"Anything else?"
Tetsu's eyes flicked across a series of photos of mature women, occasionally clicking to check their measurements, resumes, and casual snapshots. Feeling a bit parched, he reached for the barley tea on his desk, only then noticing that Sayoko Kawai, who had brought the tea, hadn't left.
His gaze lifted, passing over her pronounced curves as he shifted fully into work mode, a puzzled expression crossing his face.
"Oh! No, no, I just wanted to thank you again for treating me to dinner last night and giving me this opportunity," Sayoko said, bowing respectfully. Through the dip of her black blazer, the lace trim of her white blouse peeked out.
The curve was enticing, but Tetsu was too focused on work to entertain thoughts of flirting with his subordinate. Rolling his neck, he adjusted the rimless glasses perched on his nose and scrolled the mouse wheel, not looking up. "No need to repeat yourself. We're on the same team."
"Right, right! Sayoko understands," she replied quickly.
A hardworking, considerate guy… Wait a second!
Her eyes, bright as autumn water, curved into crescents as she looked at Tetsu, who exuded an air of polished professionalism. But then, recalling the photos of mature women he'd been reviewing, her expression froze, almost comically, like a chibi character turning to stone.
Tetsu-kun's in his twenties, single, and after what happened in the elevator, it's normal for him to have… urges, right? she thought. And it seems he's into older women? So maybe I—
-100.
+2000.
Her emotions were all over the place! Sayoko's face flushed so deeply it seemed steam might pour from her ears. At that moment, Tetsu pointed at the screen. "Since you're here, help me take a look at this woman."
This woman?! He's asking me to look at her with him?! In the office?!
Red steam practically billowed from her head, as if she'd unlocked some forbidden power. Her cute yet alluring face burned crimson, her mind racing to strange places.
+1000, -1000, +1000, -1000.
What's up with her?
Tetsu raised an eyebrow at the wild numbers flashing above her head. "You okay?"
"N-No, I'm fine! I'll come take a look," she stammered, her flushed face dipping as she shuffled to his side.
"This is Yukino Ooyuki, 31 years old, a graduate of an arts university. She debuted as an idol and starred in the thriller The Terrifying Wife. She's 173 cm tall, measurements 87-61-84. Her specialties are dancing—she's quite flexible—and she's a decent singer. What's your first impression of her?"
"Huh?"
Oh, he's picking actresses.
Listening to Tetsu ramble and seeing the undeniably sexy but modestly dressed woman on the screen, Sayoko froze. Her wide, embarrassed eyes brimmed with guilt as her flushed cheeks betrayed her earlier misunderstanding.
+1000.
Tetsu sighed. "Huh? Are you even listening?"
"Sorry! So sorry!" Sayoko bowed repeatedly, her face still red as she leaned closer to the monitor. After a moment, she said softly, "She's very pretty, with an amazing figure. Her vibe is a bit cool, like a refined, aloof older sister. She'd fit the 'sexy housewife' or 'older woman, younger man' roles from the brief perfectly."
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking," Tetsu nodded. "But I've got a few others I think are solid too." He stood, leaning over to click red checkmarks on several other women's profiles. "Contact their agents and put together a spreadsheet with their fees and schedules."
"Got it! Just give me a moment to grab my laptop—"
"No need, just use my computer."
"Oh, okay. Leave it to me!"
Caught off guard by his arrangement, Sayoko hesitated but quickly slipped into professional mode. She'd been in the workforce for over a decade, after all. She settled into Tetsu's chair, her hips shifting in the tight skirt and black stockings. The seat was still warm.
A faint heat seeped through her clothes, making her cheeks flush again.
+200.
Green numbers floated above her head as Tetsu added, "Focus, alright? I've got a meeting with the department head this afternoon, and you're coming with me. We might need the actress info."
"The department head?!" Sayoko's eyes widened, her heart racing from the lingering warmth of the chair and now this.
-100.
+1000!
Her gaze shifted from shock to a soft warmth as she looked at Tetsu. At NTsoft, she was a marginal figure, on the brink of being laid off. But as a veteran employee, getting face time with someone as high up as the department head could be a game-changer for her career, even if it wasn't a guaranteed save.
"I understand, Tetsu-kun! Leave it to me! Thank you, really, thank you!" Sayoko shot up, bowing a full ninety degrees, her face brimming with gratitude.
"No need to overdo it," Tetsu said with a smile. "And drop the formal 'you.' I like it when you call me Tetsu-kun."
"Yes! Got it! I won't let you—er, Tetsu-kun—down!"
This guy…
Watching her excitement mixed with a hint of shyness, Tetsu chuckled, shaking his head. He gave her bowed head a gentle pat before settling onto the nearby sofa with his tablet, turning his focus to his own tasks.
"The script and other details for LoveTrap: Surrounded by Beauties are nearly ready. Once we lock in the actresses' pay range, we can submit the proposal to the company," he mused. "Sayoko can handle that, so I'll focus on leveling up my scene illustration skills to advanced."
Sipping his barley tea, Tetsu crossed his legs and began sketching on his tablet, his suit crisp and composed.
The small office fell quiet, save for the ticking of the clock, the clack of Sayoko's keyboard, and the soft taps of Tetsu's stylus. When he hit a tricky spot, he'd take a big gulp of tea. For the toughest parts, when his brain was in overdrive, he'd light a cigarette.
Smoking in the office was a bit much, and the smell was strong, but Sayoko didn't complain. Noticing Tetsu's furrowed brow, she quietly cracked the windows, refilled the teapot, and returned to her spreadsheet. For agents she couldn't reach via LINE, she made phone calls.
They each focused on their tasks, occasionally making small sounds, but the atmosphere was surprisingly comfortable—like a school lunch break where some kids nap, others whisper, and the hum of activity feels cozy.
In this environment, Tetsu's focus sharpened. By noon, as the clock ticked on, a notification appeared before him:
[Intermediate Scene Illustration → Advanced Scene Illustration Lv1]
"Just organizing knowledge and getting my muscles used to the motions—this leveling speed is insane," he said, leaning back on the sofa. At that moment, Sayoko approached with a printed document.
"Tetsu-kun, I've compiled the data on the actresses you selected. But…"
"But?" Tetsu raised an eyebrow.
Sayoko's tone turned indignant. "Most of the agents quoted higher fees for our live-action interactive movie game than they did for other companies."
"Higher fees?" Tetsu sipped his tea, his expression turning odd.
With a limited budget, he'd chosen lesser-known actresses. Harsh as it sounded, these were people who should be grateful for any role, let alone a chance to shine. And they were asking for more money?
It made sense, though. In his original world, LoveTrap took a year and a half from start to release, including filming and editing. Tetsu was working from a finished product, adapting dialogue and characters for localization, but he estimated three months of intense shooting. That meant the actresses for LoveTrap couldn't take other gigs during that time.
In this world, live-action interactive movies hadn't produced a breakout hit—or even a moderately successful one. "The agents probably think this job is better than nothing, but they're worried it'll lock their clients out of other opportunities," Tetsu reasoned. "The ones asking for more are the ones with some experience. They've got better acting chops and small fanbases, but the cost…"
"We'll need to bring in some amateurs for auditions, but the budget shouldn't fluctuate too much," he concluded, flipping through the document. After a moment, he closed it and stood. "Got it. That's enough for now. Time for lunch."
"Okay," Sayoko said with a slight bow. But as Tetsu reached for the door, she clasped her hands in front of her, fingers twisting nervously, her face flushed. "Um, Tetsu-kun, I made an extra bento this morning. If you don't mind…"