NTsoft is about to be shaken to its core.
Tetsu Fuyukawa wasn't wrong in his predictions.
Miyabi Miyano is currently the sharpest blade in Chairwoman Kozuru's hand, and that hand is called Power.
No matter how much Chairwoman Kozuru tries to keep her in line, Miyabi Miyano wouldn't dare betray her and side with President Asai at this critical moment. Miyano's foundation at NTsoft is still too shaky. If she jumped ship with the label of "traitor" on her back, her future prospects for promotion within the company would be severely limited.
But she miscalculated two things.
First, after the massive success of My Explosive Popularity with Beauties, Chairwoman Kozuru didn't reward Miyano further. This left the ambitious "Black Rose," who had jumped from SATE to NTsoft for faster career advancement, deeply disappointed.
Normally, this wouldn't be considered a misstep. After all, when a leader wants to discipline a subordinate, the classic approach is to deliver a blow and then offer a reward—like a carrot after the stick. This not only establishes authority but also creates an expectation in the subordinate's mind: perform like a trained seal, and you'll get a fish. It's a way to keep them firmly under control.
But Kozuru didn't anticipate how strong-willed Miyabi Miyano is. A single blow caused Miyano to develop a fierce resentment. Nor did she expect that Tetsu Fuyukawa, the mastermind of rebellion, would be by Miyano's side.
The result? A massive upheaval!
By the end of the morning's weekly meeting, NTsoft was in an uproar!
"My gosh! What just happened?! The president actually backed Department Four at the board meeting?! Isn't Minister Miyano one of Chairwoman Kozuru's people?!"
"President Asai is sharp. He realized Chairwoman Kozuru's return isn't just about stabilizing NTsoft—she's got bigger plans. And he countered her move immediately. Tsk, tsk, tsk, looks like the real show's about to begin!"
"Miyabi Miyano is unreal! She's been with the company for less than a year and already switched sides?! Isn't she afraid of Chairwoman Kozuru's retaliation?!"
"The retaliation's already started! I heard Chairwoman Kozuru lost it after the meeting—she even smashed a secretary's head with something! And she's already meeting with Minister Nobi from Department Three. She's planning to back Department Three to siphon off some of Department Four's project budget to compete head-to-head!!!"
"Minister Miyano sure knows how to stir things up, but Chairwoman Kozuru can't really touch her right now, can she? I mean, Miyano just joined the president's faction, and he's not going to let her take a hit."
"For now, it looks that way. But there'll definitely be a reckoning later. People who play both sides like this? I've never seen one come out on top."
"Faction fights are terrifying. But what about Section Chief Fuyukawa? Department Four's rise is largely thanks to him. Do you think Chairwoman Kozuru might transfer him out of Department Four? I mean, at the shareholders' meeting, someone proposed promoting him to deputy director, but Minister Miyano blocked it."
"If Section Chief Fuyukawa accepts Chairwoman Kozuru's offer, things are gonna get interesting!"
No wall is airtight, and as the weekly meeting wrapped up, NTsoft's employees were buzzing with gossip. At first, the chatter centered on the relationship between Chairwoman Kozuru and Miyabi Miyano, but soon enough, the conversation shifted to Tetsu Fuyukawa!
Yes, the company's hot topic was now all about Tetsu Fuyukawa!
It was undeniable that Miyabi Miyano had fully aligned with the President's Faction, but Department Four's rise was largely due to Fuyukawa's contributions!
If Chairwoman Kozuru managed to poach Fuyukawa from Department Four, it would be like pulling the rug out from under them!
It's entirely possible!
If Fuyukawa chose to betray Miyano at this moment, he'd gain Chairwoman Kozuru's full support. Without him—the "engine" of Department Four—Miyano would struggle to find another talented game producer. Her position as head of Department Four could even be at risk!
If he delivered another stellar project, even if his youth kept him from becoming a minister, with Kozuru's backing, he could still wield significant power in Department Four!
All he'd need to do is strike a decisive blow, and he could potentially take Miyano's place!
The anticipation was palpable!
While the entire company was abuzz with speculation and excitement, inside Lightbird Studio's office…
"Section Chief Fuyukawa, did you not hear what I just said? Ms. Kozuru made it clear: if you request a transfer to Department Three, she'll approve your promotion at the company meeting!"
"I heard you."
