"Actually, even without that plagiarist fellow, my designs have been copied by quite a lot of people before."
Jean said in a relaxed tone as he cut the food on his plate with a knife and fork.
As a world-class designer, an artist who had even been knighted by the French nobility, it was impossible for his designs not to have followers, and by extension, plagiarists.
"But among them, the most anyone can do is imitate me... No one has ever been able to truly learn my designs. Mr. Assistant might not understand, but Mr. Chihaya should, right? For us designers, the clothes in this world can be roughly divided into two types: those that 'can be made' and those that 'cannot be made'."
Jean said to Tetsuya with a smile.
"Speaking of which, you've seen the design sheets I gave to Yachiyo, haven't you, Mr. Chihaya? What did you think?"
"...They were incredible. Profound. Complex."
Tetsuya answered honestly.
Recalling the first time he saw those designs, he couldn't even find the words to describe the shock... and the sense of defeat he felt in his heart.
"I thought I had mastered all the cutting and sewing techniques, but when I saw your designs, Jean-san, I realized my own limitations... Even though I was looking at the complete design sheet, I still had no idea how to make it."
"Eh?"
Hearing Tetsuya's answer, Togawa Sakiko's father looked puzzled.
"How could that be? Logically, once you have the design sheet, shouldn't you be able to replicate it exactly as it is?"
"I could make out its general shape and style from the design sheet, but beyond that... there was nothing else I could figure out."
At this, Tetsuya couldn't help but shake his head.
"For example, there was one black-based outer garment cut from a single piece of fabric... No matter how I thought about it, I couldn't figure out what kind of material and technique would be needed to perfectly recreate the effect shown in the design."
For Tetsuya, who had an extremely deep foundation in pattern-making and cutting, that design sheet was the biggest reason he came to fully understand the skill gap between himself and Jean.
Since it was a garment made from a single piece of fabric, the material requirements were extremely strict. And considering the final style, it had to be both lightweight for summer and maintain an incredibly stiff silhouette after being worn... At least for Tetsuya, he had no idea what kind of process or fabric Jean intended to use. He didn't even understand how one was supposed to wear it.
"Oh! You're talking about that one!"
Hearing his description, Jean slapped his thigh in a moment of realization.
"It's actually very simple. You just need to use West African mud-dyed cloth. As for how to wear it, you'd probably have to look for some documentaries about Africa to find information on it. That garment is based on an overcoat from a West African tribe used to care for women during childbirth. To them, it symbolizes protection and safety."
"A West African tribe? Mud-dyed cloth? Protection and safety?"
This string of terms, so far beyond his scope of knowledge, left Tetsuya looking completely dumbfounded.
Both the country and the cloth were utterly foreign to him.
Faced with Tetsuya's blank stare, Jean shrugged as if it were no surprise at all.
"You're the type of designer with very solid fundamentals, aren't you, Mr. Chihaya? I can feel it from the outfits you designed for those two idols. The handling of every detail, the reuse of different fabrics, the room for adjustment you left so they could continue to use those outfits in the future, plus that meticulously, almost perversely detailed handiwork... For you, there's probably no domestic Japanese design or technique recorded in a book that you can't reproduce. But... when it comes to these overseas techniques and cultures, things you've never even heard the names of, even a designer as skilled as you would be absolutely unable to replicate them. As for that amateur who can't even plagiarize properly, it's even more impossible for him."
At this, he suddenly looked back at Sakiko's father.
"By the way, Mr. Assistant, you just said you saved the records of you and that plagiarist fellow on your phone, right?"
"...Yes."
Sakiko's father nodded with a heavy heart.
"I was originally planning to use this as evidence to turn myself in after our deal was over..."
"Oh, come on, there's no need for that! First, let Mr. Chihaya take a look at those 'line drawings' I gave you!"
Jean urged him on, seemingly unconcerned about what he had done. Left with no other choice, the man, who had been about to repent further, took out his phone and showed Tetsuya the line drawings that Ko Ogino had dismissed.
"..."
It wasn't a silhouette, not an article of clothing, not even a pattern—just a few simple lines inexplicably crossing each other. If he had seen this image normally, Tetsuya would have just dismissed it as a child's doodle. However, since Jean had said it was related to his design, he had to take it seriously.
Tetsuya stared at the incredibly simple drawing on the phone screen for a while. Then he gestured in the air with his fingers a few times, muttering to himself.
"These curves look a bit like arrows... The only place you'd need arrows on clothing would be on the instruction sheet for a paper pattern. Ah, could it be... the steps for folding the fabric? And the whole drawing has two sets of lines, which means two pieces of fabric are being stacked—"
Just like that, Tetsuya entered his usual work mode, oblivious to his surroundings.
On the other side, listening to Tetsuya's occasional muttering, the appreciation in Jean's eyes grew more and more apparent.
At first, he had only noticed this promising young man because of the quality of the idols' outfits. But as his investigation and understanding of him deepened, and after eavesdropping on their conversation in the hallway, he understood that this young man possessed not only a talent for design and pattern-making, but also a heart far more sincere and transparent than most.
