Time flowed mercilessly onward as she scrambled and struggled in anxious desperation.
Only three days remained until the final relocation deadline.
That day, she received a call from the legal department of "Mitsui Real Estate." On the other end of the line was a stern, businesslike male voice.
"Good afternoon, Ichiji-san. This is Yamada from Mitsui Real Estate's legal department. I'm calling to make a final confirmation regarding your store's relocation."
"According to the contract terms, next Monday is the final evacuation deadline. At that time, we will proceed with complete closure and construction of the land plot. If you fail to vacate on time, we will petition the courts for forced execution in accordance with applicable laws."
"At that time, any items remaining in your store will be treated as abandoned property. Furthermore, you will bear all legal consequences and economic losses arising therefrom."
"We hope you will cooperate with our work. Have a pleasant day."
Beep— Beep— Beep—
Without waiting for Seika's response, the call was coldly disconnected.
The other party was merely following routine notification procedures.
They didn't care at all about someone as insignificant as store manager Seika Ichiji.
"...Damn it!"
Seika's hand trembled violently as she gripped her phone.
Exhaustion crashed over her like a tidal wave, drowning her completely.
It was over.
That evening, she sat alone behind the bar counter, her face haggard with defeat.
She thought of her mother's dying wish, thought of Nijika's dreams, thought of all the happy days they'd spent here.
Memory after memory flashed through her mind.
And then...
Seiji's face surfaced in her thoughts.
Along with it came the conditions he had proposed.
"Haah..."
Seika let out a long, weary sigh.
In those eyes that had once been cold and clear as winter stars, a glimmer of light seemed to extinguish.
In its place came a calm born of resignation.
"Do I have no choice but to accept?"
With a bitter smile, Seika pulled out her phone and scrolled to the number she'd thought she would never voluntarily contact in her entire life.
She stared at the name "Seiji" displayed on screen.
Seika's expression darkened as her finger pressed the call button.
Ring...
The call was answered after just one ring.
From the receiver came a man's voice tinged with playful amusement, as if he'd anticipated this moment all along.
"Good evening, Ichiji-san."
"It seems you've come around?"
Seika gripped her phone so tightly her knuckles turned white.
She took a deep breath, forcing down the humiliation and unwillingness that surged through her like waves, and spoke stiffly:
"Fujiwara-sensei, I'd like to negotiate with you once more."
"Oh?" The voice on the other end drew out the syllable, full of amusement. "I was under the impression that Ichiji-san held someone like me—a 'scumbag'—in too much contempt to make deals with."
Humiliation.
Naked, undisguised humiliation.
Seika felt her cheeks burn instantly.
She could practically picture the smug, cat-playing-with-a-mouse expression on that man's face.
Bastard!
Seika bit her lower lip hard, cursing internally.
But she knew she had no right to be angry.
The moment she'd dialed this number, she had already thrown her pride on the ground and trampled it herself.
"...Please forgive my earlier presumption." She forced the words out through clenched teeth, one syllable at a time. "Fujiwara-sensei, please help me."
"Heh heh..."
Light laughter came through the phone, filled with the victor's joy.
"Ichiji-san, you truly are a clever woman."
"My conditions remain the same as before."
"I want you to belong to me from now on."
"If you agree, come to my office tomorrow morning at ten o'clock. I'll have my lawyer prepare everything."
"If you don't agree... then I suppose there's nothing more for us to discuss."
With that, without waiting for Seika's answer, he ended the call.
No room for negotiation.
Accept or refuse.
Only those two options existed.
Listening to the harsh dial tone from her phone, Seika could no longer hold herself up. Her legs gave out and she collapsed to the floor.
Tears of humiliation seeped from her eyes.
...
...
The next day, 10:00 AM.
Genesis Entertainment headquarters building, top floor, duplex office.
Seika wore a long dress she hadn't put on in ages, carefully made herself up, and delivered herself to his doorstep.
Inside the building.
The female secretary who had received instructions graciously led Seika Ichiji to the office, still unaware of what had transpired, treating her merely as someone the boss was showing special consideration.
...
Seika was led expressionlessly to the entrance of the president's office.
"This is it, I'll take my leave now." The secretary bowed three times before departing.
Only Seika remained standing before the door.
She took a deep breath, her expression grave, like a prisoner about to be led to the gallows, and knocked solemnly on the door.
"Come in."
That familiar voice came from inside.
"...Excuse me." Seika pushed open the door and entered.
