"He's back in Japan?"
Tetsu Fuyukawa raises an eyebrow at the phone notification. After Surrounded by Beauties blew up, Asuka Tsukitake, the 176cm bombshell who played Hao Hao's mom, fled to Europe to escape the hype. Tetsu figured she'd wait until the buzz died down to return, but here she is, already back and asking him to buy her a Little Pink—a cheeky nod to Japan's playful adult toy culture.
Thinking of the Jumpy Little Pink crushed under his dress shoe, Tetsu's brow quirks again, and the two women beside him catch it instantly.
"That look? Who's texting you? Don't tell me it's another woman!"
Mito Miyano's slender fingers pause on her keyboard, her icy stare pinning Tetsu. Sayoko, too, fidgets nervously, her eyes a mix of worry and a hint of jealousy—a classic Japanese drama moment where intuition sparks suspicion.
Cough. Is this a woman's sixth sense?
Tetsu didn't expect a raised eyebrow to tip them off about the sender's gender. Caught off guard, he stifles a laugh but doesn't hide anything, spilling the details.
"She's asking you to buy sex toys?! That giant from Surrounded by Beauties?!" Mito's glare sharpens, and Sayoko's small fists clench. Tetsu can't hold it together anymore.
Giant, huh?
Well, if Yui Shinohara's 169cm earns her the nickname "Tokyo Skytree," calling 176cm Asuka a "giant" isn't too far off in Japan's height-conscious culture. Still, Tetsu can't help but snicker, thinking of the Total War series' "giants" from his past life. His amusement, though, only makes Mito's stare frostier during this "sensitive topic."
"You're laughing? No way! I'm watching you reply!" Mito declares, dragging a reluctant Sayoko behind Tetsu. Four "snow pomelos" press against his shoulders as they peer at his phone. Tetsu's grin fades, especially when Asuka's next message pings.
[Asuka: You've dragged out our bet long enough. You owe interest! Meet me at Isshin Dojo in Shibuya.]
"…"
"Isshin Dojo? She's challenging you to a fencing match?"
Mito, expecting a dinner invite, is thrown off. A wicked grin spreads across her face, her eyes gleaming with excitement and a touch of jealousy, like a shonen anime rival sizing up a foe. "Tonight, I'm coming too!"
"…"
---
Mito's determined to confront Asuka, and though Tetsu finds it a bit of a headache, he doesn't stop her. He and Asuka are just friends—nothing to hide. Before heading to Shibuya, they detour to the K-On! set to pick up Kuki Izumi from work.
As Tetsu steps out of his black BMW with two stunning women, the crew's jaws drop. Especially Manager Hase, whose glasses nearly pop off! Last time, seeing Tetsu with Mito could've been a fluke, but both Mito and Sayoko now? No coincidence. And what's with Sayoko tagging along?
Hase's brain short-circuits watching the two beauties flank Tetsu. Her stammered greeting goes unnoticed—Mito and Tetsu don't care, and Sayoko, though shy, brushes it off. Sure, their group might spark office gossip, but with Sekiro wrapping up and Tetsu planning to leave NTsoft, he's unbothered. This is why he never released his songs publicly—stardom would've made this carefree life impossible. Game producers like him are famous in the industry but not chased by paparazzi, unlike, say, the God of War team, where fans care about the game, not the creator's face.
Ignoring the crew's stares, the mood shifts when they reach the set. Mito and Sayoko get along fine, but Kuki, the Scorpio spitfire, has never warmed to Mito, the "sly vixen." She keeps her distance from Tetsu in public, knowing her singing career is taking off, but clings to Sayoko's arm, relentlessly roasting Mito and Tetsu. When she hears they're meeting another woman in Shibuya, her big, clear eyes widen in shock.
As Tetsu says goodbye to the grinning Deputy Director Tanaka and Manager Hase, Kuki pounces the moment they're back in the car, straddling him and pinching his cheeks. Tetsu retaliates with a playful spanking. Through the rearview mirror, Mito catches Kuki rubbing her backside and whining to Sayoko, and a smirk tugs at her lips as she drives.
---