A guide to survival in a heavy girl's world

Thinking of this, Chihaya Tetsuya subconsciously tensed his nerves.

"Excuse me... President Watanabe, what can I do for you?"

[Don't be nervous, this is just to confirm our previous request.]

As if to soothe Chihaya Tetsuya's emotions, President Watanabe's tone was filled with a hint of light-heartedness.

[I remember the order I placed with "KaZoKu" before, it should be "tailor-made", right?]

"Ah, yes."

Chihaya Tetsuya gave an affirmative answer.

"It is indeed tailor-made! Our studio has indeed designed and produced it according to this standard—"

[Well, four of the clothes do meet the "tailor-made" standard, but... the performance costume you designed for Hoshino Ai seems to have gone beyond the scope of "tailor-made" and reached the level of "haute couture" (high-end customization).]

President Watanabe said:

[Completely handmade, using premium fabrics and hand-embroidery... this isn't the quality you'd expect from a custom-made item.]

After hearing President Watanabe's explanation, Chihaya Tetsuya immediately showed a rather surprised expression:

"Eh? You, you also understand clothing?"

"I just learned a few things from a certain designer. If you want to be a qualified producer, you naturally need to learn as much as possible about idol activities, just like you designers also need to learn about architecture, sculpture, geography, right?"

“…You are absolutely right.”

Chihaya Tetsuya nodded vigorously.

"Through this work, I have fully realized this."

[Very good, then, back to the point... Since this is a high-end performance costume, our compensation will naturally have to be adjusted accordingly. My personal estimate for the price of this costume is between two and three million. If you disagree with this number, we can discuss it further—]

"Oh, please wait a moment!"

Chihaya Tetsuya quickly spoke after hearing this:

"I have no intention of raising the price! I just raised the production specifications on my own initiative for personal reasons, so—"

[…Chihaya-kun, this isn't how you do business.]

Faced with Chihaya Tetsuya's reverse price reduction, President Watanabe's tone seemed somewhat helpless.

"Besides our own staff, people from the studio, the agency, and the record company were also present at the MV shoot. For those in the industry, the difference between that couture costume and the others was immediately apparent. If they later asked for the custom price of this dress, and I simply gave them your studio's "made to measure" price, it would not only affect your future pricing but also our agency's reputation. Therefore, for the benefit of both parties, the price of this dress must be adjusted."

"Original, that's how it is..."

After listening to President Watanabe's explanation, Chihaya Tetsuya finally realized what his words had just meant.

"I accidentally said something without thinking. I'm really sorry..."

"Nothing. I've already heard from Ms. Hasegawa that you're only nineteen, and for a teenager, you're already quite talented. And your answer just now made me realize that you're a designer with integrity and a disinterest in fame and fortune."

Faced with Chihaya Tetsuya's gaffe, President Watanabe did not get angry, but instead showed a very appreciative attitude.

"Well, I'll discuss the price with Director Hasegawa later. Let's move on to the next topic—"

In mid-May, our group "Summer Zodiac" will hold their first solo live show. Could you please design a set of costumes for each of our two members?

........................

"I never thought our Tetsuya-kun would become a 'big star'!"

After hanging up the phone, Hasegawa Shin looked at Chihaya Tetsuya with a slightly amused look.

"In addition to the performance costumes for the two idol girls, there are also costumes for the dancers. Congratulations, assistant designer! You've landed another big order for our studio."

After saying that, she patted Chihaya Tetsuya's shoulder, then picked up her phone again and dialed -

"Hello, it's me. I'm asking about postponing the new product launch meeting next month. We have new work to do..."

Then, Hasegawa Shin left the studio while talking on the phone.

For a moment, Chihaya Tetsuya and Toyokawa Shoko were the only two people left in the studio again.

"…………"

Logically speaking, Chihaya Tetsuya should have been happy and proud of receiving a new commission because of the other party's trust and recognition. However, at this moment, Chihaya Tetsuya could not be frankly happy no matter what.

(Are you still going to design for love?)

In his last project, he had already made up his mind to say goodbye to Hoshino Ai and never have anything to do with her again. However, he did not expect that after only three days, he would receive another commission related to love...

In other words, will he continue to promote love with his own hands and continue on the road of "lies"?

"Um... Chihaya-nii?"

On the other side, Toyokawa Shoko, who had been silently paying attention to Chihaya Tetsuya, finally couldn't help but speak:

"Are you okay? You look a little... well, weird..."

"Toyokawa..."

Looking at Toyokawa Shoko's worried expression, Chihaya Tetsu hesitated for a moment before he said:

"Just tonight... Can you please stay with me for a while?"

“…Huh?!?!?!?”

Chapter 23: The Fugitives' Alliance (Two Chapters in One)

"Hara, it turns out you were just riding the train with Chihaya-nii!"

After getting on the train with Chihaya Tetsuya, Toyokawa Shoko said with a blushing face:

"I just thought it was... Ouch! Seriously! What the hell was going on in my head?!"

Although Toyokawa Shoko is indeed very mature compared to her peers, she is still a young girl in her puberty after all.

It is normal to have misunderstandings when faced with Chihaya Tetsuya's vague and ambiguous request!

As for why she agreed so decisively despite this misunderstanding...

……

Well, who knows the specific reason?

"?"

On the other side, Chihaya Tetsuya cast a somewhat puzzled look at Toyokawa Shoko.

For some reason, Toyokawa Shoko had been restless since she boarded the train, mumbling incomprehensible words. However, judging by her rosy complexion and non-resistance in her voice, she didn't seem bothered by his abrupt invitation.

"We can talk in the studio, but if we're here... I might be able to say things that I can't normally say."

