Make me beg for mercy...

9:50 AM

Inside a quiet corner of a café next to Aoyama Publishing's building in Shinjuku, Sasaki shifted his gaze from the large video ads playing on a nearby skyscraper to the poised career woman seated across from him.

His initial plan was quite simple, just to submit his work directly on the Aoyama Publishing website.

Though he knew this might mean giving up a few benefits and resources, it was the most straightforward and convenient approach.

After all, He wasn't interested in running around to meetings.

However, when he mentioned this to Reina Kurashiki, who had asked about his plans for the day, she suggested he go ahead with the meeting, saying she was curious to see the publishing company.

Since Sasaki had no strong preference, he agreed to meet the editor in person.

Noticing his gaze, the woman paused in her review of the manuscript.

"Even though I've read this before, the story is still so captivating."

Pushing her glasses up on her nose, Yukari Sugisawa closed the manuscript, offering Sasaki a warm, appreciative smile.

"Your writing style and storytelling are flawless. It's hard to believe this is the work of a high school student publishing for the first time."

'Well, copying manga content really isn't that hard…'

Feeling a bit awkward rather than proud at her compliment, Sasaki smiled and stirred his coffee.

"Since this is my first submission, I spent a long time studying and refining my skills before writing. I'm grateful to hear you enjoyed it."

Sugisawa guessed that his "long time" must have been even longer than she initially thought, and she nodded thoughtfully.

Diligent, hardworking, and talented—qualities of a rare gem. And...

Having reached her assessment, the woman wasted no time on unnecessary small talk.

She pulled out a pre-prepared contract and handed it to him.

Casting a glance at the girl leaning closely against Sasaki's shoulder, Sugizawa then said as they both leaned over to review the contract together: "Although this is your first work, Sasaki-sensei, we're prepared to fully support you based on its quality."

"There's no need to worry about promotions, and regarding royalties, we initially offered a 10% share. However, I'll see if I can push that up to 12% once I'm back."

Reading over the section on royalties, Sasaki looked up at her in surprise.

He was confident in the works he'd chosen, certain they could earn him a stable future.

But that was further down the road.

Right now, he was an unknown newcomer so, no matter how good his writing was, his starting resources would be limited.

Yet, judging by the situation, it seemed that Yukari Sugizawa, the editor sitting before him, was offering an unusually high level of support.

Was this standard?

Not sensing any ill intentions from her, Sasaki decided not to overthink it.

He set the contract down, sat up straight, and expressed his gratitude before taking out his stamp and pen from his bag.

Seeing this, Sugisawa stood up, helpfully pointing to the areas where he needed to sign and stamp.

Her deep purple hair, emitting a soft, wisteria-like fragrance, gracefully cascaded onto the stark white pages, partially covering the corners of the contract.

Sasaki's eyes, initially focused on the paperwork, subconsciously followed the strands of her hair upward to where they framed her chest, which seemed almost like two volleyballs pressing against her light pink blouse.

Perhaps due to the warmth earlier, the woman hadn't buttoned the top two buttons near her collar, and now, as she leaned toward him, he had an unobstructed view of a deep, dazzling line of cleavage.

"…"

Before he could snap out of his daze and look away, her delicate, pale finger tapped lightly on the "Signature" line, the soft click barely noticeable to anyone else as a teasing whisper reached his ear:

"If your girlfriend sees this, she might get upset, you know~"

"…"

Following the sound of her voice, Sasaki raised his gaze, tracing past her delicate collarbone and sharp chin until he met her violet eye, glinting with a hint of teasing laughter behind the faint reflection in her glasses.

No hesitation, and she even brought it up herself… Was this the unflappable confidence of a mature woman, or… something else?

Meanwhile, Reina Kurashiki was sitting beside him, absorbed in her phone.

Uncertain if there was any deeper meaning behind the woman's words, Sasaki could only offer an awkward smile, lowering his head.

Sugizawa made no move to adjust her unbuttoned collar, continuing to point out where he needed to sign.

A few minutes later, after double-checking for any missed signatures, they completed the contract.

