A guide to survival in a heavy girl's world

"But Xiangzi is right. If we continue to let things go on like this, your father might make an even bigger mistake. So... necessary communication is definitely necessary."

"..."

Hearing this, Toyokawa Shoko's eyes dimmed in an instant.

Even if he was an alcoholic who had been destitute in a cramped rental house for a whole year, even if he was an irresponsible missing person who had been away from home for a month and had never contacted her, even if he was the culprit who had caused the situation to develop to this point, he was still her father after all... a foolish father who would make mistakes for her freedom.

However, since he has made an unforgivable mistake, he must naturally pay the price for it.

Even if she had to break off relations with him, she would never look back.

Then, just as Toyokawa Shoko made up her mind and planned to contact Yamabuki Yachiyo, Chihaya Tetsuya suddenly spoke:

"Xiangzi."

"Yes……"

"Can you let me handle this matter?"

"……Eh?"

Toyokawa Shoko looked up with a confused look on her face:

"Leave it to... Tetsuya-kun?"

"Well, you want to contact Jean directly through Ms. Yamabuki, right? If so, can I do it for you?"

Unlike Toyokawa Shoko, whose eyes were full of hesitation and entanglement, Chihaya Tetsuya's expression remained extremely peaceful and calm from beginning to end.

"After all, I'm involved in this matter, and I just happen to want to meet this Mr. Rang. And... this matter must be very painful for Xiangzi, right?"

"Eh? No, I...I'm fine!"

Shoko Toyokawa felt an extremely strong concern and worry from Chihaya Tetsuya's tone.

To prove that she was fine, she straightened her back and spoke calmly.

She didn't want Chihaya Tetsuya to think of her as someone who would abandon her principles and designer ethics to protect her relatives because of her hesitation. Not to mention, the person her father served... was even the one who had plagiarized Chihaya Tetsuya's "NozAK!"!

"Let's be honest... even if it's my father... it's only natural that he should pay the price for his actions."

"But what the price should be and how that responsibility should be borne... these are still undecided."

Compared with the extremely resolute Toyokawa Shoko, Chihaya Tetsuya's attitude is extremely calm.

As he spoke, he took the phone from Toyokawa Shoko's hand and then held her fingers again.

"Don't jump to conclusions, Xiangzi. The joint exhibition hasn't even started yet, and your father hasn't completely completed the deal."

"But... he has already accepted the reward from [NozAK!] for me..."

Toyokawa Shoko said in a low voice:

"There's no way he can easily wash away this sin."

"Even so, this mistake may not have been so large as to be irreparable."

Chihaya Tetsuya said:

"He may indeed have to take responsibility for his mistakes, but that responsibility may not be as heavy as you imagine."

"Even if you say so..."

Toyokawa Shoko bit her lips lightly.

"Things have developed to this point. I really can't imagine any other outcome..."

"That's hard to say."

Chihaya Tetsuya shook his head.

"It's just a feeling, but as a fellow designer, I can sense something very similar in Mr. Jean's designs. And... we still don't know what kind of deal your father struck with [NozAK!], nor do we know exactly how far he's come. So, everything is still uncertain, so don't jump to conclusions. Or, do you intend to blindly trust your own judgment without knowing anything, as you did before?"

"!"

Hearing this, Toyokawa Shoko suddenly raised her head and looked at Chihaya Tetsuya.

She didn't expect that even though all the clues now clearly pointed to the only truth, Chihaya Tetsu was still willing to believe that there were other possibilities.

Although Toyokawa Shoko had already regarded her father as a sinner in her heart, Chihaya Tetsuya's words still made a ray of hope emerge in her chaotic heart.

Even though she herself couldn't fully believe it, perhaps... there really was a way to resolve all this peacefully and safely without pushing her father into the abyss...

"...Tetsuya-kun."

"Yes."

"This time too... I'm sorry to bother you."

Just like that night, Shoko Toyokawa once again asked for help from the person in front of her.

"Please help me and my father..."

And once again, facing the girl's request, Chihaya Tetsu nodded without hesitation.

"Ahh, leave it to me."

Even though the person he is going to face next is a world-famous giant with enough power to influence the entire Japanese fashion industry.

Even though what was before him was an almost unquestionable case of plagiarism, the most taboo in the fashion industry.

Even he himself didn't know how to resolve all this peacefully.

At least he will try his best to do all he can.

