A guide to survival in a heavy girl's world

"...Not with a competitive spirit or a sense of mission, but rather enjoying this event with a victorious mindset?"

Chihaya Tetsuya murmured something in a low voice before he raised his head and looked at the consultant in front of him with a slightly relieved expression. The consultant was enjoying the ice water in his hand.

"So, you seemed to be saying... if they knew I was designing the costumes with such a heavy heart, they wouldn't be able to enjoy this [TGC], right?"

"Eh? Ah, yes..."

Junda Mana put down her water cup and smiled a little embarrassedly.

"After all, from what I heard from their agent, they both seem to value your opinion very much. If you take TGC so seriously, then they will definitely approach their upcoming practices and activities with a similar attitude. As a fellow member of the group and a regular girl who enjoys fashion, I definitely hope they can enjoy TGC!"

"..."

Looking at the unpretentious purity and kindness on Junda Mana's face, Chihaya Tetsuya was stunned for a long time before he smiled and said:

"An ordinary girl... I don't see how you fit that description."

"Well, it's the truth after all. If the two seniors are both perfect score girls, then I am at best a passing level of 60 or 70 points."

Junda Mana waved her hand:

"Actually, I still can't believe that I was able to join such an amazing group. Ah~ I guess until the day I die, I will definitely regard joining Summer Zodiac as something I am proud of, right?"

"..."

Hearing this, Chihaya Tetsu couldn't help but look at Junda Mana's smile carefully again.

It was a pure smile that couldn't hide any disguise or lies. In other words, Junda Mana seemed to have truly accepted the fact that she was not as good as Hoshino Ai and Mikado Hatsuka...

……

"Ms. Junta."

"Yes?"

"For the joint exhibition this August, could you be the main model for the day and help me with the promotion?"

"……Eh?"

104

Chapter 104: The Extraordinary “Representative of Ordinary People”

Warmth and comfort.

This is the most basic design logic that Chihaya Tetsuya has always followed, and it is also his starting point as a designer.

He hopes that everyone who wears the clothes he makes can smile with the same happiness and peace of mind that Ai and Aine did back then.

After he officially became a designer, he had even greater and more difficult-to-achieve ideals.

He hopes his clothing can be a strength to others.

It can be comfort, guidance, encouragement and affirmation.

Just like now, looking at this girl with the warmest and brightest smile, Chihaya Tetsu didn't want her to say those words again that seemed to deny herself.

So, out of his ambition and persistence as a designer, and also out of a little gratitude towards the girl who unintentionally helped him untie his knot, Chihaya Tetsu wanted to continue to use his clothes to express his ideas...

But for this girl who has always looked down on herself, this seemingly happy invitation was a little too sudden!

"[Starry Sky]'s main model at the joint exhibition...?"

Junda Mana first repeated the proposal blankly, then immediately shook her head like a rattle -

"No, no, no! Are you kidding me? The two seniors will be there that day, right?"

"Yes, after all, they are both my contracted models."

"That's even worse! You might as well tell me what you're thinking!"

Junda Mana looked at Chihaya Tetsuya with eyes full of resistance and fear:

"Those are Hoshino Ai and Mikado Hatsuka. Is there really a girl in this world who can win the position of main model against them?!"

"Of course there is!"

Unlike Junda Mana's hysteria, Chihaya Tetsuya's tone was extremely calm:

"Like that world-class model Melissa?"

"I'm truly honored that you would compare me to Ms. Melissa! But it still doesn't work!"

Juntian Mana shook her head again and said:

"Letting a rookie idol take the lead role in front of two super popular seniors is too strange no matter how you think about it! Not to mention that I've only just started working as an idol, and I haven't developed either the skills of a print model or my camera sense yet—"

"Eh? Really? That's great."

Chihaya Tetsuya's eyes suddenly widened.

“In fact, in order to showcase my personal design philosophy and brand characteristics for this joint exhibition, I needed this natural state without any modification the most!”

"Hey hey hey——"

This counterintuitive answer caused Junda Mana's objection to pause for a moment, and then she quickly retorted:

"Okay, even if you really need an amateur like me as a model this time. But you should at least consider my appearance, right? Come on, take a good look at this face. Although I am often praised by classmates, friends and family for being cute, that's the extent of it! Compare this face with Hoshino Ai and Sankaku Hatsuka, it's like the difference between an ordinary plain donut and a holiday-limited super deluxe chocolate-filled donut!"

"...?"

After hearing this, Chihaya Tetsuya tilted his head slightly, then he immediately pinched his chin and began to look at Junda Mana's face carefully.

At first, Junda Mana could still raise her head with a self-righteous look, allowing Chihaya Tetsuya to observe her so carefully. However, as the observation time continued to extend, an indescribable sense of shame suddenly welled up from the bottom of her heart.

"Stop, stop! Observing for this long should be enough to draw conclusions!"

