"Well then... I must insist you give us a reasonable explanation, Tetsuya-san."
Misumi Uika stood before Chihaya Tetsuya with her arms crossed, wearing an incredibly cold expression that was rarely seen on her face.
"What is the meaning of handing the main model job over to two newcomers, just like that?"
"..."
Even Hoshino Ai, who was usually so passionate and clingy with him, now had not a trace of a smile on her face. She looked even more displeased than when she first saw the photo of the Chihaya siblings together.
As for Tetsuya, who had so eagerly announced his latest idea the moment they walked in the door, he had been forced by the two of them to sit straight on the sofa. He now trembled as he looked at the two girls who had transformed into asuras before him. At the same time, under the incredibly intense pressure, the other two had been forced to sit on either side of him, joining him in this interrogation...
"Um... just in case, I'd like to ask first."
Tetsuya shrank back, his voice filled with guilt.
"Are you two... by any chance, angry?"
"Oh my, how could we be?"
Faced with such a foolish question, a smile as strange and out-of-place as a sun shower bloomed on Uika's face.
"We, who have been desperately honing our modeling skills for your sake, Tetsuya-san, how could we possibly get angry just because the main model position was snatched away by two rookies for no reason at all~? What do you think, Ai?"
"That's right. We're not angry at all."
Ai chimed in with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"We just want an explanation that both of us can accept."
"..."
Under their intense stares, Tetsuya felt a suffocating pressure slowly creeping up his spine.
Meanwhile, Sumita Mana, who was also waiting for an explanation but had been dragged into this before it even began, weakly added.
"So, what if Chihaya-san's explanation fails to satisfy the two senpais...?"
"Hmm~ what should we do, I wonder?"
Uika turned to look at Ai.
"What do you think, Ai?"
"To make sure Tetsu doesn't continue to betray people's efforts and feelings in the future... I suppose we'll have to punish him a little, won't we?"
Ai said.
"For example, by making him remember with his body."
Uika shot her a sidelong glance.
"...Are you sure? Weren't you deliberately avoiding him for so long because you failed at that very thing?"
"Hmph. That was because I was too inexperienced. I am now fully prepared on all fronts."
Ai snorted lightly.
"After all, no matter how hard I try, Tetsu doesn't seem to value it. If that's the case, I might as well go back to my original plan that will make him completely unable to leave me!"
"Eh, eh, eh?!"
Hearing this, Tetsuya's previously muddled brain finally understood why the two of them were so angry.
Because the main model job was given to someone else, they think they're no longer important?
I see! My decision could lead to such a misunderstanding!
Chihaya Tetsuya, who had always been oblivious to the impact of his own words and actions, finally figured it all out.
For him, who had always seen the girls around him as the driving force for his progress, their importance was a self-evident fact that needed no explanation.
But it wasn't the same for them.
For the most part, they had to judge his thoughts through his words and actions. In this situation, handing over the main model position to others without an explanation could indeed easily lead them to misunderstand and feel unvalued!
But in reality, the reason was the complete opposite of what they thought—
"It's precisely because I value you two so much that for this joint exhibition... I wanted to choose girls I'm not as familiar with to be my main models!"
...
Until now, all of Chihaya Tetsuya's design inspiration had come from his thoughts and feelings for the girls around him. That was precisely why he could create clothes that suited them perfectly and brought out their charms to the fullest.
Gratitude, farewell, encouragement, trust.
It was by incorporating these emotions into his clothing that he had achieved the success he had today.
He had thought he could continue designing this way in the future, but the appearance of Jean and the reminder from Sumita Mana had made him suddenly realize his own limitations.
"Just as the [TGC] is a fashion festival for everyone, [Starry Sky] should also be a fashion brand for everyone. If I continue to focus only on the people around me whom I know best, then my vision will forever be confined here, confined to you. As the head designer of a brand, such a narrow approach is obviously not good enough."
Tetsuya explained.
"With that in mind, I plan to use this joint exhibition to complete a design direction I've never tried before—[Nofashion]."
Without considering seasonal trends, without caring about so-called fads and styles.
Just choose the clothes you like. Just care about your own comfort and mood.
The goal isn't to make everyone who wears [Starry Sky] the most fashionable person, but to make them the person who enjoys their own clothes the most.
This inspiration, brought about by Sumita Mana, had now become the core philosophy Tetsuya planned to present at the upcoming exhibition.
"But to be honest, this is also a kind of evasive tactic against Jean-san's challenge."
A slightly embarrassed smile appeared on Tetsuya's face.
"Because with my current skill level, I'm afraid I can't produce clothes that can beat his in terms of 'popular fashion' and 'design level.' If that's the case, then I'll just give up on those two points and simply make my clothes the most comfortable and enjoyable to wear! And to better reflect this, I need two unfamiliar models who I'm not as familiar with, but who also possess their own unique charms!"
"..." x2.
Hearing this, Mana and Nyamu both showed expressions of surprise.
Mana had never thought that her simple, personal opinion from that day would have such a significant and profound impact on Tetsuya's design philosophy.
But at the same time, the philosophy he described resonated strongly within her.
Not blindly chasing fashion, but enjoying the clothes you love most...
If it was this kind of fashion brand, she would be more than happy to become one of its first loyal customers!
Nyamu, on the other hand, had never expected that her somewhat misguided fashionable outfit would perfectly align with Tetsuya's new line of thinking.
In fact, when she chose that outfit, she herself had felt a strong sense of dissonance.
Rather than simply chasing seasonal trends, she preferred to respect and love her own fashion sense. Her refusal of the [NozAK!] sponsorship was for a similar reason.
