1-5

Chapter 1: As the Team Leader 

"Team Leader Fuyukawa, here's the Survey Report on Male XP Preferences from 2000-2005." 

"Alright, just leave it here." 

The sound of the door closing echoed in his ears as Fuyukawa Tetsu picked up the Survey Report on Male XP Preferences from 2000-2005 from his desk. 

"Today’s young guys, huh... I’m really curious how their preferences even develop." 

After skimming the report for a bit, he noticed terms like "widow," "timid wife," and "sister-in-law by the washing machine" peppered throughout. Speechless, he rubbed his temples, swiveled his chair, and gazed out the floor-to-ceiling window at the towering skyscrapers and the ant-like crowds below. 

"It’s already been a week since I crossed over, huh." 

Fuyukawa Tetsu took a sip from his coffee cup. 

It had been a week since he arrived in this parallel world’s Tokyo. 

His name now was Fuyukawa Tetsu. 

A Tokyo native, graduated from the University of Tokyo. 

Handsome, with a prestigious Tokyo residence permit and a well-off family background, he was a graduate of a top-tier domestic university. Right after graduation, he landed a job at NTsoft, a game company located in Akihabara, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. 

This "Fuyukawa Tetsu" was, by all accounts, a textbook winner in life. But tragically, after losing his parents in a car accident, the original "Fuyukawa Tetsu" drowned his sorrows in alcohol, slipped, and fell into the Edogawa River. By the time his body was fished out, he—the new soul—had taken over. 

A week into this world, he’d already gotten a decent grasp of things. 

This was a parallel world where history, culture, and geography were mostly similar to Earth, but the entertainment industry had developed... oddly. 

It’s not that there wasn’t an entertainment industry—it was actually thriving. But the classic works from his previous world were nowhere to be found. 

"Did a dog take a bite out of this world or something?" 

"Whatever. Doesn’t matter as long as I can make some money." 

Lost in his random thoughts, Fuyukawa Tetsu stared at the distant sky for a while longer. When his eyes started to feel strained and then relaxed, he swiveled his chair back and resumed flipping through the Survey Report on Male XP Preferences from 2000-2005. 

Normally, as a proper 25-year-old man, he wouldn’t care much about the preferences of students—especially male students. 

But he had no choice. As the team leader of Hikari Bird Studio under NTsoft, he was already thinking about their next game. 

NTsoft was a major game company, with various internal teams divided by genre. His Hikari Bird Studio focused on interactive narrative games. 

Interactive narrative games weren’t too different from movies, except they offered a ton of branching choices, letting players steer the protagonist’s story based on their decisions. 

"Whether I can hold onto this team leader position depends on this one." 

Fuyukawa Tetsu downed the rest of his coffee, focusing his attention. Soon, an ice-blue virtual screen appeared before him. 

[Consumption Point Store] 

[Currently Available Section: Games] 

[Interactive Narrative Game Section] 

[Game 1: Detroit: Become Human Data Set, 120 million consumption points] 

[Game 2: The Invisible Guardian Data Set, 110 million consumption points] 

[Game 3: ...] 

[Game 17: Love Is All Around Data Set, 500,000 consumption points] (Newcomer Event, 80% discount on consumption points) 

[Consumption Point Balance: 245,014 yen / 500,000 yen] (Gain more favor to unlock higher limits) 

"Just 200,000 yen short. I’ll get my paycheck this afternoon." 

Fuyukawa Tetsu blinked. 

Consumption points, as the name implied, came from spending. For every yen he spent in the real world, his consumption points ticked up by one. Those points could then be used to redeem various items in the system’s store. 

Right now, he had his sights set on Love Is All Around, a live-action interactive narrative game. He just needed to spend another 200,000 yen in the real world to redeem it. 

"I remember this game blew up back in my old world." 

"A ton of people loved it, but a ton of people hated it too. Some folks—especially certain vocal groups and self-righteous guys—called it ‘industrial poison.’ But honestly, it’s not that different from a K-drama. At its core, it caters to people who’ve given up on real-world romance as the environment gets harsher, fulfilling their emotional needs." 

Fuyukawa Tetsu leaned back in his chair. 

He found something amusing. 

