A guide to survival in a heavy girl's world

Junda Mana took the cup with gratitude and drank it all in one gulp with great relish.

"Hahaha—I'm saved! Thank you for the treat!"

"……nothing."

Looking at Junda Mana's completely frank reaction without any disguise, and the cheerfulness revealed in her every gesture, Chihaya Tetsuya always felt that his mood was also slightly infected.

"Give me the cup, I'll go get you another one."

"Ah, don't bother! That cup just now was enough to cheer me up!"

Mana Junda made a pose to show off her muscles.

"Besides, I've been controlling my calorie intake lately, so as for beverages, just one drink occasionally is enough!"

"..."

After hearing this, Chihaya Tetsuya immediately lowered his head and looked at the girl.

"I don't think that's necessary."

"It has nothing to do with my body shape; it's a manifestation of self-discipline!"

Junda Mana said seriously:

"Being able to join such an amazing group as Summer Zodiac is a miracle for me that I need to thank the gods for! To make myself worthy of this miracle, I must show my sincerity as much as possible! Among them, strict self-discipline is one of the ways I use to show my sincerity!"

“Ha, haha…”

Chihaya Tetsuya suddenly made a sound that was difficult to understand regarding the exaggerated believer-like attitude displayed by Junda Mana.

While Summer Zodiac is certainly a very popular group right now, the fact that the agency let Junda Mana join the group means they can trust her abilities, right? Is it really necessary to be so grateful?

Chihaya Tetsuya couldn't help but shake his head in his heart.

However, speaking of the Summer Zodiac, Chihaya Tetsuya has another question that he is very concerned about:

"Speaking of which, why was it Miss Juntian who delivered this document?"

Chihaya Tetsuya asked:

"Generally speaking, I should let someone who is familiar with me deliver it, right?"

"Ah, because both of you seniors are very busy lately!"

Junda Mana answered truthfully:

"Ai-senpai is currently busy recording her new album and practicing catwalk with a modeling instructor, and Chu-hua-senpai is also working on a band project besides catwalk lessons. Plus, I really wanted to come and say hello, so the agent gave this task to me!"

"Taiwan steps..."

When Chihaya Tetsuya heard this word, he immediately showed a thoughtful expression.

"Isn't it too early to practice catwalks three months in advance?"

"Well, I don't know exactly what happened, but the scale of this [TGC] seems to be much larger than previous years."

Junda Mana said:

"TGC used to only feature popular celebrities and young models, but this time, it looks like a top model who's already walked the runway at Milan Fashion Week will also be taking the stage. To avoid losing out on the final spot that day, the two veterans decided to start practicing their catwalk skills ahead of time, striving to achieve world-class performances at TGC!"

"……what?"

Chihaya Tetsuya couldn't help but be surprised when he heard this answer, and then hurriedly opened the folder that Junda Mana had brought him.

As expected, after just flipping through a few pages, he immediately saw the world-class model mentioned by Juntian Mana——

"Melissa, a model who once walked the runway at Milan Fashion Week, why would a model of this caliber come to [TGC]..."

"It seems that it is because I received an invitation from the organizer of this event."

Junda Mana said:

"I heard from the agents in a meeting before that the organizers invited a lot of fashion magazines and media outlets that shouldn't be paying attention to [TGC]. Coupled with that unprecedented pre-show in August, this [TGC] will not only be aimed at ordinary young audiences, but will also be a grand event that will attract much attention from the fashion industry! As for the reason... it seems that someone in the organizing team strongly requested this... but I don't remember who it was—"

"..."

Jean-Pierre Stanley.

Such a sudden and arbitrary change in the rules made this name subconsciously appear in Chihaya Tetsuya's mind.

According to Yamabuki Yachiyo, this top designer often seems to mess up things with his own willfulness. Furthermore, the scale of this expanded event is very similar to the August exhibition incident, so Chihaya Tetsu is almost 100% sure that this is another act of willfulness by that designer.

A top model who has appeared at Milan Fashion Week and collaborated with world-class designers...