So, he immediately stood up, picked up his phone, and called Yamabuki Yachiyo.

"Hey, Miss Yamabuki, I have a favor to ask of you."

Chihaya Tetsuya said into the microphone:

"I hope to meet Mr. Jean."

……

"Hmm~ I came up with a pretty good idea today."

As he spoke, he once again handed the mysterious line drawing in his hand to Toyokawa Shoko's father.

"Assistant Mr., I'm counting on you this time too."

"Yes."

This time, Toyokawa Shoko's father accepted the line drawing very neatly, and after putting it away properly, he quickly returned to Jean's side.

"Hmm? You're surprisingly quick this time."

Jean said with a smile.

"You won't get lost again?"

"...You're joking."

Toyokawa Shoko's father responded very calmly:

"It's just storing the blueprints. It won't take long anyway."

"Really? That's good."

Although Jean agreed very readily, his eyes were still fixed on Chihaya Tetsuya's father.

"By the way, Mr. Assistant, have you ever rescued a stray animal?"

"This... has never happened before."

Toyokawa Shoko's father shook his head.

"Why are you asking this question all of a sudden?"

"Nothing, I just suddenly thought of the experience of being scratched before."

Jean shrugged.

"Sometimes, the more desperate and anxious you are, the more you lose your judgment..."

"..."

After hearing this, Toyokawa Shoko's father's expression did not change at all, but the slight movement in his eyes showed that he was not completely without any feelings in his heart.

And then, just as he was about to say something, his cell phone suddenly rang -

"Bonjour~ Yachiyo, I didn't expect you to call me at this hour. You should still be at work, right?"

I answered the phone in surprise:

"Hmm... Oh? He wants to meet me? That's absolutely fine. I'll let you guys figure out the time and place... Hmm? And he wants to bring my assistant along?"

Having said this, he first turned his head to look at Toyokawa Shoko's father, then blinked slightly:

"Yeah...I see. I understand. I'll take him with me. Okay, then it's settled."

After saying that, he put down the phone and once again looked at the confused assistant with interest.

"I never thought that not only me, but even my assistant would be so popular."

"???"

"It's okay, it's okay. Anyway, there will probably be an interesting meeting in a few days."

Jean waved his hand and said in an expectant tone:

"What kind of encounter awaits us next~"

This designer, whose thoughts are completely unpredictable, is, as always, observing something that others cannot see.

120

Chapter 120: About relatives and the future.

Although Toyokawa Shoko also expressed her hope to meet the other party together with Chihaya Tetsuya, Chihaya Tetsuya ultimately rejected her.

And he did have plans to let the father and daughter meet, but definitely not now.

"You are such a kind person."

On the way to the reserved restaurant, Sakurakouji Luna said this to Chihaya Tetsuya.

"As a fellow designer, you should understand that no matter what the reason, this kind of behavior is absolutely unforgivable, right?"

As the middlemen and organizers of this meeting, Sakurakouji Luna and Yachiyo will naturally participate in this meeting.

"……Maybe."

As for what Sakurakoji Luna said, Chihaya Tetsuya did not comment.

He had previously been wrongly accused of plagiarism by Di Yeqing, and to some extent, he is one of the people with the most say.

"I don't intend to make any excuses or defenses for Xiangzi's father. I simply hope that he can stop him as soon as possible before he commits a bigger mistake... and then make him make amends for his actions as soon as possible."

Chihaya Tetsuya said:

"After all, as of now, the mistakes he made haven't reached an irreversible level. If that's the case, then as long as we can convince Mr. Jean, perhaps this matter can have a relatively peaceful conclusion."

"..."

Looking at Chihaya Tetsuya's extremely serious expression, Sakurakoji Luna was silent for a moment before she said:

"If Mr. Toyokawa cannot meet Mr. Rang's conditions, will you help him?"

"meeting."

Chihaya Tetsuya answered almost without hesitation:

"That's why I didn't ask Xiangzi to come along. Otherwise, she would never agree."

"That's it."

Sakurakouji Luna looked away and made a sound whose emotions were difficult to discern.

"You're quite favored, aren't you... Toyokawa? It seems all the misfortunes you've endured will end here..."

"Did Miss Sakurakoji just say anything?"

Chihaya Tetsuya, who didn't hear the mumbling clearly, asked curiously.

Sakurakoji Luna just shook her head, then leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes to rest.