Just as her emotions were in turmoil,
Seiji rolled over once more, pressing down on her again.
"No... no more..." Seika let out a weak, hoarse protest.
"Oh?" Seiji smiled, lowering his head and gently brushing his nose against her sensitive earlobe, his tone laden with meaning:
"Ijichi-san, what I said was 'temporarily preserved.'"
"As for when it can be 'permanently preserved'..."
"That depends on your future 'performance.'"
With that, he gave her no chance to think, tasting this stubborn, aloof woman once more.
This time,
Seika's resistance was noticeably weaker.
She simply covered her eyes with her arm, as if doing so could deceive herself into believing everything before her was just a nightmare.
Seiji also discovered with amazement during this "tasting" that
once he shattered Ijichi Seika's shell of "pride," the Ijichi Seika hidden beneath was surprisingly delicate and sensitive... an alluring young woman.
It was a softness completely contrary to her cold exterior.
Like a perfectly ripe peach... utterly irresistible.
'Just as Nijika said, Seika's personality is tsun-tsun-tsun-tsun... dere!'
This experience filled with contrast excited Seiji even more.
He felt he could savor this woman for a lifetime and never tire of her.
...
...
Several days later.
PA-san came to "STARRY" and discovered that the door which had been plastered with a "Forced Demolition Notice" was now completely clean, as if nothing had ever happened.
Inside the shop, Seika had also resumed normal operations.
"Huh?"
PA-san keenly sensed something was off.
"Seika, the 'Mitsui' matter... is it resolved?" she asked tentatively.
"Mm... I suppose so." Seika kept her head down, polishing a glass, not daring to meet her eyes.
"How did you resolve it?"
"...I found a new investor."
"Who?"
"..."
Seika didn't answer.
But PA-san, from her flushed ears and the slightly stiff way she walked, instantly guessed everything.
"No way..."
PA-san's heart erupted with tumultuous waves.
Her eyes widened, looking at her once stubborn-as-a-bull friend with utter disbelief.
"Don't tell me... she actually went and begged Fujiwara-sensei?"
"But... it's only been a few days?!""But... it's only been a few days?!"
"This bone harder than diamond... he gnawed through it just like that?!"
PA-san felt her worldview had once again been refreshed by Seiji.
...
The day after the "transaction" occurred, Ijichi Seika received a phone call.
It was from Seiji's secretary.
The caller informed her that Seiji had, in his personal capacity, purchased the three shops adjacent to "STARRY" and incorporated them all into "STARRY's" business scope as expansion space for the new venue.
All design, renovation, and equipment procurement would be handled by professional teams under "Genesis Entertainment," and she only needed to sign off on the design plans.
The moment she hung up, Seika stood alone in the empty live house, motionless for a long time.
Her emotions were complex beyond measure.
She had assumed that after obtaining her, Seiji would merely preserve "STARRY" like a plaything, which would at least fulfill his "promise."
She never imagined he would go this far.
"How generous, Fujiwara-sensei..."
Seika pulled a self-mocking smile.
She knew this was a method of corruption.
Like a master animal trainer who, after completely capturing prey, feeds it the finest feed until it's sleek and plump, letting it unknowingly grow accustomed to the comfort of captivity, slowly grinding away its wildness and dignity.
But she couldn't refuse.
"Damn it!"
She cursed in a low voice.
Yet in those clear, cold crimson eyes, complex emotions flickered that even she couldn't understand.
...
...
From that day on, Ijichi Seika's life underwent earth-shattering changes.
During the day, she remained "STARRY's" capable, reliable manager.
Busy communicating with designers sent by Genesis about renovation plans for the new venue, busy confirming procurement lists with equipment suppliers.
She displayed her usual professionalism and assertiveness.
As if the woman who had been ruthlessly possessed in the office, who had cried and begged for mercy, was someone else entirely.
However.
Whenever night fell, Seiji would call.
Sometimes on a whim, he'd order her to drop everything and go to some apartment or hotel suite to "report" on the new venue's renovation progress.
These so-called "reports" often took place on bedroom beds, conducted in primitive and terrible ways.
Sometimes Seiji would also appear on a whim at "STARRY's" entrance.
He wouldn't come inside... just park his car at the street corner and send her a text:
["Come out."]