Back in the day, women obsessed over K-dramas, calling every male lead oppa, copying their fashion, and even comparing their boyfriends or husbands to K-drama characters. Yet nobody called K-dramas "industrial poison." A show like My Love from the Star took the world by storm—people with or without partners were shouting oppa, thinking it was trendy and fun. 

So why was it that when a game catering to men’s emotional needs came out, society was so quick to criticize? 

Some guys even joined in, acting like moral crusaders, as if they’d never turned to certain colorful videos for comfort. 

Fuyukawa Tetsu didn’t get it, but it didn’t matter. 

He just wanted to make money. 

In his view, the success of Love Is All Around boiled down to two things. 

First, it was a live-action interactive narrative game, not too different from a Galgame, but the impact of real-world visuals was stronger than 2D animation. It’s like how most people, once they’re used to live-action content, rarely go back to anime. 

The sense of immersion and realism from real-life beauties was just leagues above 2D. 

Second, it fulfilled the romantic fantasies of a ton of male players. Those fantasies often stemmed from real-world pressures—phrases like "genuine love equals being a simp," "green tea girls run the show," or "no car, no house, no marriage" were all too common. This was pretty much the same across East Asia’s "big three." 

"Japan once had that ‘three wallets’ phenomenon, but now most young guys are just lying flat." 

"It’s different from back home, where people talk about lying flat but are still grinding hard. Even if they say they’re done with love, the human yearning for beautiful romance never changes." 

"Give them a kind, gorgeous girl from a good family who chases them, and they’ll perk right up." 

"And I can give them six at once." 

"This project’s success is mine for the taking." 

Leaning back in his chair, deep in thought, his phone buzzed on the desk. 

[Your account 9527 received a deposit of 682,427.14 yen on September 7 at 4:21 PM. Note: (Salary) {Sumitomo Bank}] 

Payday had arrived. 

Glancing at his phone screen, Fuyukawa Tetsu’s lips curled into a slight smile. 

Nearly 700,000 yen—not a fortune, but not chump change either. 

In Tokyo, everyday items like vegetables, fruits, and meat were pricey. A pound of high-quality pork ribs could cost 1,500 yen, roughly 70 RMB. 

Prices were steep, one of the main pains for Tokyo’s average folks. But while daily necessities were expensive, big-ticket items like phones, cars, and houses weren’t as bad. In RMB terms, a new iPhone here was about 10,000, a BMW X5 around 600,000, and Tokyo’s average housing prices hovered around 60,000 per square meter. 

Statistics showed that a salaried family in Tokyo needed to grind for ten years to afford a house. Social pressure was immense. 

With salaries hitting accounts, cheerful chatter echoed from outside. 

Payday had everyone in high spirits. Fuyukawa Tetsu stretched, opened the LINE app on his computer, found a bunny avatar, and sent a message. 

L: Koyako, come in for a sec. 

Soso: Be right there, boss! 

Through the window, he saw a beautiful woman with a low ponytail near the door stand up with a clatter. She started to leave her desk but paused, nervously smoothing her skirt and collar, checking herself in a compact mirror before heading to the door. 

"Team Leader, you needed me?" 

The woman, Kawauchi Sayoko, swayed her hips as she pushed open the door and stood to Fuyukawa Tetsu’s left. 

She leaned forward slightly, just enough for him to catch a glimpse of the black lace at her skirt’s edge. 

Chapter 2: Fate! 

"Money and power really are the root of all evil." 

Fuyukawa Tetsu sat with his legs crossed, unfazed as the other person leaned in a bit too close. His gaze briefly swept over the woman in front of him, exuding the aura of a mature beauty, complete with a beauty mark at the corner of her mouth. 

Sayoko Kawai, their team’s character artist, was thirty years old and just over 165 cm tall. Her curvy figure was accentuated by a neatly tied low ponytail, but beneath that gentle hairstyle was the face of a captivating, mature woman. Her full lips, lightly glossed, complemented the elegant curve of her collarbone visible beneath her fair neck. Further down, her crisp white blouse hugged her frame, emphasizing her ample curves—likely a 36D, he estimated—her presence commanding attention. Her legs, wrapped in a tight skirt and sheer black stockings, carried a subtle tension as they brushed lightly against each other. 

Normally, a veteran employee like her, even with a modest position, wouldn’t need to curry favor with someone like him, especially in status-conscious Tokyo. But... 