"Then what's your answer?! Ms. Kozuru doesn't have time for you to think too long!"
It was nearing lunch break, and warm sunlight streamed through the large windows.
Looking at the smug, handsome male secretary who acted superior despite being the one making a request, Tetsu Fuyukawa leaned back in his boss chair, hands resting on his stomach, and smiled. "I already told you, I have no plans to leave Department Four."
The secretary, handsome enough to pass for a host at a hostess club, frowned at the firm response. Pointing at Fuyukawa with his briefcase, he said condescendingly, "Section Chief Fuyukawa, I hope you answer carefully! In the thirty years since Ms. Kozuru became president, only three people have ever refused her, and the consequences for them…"
"Get out."
Before he could finish, a single word—"get out"—slapped him in the face. The secretary froze, staring at Fuyukawa in disbelief!
He never expected such a response. His fingers trembled with anger, but as he met Fuyukawa's cold, narrowing gaze and recalled what happened to Deputy Director Yamanaka, a shiver ran through him.
"Fine, Fuyukawa! You've got guts! Just wait—Ms. Kozuru won't let you off!"
What a small-time punk with so much drama.
A loud slam echoed as the door shut. Fuyukawa glanced at the coffee cup on his desk, its surface rippling from the impact, and rolled his eyes in exasperation.
Chairwoman Kozuru wasn't just a domineering woman—she was also a notorious womanizer. Yes, a womanizer. In her youth, she'd earned the legendary title of "conquering all the male hosts of Kabukicho in one night." And she had a habit of hiring young, handsome boys fresh out of college as her "secretaries."
This guy was one of them. Calling him a secretary was generous—he had no real authority, earned a regular employee's salary, and was basically just a pretty face who could sweet-talk the old lady.
Fuyukawa had no interest in entertaining someone like that.
However…
Picking up his coffee cup, Fuyukawa took a small sip and looked toward the door. "How long are you going to keep testing me from out there?"
His voice echoed in the empty room.
After a moment, Miyabi Miyano, dressed in an OL uniform with delicate white stockings hugging her shapely thighs, pushed open the door.
Seeing Fuyukawa's displeased expression, a flicker of guilt crossed her face. But she quickly composed herself, putting on a cool facade as if nothing had happened. "Phew, meetings are so stuffy. Your office is much cooler—hey, hey, hey! What do you think you're doing?!"
"You're asking me?"
Gazing down at Miyano, whose cold eyes held a mix of shyness and a touch of trust, Fuyukawa rolled his eyes.
Without a word, he grabbed her waist, bent her over the desk, her round hips accentuated by her tight skirt.
It was so sudden!!!
Her first time being handled like this by a man!
Miyano's voluptuous figure pressed against the desk, her large, cold eyes wide with shock!
She immediately struggled!
But then—"Smack!"
A sharp, forceful spank!
Her body jolted forward from the impact!
Pain!
Intense pain!
Miyano's upper body arched upward, her white-stockinged feet curling in agony. At that moment, Fuyukawa's voice sounded in her ear.
"This is your punishment for not trusting your master."
"Punishment? Who do you think you are?!"
Her embarrassment turned to full-blown anger!
Miyano's icy eyes blazed with fury as she struggled on the desk, turning to grab Fuyukawa's collar. But then, the words master?, if I lose, I'll wear a maid outfit and be your housekeeper for a week!, and most importantly, what she'd overheard at the door, flashed through her mind.
Fine, let's call it a little reward for this guy.
Yes, just because of the bet… and a reward.
Once people find an excuse, they fall fast. Recalling what she'd heard, Miyano's wide eyes softened, her struggling eased, and she relaxed onto the desk. As her emotions and mindset shifted, the pain seemed to transform into something else.
"Smack!"
"Ugh—"
Another hard spank!
Her body lurched forward again, but this time, alongside the pain, a strange electric sensation shot through her brain. Miyano let out a muffled sound, a hot breath escaping her lips as a faint flush spread across her cold, elegant face.
---
2000!
+2500!
Critical hit!
"This woman… beneath that tough exterior, there's definitely an interesting soul."
Seeing the emotional values floating above her head, Fuyukawa raised an eyebrow. After spending so much time with her, he knew Miyano's personality well. "Minus 2000, plus 2500. The pleasure outweighs the pain. Looks like she's starting to change, but she hasn't fully crossed that internal barrier yet."