"The first royalty payment will be deposited into your account on Monday, Sasaki-sensei. After that, it'll depend on the printing run and market feedback,"

As she tucked the contract back into her bag, Sugisawa also pulled out a business card and handed it to Sasaki.

"Here's my contact information. If you, as a new author, have any questions, feel free to reach out."

"As your assigned editor, I'll keep you updated on your work's progress."

Sasaki accepted the card and added her as a contact, nodding in thanks.

Since they'd finished discussing business and Sasaki's "girlfriend" was present, Sugizawa didn't bring up any unrelated topics.

Wrapping up what needed to be said, she politely excused herself.

After she left, Reina, still next to Sasaki and idly playing with her phone, crossed one leg over the other and nudged him.

"Well? What did you think?"

"What did I think about what?" Sasaki glanced sideways at her, pretending not to understand.

"You seemed pretty focused just now, didn't you?"

Reina wrapped her arms around Sasaki's, letting him feel the softness of her cushions.

Then, resting her chin on his shoulder as her warm breath tickled his ear, she spoke in a soft, enticing voice.

"So? Compared to that old lady, isn't mine better?"

Sasaki straightened up, checking around to make sure no one was watching this secluded corner.

Then he leaned down and reached under, his hand landing on the warmth beneath her clothes.

!!!

Caught off guard, Reina's eyes widened, watching Sasaki with a mixture of shock and surprise as he chuckled, flexing his hand slightly.

"I don't know about her," he said, "but right now, Reina is the best."

The bold move startled Reina, and her heart fluttered wildly.

Though she wanted to brush his hand away immediately, she didn't want to appear weak.

So, as her heart stirred , she forced herself to act nonchalant.

"Hmph~ So, compared to your girlfriend?"

Twisting a lock of her hair around his fingers, Sasaki wrapped his arm around her waist and planted a gentle kiss on her soft, smooth cheek, responding with a teasing smile:

"But Reina is also my girlfriend, right? How am I supposed to choose~"

It was as if her whole heart was now in his hands, her emotions completely at his mercy.

Reina took a shaky breath and replied:

"Just be honest with me. I'm better than your other girlfriend—more beautiful, more bold."

"Now that's not true, so how could I say it honestly…"

Sasaki shook his head with a smirk and suggested, "If you're so eager to prove it, wouldn't it be more convincing to make me beg for mercy?"

"Beg for mercy?"

The warmth in Reina's chest spread through her whole body, leaving her a bit dazed.

Hearing Sasaki's suggestion, her eyes became slightly hazy, waiting for him to continue.

"Yeah, I mean… make me beg…"

Nibbling her warm, pink-tipped ear, Sasaki whispered, "It's only just turned ten. If we went to a hotel, we'd be just in time for lunch after we're done. Or, if you're up for it, we could stay there all day. What do you think?"

"In that time, wouldn't making me beg be pretty fun?"

Now that the two of them were officially in a relationship, although, Reina Kurashiki felt somewhat unaccustomed to Sasaki's intimate gestures, she didn't find them unpleasant, nor did she reject them.

However, now, hearing him suggest going to a hotel, she felt a mix of nervous anticipation and, more prominently, a fear of the unknown.

After all, they had just met...and now they were boyfriend and girlfriend.

Not to mention...

Since she couldn't let him take her virginity, the path they were about to was far from ordinary…

Catching sight of her hesitation, Sasaki chuckled lightly.

"Scared?"

!!!

Reina, who could throw a punch even knowing she'd likely lose a fight, wasn't someone who backed down easily.

Her current hesitation was just from an unfamiliar, vulnerable feeling that Sasaki had unknowingly awakened in her, which was a mixture of dependence and anxiety unique to her feelings for him.

But with Sasaki's gentle taunt and her own competitive urge to make him surrender, those emotions gradually faded.

Courage surged up within her, and Reina raised her eyebrows, looking at him with an expression that practically begged for a challenge.

"Me, scared? That's a joke. I just hope you, bookworm, can last a full ten minutes. Otherwise, I'd be too embarrassed to even mention you to my friends."

"Don't worry. Even if it's only ten minutes, I'll make sure you're satisfied."

"Ha~"

…

…

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