyako unloaded a torrent of complaints, topping it off with a teasing jab at Tetsu. Her tone was playful, not truly dismissive, but it carried a provocative edge—like an older sister lecturing her younger brother. 

Tetsu didn’t retaliate physically. Instead, he smirked. “100,000 sales is tough for a niche genre or a new IP. So, how about we make another bet?”