No wonder he was able to create those two outfits that so perfectly fit the idols themselves, filled with such dedication and heart...
For a moment, the look in Jean's eyes as he watched Tetsuya grew deeper.
Tetsuya, however, was completely unaware of Jean's expression, his mind focused entirely on the line drawing before him.
After nearly ten minutes of simulation and calculation, after piecing the two folded pieces of fabric together in his mind, Tetsuya looked up and said with an uncertain tone.
"This, by any chance... is it also an outer coat?"
Not only that, it was an outer coat very similar to the one mentioned before. If he wasn't mistaken, not just the shape, but the fabric folding technique for both garments was identical. If he applied this technique to the West African tribal garment, perhaps... he could try to make the outfit he hadn't understood before!
"...That's right. Exactly."
Hearing his answer, Jean beamed and applauded, then turned to his bewildered assistant.
"This is the difference in ability, Mr. Assistant. Given the same line drawing of mine, Mr. Chihaya can deduce the truth, but that poor plagiarist fellow can't see anything at all, and can only pitifully wait to copy it when I make the sample..."
At this, he couldn't help but shake his head in pity.
"My designs aren't so simple that they can be learned by any amateur. Even if I show him the sample garment, if I don't tell him what specific fabric to use and the correct way to wear it, all that guy will make is some useless defective product. And if I deliberately omit some of the accessories that need to be adjusted on stage to fit the model... tsk tsk, I can't even imagine what kind of strange finished product he'll come up with."
With that, he handed the phone back to Sakiko's father.
"By the way, the pictures you took were a bit blurry and the lighting was quite bad. Remember to pay attention next time you take them, so the other side can see clearly."
"...W-wait a minute, Jean-san!"
Faced with Jean's composure, Tetsuya quickly interjected.
"[NozAK!] doesn't just have Ko Ogino, that amateur who came in halfway. Their acquisitions and expansions over the past year have given them far more designer resources than the average brand. If you show him everything without reservation, he might actually get it right by a fluke—"
"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Chihaya. But please, have a little faith in my abilities."
Even after hearing this warning, Jean's tone remained dashing and composed.
"Even if he gets a garment that is completely identical to mine, I can guarantee... he absolutely cannot win against me."
"Eh..."
Although Tetsuya had no idea where Jean's confidence came from, since he was so insistent, it wasn't his place as an outsider to say any more.
Meanwhile, Sakiko's father heard another meaning in Jean's words.
"Jean, are you seriously telling me to complete the deal with Ko Ogino?"
"Of course! Business is business. It has to have a beginning and an end."
Jean said in a serious tone.
"Since he's willing to spend so much money to humiliate himself, then let's just sell it all to him. If he complains my designs and sample aren't simple and clear enough, I can personally teach him how to do it, step-by-step."
"This..."
Faced with Jean's generosity and tolerance, Sakiko's father actually looked like he couldn't accept it.
"Is this really okay? Even if you're absolutely confident you won't lose to him, wouldn't this mean I'm the only one benefiting...?"
"Don't be in such a rush, I'm not finished yet."
Jean wagged his finger.
"Regardless of the outcome, the fact that you intended to help Ko Ogino secretly photograph my designs doesn't change. And I'm not so tolerant that I can overlook such a major taboo among designers. So, next are my conditions."
He held up three fingers.
"First, as the culprit, Mr. Assistant, after completing your deal with Ko Ogino, you will continue to work for me as my assistant. As for the duration... let's just say until I get tired of looking at your face."
"..."
This condition was so lenient it was practically a pardon. Sakiko's father was stunned for a moment, then bowed his head to Jean in gratitude.
"Yes... I understand."
"Next, for Mr. Chihaya, who was just talking a big game about sharing the responsibility. As for your condition... I'll tell you after the joint exhibition is over."
Under Tetsuya's blank stare, Jean said with a brilliant smile that was impossible to read.
"Until then, please focus on the joint exhibition and the [TGC]... Oh, and by the way, if your performance doesn't meet my expectations, I might just change my mind and reconsider Mr. Assistant's situation~"
"...Yes!"
After the joint exhibition, the deal between Sakiko's father and Ko Ogino would have long been completed.
In other words, no matter what, Jean had already decided to help Sakiko's father... to use this deal to win back his and his daughter's freedom!
"Finally, the third condition."
Just as Tetsuya was feeling happy about this, Jean suddenly spoke again.
"You just said that Mr. Assistant's daughter is currently working under you as an apprentice and assistant, correct?"
"Yes."
Tetsuya nodded, then couldn't help but ask.
"Why bring up Sakiko all of a sudden...?"
"Because this last condition is for her."
Jean said.
"As the reason Mr. Assistant took such a risk, and as someone who also wishes to take responsibility through her own efforts, she certainly shouldn't get to enjoy the benefits for free. So, Mr. Chihaya."
"Yes."
"At this joint exhibition, I hope to see that little assistant's design... as part of your brand."
Jean smiled, delivering the final condition to Tetsuya.
"Remember what I said just now. Don't you dare disappoint me."