With that thought, feeling the soft fullness and slight sting in his right hand, Fuyukawa didn't continue. Instead, he assertively lifted the still-dazed Miyano from the desk, sat back in his boss chair, and pulled her onto his lap.
Pressing against "Little Fuyukawa."
"Hiss—"
Miyano's face flushed deeper, her eyes growing hazier. Without hesitation, she reached up, wrapping her arms around Fuyukawa's neck, her flushed face tilting upward.
Their lips met.
The icy gaze that terrified countless employees was now filled with a tidal wave of spring-like emotions. But it wasn't over. As the kiss deepened, the arms around her waist tightened.
"Mmm—"
A sense of breathlessness surged within her, her eyes nearly forming pink hearts, rolling slightly upward. Feeling Fuyukawa's hands—knowing exactly where her boundaries were and not crossing them—her heart fully relaxed.
Not as soft as Sayako's, but still heavy and more elastic, her hips began to move instinctively.
After a long moment, as the clock struck noon and the hallway outside grew noisy, the arms wrapped around her waist like a python slowly loosened.
"Mmm—ha~"
Still sitting in Fuyukawa's lap, feeling the dampness and flushed with heat, Miyano finally caught her breath. Her upper body collapsed forward, hands bracing against the floor.
An amusing position, but Fuyukawa, having just been "drained," wasn't as thirsty anymore. He bent down, pulled her up, and held her close.
"So, will you doubt me again?"
Cradling her in his arms, Fuyukawa buried his face in her pale neck, chuckling. "I might not be a saint. I'm cunning, rule-breaking, fiercely competitive, and I'll do whatever it takes to win. But I never deceive my women."
"Hmph~"
Hearing his sweet words, a flicker of enjoyment passed through Miyano's eyes. She nestled into his arms, but as the noise outside the office grew louder, she snapped back to reality.
Standing up, she adjusted her rumpled white blouse, feeling the dampness. Her eyes flicked shyly to "Little Fuyukawa," now at rest. A mix of sweetness and shyness crossed her face, but she quickly reverted to her usual icy demeanor.
Stomping her high heels, she glared at Fuyukawa coldly. "Your woman? Don't overestimate your charm! That was just because of the bet! A woman like me wouldn't fall for a nobody like you! Hmph!"
With that, she tossed her slightly wavy hair, grabbed her briefcase from the desk, and strode out. But as she reached the door, Fuyukawa swiveled his chair and called out, "Don't forget the maid outfit."
"!"
Miyano stumbled, her small fists clenching, but she didn't respond or turn back. She just slammed the door shut with a bang.
"Thirty years old and still acting tsundere. Doesn't that get tiring?"
Sniffing the faint lingering scent of her perfume, Fuyukawa muttered complaints. But as he turned his chair to face the winter sun illuminating the city outside, a smile tugged at his lips. He stood, stretching comfortably, though a sticky sensation hit him.
"…Good thing I can go home to change."
"I really need to become president someday. Then I can have a small bedroom in the office."
Men don't look back at explosions—or care about a little stickiness.
As usual, Fuyukawa grabbed his briefcase, greeted his bowing colleagues with a friendly nod, and drove home.
His colleagues didn't notice anything amiss, but back home, Sayako, who handled the laundry, certainly did.
No surprise there. After some quiet muttering, Sayako launched her "keep the good stuff in the family" plan, taking Fuyukawa down in a whirlwind of passion right at the entrance!
---
Lightbird Studio was currently on break. Sayako's routine was cooking breakfast, sharing some affection, practicing yoga, and returning home in the evening. But Fuyukawa's life had changed.
Normally, a big project like Sekiro would take ages to get off the ground. But after Miyano's defection at that meeting, Chairwoman Kozuru—and her faction—went into full-blown chaos mode!
Or rather, the Kozuru Faction went berserk!
They were pushing Department Three to develop an ARPG too!
NTsoft was now set to launch two major titles simultaneously!
It might sound reckless, but it wasn't. Massive interests were at stake.
Chairwoman Kozuru's return to NTsoft was orchestrated by her faction, who used the company's decline as leverage to bring her back. Their goal? To seize control of the board from President Asai.
So, whether Fuyukawa or Miyano's defection was in play or not, a clash between these factions was inevitable. It was just a matter of which weapon they wielded.