Tetsu’s eyes narrowed slightly, focusing on the center of Sayoko’s forehead. A moment later, an icy blue panel popped up in his vision. 

Name: Sayoko Kawai 

Age: 30 

Measurements: 91, 63, 92 

Skills: Intermediate Character Design Lv9 (currently unavailable for transfer), Intermediate Scene Design Lv5 (currently unavailable for transfer), Advanced Cooking Lv1 (currently unavailable for transfer) 

Relationship: Neutral (Scale: Hostility, Dislike, Contempt, Neutral, Admiration/Friendliness/Fear, Affection/Respect/Awe, Devotion/Worship/Terror, Soulmate/Reverence/Life’s Light) 

Current Status: A struggling widow facing financial hardship. Caught in the wave of artist unemployment due to AI illustration advancements, she’s desperate for a shoulder to lean on. 

"She’s strapped for cash, huh? That makes things easier," Tetsu mused. 

His current spending limit was 500,000 yen, but to raise that cap and unlock access to higher-tier games, he needed to boost his favorability with others. His eyes lingered on Sayoko’s curvaceous figure, his thoughts drifting. 

After a few seconds of silence, Sayoko, hands clasped behind her back, stole a cautious glance at him. She noticed his gaze lingering on her, almost absentmindedly. 

Does the team leader have a thing for me? 

His sharp features and the cool, confident air that came with his position as team leader made her breath catch. Yet, her eyes betrayed a flicker of hesitation. After an agonizing two seconds, she leaned forward slightly, hands still behind her, and said shyly, “Tetsu-kun, is there something on me? Something... dirty?” 

Her posture and the way she addressed him were clear hints, steeped in the subtle art of Japanese indirectness. But Tetsu, lost in thoughts about the system, didn’t catch on. “Sorry, I zoned out. I called you here to ask if you’re free after work. I’d like to discuss something with you.” 

He’s asking me out?! 

The thought hit her like a bolt of lightning, sending a shiver down her spine. After a brief pause, she replied, “Of course... I’m free.” 

“Great.” Tetsu glanced at his watch, stood, and grabbed his suit jacket from the rack, flashing a warm smile. “Get ready, then. I’ll be waiting downstairs.” 

“Take care, Team Leader,” Sayoko said with a polite bow, watching him leave the office. Only then did she straighten up, leaning against the wall with a long sigh. Her shadow stretched across the floor, cast by the setting sun streaming through the window. 

At the entrance of NTsoft’s game company building, a black Volkswagen idled by the curb. 

“Intermediate artist... she fits the bill,” Tetsu murmured to himself. 

In the driver’s seat, he took a drag from his cigarette, the smoke curling out the window as his left hand rested on the frame. His right hand flipped through a document on the steering wheel, its cover emblazoned with the words Fate/stay night. 

Fate/stay night. 

Yes, LoveTrap: Surrounded by Beauties was the next dataset he planned to unlock, but the Fate document in his hands was a starter gift from the system—a game he intended to develop himself. 

“In front of my subordinates, I’m the boss with a decent salary. But to the company, I’m just another employee. The games I make only earn me a tiny bonus, and I don’t even own the rights.” 

“That’s not good enough.” 

Tetsu took another drag, squinting at the dataset. His current life was comfortable, but he wasn’t content being a glorified salaryman forever. He wanted to break out and do his own thing. 

LoveTrap was a solid game with viral potential, but in this parallel world, he wasn’t sure it would have the same breakout success as in his previous life. It lacked the long-term IP potential. 

Fate, though, was different. 

It was a massive IP. The game had sold 170,000 copies—a modest number in the grand scheme of the gaming world, especially for a niche visual novel like a galgame. But even so, it had netted the company 60-70 million yen after taxes. The real money, though, wasn’t in the game itself but in its spinoffs: anime, mobile games, and merchandise. The mobile game’s Black Jeanne card pool alone had raked in over 200 million RMB back in the day. 

Two hundred million in the bank, just collecting interest forever. 

Tetsu had no intention of handing the rights to such a colossal IP over to NTsoft. Beyond its potential, Fate was a galgame—a visual novel with static images and heavy text. These games weren’t hard to make; they just needed stellar writing, compelling character designs, and strong artwork. That’s where Sayoko came in. 

