A guide to survival in a heavy girl's world

"Great! This way, the average age of our studio will be reduced by several years!"

Although everyone had different reactions to Toyokawa Shoko's generous and appropriate self-introduction, they all accepted the newcomer with their own kindness.

After feeling this harmonious atmosphere, Toyokawa Shoko's tension and anxiety also dissipated for the most part.

"Toyokawa-san, the changing room is over there. Go there and change into your work clothes first."

After completing the self-introduction, Chihaya Tetsuya said to Toyokawa Shoko:

"And... welcome to our [KaZoKu] (pronounced the same as the Japanese word for "family")."

"……Yes!"

A genuine smile appeared on Toyokawa Shoko's face, and then she quickly walked towards the dressing room, holding the clothes in her arms...

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

Because it was a loose, one-size-fits-all T-shirt, as long as you roughly knew your height, there was little chance of a mismatch. Plus, the trousers had an elastic band and cuffs, so Toyokawa Shoko changed into the work clothes Chihaya Tetsuya had prepared for her very smoothly and quickly.

When she changed her clothes and stood in front of the dressing mirror, the first thing that came to her mind was——

(This dress is so comfortable to wear...)

Shoko Toyokawa moved her shoulders and raised her legs.

Lightweight, flexible, breathable and form-fitting.

Just as she had expected, these two pieces of clothing were by no means cheap street goods, but rather more luxurious and high-end ready-made clothes that were worthy of being sold in high-end shopping malls.

Not only did they recruit her unconditionally, they even provided her with such high-quality work clothes...

(Thank you very much, Chihaya-san.)

Flattered, Toyokawa Shoko first thanked Chihaya Tetsuya repeatedly in her heart, then opened the door of the locker room and returned to the studio.

When she walked out of the studio, she was immediately shocked by the scene before her.

"Tetsuya-kun, I always feel that there is something wrong with my shoulder. Come and take a look."

"Hmm, wait a minute... You mean the natural pleats? Do you have the pattern? Let me see it."

"Here, for you!"

"If you want to emphasize movement, there should be a natural bulge here... I see. Just correct the wrinkle by 5mm."

"learn!"

"Chihaya! Come check me out too!"

"Here we go...ah, the raglan sleeves? It's mostly fine, just pay attention to the stitching under the arms."

"Director's deputy! Please help me figure out what fabric to use!"

"That's not a good name either! Let me see... haven't you already decided to use cotton wool?"

"But I always feel that the processing cost is too high. Is there any better way?"

"...I'll ask the director later. I don't have enough knowledge about fabrics at the moment."

"You're so serious~"

"…………"

Watching Chihaya Tetsuya working, Toyokawa Shoko was even a little mesmerized for a moment.

(No wonder that cheerful gentleman kept insisting on calling him acting director... Turns out this wasn't just a joke...)

Although she didn't quite understand what the professional terms they were using meant, she at least understood that everyone had great trust in Chihaya Tetsuya's ability and vision.

(Really, so cool and impressive... Chihaya-san.)

Toyokawa Shoko's eyes began to look at Chihaya Tetsuya with more and more respect.

At the same time, a female assistant who had just finished her work came to Toyokawa Shoko with a smile after seeing her standing there.

"How is it? It's spectacular, isn't it?"

"Eh? Ah, yes!"

The words from the person next to her brought Shoko Toyokawa back to her senses immediately.

"This is the first time I've seen Chihaya-san at work... Really, it's amazing."

"Is that what you'd think? Even though I've been working with him for over half a year, every time I see something like this I always think...isn't this kid a little too awesome?"

The female assistant put her hands on her hips and gnashed her teeth in jealousy.

"He knows how to design, make samples, cut, sew... he even knows how to communicate with clients! Is there really anything he can't do? I really want to open his head and see what's inside!"

“………………Huh?”

Compared to the assistant's description and "complaints", the word she just mentioned immediately caught Toyokawa Shoko's attention -

"'child'?"

This female assistant looks to be in her early twenties, so why would she address Chihaya-san as "child"?

In response to Toyokawa Shoko's doubts, the female assistant also tilted her head.

"Huh? I'm already twenty-five years old this year, and Tetsuya-kun is only nineteen. It shouldn't be too much for me to call him a kid, right?"

"...More, how much?"

Shoko Toyokawa couldn't help but start to wonder if there was something wrong with her auditory system.

"You just said, Chihaya-san...how old are you?"

"So you didn't know this before~ But that's not surprising. After all, his usual behavior and speech are quite mature, which makes it easy for people to misunderstand him."

"Then, let me solemnly introduce to you our studio's trump card—"

"At the age of eighteen, he joined the subsidiary studio of the renowned brand EGAO, KaZoKu. In just three months, he was promoted from assistant to pattern maker, and then in another three months, he was promoted to associate designer. A super genius! Chihaya Tetsuya!"

