For a designer, after the design work is complete, all that remains is a period of waiting filled with anticipation and nervousness.
First is the process of turning a design sheet into a paper pattern. Since Togawa Sakiko was studying under Chihaya Tetsuya, she had already completed the pattern-making herself. The next step for her was to witness her design transform from a pattern into a finished garment.
"I never thought the day would come when I'd receive a work commission from you, Sakiko."
[KaZoKu]'s Chief, Hasegawa Kokoro, said with deep emotion.
"And it's even for an outfit designed for Tetsuya-kun... Good things really do happen in life."
"Among everyone I know, besides Head Maid Yamabuki, only you, Chief Hasegawa, are the most trustworthy person for this job," Sakiko replied with great seriousness. "Not to mention, you are also one of the benefactors who helped Tetsuya-kun get to where he is today. Having you create this garment is a choice filled with a sense of ceremony and commemorative meaning."
"You've certainly thought it through."
Kokoro smiled as she looked at the nearly completed garment in her hands.
"...He's seen the design for this, hasn't he?"
"Yes."
"What was his comment?"
"Eh, um..."
Sakiko first lowered her head shyly, gathering her thoughts for a long while before finally saying, a bit awkwardly, "He said... he would cherish it for a lifetime..."
"Oh, a lifetime, you say~"
Kokoro gave Sakiko a meaningful look.
Her reaction was so particular not just because of Tetsuya's rather weighty comment, but because the garment Sakiko had designed for him was a formal suit, the kind one would only wear for a formal occasion like a wedding.
From a designer's perspective, Sakiko, who designed this suit for him, and Tetsuya, who responded with "a lifetime," could already be seen as an engaged couple.
"In that case, as a gift in return, he'll probably design a matching wedding dress for you with his own hands someday."
At this, Kokoro shook her head with feigned regret.
"It's just a pity that only Tetsuya-kun himself can make his haute couture designs. Otherwise, I would have fought for the chance, no matter what."
"...Eh?"
This unexpected comment made Sakiko's expression turn to one of surprise.
"Tetsuya-kun's designs... you can't make them, Chief Hasegawa?"
"Mhm. If I were to make them, I could probably only replicate the appearance. But for his designs, a matching appearance is far from enough," Kokoro explained. "You've seen for yourself the two outfits he designed for Hoshino Ai and Miyata Uika. Besides the flawless appearance and the design philosophy woven into them, the various details that can only be completed by knowing the wearer personally are his most inimitable and unique feature."
"...That's true."
Sakiko nodded in deep agreement.
Using different fabrics for different parts, yet achieving a consistent appearance through embroidery, lace, and other methods... even if she were given the complete instruction manual and pattern, she probably couldn't replicate it perfectly.
"However, compared to Tetsuya-kun's almost perverted level of precision, your design also has its merits, Sakiko."
As Kokoro spoke, she pointed to the shoulder area of the formal suit.
"The extra space here, besides allowing for shoulder pads... is probably also for the future, isn't it? When his body becomes a bit more solid, this suit will still maintain its current fit."
At this, she looked with a grin at the girl before her, who was now blushing from embarrassment.
Clearly, this little thought of hers couldn't be hidden from a fellow designer like Kokoro.
"It seems that when you were designing this suit, your mind was completely filled with thoughts of Tetsuya-kun's future~"
"W-well, there's nothing wrong with that, is there?" Sakiko muttered, her face red. "After all, the rest of my life will definitely be spent with Tetsuya-kun..."
"There's certainly nothing wrong with it. But don't you forget, Sakiko, there are quite a few cute girls around Tetsuya-kun. For example, that idol, and his partner who he's opening a studio with..."
Kokoro couldn't help but shake her head.
"Thinking about it, the competition is really fierce. Are you confident you can win against them, Sakiko?"
"...Not at all."
Sakiko gave a decisive and realistic answer.
"The girls around Tetsuya-kun are, without exception, all cute and uniquely talented. I doubt anyone could guarantee they'd come out on top..."
"Wouldn't that be a problem, then?" Kokoro asked. "If you all become competitors, it would probably have a considerable impact on yourselves and on him, right?"
"Well, about that..."
Sakiko hesitated for a moment. But considering Kokoro had always taken good care of both her and Tetsuya, she decided to be honest after a brief internal struggle.
"Actually... the few of us have decided to stay by Tetsuya-kun's side together."
"Eh..."
Kokoro was so shocked she temporarily stopped what she was doing. But when she saw that there wasn't a trace of unwillingness on Sakiko's face, her expression returned to its previous calm.
"I see... That's quite unexpected."
With that, she lowered her head again and continued her work.
Faced with Kokoro's composure, Sakiko asked a little timidly, "Um... aren't you going to say anything, Chief? Like scolding me... or trying to stop me."
She had thought that Kokoro, as a mature member of society, would never approve of such a reckless decision.