With her as the artist, combined with the plot from the dataset and his own programming skills, they could form the core of a production team. It’d take longer with just the two of them, but it was doable. 

“Intermediate artist, Lv9 according to the system. Not the best, but that makes her easier to manage.” 

A senior artist would have stronger skills, but they’d likely scoff at a small project like this. Plus, without the financial pressure Sayoko was under, a senior artist might spill the beans about his side project. NTsoft strictly forbade employees from taking on freelance work. 

As Tetsu mulled this over, watching cars zip by outside, a knock came at the passenger window. He rolled it down to see Sayoko standing there, shyly clutching her hair against the breeze. She wore a pale yellow sundress, her makeup lightly touched up with a brighter shade of lipstick. Her fair skin glowed, her collarbone subtly defined, and the dress hugged her curves tightly, exuding a mix of refined elegance and mature allure. 

“Tetsu-kun, sorry to keep you waiting,” she said softly. 

Feeling her slightly bold gaze, Tetsu smiled. “Hop in. Let’s grab something to eat first.” 

“Okay,” she replied, her cheeks faintly flushed. 

Chapter 3: A Shifting Friendship 

A black Volkswagen cruises through the streets of Akihabara. 

Soft music fills the car, mingling with the faint scent of perfume in the air. 

Gazing out at the passing scenery and bustling crowds, Sayako Kawai’s slender fingers fidget with the seatbelt. Her timid eyes steal glances at Tetsu Fuyukawa, who’s driving beside her. 

Is he waiting for me to make the first move? 

Sayako’s large, expressive eyes shimmer with a hint of grievance. 

To be honest, she had braced herself for some kind of “harassment” from this boy, who’s several years her junior. But ever since they got in the car, Tetsu hasn’t said much at all. And she— 

She’s beautiful, with decent skills, but after years of navigating the workplace, she’s still just a junior employee. Her biggest struggle? Figuring out how to handle relationships with male superiors. Workplace harassment has forced her to switch companies more than once. 

Frankly, she’s not the type to initiate conversation. 

What’s he thinking? 

What’s she thinking? 

Gripping the steering wheel, Tetsu catches a glimpse of Sayako’s conflicted expression in the rearview mirror, a spark of curiosity in his eyes. 

Above Sayako’s head, red and green numbers flicker: +1, -1, +1, -1. 

Green numbers mean her mood is improving; red means it’s dropping. 

He’s not surprised by the system’s function. 

What does surprise him is that, despite him saying and doing nothing, this woman’s mood keeps swinging up and down like a rollercoaster. 

Is she nervous because I haven’t said anything? 

It’s going up and down, but overall, it’s trending upward. Guess staying quiet is the way to go. 

Tetsu finds the system incredibly useful. 

In his past life, he wasn’t exactly a loser, but he definitely wasn’t a master at reading women’s hearts. 

A woman’s mind isn’t something you can navigate by just talking more or less. 

Knowing when to speak, when to stay silent, when to act aloof, or when to turn on the charm—it takes finesse. 

But now? The system’s practically holding his hand through the art of charm. 

As Sayako’s mood continues its wavy climb, Tetsu keeps his silence. 

Interestingly, the less he says and the more he keeps a stoic expression, the more Sayako’s mood dips—and then spikes even higher. 

What a peculiar trait. 

The faster her mood rises, the more Tetsu leans into his “don’t mess with me” vibe. And the more he plays it cool, the more Sayako panics inside. 

His aura… it’s nothing like a 25-year-old guy. 

Is he… taking me straight to a hotel without even talking? What kind of woman does he think I am? 

A wave of anxiety hits Sayako. She wrestles with how to bring up getting out of the car. But then, the Volkswagen pulls up in front of a high-end steak restaurant. Her tension eases, and her gaze toward Tetsu’s profile grows more complex. 

+50. 

Whoa? 

Tetsu turns to see a burst of green numbers above Sayako’s head—her mood surging. 

A fancy restaurant and her mood skyrockets? Is she a gold-digger? 

We’re practically made for each other. 

Every yen he spends gets converted into consumption points. Tetsu Fuyukawa fears no gold-digger. 

“How about this place?” 

“Whatever you decide.” 

