Chapter 72: The Strategic Reveal
The late-night silence of the dorm was broken only by the rhythmic clicking of keyboards and the soft hum of the air conditioning. In the study, the atmosphere was clinical and focused. Sora and Akane were deep in their work, the room lit only by the cool blue glow of several holographic monitors.
Akane was in constant communication with her intelligence network. Her voice was a low, disciplined murmur as she coordinated with her guard group back in Japan. “Check the movement in the Kyoto and Osaka sectors,” she commanded. “I want a detailed report on any unusual asset shifts or unexpected gatherings of the branch families. Now.”
Beside her, Sora was scrolling through a series of encrypted corporate dossiers. Her eyes, sharp and analytical, narrowed as she spotted an anomaly. “Look at this,” Sora murmured, pointing to a graph of resource acquisition. “The Kyoto and Osaka families are aggressively hoarding electronics components and logistics contracts. This isn’t normal market fluctuation; it’s a strategic consolidation. They’re preparing for a move.”
Akane paused, her expression darkening. “It aligns with the reports I’m getting. The purists are getting restless. They see the shift in power, and they’re trying to secure their borders before the next wave of political changes.”
Sora sighed, rubbing her temples. “They’re so obsessed with their ‘pure bloodlines’ that they can’t see the world is changing around them. They’d rather burn the house down than let someone they deem ‘impure’ hold the keys.”
“Speaking of ‘impure’ and ‘flawed’…” Akane began, her voice shifting to a more casual tone. “Sora-sama, I should mention something. There are rumors circulating in the common dorms. Specifically about Jun-sama.”
Sora stopped scrolling, her brow furrowing. “Rumors? About what?”
“The unselected girls are whispering that Jun-sama has health problems,” Akane explained. “They’re claiming he lacks stamina, that he’s ‘spent’ after one round, and that you only picked us because we’re the only ones who can tolerate his… lack of performance. It seems some of the girls selected by the Japanese Primes have been ‘comforting’ the unselected ones with gifts and these stories.”
Sora’s expression shifted from curiosity to sheer annoyance. A cold, corporate anger flickered in her eyes. “How tedious. To think they have the time to coordinate such a campaign of lies. It’s a desperate move for people who have nothing else to offer but a title.”
A sudden knock sounded at the door, followed by the click of the light switch. The room was flooded with warm light, and Jun stepped inside, carrying a tray of steaming tea and light refreshments.
Sora and Akane both looked up in surprise. “Jun?” Sora asked, her voice softening. “What are you doing up so late?”
Behind him, Hana poked her head into the room with a mischievous grin, while Mei walked in behind them, her expression as neutral as ever.
“Thought you two looked like you were fighting a war in here,” Jun said, his voice a calm, low rumble.
Akane stood up quickly, her instincts as a maid taking over. She stepped forward to help Jun, clearing a space on the cluttered table to set down the tea and snacks.
Jun didn’t sit. Instead, he leaned over the table, his eyes scanning the documents Sora had been analyzing. He didn’t need a detailed briefing; his intuition was sharp. “The Kyoto and Osaka families,” he commented, his voice devoid of surprise. “It’s the same old story. The purists are feeling the squeeze, and they’re lashing out. It’s a classic move from the elite who feel their grip slipping.”
Mei leaned against the doorframe, her voice cool. “I’ve seen similar patterns in China. When the old guard realizes the new generation has the upper hand, they stop playing by the rules and start trying to sabotage the leaders.”
“Speaking of sabotage,” Hana added, her tone shifting. “I’ve been chatting with some of the girls. It turns out the rumors about Jun-oppa are coming directly from the Japanese Prime houses. Specifically, from the girls who’ve been neglected by their own Primes. They’ve been told that if they spread these stories, they might be ‘rewarded’ with more attention or even an early selection.”
Nobody in the room was surprised. The conflict between Sora and the Japanese purists was an open secret. While Hana usually spent her time competing for Jun’s attention, she was now focused on the tactical side of the rumors, as were Mei and Akane.
“It’s a matter of how we deal with the rumor,” Jun said, his eyes shifting from the documents to his women.
