A guide to survival in a heavy girl's world

"Ai, Chuhua, follow me backstage to greet the sound engineer first, and come back here after everything is confirmed. Mr. Chihaya, Chuhua and Ai's costumes should be in your hands now, right?"

"Yes."

Chihaya Tetsuya nodded and picked up the small suitcase in his hand.

"And then here are the two costumes for the grand finale."

"Thank you for your hard work. Next, please work with the lighting technician to develop a lighting plan that best suits this costume."

The agent said:

"If you have any questions, feel free to call me... I'll leave the rest to you."

After saying that, she immediately took the two idols and left the place in a cool manner, leaving Chihaya Tetsuya alone to face this completely unfamiliar modern space -

"This is the stage that Ai and Chuhua are about to step onto..."

He raised his head and looked at the huge screen hanging in the center of the stage not far away.

Because it has not yet been put into use, the entire stage currently has only minimal lighting. But even so, just the lighting facilities within his sight and the extremely modern and technological scenery are enough for him to foresee the magnificence of this live.

Then, Chihaya Tetsuya turned around and looked at the audience behind him.

According to his agent, this three-tiered, fan-shaped auditorium has nearly 20,000 seats. Having always focused on indoor work, Chihaya Tetsu finds it hard to imagine what the spectacle will be like when all the seats are filled with spectators.

"...In reality, they have to face far more than just these 20,000 spectators."

Chihaya Tetsuya murmured softly:

"If you add in the online broadcast and the subsequent viewership of the video... it's hard to imagine how outrageous the numbers will be."

When the live show officially begins, her own outfit will be displayed to audiences around the world along with the two of them.

This time, what he faced was not a fixed camera used to shoot MVs, nor a small stage close enough to see every detail on the clothes, but a whole new world he had never seen before.

Being able to have his clothes on such a stage... For him, who aims to be a "top designer", it is also a dream come true.

"...Oops, I got so excited on my own."

Chihaya Tetsuya realized that he was feeling a little dizzy, and quickly came to his senses and slapped his cheeks hard.

"Don't get too carried away. I'm only here because of Ai and Chuhua..."

As a designer, and also as a man, one day... he would personally send them both onto such a stage with his own strength.

No, it’s not just the two of them. Aine and Suyo’s band might also have the opportunity to stand on this stage!

"You must be the Chihaya Tetsuya that [Watanabe Agency] introduced to me in advance, right?"

Just as Chihaya Tetsuya was still secretly making up his mind, a mature male voice suddenly sounded from behind him.

After hearing this, Chihaya Tetsu immediately turned around and said:

"Yes! I'm Chihaya Tetsuya, the costume designer for Summer Zodiac!"

He bowed politely to the man who spoke to him and said:

"I'll leave the lighting direction to you this time!"

"Oh my, how polite... And the designer this time is such a young guy?"

The middle-aged man who spoke to him raised his eyebrows in surprise when he saw Chihaya Tetsuya's face, then pointed at the light above his head, indicating his identity.

"As expected of you from the Watanabe Agency... Well, to save time, I won't waste any more time on unnecessary nonsense. Let's get straight to the point."

"Ah, yes!"

Although Chihaya Tetsuya was a little surprised by this straightforward way of communication, it did not affect his thinking.

Rather, for the motivated Chihaya Tetsuya, being able to start work right away was exactly what he wanted.

"Excuse me, are there any mannequins here for displaying clothing?"

"Yes, after all, this place has the conditions to hold a fashion show."

"!"

Hearing this, Chihaya Tetsuya was stunned for a moment, then quickly asked:

"So, has any designer ever held a fashion show here before?"

“Not yet, as it’s only been open for less than two years. Designers who could hold large-scale fashion shows have already chosen other showrooms or venues.”

The lighting engineer shook his head.

"Also, for a fashion show, the various systems on this stage are clearly a bit over the top. After all, a fashion show is primarily about the clothes, right? If the lighting and scenery steal the show, wouldn't that be completely putting the cart before the horse for the designer?"

"Is this so..."

After hearing this, Chihaya Tetsuya suddenly showed a thoughtful expression.

Generally speaking, designers hold fashion shows to showcase their clothes. To maximize the audience's focus on their designs, they typically avoid overly flashy lighting and sets. Furthermore, participating models must adhere strictly to fashion model standards in terms of height and build, and even expressions like "smiles" that might draw attention to themselves are prohibited.

Perhaps for the fashion industry, this standard that has continued for decades is nothing strange, but for Chihaya Tetsuya, this fashion show is in subtle conflict with his own design concept.

Unlike designers who aim to use clothing to set trends or interpret artistic concepts, his ideas and concepts are based on the wearer's own feelings. If he wants to fully demonstrate his design ideas, then the image created by the clothing and the model is more than the clothing itself, which is the whole point of his expression.

In the future...if he really wanted to hold his own fashion show, he might prefer this more gorgeous and modern stage to those old-fashioned classic venues...

"Hey, what's wrong with you?"

Seeing Chihaya Tetsuya inexplicably lost in thought, the lighting engineer couldn't help but ask:

"Is there anything you're concerned about?"

"……nothing."

Chihaya Tetsuya shook his head and turned his thoughts from the future back to the present.

"Please take me to where the mannequins are placed."

"Hmm? You want to get it yourself? I can ask the stage staff to get it for you."

"It's okay, just let me go!"

He raised his head, looked at the end of the stage, and said:

"After all, it's not just this time. Maybe I'll continue to use them in the future."