Sasaki Enzou is a charcoal-grilled meat restaurant. It’s upscale but not in a European style. Pushing aside the noren curtain, the air is thick with the bold aroma of spices. 

Guided by a server, the two settle into a small tatami-mat private room. 

“What do you feel like eating?” 

Tetsu flips through the menu, glancing at Sayako, who’s kneeling primly across from him. 

Under the soft lighting, Sayako’s sleek black hair glimmers faintly. Her large eyes sparkle, and with her blazer off, the white blouse accentuates her curvaceous figure. A jade teardrop pendant rests in the valley of her chest. 

But that’s not the main attraction. 

Following primal instincts, Tetsu’s gaze drifts downward to her delicate feet, wrapped in sheer stockings, tucked beneath her shapely hips. 

Sensing his stare, Sayako shifts her toes uncomfortably. “I’m fine with anything, but I can’t handle spicy food right now.” 

Can’t handle spicy food right now. 

A hint. 

Sayako’s dropping a hint, but Tetsu doesn’t pick up on it—or rather, his attention is elsewhere. 

“No problem. Miss, I’ll have this, this, and this, and then…” 

Spending money earns consumption points, which can be exchanged for “secrets.” Tetsu orders freely until Sayako quietly mentions she can’t eat that much, and he reins it in. 

The waitress slides the shoji door shut, leaving the room quiet except for faint laughter from the neighboring table. 

Tetsu sips his barley tea, ready to get to the point. But seeing Sayako’s increasingly awkward posture in their private setting, he rests his hands on his knees and smiles. “I heard you’ve been working through lunch breaks lately. Is the workload too much?” 

“No, no, I just want to do my job well.” 

Sayako’s expression falters slightly. She can’t exactly admit she works through lunch to leave on time for her second job, can she? 

Tetsu doesn’t know her thoughts, but the +1 green number above her head is clear as day. 

As expected, the more assertive I am, the more her mood rises. 

But there’s a balance to strike. 

Tetsu blinks. 

He’s well-read enough to know some people respond better to a strong, dominant approach. 

The logic? For those under heavy life pressures and lacking security, a strong, dependable presence makes them feel small yet safe. 

The key is making them feel that strength and security. 

It’s a delicate dance. 

With that in mind, Tetsu speaks up. “NTsoft is lucky to have an employee like you, Sayako. But I heard you’ve been short on cash lately. Is that true?” 

“Che-kun, that’s personal.” 

Caught off guard by his bluntness, Sayako’s eyes flash with embarrassment and irritation. Above her head, a red -100 appears! 

Her mood plummets, but Tetsu doesn’t flinch. He nods. “I know it’s personal, and don’t worry, I haven’t told anyone. But I do know about it, and with the company cutting jobs lately… how about we make a deal?” 

A deal?! 

-500! 

Despite her mental preparation, the blunt and humiliating word hits hard. Sayako realizes she can’t accept this. 

Her face flushes as she prepares to stand and leave. But then, Tetsu pulls a document from his briefcase and slides it across to her. 

Employment Contract 

“Huh?” 

Her hips barely lift off her calves before she freezes, staring at the document. She looks at Tetsu, bewildered. “This is…” 

“I know you’re tight on money, and I know you’re a talented artist. I’m planning to make my own game but need help. So, how about joining me as an illustrator?” 

It’s not about something shady? 

He’s asking me to be an illustrator? 

+800! 

[Sayako Kawai’s Mood Breakthrough: Neutral → Friendly] 

[Current Friendship Level Unlocks Skills for Imprinting: Intermediate Scene Illustration, Intermediate Character Illustration] 

(Imprinting grants theoretical knowledge and intuition; practical skills require hands-on practice to master fully.) 

[Consumption Point Cap Increased: 500,000 yen → 2,000,000 yen] 

[Achievement Unlocked: You Have a Friend] 

[Achievement Rewards: Free Skill Imprint x1, Skill Upgrade Scroll x1] 

Chapter 4: The Wife Who Was Fooled by a Sword 

“Asking me to be an artist?!” 

Staring at the contract, Sayoko Kawai relaxed on the tatami mat, her heavy “peaches” settling back onto her calves. 

After a long pause, a faint smile—half-relieved, half-resigned—curved her lips, marked by a small beauty mole. 

