Episode 97 - President Sakurai’s Dilemma

【President Sakurai’s Dilemma】

At Sunrise Global Trading, an unsettling tension steadily spread through the halls. Employees murmured anxiously, and emergency meetings were held one after another on the executive floor. And yet—President Sakurai himself was nowhere to be found.

He could not shake the memory of being controlled by Ryoko. Those crimson-glowing eyes, that moment where ecstasy and humiliation intertwined—piercing deep into his very core and refusing to let go.

“...Still, I must attend the shareholders’ meeting. There’s no escape...!”

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【The Memory That Haunts President Sakurai】

It was—

Right after Ryoko had been promoted to Manager of the Special Assignment Sales Division, and together with Shota, had safely rescued the governor’s son from a shady overseas criminal syndicate (see Episode 39).

Inside the president’s office.

Facing Ryoko and Shota, Sakurai began casually, as if it were routine.

“Well then, for the next assignment, I want you to contact the mistress of a certain foreign government official and secure a backdoor contract...”

Ryoko blinked once and glanced at Shota beside her.

Sakurai went on without hesitation.

“...And I want to assign that task to you, Sasaki-kun. You seem to be rather popular with women. It’s a honey trap assignment. A perfect fit, don’t you think?”

—At that moment.

Ryoko: “...President.”

Sakurai: “Hm? What is it?”

Ryoko: “Shota-kun is my precious husband. Are you seriously planning to make my Shota-kun do such a thing?”

Sakurai: “Your husband working for the good of the company—what’s wrong with that? If the company profits, surely you’ll be pleased as well, won’t you? You’re a manager now, Takahashi, so you also carry responsibility for the company’s success. I’ll need you to be professional about it.”

》 With those words, Sakurai’s position shifted in Ryoko’s mind:
》 “Company President” → “Enemy trying to take Shota away.”

Ryoko smiled quietly. And in her eyes, a faint crimson glow began to flicker.

Ryoko: “Don’t worry, President. I’ll just... give your way of thinking a little adjustment ♡.”

Sakurai: “What nonsense are you—Takahashi, I’m busy. You there, what’s my next appointment—”

He cast his gaze toward his secretary. But Ryoko also turned her eyes gently upon the woman.

—And in that instant, the secretary’s cheeks flushed pink, her eyes glazed over, shimmering with a dreamy haze.

Ryoko: “Ufufu ♡ President, your next appointment is... a private meeting with me, isn’t it? ♪”

—Suddenly, the world’s sounds melted away. Only Ryoko’s voice filled the secretary’s senses in intoxicating bliss.

Secretary: “Haaah ♡... Y-yes... President... your next meeting is with Manager Takahashi ♡... I’ve canceled all your other appointments ♡♡.”

Sakurai: “N-no, that’s absurd! I had a meeting with a Ministry of Finance official—”

—But the next instant.

With just a flick of her finger, Ryoko froze Sakurai’s mouth and body in place.

Words, objections—all forbidden.

Ryoko: “Then let’s have a quiet little talk here in your office, shall we? ♡”

Sakurai’s body, bound by Ryoko’s telekinesis, jerkily rose to its feet and shuffled forward, puppet-like, deeper into the president’s office.

Ryoko winked once, leaning close to whisper in Shota’s ear.

“Shota-kun, wait for me at home, okay? ♡”

Then she stepped into the president’s office. Behind her, the door shut gently on its own with a click.

—What happened beyond that door, no one at the company ever knew.

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【President Sakurai vs. Ryoko】 (The Special Assignment Sales Division Dismantling Incident)

The setting sun streamed through the blinds of the president’s office.

Sakurai found himself sunk deep into the president’s chair—though not of his own will.

(What—what’s happening!? My body’s… moving on its own!?)

As panic and confusion clouded his face, the door swung open without a sound of footsteps, and Ryoko appeared in her usual business suit.

She glided across the floor like a ghost, smoothly approaching Sakurai. Then, she floated up and sat on the edge of his desk, crossing her legs. With a seductive smile, she whispered.

Ryoko: “Mr. President, you… seem to be misunderstanding something. Shota-kun is mine. That means you are in no position to give him orders♡”

Sakurai: “Manager Takahashi, I’m the top of this company. It’s obvious that Sasaki Shota is suited for ‘honey trap sales.’ Normal sales, he’s nothing special. At the end of the day, he’s good for nothing, really. He’ll move under my orders. That’s how a company works.”