And now, the philosophy presented by Tetsuya's [Starry Sky] hit the nail right on the head for her.
Even without considering its commercial value, being a promoter for a fashion brand like this... would surely be an incredibly enjoyable job!
With that, the two of them, who had been baffled by the "crisis" they had been inexplicably dragged into, both came to accept the situation.
Meanwhile, the other two, whose attitudes had been incredibly hostile, were now both hesitating.
"I see. Choosing less familiar models to better showcase a philosophy."
Not only was the reason clear and logical, but it also defined their positions as "familiar" versus "unfamiliar"...
For the rational and mature Misumi Uika, at least, she had completely accepted Tetsuya's explanation.
However, for the always-greedy and possessive Hoshino Ai, it wasn't that simple—
"Even so, is it necessary to make them the main models?"
Ai, who always wanted to be number one in Tetsuya's heart, muttered, unable to let it go.
"Just having them appear as models should be enough to showcase your philosophy, Tetsu..."
"That won't do. Besides my personal reasons, your and Uika's fame is simply too high. If you were the main models, this exhibition would once again become a one-woman show centered around the two of you."
Tetsuya shook his head.
"You two are the aces of [Starry Sky], and for this exhibition... I want to present my most basic philosophy, which is aimed at everyone. To prevent people from feeling too strong a sense of awe and worship because of your presence, I can't have you as the main models."
"..."
Hearing this, the two of them were once again reminded of what the manager had said about the reason for adding Sumita Mana to [Summer Zodiac].
It wasn't because they had any shortcomings to make up for, but to use Mana's affability, which everyone would find endearing, to dilute the sense of awe they inspired...
At this point, no matter how unwilling Ai was, in order for Tetsuya to successfully convey his philosophy at the exhibition, she had no choice but to nod and agree with his decision.
"By the way, Ai, Uika..."
Just as Ai was about to sullenly agree, Tetsuya suddenly spoke up.
"It was wrong of me to suddenly change my mind without discussing it with you. After the [TGC] is over, I will definitely find a way to make it up to you."
Tetsuya said to them with the utmost seriousness.
"Until then, for the sake of [Starry Sky], and for our future, please understand my decision."
"Compensation... is it?"
Uika, who had actually already accepted his decision, suddenly changed her mind upon hearing this.
"I see. So this is how you plan to persuade me, Tetsuya-san~"
Ai also sensed something from Uika's meaningful remark.
"You've already accepted Tetsu's explanation, haven't you? If so, is there really a need for compensation?"
Uika immediately fired back.
"The same goes for you, doesn't it, Ai? I saw you were about to say something just now. If I'm not mistaken, you were also preparing to accept Tetsuya-san's new proposal, weren't you?"
"That's just your imagination. I wasn't about to say anything."
"Then I'll return the same words to you. I had no intention of accepting Tetsuya-san's new proposal so easily either... However, if there's compensation, that's another story."
Uika said, looking at Tetsuya again.
"Well then, as a condition for accepting this 'whim' of yours, I will be looking forward to your compensation, Tetsuya-san."
"...Me too."
Ai also stared intently at Tetsuya.
"If my 'compensation' isn't enough, I might just protest in my own way, like I said at the beginning!"
"I understand..."
In order to quell their anger, which wasn't actually directed at him, Tetsuya, who failed to grasp the true meaning behind their power struggle, could only say with a helpless look.
"As long as it's not too outrageous, I'll agree to whatever you want."
"Oh, my..."
"You said it!"
The two of them reacted differently upon hearing this.
"You'd better not go back on your word, Tetsuya-san."
"Now you have no choice but to agree."
The inexplicably hostile atmosphere instantly eased. Looking at the brilliant smiles on their faces, Tetsuya felt as if their displeasure from moments ago had been nothing but a figment of his imagination.
Meanwhile, the other two, who had been silently watching this unfold, each came to a different conclusion-
Sumita Mana: (Chihaya-san is so pitiful. If it were me, I would definitely be more understanding of him!)
Yuutenji Nyamu: (Huh? BOSS is way too naive, isn't he? He can be fooled by acting of this level?)
In the wake of this false alarm of a crisis, the two newcomers had each figured out how they would deal with the man who held all their futures in his hands.
Sumita Mana: (I'll be gentler to Chihaya-san from now on!)
Yuutenji Nyamu: (If I get the chance, I'll try to trick him a little myself.)
And so, with completely different thoughts in mind, the two rookies silently watched the helpless man before them.
...
While Tetsuya was working hard for the joint exhibition, Jean-Pierre Stanley was also focused on his own creations.
And while Jean was engrossed in his design, his assistant, who was on standby outside the studio, received a phone call—
[It's been a while, Mr. Togawa... ah, my mistake. I hear you've been kicked out of the Togawa family now. My apologies, how careless of me.]
"..."
The assistant, addressed as Mr. Togawa, was silent for a moment before asking.
"Is this Ko Ogino from [NozAK!]? What do you want?"
[The reason I'm calling... is because I heard you've recently become the assistant to that great designer, Mr. Jean-Pierre Stanley. As expected of you, even without the support of the Togawa family, you can still find such an ideal job. But even as an assistant to this great designer, it probably won't help you pay off all that debt right away, will it? In that case, how about you make a deal with us?]
As the assistant's expression gradually stiffened, the voice on the other end continued.
[I want to win the selection at this joint exhibition. So, I need you to help me 'take a look'... at the design sketches the great designer is preparing for the event. For you, his assistant, this should be a fairly easy job, right? Just like what you did for us back at Mitsumine Trading Company.]