"By the way, the two pieces of clothing you're wearing were also made by him personally as a pattern maker. They were once sold out at the Sanfeng Chamber of Commerce."

“Eh…”

Before this, Shoko Toyokawa, who had only been sighing about her luck, had never imagined that her future boss and teacher would be such a young and outstanding genius!

What will her life be like from now on...

Looking at Chihaya Tetsuya working diligently not far away, Toyokawa Shoko couldn't help but be lost in thought again.

Chapter 8: The Lucky Star from Seven Years Ago Still Shines (Two Chapters in One)

After finishing their daily routine of checking and revising, it was time for the members of [KaZoKu] to leave work.

Except for Chihaya Tetsuya and Toyokawa Shoko.

"See you tomorrow, Tetsuya-kun and Shoko-chan~"

The last person to leave the studio was the female assistant who introduced Chihaya Tetsuya to Toyokawa Shoko.

"Well, be careful on the road."

"See you tomorrow..."

Although she was not used to being addressed so affectionately by someone she had just met, Toyokawa Shoko still responded well.

After the female assistant left completely, the studio immediately fell into silence.

"...You must find it strange, right?"

Chihaya Tetsuya was the first to break the silence.

“Why are my working hours different from theirs?”

“I do care a little bit.”

Toyokawa Shoko nodded.

"But, but, if it's a reason that's inconvenient to explain, it's okay if you don't tell me!"

"It's not a complicated reason... I'm just not used to getting up early."

Chihaya Tetsuya said without any fluctuation in his tone:

"If I get up too early, I'll be groggy all day. Being a designer requires a good state of mind and a good environment, so the director specifically approved me to work at this time."

"……kindness?"

Toyokawa Shoko blinked.

"Just...just because of this?"

"If I have to add something else...it's because I prefer the night."

Chihaya Tetsuya said as he spread the manuscript paper on his desk.

"When we were in the orphanage, we usually had to work and go to class during the day. Only at night, when the adults were not around, did we have time to ourselves. Over time, I began to like the night."

"I see……"

Toyokawa Shoko nodded somewhat blankly.

As for Chihaya Tetsuya, she has completely lost the appropriate judgment and sense of distance in her heart.

Before this, she had always thought that Chihaya Tetsu was also an adult much older than him, but in fact the age difference between the two was only three years.

The intimacy of being close in age makes the distance between hearts seem to be shortened.

At the same time, coming from a poor background, he was able to understand and sympathize with her own family's decline. While giving her practical help, he also maintained her dignity to a great extent.

However, Chihaya Tetsuya's work ability, speech and behavior, coupled with their current employment relationship, made Toyokawa Shoko once again realize the gap between them, and she felt that he was unattainable.

The tug-of-war between a sense of intimacy and a feeling of admiration threw Toyokawa Shoko's spiritual locator into complete chaos.

But no matter what, she still fully understood the meaning of Chihaya Tetsuya's words -

"That means it's time for us to do our own work."

"Yes."

Chihaya Tetsuya said as he pointed to the fabric box next to the desk.

"Toyokawa-san, please help me get that box over here... It might be a little heavy, so just drag it over the ground."

"Yes."

Shoko Toyokawa immediately followed Chihaya Tetsuya's instructions and dragged the fabric box to his desk.

Then, Chihaya Tetsuya took out a book about fabrics from his desk and handed it to Toyokawa Shoko.

"Ordinarily, I should have you learn sewing and tailoring techniques first, but I have other work to do right now, so I'll have to adjust the order of instruction... Over the next period of time, I hope you can memorize the materials and characteristics of these fabrics as best you can. First, check each fabric against the book, feel them yourself, and feel free to ask me if you encounter any questions."

"understand!"

Toyokawa Shoko nodded vigorously after hearing this. Then, as Chihaya Tetsuya had said, she checked the fabric at hand while referring to the contents of the book.

"Georgette... cotton velvet... brushed fabric... silk..."

After spending half an hour identifying and memorizing the characteristics of the fabrics in the entire fabric box, Shoko Toyokawa noticed that the entire fabric box seemed to be filled with soft and smooth fabrics.

Based on what she had just read in the book, a guess came to her mind -

"Um, Chihaya-san."

"kindness?"

Chihaya Tetsuya, who was writing and drawing on a manuscript paper, responded without even looking up:

"What's wrong? Is there something you don't understand?"

"The next piece of clothing you're going to design...is it pajamas?"

"...You are indeed very smart."

Chihaya Tetsuya nodded.

"Yes, the first piece of clothing I will design next is women's pajamas."

"Great!" (whispering)

Shoko Toyokawa was slightly delighted by the compliment, but of course, her curiosity was not satisfied.

"Is it being sold as a product for this spring and summer?"