》 In Ryoko’s heart, the image of Shota appeared—working earnestly, giving his all for the company in sales.
》 “Ryoko-senpai, I want to learn the job quickly and have you acknowledge me!”
》 And that was the exact moment her serious switch was flipped.

Ryoko: “…You really don’t understand, Mr. President. Shota-kun is far more amazing than you. And—”

She slowly stepped toward Sakurai, who was bound by telekinesis and unable to so much as twitch, then lightly placed her fingertip beneath his chin. Her eyes—red, deep, and eerily shining.

Ryoko: “The only one who rules over Shota-kun is me. To ignore that and try to order him around… that’s like waltzing into a bear’s den and trying to take her cub away♡ Foolish, don’t you think?”

—Her words stabbed into his brain—sharp yet sweet. His heart pounded thump-thump. Heat roared through his body.

Sakurai: “Wh-what… is this… why… Wh-why is there a b-bear here…???”

Ryoko: “I’ll say it again. Shota-kun is, mine♡”

—By now, Ryoko’s voice carried an irresistible pressure. And in Sakurai’s eyes, the Ryoko before him had transformed into a giant mother bear, spreading her arms as if to strike him down.

—Sakurai burst into tears from sheer terror.

Sakurai: “Uuugh… I-I understand… Sasaki Shota… belongs to Takahashi Ryoko… I’m sorry, please spare me… don’t eat me…”

Ryoko: “That’s why the ‘Special Assignment Sales Division’ ends today, doesn’t it?♡”

Sakurai: “…Yes… the Special Assignment Sales Division… is hereby disbanded…”

Ryoko: “Shota-kun and I will return to the regular sales division. And… I’ll remain a manager. Still his superior♡”

Sakurai: “…Understood… Takahashi Ryoko remains manager… Sasaki Shota… returns to the ordinary sales division…”

—Ryoko raised her index finger toward Sakurai. His gaze was forcibly pulled toward the tip of her finger. And she began to slowly twist her finger in the air.

Ryoko: “And one more thing… this little exchange in the president’s office will vanish cleanly from your memory. But even without the memory, the information that it was ‘Ryoko’s order’ will remain seared deep into your brain’s subconscious♡ Irreversible, you know~?”

Sakurai’s eyeballs, tugged by her invisible power, began to spin separately like a chameleon’s—rolling round and round in different directions.

Sakurai: “…Once arrangements are made… memory will vanish… the order cannot be undone… m-my eyes… my eyes are spinning… it… it feels so good…”

Ryoko: “Fufu, good boy♪ Now then—sleep for ten minutes♡”

With a snap of her fingers, Sakurai slumped back into the chair and drifted into sleep.

As if nothing had happened, Ryoko straightened the hem of her skirt and quietly left the president’s office—

Upon her back lingered the cold gleam of a presence—the aura of an absolute ruler.

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【Ten minutes later—Sakurai awoke.】

“…Hah, I… what on earth…?”

In his still half-dreaming head, a brilliant red light flickered.

It was Ryoko’s eyes.

And—

》 “The Special Assignment Sales Division ends today♡”

That sweet yet cold voice echoed deep within his brain.

(…Nonsense… there’s no way I would ever accept such an order…)

The moment he thought that—

An indescribable fear assaulted Sakurai’s entire body.

Without knowing why, his heart began pounding thump-thump wildly, and his palms grew damp with sweat.

(…No way… this is…)

Unable to resist, Sakurai picked up the receiver with trembling hands.

“Ah… General Affairs… f-forgive me… the Special Assignment Sales Division… will be dissolved as of today… Please… immediately…”

—At that very instant,

From his brain down through his whole body, a tingling pleasure spread, like an electric shock. It was as if his organs were being caressed, a sweet numbness shooting down to the marrow of every bone in his body, pure bliss.

(…Wh-what is this… it feels… good…?)

Before he could even savor the euphoria, another voice whispered in his head.

》 “Shota-kun and I will return to the regular sales division♡”

(Kuh… why… I’m the president…!)

Even as rebellious thoughts rose,

a sweet, moist sense of desperation seeped out from within.