Chihaya Tetsuya's mood suddenly became even heavier.

Chihaya Tetsuya, who had no confidence that he could beat his opponent in clothing, suddenly felt that his chances of winning became even slimmer.

Can he really withstand this pressure and come up with a fashion that is economical enough to compete with such a terrifying combination?

Can he really keep Ai and Chuhua's positions as the "protagonists" in the face of such a powerful enemy?

If it was because of his incompetence that Ai and Chuhua lost to Melissa... would he really have the dignity to continue being the "exclusive designer" of those two girls in the future?

Just as Chihaya Tetsuya's thoughts gradually fell into a vortex of self-doubt, Junda Mana's voice suddenly rang in his ears——

"Mr. Chihaya, what's wrong with you?"

Junda Mana looked at Chihaya Tetsuya, who had a somewhat depressed expression, with confusion.

"You seem quite unhappy. Did I say something wrong?"

“…Not really.”

Chihaya Tetsuya shook his head.

"I just feel... my chances of winning are getting smaller and smaller."

"Odds of winning?"

Upon hearing this, Juntian Mana was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but ask:

"About what?"

"This time at [TGC], I had hoped to help Ai and Chuhua win the finale spot."

Chihaya Tetsuya said in a serious tone:

"However, due to the participation of a certain top designer and this fashion model, it may be difficult for me to defeat them with my current strength..."

"oh oh……"

After understanding the meaning of these words literally, Juntian Mana nodded and then said:

"So, is it something like a man's pride?"

"……Uh?"

After hearing this strange word, Chihayatetsu couldn't help but be stunned.

"W-what? A man's pride? Why would Miss Juntian suddenly say something like that?"

"Eh? Isn't it?"

Junda Mana asked back with a strange look on her face:

"Because Chihaya-san's tone sounded like he took all the responsibility. I've seen similar plots in idol dramas! Like, 'I don't want my woman to lose to someone else' or something like that..."

"No, no, no, putting aside the fact that the term 'my woman' is a bit too much, at the very least, this should be called 'the dignity of a designer', right?"

Chihaya Tetsuya quickly shook his head and denied:

"I simply don't want them to lose the finale position because of me—"

"That's true, but winning this position doesn't just depend on the designer's efforts, right?"

Junda Mana said:

"Rather, in this situation, the competition between the models is more important, isn't it? If the clothes are just beautiful, but the models themselves can't bring out their charm, that's a true defeat... No, after all, just being able to appear on the [TGC] stage doesn't really mean there's no such thing as 'defeat', right? Winning the [First Look] spot as an idol is already a miracle in the idol industry, not to mention being able to share the stage with world-class models this time. Isn't that already a victory?"

"Already...won?"

This statement, which he had never heard before, made Chihaya Tetsuya's thoughts stop.

And Junda Mana continued:

"As for that top designer, I don't quite understand him, but I heard Chihaya-san is only three years older than us. To be able to hold an exhibition alongside top designers at his age, and even compete for the finale spot... If even this level of achievement can't satisfy you, then I think you're either a little too greedy, or you're suffering from what I just called 'manly pride'!"

She said with a firm look:

"After all, TGC isn't a place for competition. It's a place for young people all over Japan to enjoy fashion together. There's no need for such a fierce competition. Being the model who enjoys the runway the most during a fashion show is also a victory, rather than fighting for the final spot."

"..."

Junda Mana's words were like a basin of ice water, pouring down Chihaya Tetsuya's heart and calming his mind instantly.

A man's dignity is too greedy...

And instead of competing for the finale spot, why not be the model who enjoys the catwalk the most?

"Ms. Juntian, I'll go get you some snacks. Could you please chat with me for a few more minutes?"

Under the surprised gaze of Junda Mana, Chihaya Tetsuya said:

"Your opinion... is crucial to my next design!"

"……what?"

103

Chapter 103: Chihaya Tetsuya has always been grateful and repaying kindness.

"Ms. Juntian, please."