“So, they just want to collaborate with me.” 

Just a collaboration. 

Her gaze secretly peeked at Tetsu Fuyukawa’s handsome features and tall frame, a mix of relief and a strange sense of grievance flickering in her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she picked up the contract. “Can I take a look at it first and give you an answer later?” 

“Of course,” Tetsu replied, sipping his tea and glancing at his system panel. 

Unlocking the consumption point limit was expected—most items in the system shop exceeded his current cap. But the skill imprinting? That was a surprise. 

“From what it says, this imprinting should let me learn someone else’s skills,” he mused. “Perfect. Fate is just a galgame, and I’m not expecting it to hit the precision of my past life’s work right out of the gate. It’s all about the story to carry it and secure that first pot of gold. But relying on Sayoko alone will make production slow. With this, I can pitch in too.” 

As he sipped his tea, Tetsu noticed the green numbers above Sayoko’s head had stopped appearing. “Is it because I need her, so she feels the balance of status starting to even out?” 

His gaze turned thoughtful. Soon, Sayoko looked up from the contract. 

Blinking her tired eyes, she said, “I’ve gone through it. The salary and confidentiality agreement penalties are fine, but… could I see the game’s script after signing? I think understanding the story better will help me draw the characters.” 

“No problem. I brought the script. You can look at it once you sign.” 

“Great.” 

Watching Tetsu pull a folder from his briefcase, Sayoko noticed it lacked a title. A faint disappointment flickered in her eyes, barely noticeable. 

Another guy dreaming of soaring to the top. 

They say different fields are worlds apart. She respected Tetsu’s programming skills, but a good script? That was the heart of a galgame, and she doubted he could deliver. In her mind, Fate/stay night was already doomed, and Tetsu’s cool, elite image began to tilt toward “arrogant kid yet to be humbled by the world.” 

As Sayoko signed the contract, red text floated above her head: 

-300, -10, -10, -10 

[Warning: Friendship emotion value has a -1000 threshold. Exceeding it will lower the emotion level.] 

Emotion value tanking? And still dropping? 

Tetsu, pulling out the script outline and Sakura Matou’s storyline, caught sight of the red numbers. “She signed, so she feels secure now?” 

Puzzled, he frowned slightly as Sayoko handed over the signed contract. “All done. Take a look.” 

After checking it carefully and nodding, Tetsu passed her the script folder. “The game has three main routes, with Saber, Sakura Matou, and Rin Tohsaka as the key characters. You have to capture their emotional shifts and vibe changes throughout the story. That’s the core.” 

Emotional shifts? 

Flipping through the script’s table of contents, Sayoko saw words like “fate,” “choice,” and “good and evil.” Her disappointment deepened. These were common themes—not bad, but tough to execute well. A simpler, romance-focused galgame might have a lower ceiling but a safer floor. As long as the heroines’ designs were appealing and the story followed a standard love arc, it could at least hold up. But grand themes like “fate” or “good and evil”? They either soared to masterpiece status or crashed hard. And Tetsu, a programmer by trade… 

Glancing at the young, handsome Tetsu helping the waiter serve food, Sayoko sighed inwardly. She pulled out the script labeled “HF Route” and started reading. 

“Sakura Matou—nice name. Gentle, kind, a bit insecure, great at housework and massages, starts by taking care of the protagonist… Ugh, this plot again. Probably just them growing close, then she catches the protagonist with the main heroine, leading to some cliché love triangle where she only shows up in the kitchen, bathroom, hallway, bedroom, or maybe a park.” 

Shaking her head, Sayoko kept reading. But as the Matou family’s background unfolded and Sakura’s tragic past came to light, her brows furrowed. Her curvy frame leaned forward slightly, engrossed. She didn’t even notice the sizzling beef Tetsu placed on the grill or the oil splattering onto her sleeve. She flipped faster, cross-referencing the other routes and character designs. 

Her brows knitted tighter, her eyes laser-focused. 

The room filled with only the sounds of grilling meat and rustling pages. 

Time ticked by. As Tetsu added more beef to the grill for the third time, Sayoko reached a summary: Sakura Matou, tormented from childhood in a bug pit by Zouken Matou and assaulted by Shinji Matou. Her right hand, resting on the table, clenched slightly. 

