On the last day of Golden Week, for the average person, it might just represent the impending end of a precious holiday. However, for the members of [KaZoKu], it held another, very important meaning.
"I'm back with the new issue of [Mode.Modern]!" (I did not translate this part, the stuff in brackets are written exactly in english like that)
An employee, forced to run the errand after losing at rock-paper-scissors, returned to the studio carrying two paper bags full of magazines.
[Mode.Modern] was a fashion magazine aimed at a broad youth audience. For the average young person, the fashion featured in [Mode.Modern] was not only the trendsetter for the entire upcoming season, but also the most accessible form of popular fashion they could find.
For [KaZoKu], which focused primarily on everyday wear, [Mode.Modern] would, to a large extent, also influence the general direction of their work for the next season.
"I snuck a peek while I was buying them. The cover of this year's summer special is [Summer Zodiac], the group we designed outfits for before."
The errand-running employee said as he placed the paper bags on the central worktable in the office.
"Once they release that music video and become a huge hit, our studio might just get a huge boost from it!"
"It's very possible... but more than that, I want to know what kind of clothes I'll be making for the next month."
A pattern maker took a magazine from the bag and quickly flipped to the summer special—
"...Ah, so this is the style [Mode.Modern] is predicting."
"What kind?"
"The first page is a loose T-shirt and wide-leg pants. The second page is a tank top with a thin, short-sleeved outer layer. Huh, dresses are on the third page..."
The pattern maker showed an expression of utter surprise.
"Shouldn't dresses have been a fixture on the first two pages in previous years? To put them on the third page this year..."
"Yeah, the fashion world is completely unpredictable."
"I'm quite happy about it, though. Dresses are a lot more troublesome to make than the first two."
"That's true."
The members of [KaZoKu] all gathered together, each picking up a magazine and starting to discuss.
Naturally, Chihaya Tetsuya and Togawa Sakiko were no exception.
"Ah... the first page is Uika."
Seeing her childhood friend on the first page of the special, a smile couldn't help but appear on Sakiko's face.
"As expected of her."
Of course, while feeling proud of Misumi Uika in her heart, Sakiko didn't forget to focus on the clothes she was wearing.
However, the moment her gaze fell upon the outfit, she subconsciously let out a small, surprised sound:
"Say, this outfit on the first page... it looks a lot like the one I'm wearing."
"Hm? Now that you mention it... a loose T-shirt, wide-leg pants... ah."
"It really does look like it!"
Sakiko's unconscious observation instantly drew the attention of the entire studio.
"Sakiko! Stand up and let us see!"
"Yes!"
Under the eager gazes of her seniors, Sakiko stood up and struck a pose, mimicking Misumi Uika in the summer special.
"Ah, it's true. The cut and design concept are basically identical to the set Sakiko is wearing."
"If you add the logo to the top and get rid of the cinched ankles on the pants, it's basically a carbon copy of the one on the front page."
"But if I remember correctly, the clothes Sakiko is wearing... Tetsuya-kun made them last year, right?"
As they spoke, everyone's gaze turned to Tetsuya, who had been seriously flipping through the magazine from the start.
"Could it be that Tetsuya-kun already predicted this year's summer fashion trends last winter...?"
"Isn't our assistant designer a little too amazing?"
"..."
Feeling the gazes of his colleagues, Tetsuya silently lifted his head and said with a calm expression:
"This kind of thing happens easily with minimalist designs. Rather than say I predicted the trend, it's more like I was just lucky enough that my style coincided with [Mode.Modern]'s prediction."
With that, he put the magazine aside and motioned for Sakiko to return to his side.
"As for what everyone was saying about the placement of dresses, it's actually easy to understand. The 'All Gender' (gender-neutral) concept is currently spreading widely across the globe. As a fashion magazine, [Mode.Modern] naturally cannot go against this global cultural background."
"So it's to cater to the general environment..."
"That makes sense. Recently, almost all fashion trends have indeed been leaning towards 'unisex' and 'conservative'."
"Looks like this will be the direction of our work for the next year..."
The direction of the discussion gradually became more serious and professional.
And Tetsuya, having put down the magazine, silently retreated from the crowd and returned to his own workstation—
"That was a brilliant analysis, Tetsuya-kun."
Hasegawa Kokoro, who had been listening to the conversation, walked up to him.
"The perspective and thought process you use to look at problems are becoming more and more like those of a professional designer. However..."
Halfway through, Hasegawa's tone suddenly shifted.
"That outfit on the front page of the special, was it really just a simple design coincidence? Even if they are both minimalist styles, don't forget, a similar design and a similar cut are not the same thing."
"..."
A flash of hesitation crossed Tetsuya's face. After a good while, he shook his head.
"Actually, I'm not sure what's going on either... but as a widely recognized magazine in the industry, [Mode.Modern] would never do something like 'plagiarism' that violates industry taboos, so..."
"[Mode.Modern] certainly wouldn't. But the brands they collaborate with are another story."
Hasegawa said.
"Although your product was only on the shelves at Mitsumine Department Store for a week, that was enough time for certain interested parties to notice. And don't forget why you dropped out of Geika Institute... For something like this to happen once could be explained away as a coincidence. For it to happen twice is not right."
"..."
Hearing this, Tetsuya's brows furrowed deeply.
Hasegawa's reminder made him once again recall the incident that had nearly destroyed his entire career.
Seeing Tetsuya's visible agitation and alarm, Hasegawa shook her head and then said:
"Leave the upcoming 'daily designs' to the others. For now, focus your energy on the new commission from [Watanabe Production]."
"Is that necessary? Maybe this really is just a simple coincidence—"
Hearing that he was suddenly being removed from the studio's core work, Tetsuya subconsciously tried to argue.
However, Hasegawa was very insistent:
"Tetsuya-kun, this is experience I've gained from over a decade in the industry. For the sake of your own future, you must keep a low profile for a while."
"...I understand."
Although Tetsuya still saw this incident as merely a coincidence in his heart, since Director Hasegawa was so insistent, there was no need for him to press the issue.
(I hope this is all just Director Hasegawa's imagination...)
Looking at his colleagues in the distance who were still diligently analyzing the fashion magazine, Tetsuya couldn't help but think this in his heart.