Then Seika had to walk out and get into Seiji's car.
The car would take her anywhere in Tokyo.
Perhaps to an upscale, private members-only restaurant;
Perhaps to a penthouse bar;
Or perhaps just a deserted, secluded road.
Sometimes, just parked on the street for half an hour to an hour, until Seiji was satisfied, then she'd be let go.
During these times.
Seiji would also display considerable gentleness and patience.
He'd act like the most ordinary couple with her... eating, drinking, walking.
Discussing music with her, bands, live house management. Those professional yet sharp insights often shocked Seika while simultaneously earning her grudging admiration.
This recognition caused the contempt she felt for Seiji as "human trash" to unknowingly become mixed with a trace of appreciation.
She began developing a contradictory dependence on Seiji.
Like a patient addicted to drugs, consciously loathing the substance that dragged her into degradation, yet physically craving, hopelessly, that stolen tranquility.
This contradiction and struggle nearly tore her in two.
And her state of being "tough-mouthed but soft-hearted," prideful on the outside but submissive within, greatly pleased Seiji.
Seiji enjoyed her daytime facade... cold and stubborn like an ice queen;
He also enjoyed pressing her beneath him at night, ruthlessly possessing her, savoring the entire process from stubborn cursing to suppressed whimpers to shattered, degraded moans.
Whenever Seika's cool eyes became tinged with desire because of him,
Seiji felt as if he'd taken stimulants... utterly exhilarated.
"Bastard... scum..."
These were the words Seika spoke most during each "routine possession."
But as time passed, this curse gradually lost its initial hatred and edge, taking on the soft, coquettish nasal tone of someone acting spoiled.
...
...
PA-san eventually discovered this secret.
That day, she came to the shop to help and inadvertently saw, when Seika bent down to retrieve something, a suggestive pink mark peeking from the loose neckline of her T-shirt.
PA-san merely paused, then understood everything, revealing a knowing smile.
She didn't make a scene, merely pulled Seika into the deserted storage room after closing.
"Seika," PA-san's expression was calm, but her distinctive eyes sparkled with teasing light. "Are you together with him?"
Seika's face flushed red in an instant.
She instinctively reached up to cover her neckline, her gaze evasive, not daring to meet PA-san's eyes.
"It's... it's not what you think..." Seika stammered defensively, her tone utterly unconvincing. "It's just... a business partnership..."
PA-san said nothing, simply reached out and brushed a strand of hair behind Seika's ear, revealing an earlobe so red it seemed ready to drip blood.
"Business partnerships extend to the bedroom?" PA-san chuckled teasingly.
Seika could no longer maintain her façade.
Like all her strength had been drained, she deflated completely, saying with self-mockery:
"...Yeah, I sold myself."
Watching her stubborn friend in this dejected state,
PA-san's heart was filled with mixed feelings.
She stepped forward and gently embraced Seika: "You... fool..."
Seika buried her head deep into PA-san's shoulder.
...
That evening,
PA-san sent Seiji three text messages.
["Fujiwara-sensei, congratulations on conquering another fortress."]
Soon, Seiji's reply came through.
["Mutual congratulations."]
PA-san looked at those two words, pursed her lips, and her fingers flew across the keyboard.
["Hmph, don't get cocky. Seika's not an ordinary woman. Don't break her."]
["Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."]
["Then... to celebrate you gnawing through Seika, that tough bone, as a reward..."]
A complex flush crossed PA-san's face.
She bit her lip and typed out words that even she found somewhat shameful.
["Next time we meet, I'll let you properly 'savor' my 'forked tongue,' how about that?"]
Message sent.
PA-san tossed her phone aside, buried her face in a pillow, and let out a muffled cry filled with embarrassment.
"Ahhhhh! What am I even doing?!"
But she couldn't help it.
Doing it with Seiji felt too good... addictive, impossible to forget.
...
...
Meanwhile,
Seiji looked at the provocative text from PA-san on his phone, his lips curving into an arc.
And just then,
[Ding!]
A system notification sound that only he could hear quietly rang in his mind.
[Congratulations, Host. You have completed the staged achievement... 'Initial Submission of the Proud One.']