She kept reading, sniffing as she went. When she reached the part where Sakura, corrupted by the Dark Holy Grail and on the verge of destroying the world, slept as Shirou Emiya raised a knife over her—only to lower it and walk away, unaware that Sakura’s eyes slowly opened—Sayoko froze. 

She flipped frantically. 

At the end, when Shirou died and Sakura, honoring their vow, lived out her days alone under a cherry blossom tree, Sayoko was utterly stunned. She looked up at Tetsu, her eyes red and incredulous. 

“Tetsu-kun…” 

“Hm?” 

“Who writes a script like this? Are you some kind of psychopath?” 

Cough, cough, cough! 

Nearly choking on his beef, Tetsu pounded his chest. But before he bent over, he saw a flood of green text above Sayoko’s head: 

+50, +100, +100, +500, +500, +1000, +1000! 

[Emotion value increased. Friendship transformed.] 

[Sayoko Kawai: Friendly → Admiration] 

[Sayoko Kawai’s status module updated. Please review.] 

[Skill imprinting from Sayoko Kawai now requires 50% fewer consumption points.] 

Friendship transformed?! 

Chapter 5: Dogeza 

Mono no aware, yūgen, and wabi-sabi are considered Japan’s three core aesthetic concepts, with mono no aware leading the pack. 

Mono no aware, in essence, is an aesthetic rooted in melancholic beauty. 

For nearly four centuries, this concept has shaped the Japanese psyche. Where others might see hope in a vibrant sunrise, the Japanese find deeper resonance in the sorrowful hues of a fading sunset. While people from other cultures might see blooming flowers and think “beautiful” or “vivid,” the Japanese are more likely to reflect on their inevitable wilting. 

This is sadness, but it’s also a kind of thrill etched into the Japanese soul. 

The Japanese find beauty in sorrow, believing that “death is not the opposite of life but an eternal part of it.” Taken to its extreme, especially when fused with militaristic ideologies, this mindset gave rise to the concept of “one hundred million shattered jewels”—a romanticized view of meaningful death as a sublime spiritual state. 

But the world is ultimately material. The lofty ideal of “one hundred million shattered jewels” crumbled before “Little Boy” and “Fat Man.” 

Yet, just as natural environments shape the creatures within them, forcing them to evolve into forms dictated by their surroundings, cultural history isn’t so easily shaken off. After four centuries of mono no aware, Japan’s spiritual landscape has been molded by it, passed down and reinforced through generations. Even the influx of upbeat, action-packed cultural products in the ‘90s and early 2000s couldn’t uproot this aesthetic from the hearts of most Japanese people. 

When it comes to sadness—especially the gut-punching, soul-crushing chainsaw blades of narrative crafted by the likes of Nasu Kinoko in Fate—Kawauchi Sayoko, a woman weathered by life’s storms, was utterly defenseless. 

“You must be some kind of pervert to write a script like this!” 

Tears streamed down her face as she blurted out the accusation, but amusingly, green numbers kept frantically popping up above her head. 

“…” 

As expected, the “strong and safe embrace” she craved wasn’t just about financial security. 

Caught off guard by her intense reaction, Fuyukawa Tetsu glanced at the system panel: [Friendship evolved: Friendly → Admiration]. He patted his chest, momentarily choked up, and took a sip of barley tea. “You don’t like it?” 

“I love it! I love it so much! I’m so sorry! I was so rude just now! Please forgive me, Tetsu-kun!” 

101kanshu101kan.com, fully hand-typed, error-free site 

Kawauchi Sayoko wiped her tears with a tissue, but halfway through, as she snapped out of the script’s emotional grip, she realized just how impolite she’d been. 

She bowed repeatedly in apology. 

Kneeling on the tatami mat, Kawauchi Sayoko kept bowing, but Fuyukawa Tetsu stayed silent, simply watching her. 

She thinks I won’t accept it? 

She must think she’s upset me. 

Worry and fear flickered in her eyes. As she met Fuyukawa Tetsu’s striking features and deep, piercing gaze, her autumn-water eyes trembled—part panic, like a startled deer, part something softer, almost misty. 

Clearly, a simple apology wasn’t cutting it. 

+200! 