Junda Mana blushed slightly and covered her cheeks with her hands:

"Anyway, compared to my level of looks, the two seniors are more suitable to be the main models—"

"why?"

"Are you really looking at it?"

"Of course."

Chihaya Tetsuya said this in a matter-of-fact tone:

"But even so, I don't think Ms. Juntian is inferior to them in any way."

"Huh~?"

The unexpected answer made Junda Mana make a very strange sound.

Chihaya Tetsu continued to answer seriously:

"Indeed, Ai and Hatsuka's looks are recognized as top-tier by the entire idol industry... but as members of the same group arranged by the agency, Ms. Junda is on the same level as them, no matter how you think about it, right?"

"what?"

"Love is a magical blend of purity and beauty, Chuhua is a beauty that combines elegance and coolness, and Ms. Juntian is, perhaps, the warmth and straightforwardness of sunshine. This light creates a sense of intimacy that draws people in from the first sight, along with your genuine honesty and kindness. I imagine this is why the agency asked you to join SummerZodiac. Because you represent a different style from them."

"Wow ah ah ah ah..."

Although Junda Mana has received many compliments about her cuteness since she was a child, she has never experienced such unconcealed and direct compliments from Chihaya Tetsuya.

What's even more terrifying is that when Chihaya Tetsuya said these words, his expression and tone were not at all shaken or concealed. In other words, these were his actual feelings from the bottom of his heart...

Thinking of this, Junda Mana's inner shame increased even more, making her unable to even utter a decent response.

Fortunately, Chihaya Tetsuya's purpose was not to appreciate her shameful side. In order to make Junda Mana accept his proposal, the new point of view he put forward also made Junda Mana's heart waver -

"Ms. Junta just said that TGC is a grand event for all young people to enjoy fashion together. If that's the case, Ms. Junta, if you consider yourself just an ordinary person, then you can definitely serve as a 'representative of ordinary people' and become the best window for me to convey my fashion philosophy."

Chihaya Tetsuya said:

"So, you should be able to accept it, right?"

"...Well, well, if it's just a 'representative of ordinary people', it's reasonable..."

Junda Mana nodded with a conflicted look on her face.

"But, as a newcomer, taking on such an important job is a bit... "

"It's okay. I'll handle this matter with your firm."

Seeing that Junda Mana's attitude had relaxed, Chihaya Tetsuya took advantage of the situation and said:

"As long as Miss Juntian agrees!"

"Woooooooo..."

Faced with Chihaya Tetsuya's sincere attitude, it was really hard for Junda Mana to refuse.

So, after a moment of hesitation, she finally nodded:

"Okay...as long as you can convince the firm..."

"Then we have a deal."

After receiving a positive answer, Chihaya Tetsuya smiled and extended his hand to Junda Mana:

"I wish us a pleasant cooperation, Miss Juntian."

"Wow...you haven't decided yet, have you?"

Two months after debuting, she became the main model for the brand featured in the joint exhibition of the [TGC] preview program...

She had just come here to deliver a document and say hello, so why did she suddenly take on such an important job?

Is this the weight of the name [Summer Zodiac]?

(What will my idol career be like from now on?)

Looking at the frank face in front of her that was very similar to her own, with no hint of concealment at all, Junda Mana couldn't help but sigh deeply in her heart.

105

Chapter 105: Professionals’ crisis avoidance awareness.

"……What did you say?"

When the agent heard Junda Mana's report, she couldn't help but show an expression of disbelief.

"Just because you guys chatted briefly about [TGC]...he decided to make you the main model?"

"Absolutely true!"

Junda Mana nodded repeatedly and said:

"I really just had a brief chat with Chihaya-san about TGC, and advised him not to take winning too seriously, and then he decided to make me the main model! And since he brought up the arguments I used to convince him before, I really didn't know how to refuse..."

At this point, she timidly glanced at her agent. After seeing her frowning face, she immediately asked in a very guilty tone:

"As expected...a newbie like me shouldn't be qualified for this kind of work, right?"

"...It has nothing to do with this."

Faced with Junda Mana's self-doubt, the agent gently shook his head to express denial.

"Since the agency agreed to let you join Summer Zodiac, it means that your abilities and looks are no less than those of your two companions. If they can handle the job, you can definitely do it too."

"Woo..."

Hearing these words that were very similar to Chihaya Tetsuya's, Junda Mana immediately shrank her neck.

However, when she looked at her agent's worried face again, she asked again:

"But your expression doesn't look like you have any problem at all..."

"Because I'm worried about something else now."

The agent rubbed his temple with a troubled look on his face.

"You probably haven't told Ai and Chuhua about this sudden substitution yet, right?"

"not yet."

Junda Mana said truthfully:

"After all, the agency hasn't officially agreed yet. As a newcomer, I can't make my own decisions..."

"Well, it's great that you have this awareness."