It wasn't until the train started moving that Chihaya Tetsuya finally said:

"I'm sorry, Toyokawa. I just told you not to bother you for personal reasons, but... if I can't resolve this issue, it will be difficult for me to concentrate on the next task."

"...Ah, it's okay! I don't mind at all!"

Toyokawa Shoko quickly shook her head and said:

"Rather, I'm happy that Chihaya-san is willing to talk to me at a time like this!"

This feeling of being trusted by someone she respects is also a great encouragement to Shoko Toyokawa.

And... chatting with Chihaya Tetsuya like close friends on the evening train also made Toyokawa Shoko feel very safe and comfortable.

"So... Chihaya-nii has taken on such an awesome job, so why aren't you happy at all?"

Toyokawa Shoko took the initiative to ask:

"Is it because you don't like designing costumes?"

“…It has nothing to do with the costumes.”

After the last design, performance costumes are no longer a technical blind spot for Chihaya Tetsuya.

What he wanted to talk to Toyokawa Shoko was actually something completely unrelated to clothing.

"Toyokawa... What if, I mean what if, there was once a companion who depended on you for everything, a companion you considered a treasure and a miracle, but due to practical reasons, she had to be separated from you for seven years. Seven years later, when you reunited with her, you discovered that she had embarked on a path... completely different from yours. In this situation, would you continue to support her unconditionally, or... part ways with her?"

"…………"

Hearing this, Toyokawa Shoko immediately realized that this must be talking about the unknown idol.

Just now, when she was listening to the conversation between Chihaya Tetsuya and Director Hasegawa, she thought that Chihaya Tetsuya would be as enthusiastic and positive about this work as last time.

However, after that, Chihaya Tetsuya's reaction was completely different from what she had imagined.

Silent, depressed, even his eyes were filled with an elusive tangle.

This abnormal reaction reminded Shoko Toyokawa of the abnormality that happened when Tetsuya Chihaya designed the performance costumes a few days ago.

If designing pajamas was all about dedication and concentration, then designing performance costumes was like a madness that burned his life.

At that time, she didn't understand why Chihaya Tetsu was so desperate. However, now, after hearing the cause of this series of stories, she seemed to have finally grasped the truth.

"So... Chihaya-san really still can't accept that idol lady's choice, right?"

"……Eh?"

Faced with this unexpected word, Chihayatetsu couldn't help but show a look of surprise.

"You said... I can't accept her choice? No, no, no, how could I have such a condescending idea!"

He quickly denied it:

"Let's not even mention that she was just a child when we broke up! We were separated for seven years after that! It's not surprising that her thoughts changed after that! And... during the last work, I decided to cheer her up, so--"

"That's simply because you didn't think you'd ever take on her 'design' again, right? And when you needed to face her once again, that excuse you had for escaping... was no longer valid."

Toyokawa Shoko directly exposed Chihaya Tetsuya's clumsy and useless excuse:

"Chihaya, you should have realized this yourself, right? That plan that nearly pushed you into despair was actually just an excuse you used to force yourself to make up your mind. If you truly accepted her change from the bottom of your heart, then you shouldn't have thought too much about it next. Just treat her as an ordinary client and complete her commission, right?"

"…………"

bang-

Toyokawa Shoko's words, along with the sound of the shaking carriage, struck Chihaya Tetsuya's heart.

He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but facing Toyokawa Shoko's questioning, he could not think of any explanation that could justify himself.

He had imagined the scene of their reunion countless times, and had also imagined unrealistically that when he, now a designer, stood in front of Hoshino Ai again, would Hoshino Ai be proud of him as he had imagined.

However, when he heard Hoshino Ai's name again, she chose a path completely opposite to what he had imagined.

This feeling of dashed hopes created an indescribable sense of crisis in his heart.

He has always regarded love as a treasure and does not want to be disappointed in love at any cost.

In order to stop himself from having such dangerous thoughts, the method he adopted was to burn himself out and say goodbye.

In this way, he would be able to sever his last connection with her without regrets, and would never again feel disappointed in her.

However, he had not thought about how he would deal with the unresolved mood if he was unable to complete this so-called "farewell" as he wished?

"But if we really want to talk about 'escaping', it's the same here."

Just as Chihaya Tetsuya was still racking his brains to think of how to "excuse" his cowardice, Toyokawa Shoko suddenly said:

"Remember the topic we just talked about about bands? Actually, I did form a band when I was in junior high school. The time I spent with them... was like a dream, happy and fulfilling. But again, due to practical reasons, I didn't have the luxury to continue enjoying my youth with them, nor could I show up in public without any worries. So, I was forced to give up that band..."

At this point, Toyokawa Shoko couldn't help but lower her head slightly:

"That day, I said some really harsh words to them, and my only goal was to make them completely hate me, so that I would have a reason to never look back on that past... Doesn't that sound ridiculous? Because I couldn't do it myself, I wanted to force them to make a decision for me this way."

"That feeling... must be very painful, right?"

Chihaya Tetsuya couldn't help but ask:

"They are people I cherish so much, yet I have to be so cruel as to speak harshly to them..."

"It's quite painful. To be honest, I regretted it the moment I said the first sentence."

A bitter smile appeared on Toyokawa Shoko's face.

"But even so, I didn't stop. Because I found that I was more afraid of being 'sympathized' by them than being 'hated'... Just like Chihaya-san hoped that the idol lady could always remain the way you remember her, I also hope that I can always exist as the proud 'Toyokawa Shoko' in their hearts..."

"…………"

After hearing this, Chihaya Tetsuya couldn't help but fall into silence.