A guide to survival in a heavy girl's world

Hearing this, the silver-haired girl paused again.

At the same time, Maid Yamabuki took the blueprint and began to examine it carefully.

“…is this the design you’re going to use for your new brand?”

"No, this is the summer plan I prepared for KaZoKu at the end of last year. Unfortunately, due to various reasons, I can't join the regular uniform design team this year."

Chihaya Tetsuya shook his head and said:

"So, what do you think of this design?"

“Bestseller.”

Maid Yamabuki gave the briefest, yet most valuable evaluation.

"This design has the potential to be a bestseller in every way, from the shape, theme, to the production cost. It has the potential to become a bestseller this season."

“Thank you very much for your evaluation.”

Chihaya Tetsuya smiled and took the design drawings from the head maid Yamabuki.

"Then it seems I can indeed consider including it in the first batch of products of the new brand."

“…I’m done.”

At this moment, the silver-haired girl suddenly put down the pencil in her hand.

Then, she picked up the design she had just completed and came in front of Chihaya Tetsuya and Head Maid Yamabuki.

"Let's give a score."

"Ms. Luna..."

Maid Yamabuki immediately warned with a slightly accusing tone:

"You haven't greeted your guests yet—"

"Anyway, he's here to ask us to invest money in a business, right? If that's the case, there's no need to say anything more."

The silver-haired girl sat directly in front of Chihaya Tetsuya, her eyes fixed on him.

"I'll pay you. Now, rate my design."

"..."

On the other side, Chihaya Tetsuya was finally able to see the girl's face after she sat down.

Her snow-white skin and hair, coupled with her delicate and beautiful elf-like facial features, make her look like a character from a fantasy work, giving people an unrealistic and illusory beauty. Her cherry-red eyes and slightly cold and sharp gaze add a bit of unapproachable cold temperament to this beauty, like a flower on the mountain.

"...Hey, what are you looking at?"

Seeing that Chihaya Tetsuya was staring at her silently, the silver-haired girl frowned in displeasure.

"Are you scared by my appearance?"

"…Sorry, that's rude."

Chihaya Tetsuya immediately realized his own misconduct after hearing this, and quickly lowered his head and said:

"Although this compliment may sound like sarcasm to you... I am truly amazed by your appearance, which seems to have been born out of suffering."

"………………What?"

After hearing this, the silver-haired girl even doubted her own ears for a moment.

"Are you sure you didn't use the wrong word? Amazing instead of shocking?"

"Huh? Why are you scared?"

Chihaya Tetsuya asked back with a confused look on his face.

"Although you are still young, among all the women I have ever seen, you can definitely be called a very outstanding beauty..."

Seeing the head maid Yamabuki covering her mouth in surprise, and the silver-haired girl looking petrified, Chihaya Tetsu scratched his head in confusion.

"Did I... say something wrong?"

Chapter 3: Flammable Fabrics

"...You're the first person to comment on my appearance like this."

The silver-haired girl shrank back in confusion.

"Don't people generally think I look scary like this?"

"Scary? Why?"

"Because my skin color and eye color are different from others, and I can't walk in the sun like others..."

"In my opinion, while this skin tone and eye color have caused you many inconveniences, it also brings you a unique beauty. As for 'different from others,' it's not a derogatory term for a designer. What do you think?"

"…………"

After hearing what Chihaya Tetsuya said, the silver-haired girl fell into silence for a moment before she spoke:

"...I am Luna Sakurakouji, the owner of the Sakura Mansion. I'm sorry for letting you see my inappropriate side."

"It's an honor to meet you, Miss Sakurakouji. My name is Chihaya Tetsuya, and this is my apprentice and assistant Toyokawa Shoko."

Chihaya Tetsuya smiled and added to the long-overdue self-introduction.

"Then...I'm going to start admiring your design."

After saying that, Chihaya Tetsuya carefully picked up the design from the coffee table, and Toyokawa Shoko and the head maid Yamabuki also came over.

Sakurakoji Luna designed a women's coat with a British-inspired style. While conservatively long, the waist and reinforced belts still maintain the curves. The ruffles and pleats are perfectly executed, adding a touch of aristocratic elegance to the overall casual look.

What’s even more interesting is that this design drawing even specifically features the Scottish plaid pattern on the coat’s lining, which not only ensures the unity of the elements but also makes the garment still look quite attractive even when the chest is open.

This is an excellent and mature design that is capable of winning the competition.

For a fifteen-year-old girl, the degree of completion of this design is enough to prove her talent and intelligence.

“…very nice design.”

Chihaya Tetsuya gave a truthful evaluation.

“If it were held in an art school, I would definitely win a prize.”

"I agree with Mr. Chihaya."