The office was far larger than she'd imagined.
An entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows displayed Tokyo's prosperity in panoramic view.
The air carried a faint scent of expensive cigars mixed with red wine.
Seiji sat behind that massive desk.
Today he wore only a simple white silk dress shirt with the top two buttons casually undone, revealing a small patch of healthy, bronze-toned skin. His entire presence exuded a kind of lazy sensuality.
"Ichiji-san, you're very punctual."
Seiji smiled, gesturing toward the leather sofa in front of his desk. "Please, have a seat."
Seika didn't sit. She stood in place and stated bluntly: "Fujiwara-sensei, I accept your conditions."
"But I also have one condition of my own."
"Oh?" A glimmer of amusement flashed through Seiji's eyes. "Let's hear it.""...You can use me however you wish." Seika's face flushed slightly with shame, but her gaze remained resolute, her cold eyes staring directly at Seiji. "But I also have my own life. I can't be at your beck and call, and I can't be kept like a caged canary."
"...You can use me however you wish." Seika's face flushed slightly with shame, but her gaze remained resolute, her cold eyes staring directly at Seiji. "But I also have my own life. I can't be at your beck and call, and I can't be kept like a caged canary."
This was her final line.
The only shred of dignity she could preserve in this humiliating transaction.
However,
Seiji merely smiled.
The smile carried a hint of disdain.
He stood from behind his desk and walked out, advancing step by step toward Seika.
His tall figure cast an enormous shadow in the bright sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows, radiating overwhelming pressure that completely enveloped Seika's form.
"Fujiwara-sensei?" Seika retreated half a step uneasily.
Seiji stopped in front of Seika, looking down at her from his superior height, his eyes gleaming with mockery.
"Ichiji-san," he said with a scoffing tone, "you seem to have misunderstood something."
He reached out, picked up a document from his desk, and casually tossed it in front of Seika.
The papers scattered across the floor.
On the top document, the header bore words that pierced Seika's eyes like blades:
[Regarding Property Rights Transfer Agreement for 'Shimokitazawa First Street' Land Plot]
[Party A: Mitsui Real Estate Corporation]
[Party B: Genesis Entertainment Corporation]
Seika's mind went blank.
"What... do you mean?" Her voice trembled slightly with shock.
"The meaning is quite simple." A cruel arc curved Seiji's lips.
"Since yesterday afternoon, the land plot beneath your feet—the one about to be demolished—and the rights to develop it have transferred from Mitsui to my hands."
"Mitsui and I had quite a pleasant conversation."
Seiji spoke casually, as if discussing something trivial.
He hadn't been sitting idle, after all.
Since he'd set his sights on Seika, he certainly wouldn't give her any chance to escape.
So he'd been making preparations in secret.
He extended his hand, using those cold fingers to lightly lift—
"So, Ichiji-san,"
Speaking thus, Seiji reached out and insolently tilted up Seika's chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"You have no qualifications to negotiate conditions with me now."
"You can only choose to accept."
"Or..."
"Watch 'STARRY' get demolished."
Those words reached her ears and Seika trembled with fury.
"Seiji, you absolute scumbag!!"
She glared at Seiji in rage.
Those beautiful eyes filled with the anger of betrayal, the shame of being toyed with, and the fierce light of a beast backed into a corner.
"Is that so?"
Far from being angered, Seiji smiled even more gleefully.
He loved this expression on Seika.
She was like a cat cornered against a wall—clearly with no escape route, yet still unwilling to give in, bristling her fur and trying to intimidate an enemy hundreds of times stronger with those utterly non-threatening sounds.
How entertaining.
"Very well." Seiji spread his hands, his expression regretful.
Seika actually wanted to keep struggling?
That wouldn't do.
He needed to apply a bit more pressure.
He turned around, walked back to his desk, and picked up the phone.
"Hello, is this the demolition department?"
"The project in Shimokitazawa 'First Street' can proceed."
"Yes, start with that Livehouse called 'STARRY.'"
"Immediately."
Cold words fell from Seiji's mouth.
Seika felt as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her head, chilling her entire body.
No...
Don't...
Her mind went completely blank.
Her body felt drained of all strength, nearly collapsing to the floor.
"Ichiji-san," Seiji walked to stand before her, looking down from above, "can you tell me your choice now?"
Seika didn't answer.
She merely gritted her teeth, glaring at Seiji with eyes full of hatred and humiliation.