Before deciding on the future lighting, it might be helpful to let him do some more preparation.

Chihaya Tetsuya quietly buried the seed of wish in his heart and took a step forward.

70

Chapter 70: The "Young Lady's" Tea Party.

Looking at the gate of the mansion in front of her, a moment of hesitation flashed across Toyokawa Shoko's face before she pressed the doorbell.

Not long after, the servant who had received the notice came to the door and opened it for her.

"Hello, Miss Toyokawa Shoko, welcome to Sakura Mansion."

The maid who led the way bowed to her and said:

"The young lady is waiting for you in the reception room. Please follow me."

"Well...this is for you."

Toyokawa Shoko handed the souvenir, which was specially packed in a thermal bag, to the servant.

"Just find a time she's more accustomed to and give it to her."

"I understand."

The servant smiled and accepted the gift brought by Toyokawa Shoko.

"Then I will send it to the reception room for the young lady to taste."

"..."

I had specifically asked the servant to choose the time to give it to Sakurakouji Luna, but in the end, the servant still chose to give it to her in person...

In other words, does this servant really still hope that the not-so-frank young lady can express her thoughts on her souvenir on the spot?

...Forget it. Compared to this little thing, there was another very important reason why she visited Sakura Mansion today.

With an extremely serious mood, Toyokawa Shoko followed the servant into the gate of Sakura Mansion.

……

When Sakurakoji Luna received the gift from Toyokawa Shoko, she immediately showed a very surprised expression.

"Hmm? Fruit pie from QuiryMaisonFaitBon?"

Then, she nodded to the servant to indicate that she should leave, and then looked at Toyokawa Shoko with a slightly curious look.

"What a thoughtful gift! In terms of etiquette and ladylike manners, I should definitely learn from you."

"...Please don't be sarcastic. I didn't expect you to treat me with the same courtesy."

Toyokawa Shoko shook her head, her tone quite calm.

"This is just a unilateral restriction I place on myself. Please feel free to do as you please."

"I thought I was vindictive enough... but now it seems I'm nowhere near as vindictive as you."

Faced with Toyokawa Shoko's cold response, Sakurakoji Luna sighed first, and then said to Toyokawa Shoko very seriously:

"I admit that my comments about Chihaya Tetsuya that day were a bit too presumptuous. Especially after recently learning about draping with Yachiyo, I've become even more aware of the narrow-mindedness of my remarks that day... Rest assured, I won't make such superficial remarks again."

"!"

Toyokawa Shoko was startled at first, then she stared at Sakurakoji Luna for a long time before speaking:

"I didn't expect you to reflect on this so seriously..."

"I'm not the type to confuse right and wrong. Because of a certain unpleasant experience, I always subconsciously harbor hostility towards others. I've always been aware of my impoliteness and eccentricity, but I can't change it immediately... just like you, who was once a caged bird like me, can't easily let go of your past."

“…That’s true.”

After hearing this, Shoko Toyokawa first widened her eyes slightly, and then nodded slightly.

"On this point, we should have countless things in common."

"That's right, that's why I'm going to discuss this matter with you again—"

Sakurakoji Luna paused for a moment before saying:

"Next spring, I hope you can enroll with me in Philia Girls' College as a companion student."

……

[Filia Women's Academy Japan Branch], founded by the world-renowned young designer [Jean-Pierre Stanley], aims to vigorously cultivate female designers and plans to enroll the first batch of students in the spring of the following year.

Because of its founder's great influence and good interpersonal relationships in the fashion industry, its faculty and teaching resources are among the best in the world.

At the same time, due to its excellent conditions in all aspects, its admission standards are also quite high. In addition to the high tuition fees, the design level of freshmen is also far higher than that of other art schools.

“If you really want to go further on your path as a designer, then… you absolutely can’t do it in your current learning environment.”

Sakurakoji Luna said:

"Perhaps you have excellent talent and qualifications, but compared to those professionals who devote all their time and energy to clothing and design, your current efforts are far from enough to support you in becoming a helpful person for Chihaya Tetsuya. But I'm sure you have already felt it yourself, right? Although Chihaya Tetsuya has always praised you, there is always a gap between you that cannot be easily overcome."

"...That's right."

Toyokawa Shoko nodded with a bitter look on her face.

"And the more I learn about the clothing industry, the more I feel the gap between me and Chihaya-san."

Just as Sakurakoji Luna said, if she really wants to go further on the path of becoming a designer, then Yugaoka, as an ordinary school, can be regarded as an obstacle to her further development.

According to Sakurakoji Luna and her own research, this [Filia Girls' College] is indeed the art school that she currently has the opportunity to attend, and it is also the most suitable art school for her.

"With your current level, the high threshold for ordinary noble ladies is completely meaningless."

Sakurakoji Luna asserted:

"I've confirmed this with Chihaya Tetsuya. At that band's concert... that costume that utilized zippers and the fabric's elasticity to transform itself was your work, right? A designer who can create something like that is definitely qualified to enroll at Filia. So, the only limiting factor for you is the high cost of admission..."

At this point, she first glanced at the high-end fruit pie presented by Toyokawa Shoko, and then said:

"Perhaps the salary Chihaya Tetsuya offered you is already far beyond the level of an ordinary apprentice, but even so, it is far from enough to enroll. Therefore, I highly recommend that you enroll with me as a companion student."

Because it was a school for the nobility, [Filia Girls' College] had a very special policy: every student could choose a personal servant as their study companion. In addition to being able to enjoy the same educational resources, these students could enroll with their employers without paying any additional fees.