Head Maid Yamabuki smiled and nodded.

“This is an award-winning work.”

"…………"

After hearing the two people's comments, the indifference on Sakurakouji Luna's face suddenly faded a little. Then, she turned her gaze to Chihaya Tetsuya's hand and said:

"I want to see your design too."

"As you please."

Chihaya Tetsuya pushed his design drawing in front of Sakurakouji Luna.

"As the financial sponsor, you have the right to review my design."

"Humph."

Sakurakoji Luna snorted first, then said:

"I want to see what's so amazing about this designer that Yachiyo praised him."

After saying that, she took the design drawing and began to read it with an unconvinced look on her face...

……

"...Yachiyo."

After a long while, she finally raised her head, frowned and waved the design drawing in her hand.

"Is this design... really that amazing?"

"..."

Yachiyo was stunned at first, then she said:

"As I mentioned when I introduced it to you before, at least among people of my age, I can't find anyone with such a mature design."

"why?"

Sakurakouji Luna asked with a puzzled look:

"Isn't this just an ordinary solid summer outerwear? No patterns, no colors, and the style is just ordinary. While minimalism is certainly a popular trend right now, what's so special about this design?"

"…………"

After hearing this, Chihaya Tetsuya blinked first, then turned his head to look at the head maid Yamabuki, as if asking himself whether he should explain his design to her.

Faced with her master's wrong judgment, Maid Yamabuki shook her head with a wry smile.

However, the next second, just as she was about to correct Sakurakoji Luna's words, Toyokawa Shoko, who had been watching Sakurakoji Luna's design drawings from the beginning, finally couldn't help but said:

"I originally thought there was some decisive difference between you and the other daughters... but in the end, you're just a frog in a well."

"Eh?"

Chihaya Tetsuya was shocked when he heard this.

"what?"

After hearing this, Sakurakoji Luna's face immediately became angry.

"Hey, Padawan, what do you mean?"

"That's a very rude name, but even more than your manners, your judgment is truly lacking."

Toyokawa Shoko slapped her design directly onto the coffee table—

"Please take another good look at Chihaya-san's design... and carefully examine the stitching and amount of fabric in this garment."

"…stitching? Fabric?"

After hearing this, Sakurakouji Luna immediately picked up Chihaya Tetsuya's design drawing again.

"What's so good about this thing? Isn't the stitching right here? There are three pieces of fabric in total... Um, wait a minute?"

Halfway through her speech, Sakurakoji Luna's voice suddenly stopped:

"Only... three pieces of fabric? And since they're raglan sleeves... they won't turn into penguin sleeves..."

"Because in addition to design, pattern and tailoring are also Chihaya-san's strengths, so when designing, he carefully considered how to achieve the same effect at the lowest cost."

Toyokawa Shoko said:

"The overall shape of this outerwear is entirely maintained by the inherent properties of the fabric and minimal seams. While it's nothing special as a standalone item, it helps keep costs to a minimum for a branded store. This is precisely why Ms. Yamabuki described it as 'mature.' In contrast, your design, while gorgeous, suffers from unnecessary seams and excessive detail, rendering it impractical. Consequently, both Chihaya-san and Ms. Yamabuki's assessments were limited to 'award-winning at school.'"

"Chihaya-kun came to discuss this with you with the sincerity of establishing a brand. That's why he chose this design as a 'gift', one that demonstrates the brand's prospects and his personal abilities. Instead, not only do you show no sincerity or intention in the negotiation, you even look down on him!"

Toyokawa Shoko immediately turned her head and looked at Chihaya Tetsuya.

"Brother Chihaya, do we really want to cooperate with such an arrogant young lady? With your ability, you can definitely find a better sponsor."

Having said that, she turned her head and looked at Sakurakouji Luna who was in front of her and looked stunned after being scolded.

"At least it's much better than this 'noble lady' who doesn't even know how to entertain guests."

"Toyokawa..."

Chihaya Tetsuya had never expected that Toyokawa Shoko would be so angry, nor had he ever expected that she would express her dissatisfaction with the rude daughter so directly.

What surprised Chihaya Tetsuya even more was that after hearing what Toyokawa Shoko said, Sakurakouji Luna, who was sitting opposite, not only did not show an angry look, but instead looked at Toyokawa Shoko with interest——

"Student... No, it should be said that Miss Toyokawa Shoko was 'kicked out of the house'."

Sakurakouji Luna pinched her chin and looked at her and said:

"I'm asking, are you... interested in working at our Ying Mansion?"

"……ha?!"

Chapter 4: The best embodiment of eccentricity

Faced with Sakurakouji Luna's "invitation" which contained a lot of information, Toyokawa Shoko stood up almost subconsciously.