Sora leaned back, a thoughtful look on her face. “He could just show his prowess,” she suggested. “A single, undeniable demonstration of his… capacity… would silence them.”
As she spoke, Jun moved toward her. He didn’t say anything, but the shift in his presence was immediate. He stepped behind her chair, his large, warm hands settling onto her shoulders. Sora let out a soft, involuntary sigh, her body instinctively leaning back into him.
Jun began to massage her shoulders, his thumbs pressing into the tight muscles of her neck with a firm, rhythmic precision. He knew exactly where she held her stress—the weight of the Tsukamoto empire and the constant pressure of the Academy’s politics. He moved his hands upward, his fingers gently kneading her scalp and massaging the base of her skull.
Sora’s eyes fluttered closed, her expression melting from the stern “Iron Lady” into a look of pure, docile bliss. The tension that had been coiled in her spine for hours simply vanished. She felt her breath even out, her entire body softening under his touch. For a few moments, the corporate warfare and the spiteful rumors didn’t matter; there was only the heat of Jun’s palms and the safety of his presence.
“But a private victory doesn’t stop a public rumor,” Sora murmured, her voice now thick with relaxation and a hint of sleepiness. She tilted her head back, resting it against his stomach. “It’s better to do something that everyone can see. It saves effort if the evidence is impossible to ignore.”
The room fell silent as they contemplated the best approach.
“Something big,” Akane whispered. “In one go,” Mei added. “Everyone can see,” Sora concluded.
Jun didn’t say a word. He simply turned his head and looked directly at Hana.
Everyone followed his gaze. Hana, who had been distractedly scrolling through her SNS on her mobile, looked up, confused. “What? Why is everyone looking at me?”
Jun let out a small, knowing smirk. “Pay more attention, Hana. I think I’ve found the perfect solution. Why don’t you have your first time with me on a livestream?”
Hana’s phone nearly slipped from her hand, clattering against the table. Her eyes went wide, her jaw dropping in a mixture of shock and sudden adrenaline. “Eeeeehhhhh?!” she shrieked, her voice echoing through the study. “A livestream?! You want to broadcast… that… to the whole world?! My image! My brand! The ‘Nation’s Sweetheart’ cannot just… just… broadcast her first time!”
She began to pace the room in a frantic circle, her hands flying in the air. “Do you know how many sponsors I have? How many purity-focused fans I’ve built? If I just go live and—and—scream for you in front of millions, the internet will literally explode! I’ll be the most talked-about woman in the world, but it’ll be a total scandal!”
“Calm down, Hana,” Akane said, her voice a steady anchor. “Think about the impact. The rumors are already out there. If you do this, you aren’t just ‘breaking’ an image; you’re rewriting the narrative. You’ll be the one who proved the rumors wrong in the most public way possible.”
Mei leaned back, a calculating glint in her eyes. “From a strategic standpoint, it’s a masterstroke. Your viewership would spike to levels that would make your current numbers look like a joke. You wouldn’t just be an idol; you’d be a legend. The ‘Nation’s Sweetheart’ becoming the ‘Nation’s Most Desired’—the marketing potential is astronomical.”
Hana stopped pacing, her expression shifting from panic to genuine curiosity. She looked at Jun, then at the other girls.
Sora stepped forward, her voice softening, reaching out to touch Hana’s arm. “Hana, think about what this would actually mean. It’s not just about the views. It’s a chance to show the world exactly how Jun treats the women he chooses. You can show them the love, the intensity, and the devotion he showers on us.”
Sora’s eyes sparkled with a mixture of support and a subtle challenge. “You can show every girl who’s been lied to that Jun isn’t a ‘drought’—he’s a storm. And you’ll be the one at the center of it. There’s no better way to claim your place in his heart than by claiming him in front of everyone.”
Hana froze, her heart hammering against her ribs. The idea of the public’s shock, the surge of views, and the visceral thrill of Jun’s focus on her while the world watched… it was terrifying, but it was also the most exhilarating thing she had ever imagined.
She looked back at Jun, her face flushing a deep crimson, her breath hitching. “You… you really think I can handle that?” she whispered, her voice suddenly small and vulnerable.
Jun’s smirk widened. “I don’t think, Hana. I know.”