Chihaya Tetsuya poured a glass of ice water for Junda Mana.

Mana Junda's words just now, which were completely from an outsider's perspective, gave Chihaya Tetsuya an unprecedented perspective.

"Let's get back to the topic... What kind of event is [TGC] for you?"

"Hmm? It's just a simple festival, like the Red and White Festival, which is held every year. After all, for an average viewer like me, the greatest significance of [TGC] is that it allows us to better understand and enjoy fashion, and also gives us the opportunity to watch our favorite artists perform on the catwalk. No matter how you look at it, it should be a good thing worth celebrating!"

Mana Junda honestly expressed her views on the TGC event:

"That's why I think Chihaya-san's thoughts are a bit too serious. If you're participating with too much 'competitiveness' or 'a sense of mission', it's really inappropriate. If the two seniors knew that Chihaya-san designed their costumes with such a heavy heart, their hearts would probably become heavy as well, and then the three of you would not be able to fully enjoy this [TGC]... That would be such a waste, wouldn't it? Since it's such a fun event, why can't you approach it with a more relaxed attitude?"

"enjoy……"

After hearing this, Chihaya Tetsuya fell into deep thought.

"From the moment I learned about the [TGC] event, it became so closely tied to the interests of my brand... before I knew it, I could no longer view it as a fun event."

"The conflict of interest doesn't actually affect your enjoyment of this event. Like I said just now, as long as Mr. Chihaya participates with a winner's mentality, then no matter what the outcome is, it will definitely be acceptable to you!"

Junda Mana said:

"Or is there something I'm not aware of... a hellish setting where someone will suffer misfortune if we fail?!"

“…There’s no such thing.”

Chihaya Tetsuya shook his head.

His brand will not be closed down just because he lost to that top designer, and Aihe Chuhua will not lose popularity just because he lost the chance to be the finale.

On the contrary, as Junda Mana said, for the three of them, being able to compete on the same stage with such world-class designers and models was already a victory in itself. In other words, no matter what the final result was, they were already in the position of "winners"...

So why did he take the victory or defeat so seriously before?

"I initially started my own company to gain the strength to compete with a brand that had copied me. At that time, TGC was a perfect opportunity for me to turn things around... Director Hasegawa, my former boss, also hoped that this opportunity would allow me to fully develop my talents."

Chihaya Tetsuya reflected on his mental journey in the early days of starting his own business.

"Later, as Ai and Chuhua's popularity continued to grow, and thanks to the joint efforts of many people, the success of that live show directly pushed my brand awareness to a level I could never have imagined. The brand that copied me also suffered backlash due to their own wrongdoing. Although they still have a considerable influence in the low-end and mid-range markets, to me, they have long ceased to be such a threat."

With Ai and Hatsuka's unwavering support, and Xiangzi's vision for the future, the pressure from "NozAK!" gradually dissipated, and Chihaya Tetsu gradually became accustomed to the natural flow of success. Driven by this smooth career, as well as confidence and pride in his own abilities, Chihaya Tetsu has made it this far... until Jean appears.

Ultimately, Chihaya Tetsuya, also a genius, had such a smooth journey that he completely ignored his limited social experience. This world-class French designer made Chihaya Tetsuya realize his own immaturity for the first time, and also made him feel frustrated for the first time in the field of fashion design.

Inertial thinking inevitably led him to associate this frustration with the oppression he once faced from NozAK!, viewing him as a near-enemy. In reality, however, there was no conflict between him and NozAK!; rather, he had given him a precious opportunity to compete with world-class designers and attract the attention of the high-end fashion industry.

Just as Junda Mana said... maybe he did lose to Jean at the designer level, but that doesn't mean he lost anything.

This was a doomed failure, but also a failure that was bound to yield something. While it was a bit of a shame that Ai and Hatsuka might not be able to secure the finale spot this time... However, simply being able to share the stage with world-class models and hold such a prominent position as "First Look" was an achievement worthy of being written into the annals of the idol industry.

and so……