[Based on the Host's current conquest stage and initial possession of target 'Ijichi Seika,' Stage One Reward has been distributed.]
[Reward Contents: [Complete Band Development Planning Manual].]
Curiosity flashed in Seiji's eyes.
He used his consciousness to open this "planning manual."
The next second,
A massive flood of information poured into his mind!
It was... an absolutely terrifying "encyclopedia" far beyond his imagination!
From the most fundamental live house acoustics layout, lighting design, and sound system calibration, to the core elements of band selection criteria, development programs, style positioning, market promotion, and fan operations...
It even included psychological motivation plans tailored to band members of different personalities!
Frighteningly accurate predictions of global music market trends for years to come!
And hundreds of perfect contingency plans for handling various PR crises and emergencies!
Every chapter, every paragraph, every word seemed crafted by a top-tier industry team through countless days and nights of refinement and deduction, ultimately producing this "ultimate business bible"!
Shock was evident on Seiji's face.
He himself had once created a detailed development plan for Genesis's music division.
He'd thought that plan, combining memories from his past life with present experience, was already first-rate.
But compared to this "planning manual" rewarded by the system,
his painstakingly crafted proposal was like firefly light compared to the bright moon... the gap was staggering.
"I see..."
Seiji slowly exhaled, the excitement and greed in his eyes burning even hotter.
This planning manual was invaluable!
It was like a replicable answer key.
By following it step by step, Genesis's music division could grow into a behemoth in Japan's music industry within just a few years!
"Before, I thought conquering the industry required relying on memory and talent, laying plans bit by bit, like playing a complex game of chess."
"Now it seems... I just need to find beautiful girls, and the system will slap the 'winning strategy' right in my face."
He gazed at Tokyo's glittering nightscape outside the window, sighing with emotion.
...
...
Time quietly flowed by.
Under Genesis Entertainment's terrifying financial power and execution capability, the expansion project for the new "STARRY" progressed at an unimaginable speed.
In just two weeks, what had been a small, somewhat shabby live house was completely transformed!
After breaking through the three adjacent shops, the entire venue's area expanded nearly fourfold.
Brand new walls with professional acoustic design replaced the original mottled old ones; the ceiling was covered with dense professional lighting arrays rivaling those of major concerts.
The stage that could once barely accommodate a four-person band had now become a spacious performance space where a ten-piece ensemble could freely roam.
Whenever Seika stood in this construction site that was both familiar and strange, watching equipment that had only existed in her imagination being carried in piece by piece, her emotions were indescribably complex.
On one hand, there was joy and excitement that her dreams were being realized in a surreal way.
On the other hand, whenever she remembered that all this was exchanged with her own body, that humiliation and unwillingness lingered like a thorn in the bone.
It was truly painful yet pleasurable.
Additionally,
Seiji hadn't relaxed his "occupation" of her just because he'd obtained her.
He would still summon her to the office under various dignified pretenses like "inspecting construction progress" or "discussing band development plans."
Or he'd make surprise visits after closing at night.
In various different locations, using various methods that made her feel utterly shameful... playing with her over and over in endlessly inventive ways.
With each "possession," she would stubbornly curse "scum" and "bastard."
But her body had long been trained to crave more.
She always easily succumbed, letting Seiji manipulate her, displaying all manner of shameful, lustful expressions.
And today,
When Seiji once again summoned her to the office under the pretense of "discussing the new venue's opening operations plan,"
He uncharacteristically didn't make any moves.
Instead, he placed a thick folder in front of her.
"What's this?" Seika looked at the folder with wary eyes and asked.
"Open it and see for yourself." Seiji's face bore an inscrutable smile.
Seika hesitated, then reached out and opened the file titled [Complete Band Development Planning Manual].
Just looking at the first page's table of contents,
Her pupils constricted sharply from extreme shock.
[Chapter 1: Target Audience Profiling and Precise Positioning of the Live House Based on Market Research]
[Chapter 2: Online and Offline Promotion Strategies for Independent Bands in the New Media Era]
[Chapter 3: "STARRY" Band Ranking System and Tiered Resource Allocation Plan]
[Chapter 4: From "Budding Stage" to "Mature Stage"... An Analysis of Full Lifecycle Band Development and Commercialization Pathways]
...