Seeing her defiant, thorn-covered rose-like appearance, an even deeper pleasure flashed through Seiji's eyes.
He said nothing more.
Reaching out, he swept Seika up into his arms in one motion and strode with long steps toward the hidden rest room in the corner of the office—the one with a door but no lock.
"No... let go of me! You bastard!"
Her body suddenly suspended in air, Seika snapped back to awareness and struggled desperately.
She pounded his chest with both hands, her legs kicking wildly in the air. The well-tailored suit dress became disheveled from her struggles.
But her meager strength—
To Seiji, it was like a kitten's empty bluster, not only posing zero threat but actually stoking his desire to dominate even further.
BANG—
The rest room door was kicked open by his foot, then slammed shut again.
He threw Seika onto the bed.
Seika tried to scramble up, but Seiji had already pinned her down with his body weight.
"Get off! You bastard! Scumbag!"
Seika screamed with every ounce of strength, cursing viciously.
But Seiji used just one hand to easily restrain both her arms.
Her tightly clenched legs were also forced apart by his knee intruding between them, opened for a man for the first time.
Seika was like a fish pinned to a cutting board, able only to watch helplessly as the knife slowly peeled away her scales.
Seiji leaned down, bringing his lips close to her ear, and whispered with a laugh:
"Go ahead, curse all you want."
"I love hearing your voice."
"It makes me even more excited, and it will add quite a bit of atmosphere to what comes next."
With that, he lowered his head and forcefully sealed her defiant mouth with his lips.
It was a kiss filled with aggressive intent.
Roughly prying open her teeth, he drove straight in, plundering every inch of sweetness in her mouth at will.
Seika's mind buzzed, unable to think.
The other's strength was like an iron vise, leaving her unable to move.
What was worse, his kissing technique was absurdly, infuriatingly skilled.
That nimble tongue seemed to know every secret of her body, each teasing stroke striking precisely at her most sensitive nerves.
A strange tremor like an electric current shot up from the base of her spine, instantly spreading through her entire body.
Her body, which had been rigid with anger, shamefully softened.
No... I can't...
Seika cried out in despair within her heart.
She tried to reclaim control of her body, but the flames that had been ignited were already spreading like wildfire, burning through her rationality.
Seiji keenly detected the change in her body.
The smile at the corner of his mouth deepened.
He slowly raised his head, gazing at her face flushed red from oxygen deprivation and shame, and remarked teasingly:
"Ichiji-san."
"Your body is much more honest than your mouth."
That statement completely shattered Seika's psychological defenses.
Tears of humiliation could no longer be suppressed, sliding down from the corners of her eyes.
Seiji hesitated no longer, claiming her completely with an irresistible posture.
...
...
Seika found it difficult to describe that sensation.
First came tearing pain.
But immediately following was an overwhelming wave of pleasure.
She felt like a small boat tossed about in a violent storm.
In just a few minutes, her consciousness was battered to pieces by those sensory impacts like crashing waves.
Seika forgot who she was, forgot where she was, forgot all her pride and dignity.
The angry curses in her mouth had at some point transformed into whimpers laced with sobs, and some instinct for more made her unconsciously tighten her slender legs, wrapping them firmly around Seiji's waist.
...
...
A long time passed.
When Seika's consciousness finally returned to her body.
The sunlight outside the window had turned to warm orange hues.
Evening had arrived.
She lay like a broken doll, completely drained of strength, sprawled across sheets that were disheveled and stained with suspicious fluids.
Those beautiful golden eyes stared vacantly at the ceiling, devoid of life.
Just then,
A phone ringtone shattered the room's silence.
Seiji rolled off of her, picked up his phone, and pressed the speakerphone button.
"Hello, President." A respectful voice came through. "The demolition team you ordered has assembled outside 'STARRY.' Should we begin work immediately?"
Hearing the word "STARRY," a glimmer of awareness finally returned to Seika's hollow eyes.
She whipped her head around, looking at Seiji with pleading eyes.
Seiji noticed her gaze.
He turned his head, flashing her a smile filled with demonic malice.
Then, speaking into the phone in a tone deliberately meant for her to hear, he said:
"Hold the plan for now."
"Await my next instructions."
With that, he ended the call.
When she heard the word "hold," Seika felt as though her heart—which had sunk to the bottom of an abyss—had been forcibly yanked back up by an invisible hand.
Shame, humiliation...
And a trace of pathetic "gratitude" she herself was unwilling to acknowledge, all surged into her heart.