To defy Ryoko’s order—was terrifying.
To defy Ryoko’s order—was painful.
But if he obeyed Ryoko’s order… it felt so good…!

Before he realized it, Sakurai was lifting the receiver again.

“Human Resources… a reassignment… return Takahashi and Sasaki to the sales division… Takahashi will be manager… handle it immediately…”

—And when he set the receiver down,

A flood of pleasure crashed over him. It was as if the world’s colors shone many times brighter, and heavenly music filled his ears.

(Aah… it feels so good… I obeyed… I obeyed her… and yet… I don’t care… There’s no way… that Takahashi Ryoko… could ever be wrong…♡)

His head burned hot. His breathing grew ragged, as he leaned back in his chair and gazed up at the ceiling. Joy so great it brought tears welled up from every inch of his skin. And with each surge, his body convulsed in small spasms, unstoppable. No, don’t stop, let it go on, more, more, more…!

Suddenly, once again, a red light streaked across the corner of his vision.

》 “You will… forget everything♡”
》 “But, the orders—are irreversible♡”

As the whispers reached him once more, the pleasure evaporated like a lie. Sakurai’s entire strength drained away, leaving him slumped in his chair, staring blankly at the ceiling, unable to move an inch.

(Uuugh… it’s over… I want to obey the orders… I want to forget everything… I want to feel that pleasure more and more…)

—Then, his eyeballs began spinning on their own, rolling round and round…

(Aah, my eyes are spinning… Ryoko… Takahashi Ryoko… that woman with the red eyes…)

Rolling round and round…

(Aaaaahhh♡, OMG OMG OMG!, it feels sooo good… I don’t care about being president… or the company anymore… I only… want to be ruled by that woman…)

Rolling rolling rolling…

His vision was dyed red with sparks, his thoughts scrambled, dissolved into formlessness, and his consciousness sank into a sweet abyss. Then came the pleasure of his brain bubbling and bursting like foam, continuing endlessly. It was beyond mere pleasure. Every joy he’d ever felt in his life was packed into a single point—then detonated. Again, and again. There was no way to resist the overwhelming torrent; Sakurai could only surrender himself to the waves.

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【The next morning, when Sakurai awoke】
… his hair had turned completely white.

It was the one and only proof etched into his flesh by the ultimate ecstasy he had experienced—something beyond human comprehension.

Yet as he looked in the mirror, trying to recall what had happened the night before, why he had been asleep in the president’s chair, he remembered nothing at all. It was as if a gaping black hole had opened in his memory…

Suddenly, the phone on the president’s desk rang. It was from Director of HR Iwasawa. (※At this time, Iwasawa had not yet been “adjusted” by Ryoko.)

Iwasawa: “Mr. President, as per your orders, Takahashi Ryoko and Sasaki Shota’s reassignment has been completed. From today, both are working in the regular sales division… But why the sudden change? …Mr. President, what happened?”

—Ryoko’s sweet, icy voice whispered straight into the depths of his mind.

(Orders are irreversible♡)

Sakurai: “Don’t ask… Please… don’t ask me…”

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【…However, Sakurai had not forgotten everything.】

Born into the founding family of Sunrise Global Trading, raised in the ways of imperial rule,

to “rule over others” was his very instinct.

—And precisely because of that,

the “pleasure of being ruled” and the “humiliation of being unable to resist,”

though he thought he had buried them in oblivion, gradually seeped back into his mind, along with the image of Ryoko’s red eyes.

“I must not… get involved with that woman…”

For a time, his instinctive fear of Ryoko dominated everything.

But eventually, he realized.

—That woman’s “weakness” was Sasaki Shota.

As he investigated the man, Sakurai stumbled upon the secret of the Sasaki family and the Sonokata-shiro.

And secretly, he gave an order.

To the shadow division of Sunrise Global Trading—

“Advance the industrial cultivation and component research of Sonokata-shiro. All of it… is for the sake of ruling that woman in return.”

—However, before the plan could be completed, Ryoko sensed the “presence” first.

She had begun moving in earnest, to make Shota the president.

Sakurai… had no choice but to “escape.”

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【And on the eve of the Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting】

—Sakurai gave the order to add the name “Takahashi Ryoko” to the restricted-entry list for the Sunrise Global Trading Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting.

That woman alone,

must never be allowed to enter the venue.