Green numbers floated above her head. Under Fuyukawa Tetsu’s steady gaze, Kawauchi Sayoko shifted back slightly, knees pressed together on the floor. Her nervous eyes flicked to him before darting away, and then she lowered herself respectfully into a full bow. 

“I’m so sorry, Tetsu-kun! Please forgive your subordinate, Sayoko.” 

A dogeza. 

Her head touched the floor, her posture exaggeratedly arched. 

Watching the curve of her figure and her slightly raised feet, Fuyukawa Tetsu continued grilling beef. As her body began to tremble faintly and the green and red numbers above her head grew larger and faster, almost spiraling out of control, he finally chuckled. “Get up. I get how you feel. A truly great work can pull you in so deep you can’t escape. That’s the whole point of making games, isn’t it?” 

He wasn’t lying. He genuinely loved cultural products like games and films that could strike straight at the heart. 

“Thank you so much! Sayoko will work hard to improve herself from now on!” 

+500 +300 +200 +30 +30 

Kawauchi Sayoko lifted her head. The prolonged contact with the tatami left faint marks on her pale forehead. Her upper body’s forward tilt had flushed her alluring cheeks a deep red. 

The captivating woman brushed a strand of dark hair behind her ear, revealing a small, seductive beauty mark near her lips. She bowed respectfully to Fuyukawa Tetsu once more before carefully shifting to sit back at the table. 

She opened her mouth to speak, but Fuyukawa Tetsu beat her to it, placing a piece of grilled beef on her plate. “You’ve been glued to the script. Eat something first, then we’ll talk. We’ve got plenty of time.” 

“Thank you, Tetsu-kun.” 

Another bow. 

+100. 

Just for putting a piece of meat on her plate, her emotional value shot up by 100. 

Is it because her friendliness has turned into admiration? 

When a girl faces a guy she doesn’t like, even if he gives her everything, she might just say, “You’re a nice guy, but I’m not looking to date right now.” But with a guy she does like, a single glance can keep her daydreaming all day. 

Feelings are irrational like that. 

Lost in his rambling thoughts, Fuyukawa Tetsu propped his chin up, quietly watching Kawauchi Sayoko nibble at her grilled beef. 

It was clear she was hungry. Despite her efforts to maintain some polished image in front of him, eating in small, delicate bites, her chopsticks moved at an astonishing speed. 

In her haste, a drop of oil splashed onto the “snowy peaks” of her strappy dress. 

Flustered, she reached for a tissue. Fuyukawa Tetsu handed her one, and under his slightly raised eyebrow, she turned partially, her face flushed as she dabbed at the stain. 

+50 +50 +50 +50 

Time flew by in these happy moments. A while later, as Kawauchi Sayoko’s stomach visibly rounded under her dress and a server brought a fruit platter, Fuyukawa Tetsu picked up a piece of watermelon. “Full yet?” 

“Very full. Thank you for treating me, Tetsu-kun. My stomach’s even feeling a bit warm,” Kawauchi Sayoko said shyly, wiping her mouth with a tissue, a satisfied smile on her face. 

Fuyukawa Tetsu grinned. “So, what did you think of the script?” 

“It’s incredible! I haven’t read a script this amazing in forever. Even though it feels like you haven’t fully fleshed out the text yet, the story is already so powerful!” 

Kawauchi Sayoko’s eyes lit up with enthusiasm, a hint of admiration gleaming as she looked at Fuyukawa Tetsu. 

+200. 

Talking about Fate’s story sent her emotional value soaring again. 

A Pisces woman with an art background—definitely a romantic and idealistic soul. 

Fuyukawa Tetsu smiled, shaking his head inwardly. “Good to hear. You can quit your part-time job tonight. We start work tomorrow.” 

“Got it, I—”  

She started to nod but froze, her expression shifting as if remembering something. After a moment’s hesitation, she said, “Um, Tetsu-kun, could I have one extra day?” 

“What’s up?” Fuyukawa Tetsu raised an eyebrow. 

Still kneeling on the tatami, Kawauchi Sayoko’s fingers clutched her knees. “The thing is, I’ve been a bit tight on money these past few months. I know some cooking, so I’ve been working part-time at a restaurant near my place after hours. Tomorrow’s Friday, and it’s their busiest night. If I suddenly don’t show up, it might cause them trouble. They’re good people, so I was wondering if…”