Chapter 46 – Because You're a Married Woman!

"Miss Ritsuko, don't view society as so dark, or people's hearts as so filthy. I'm honestly just showing you a path to wealth and prosperity here."

Jingū Akira shrugged, his expression full of innocent sincerity.

"Spare me the sales pitch, young master... I know exactly what you're up to. You just want free labor—someone to work for you, right?"

Yokoyama Ritsuko rolled her eyes. Her black-stockinged legs crossed elegantly once again, the smooth motion catching Akira's attention.

His gaze flicked downward for just a moment—before he caught himself and quickly looked away.Get a grip. This isn't high school anymore.

Even in this new life, it seemed his appreciation for a nice pair of legs hadn't disappeared.

"Maybe I could turn that into a character trait for someone in the game…" he mused for a second, before shaking the thought away.

"Young master…?" Ritsuko tapped the can in her hand. "You spaced out again."

"Huh? Oh—just thinking about the future."

He offered a sheepish smile and straightened up in his seat.

"Hmph. Your idea isn't the worst, I'll admit. But what exactly do I gain from working with you? My time and skills don't come cheap."

At that, Akira smiled confidently. He reached across the desk, picked up the latest issue of Weekly Shōnen Jump, and pointed to the cover—his name printed in bold as the manga's creator.

"…This. If you agree to work with me, Miss Ritsuko, I promise you won't regret it. I have full confidence in where this is going."

"Oh?"

She pushed up her rimless glasses, her sharp eyes narrowing as she stared at the magazine. For a moment, the lawyer in her took over—the cautious adult analyzing potential risks.

"You're confident. I'll give you that. But you remind me of all those dreamers I used to deal with when I was fresh out of Todai—starry-eyed, full of grand ambitions… and usually bankrupt within a year."

She paused, then added:

"…But somehow, you feel different."

Ritsuko rose from her seat and slowly stepped closer. Her movements were graceful, deliberate—enough to make Akira lean back instinctively as she leaned in.

"Miss Ritsuko… Are you trying to intimidate me? Or seduce me?"

"My, my. So the young master gets flustered this easily? I'll take that as a compliment."

She chuckled, swiping the magazine from his hands. Her tone was playful, but there was a sharpness behind it—a mature charm that didn't rely on innocence, but experience.

"Your plan has potential. You're buying a publishing company, right?"

"Exactly. Not a huge one—just a small house in Tokyo. Enough to start pushing my stories directly."

She raised an eyebrow. "Avoiding big-name publishers?"

"Yes. I want control. No middlemen. Full rights, full profits."

"Have you ever heard of Sky of Love?" Akira asked suddenly.

Ritsuko tilted her head. "That online story? I think I've heard Kozue mention it. Supposedly popular with girls around high school age. She read it on her phone and got all teary-eyed… said I should read it too."

"And… did you?"

"I glanced at it. Not really my thing. I'm a bit too old for teen drama."

Akira smiled wider—but when Ritsuko mentioned Kozue, his expression briefly tensed.Right... I used my real name on the upload site.Had Kozue connected the dots?

Probably not. "Akira" wasn't that unique a name. But the possibility made his stomach twist.

"Wait… don't tell me you're the author?"

"That's right."

Ritsuko blinked. Slowly, she lowered the magazine and looked at him with new eyes.

"I've already built a reader base online," he continued. "When we ride the momentum from the manga and publish under our own name, we'll bypass traditional routes—and we won't have to split the profits."

Akira stood and started pacing, passion fueling his every step.

"And this is just the beginning. I've got plenty more stories in my head. No reason to hand them over to outsiders when we can build something ourselves."

Ritsuko listened in silence, then smiled as she watched him move."…You really have changed, young master."

After a long pause, she finally said:

"Alright. I'll help you with this gamble. Let's see just how far your ambition can take you."

Then, with a teasing smirk, she added:

"But don't you dare forget about this hardworking old lady once you're rich and famous, surrounded by fangirls."

Akira smiled gently, his eyes meeting hers.

"Forget you? Never, Miss Ritsuko."

—Because you're unforgettable.