Honestly, this was both pressure and an opportunity for Fuyukawa.
Under normal circumstances, a project like Sekiro would face endless boardroom debates. But with President Asai's position on shaky ground, things moved at lightning speed.
Fuyukawa didn't even need to push. Every morning, Asai's beautiful secretary was waiting at his office door to escort him and Miyano to meet the president and discuss project details.
And, to be fair, President Asai was a capable leader. Though he came from the finance department, he was well-versed in game marketing, art, current ARPG combat systems, and game engines.
Working with someone knowledgeable was comfortable for Fuyukawa, but the process wasn't smooth sailing.
Asai was indeed gearing up to challenge Kozuru, but he wasn't reckless.
On the contrary, he became more cautious. On certain topics, he'd even say, "If you can't show me something more convincing, this project ends here!"
Getting a project greenlit was just the start. Plenty of games get canceled mid-development. A blockbuster with over $100 million in production and marketing costs could flop just as badly as the current situation!
President Asai had to be extremely careful!
Fuyukawa understood this and didn't resent Asai for being cautious. The issue wasn't just the massive investment and risk. There was another problem: the Japanese game market was in a slump.
Japan's game industry, with its early start and cultural emphasis on media, held many iconic IPs. But the past decade had been a low point. Japanese games once dominated globally, but as technology advanced, Western blockbusters began outpacing them in sales. This coincided with the rise of mobile internet and mobile games.
Many Japanese studios pivoted to mobile games, while those sticking to single-player titles started mimicking Western 3A games. But 3A games…
People love to rave about "how awesome foreign 3A games are," but 3A doesn't mean quality. It stands for "A lot of money," "A lot of resources," and "A lot of time." Meet those criteria, and you've got a 3A game. By that standard, Genshin Impact, with its $100 million expansion budget, is a quintessential 3A title.
So why did Genshin thrive in Japan while Japanese 3A games struggled?
The core issue is the profit model.
Japan's domestic market can't sustain non-top-tier buy-to-play 3A games. Recent data shows about 30 million active gamers in Japan, including mobile and online players. A game like Sekiro, with a $50 million budget—modest by Western standards—would need to sell nearly 5 million copies to break even after platform fees (30%), taxes, and engine costs.
A game needing one-sixth of the entire market to turn a profit? That's near impossible.
This is why Japanese games lean toward Western aesthetics—not out of subservience, but because 3A Japanese games need global sales to survive. Yet, aside from a few top studios, most Japanese attempts at Western-style 3A games flop overseas.
So, many Japanese studios abandoned 3A games for more profitable mobile games, like those from China. This led to a technical lag. With fewer studios needing cutting-edge tech, there's less capital investment, stunting development.
Fewer people make 3A games, so the tech lags further—a vicious cycle. Meanwhile, mobile games dominate, even impacting Japan's market, as Japanese mobile games struggle to compete globally.
Japanese games are stuck—outclassed by Western 3A titles and mobile games. The only way out? Innovation!
If you can't outspend or out-tech, innovate in content and gameplay!
---
Friday, with light rain falling.
In the parking lot, Tetsu Fuyukawa stepped out of his car. Sayako held an umbrella over him, one hand adjusting his collar, her eyes filled with worry.
The game was greenlit, but after days of talking with Fuyukawa, she knew President Asai was only holding onto him for now. Whether he'd fully back Sekiro depended on these next few days—today was critical!
She was worried—very worried!
Fuyukawa had outright rejected Chairwoman Kozuru. If President Asai rejected him too, staying at NTsoft would be tough!
But as Fuyukawa's gaze softened, her worry turned to warm encouragement. "You've got this, Tetsu-kun! I bought tons of seafood yesterday for a celebration feast tonight!"
"You little goof."
Patting her head, Fuyukawa chuckled, exhaling a puff of white breath. He linked arms with her and headed toward NTsoft's building. But at the entrance, under the eaves in the chilly wind, stood a striking, cold beauty.
Glancing at Sayako, whose face screamed "hostility," Miyabi Miyano, in her OL uniform and high heels, crossed her arms and looked up at Fuyukawa. "You confident about today?"
"Relax."
Fuyukawa pulled the pouting Sayako closer, raising his briefcase—the one holding the Sekiro: Battle Module Proposal!
10,000 words!