However, Kokoro just replied in her usual tone.
"You're not the type to make decisions lightly, Sakiko, let alone a major one that concerns all of your futures. Since you've all reached a consensus, your own thoughts and plans for the future are more important than those of an outsider like me who knows nothing. Besides..."
She glanced again at the formal suit in her hands.
"If it were any other man, I might advise you to think it over. But if it's Tetsuya-kun, I believe he has the ability and the right to bear the responsibility for this selfishness... even if this rather reckless decision wasn't proposed by him."
Indeed, Kokoro, who knew his personality well, was keenly aware that he would never make such a high-risk decision on his own. And for that very reason, she understood even more keenly the level of resolve Sakiko had in telling her this.
"Still, it's amazing you don't feel much possessiveness over him, Sakiko. A normal girl would definitely want to tie a man like him down, wishing he would only ever look at her."
"Well..." Sakiko smiled, a little embarrassed. "It would be a lie to say I don't feel any at all. But I, and the other girls, all understand that he could never belong to just one of us. Even if he did choose one of us as his lover, he would definitely try to find other ways to respond to the feelings of the others, until they gave up on him and left his side."
Tetsuya was never the type to be good at making choices. To pursue everyone's happiness, he would surely try to find ways to compensate those he rejected, even if it meant living the rest of his life under the weight of guilt and pressure...
"If that's the case, then rather than forcing him to choose a future where no one can be truly happy, it's better to just accept each other's existence from the start and share him."
"I see, so that's how you all think."
Kokoro nodded in understanding.
"That's exactly his personality. Even if he did choose one of you as his lover, he would, out of that mysterious sense of responsibility, treat the ones he rejected with even more care... If no one applied pressure, he would probably stay single for the rest of his life rather than make a move on any of you."
"That's pretty much the situation right now," Sakiko said, letting out a deep sigh. "Ever since he met Jean-san, he's been looking up to him, saying that only by becoming an amazing designer like him can he truly become a man who can take on all responsibilities... Until then, he'll probably keep his distance from us."
"...That happened?"
Kokoro frowned slightly.
"While it's true Tetsuya-kun is very talented, reaching Jean-san's level... would probably require at least ten years of experience, right? Does he really plan to leave you all hanging for a decade?"
"That's probably what he's thinking."
Sakiko found this hard to accept as well.
"Putting me and Anon-san aside, neither Hoshino Ai nor Soyo need his care at all, yet he still treats us with that guardian-like attitude..."
"Ahh~ Being treated like that must be quite frustrating," Kokoro said, fully understanding Sakiko's feelings, having been that age herself.
In fact, ever since she'd met him, she had one deeply ingrained evaluation of him.
"Honestly, that kid Tetsuya-kun really is a bit too much of a herbivore. You've probably heard, right? I once took him to a fashion show and had him act as my temporary assistant. While helping the models alter their clothes, he inevitably saw their bodies. And those models were quite interested in this young and gentle boy I'd brought along. A few of the more open ones even flirted with him a bit."
She looked up at Sakiko's face and, as expected, her expression had turned a little sour.
"Don't get jealous just yet. In the end, not only did he not fall for their teasing, he finished his work with an attitude even calmer than the other female staff, then immediately returned to my side, not lingering around those models for a second."
As Sakiko's expression relaxed slightly, Kokoro continued.
"That's quite an incredible thing, you know. Although I've never talked to him about this sort of thing, I know for a fact he's a virgin with no experience with the opposite sex. For an eighteen-year-old boy to remain so calm in the face of unclothed fashion models... to be honest, even now, I sometimes suspect he might have some sort of... problem in that department—"
"That's not true at all!"
Before Kokoro could finish, Sakiko rushed to object.
"I can guarantee you, Tetsuya-kun is a perfectly healthy boy in both mind and body... ah."
In her haste to defend his honor, she had refuted the Chief's statement almost without thinking. However, when she saw the increasingly playful look on Kokoro's face, she suddenly realized that her defense had, in a way, exposed the current distance and progress between herself and Tetsuya...
"Mhm, I see. Well, that's a relief."
Kokoro, her probe successful, nodded in satisfaction.
"But even so, he still has no intention of actually taking that final step with you, am I right?"
"...Yes."
Sakiko nodded, both embarrassed and troubled.
"If it were really up to him, he would probably do just as you said, Chief, and wait at least ten years before making a move on us... So, to avoid any more complications while we wait, we've decided to seize the initiative ourselves."
"...You're going to take the lead, Sakiko?"
Kokoro, now completely seeing things from Sakiko's perspective, thought for a moment before once again putting down her work. Then, to Sakiko's growing astonishment, she took several pieces of rope and elastic bands used for making sample garments from the workbench.
"Sakiko, bring the mannequin over here. As professionals in the fashion industry, there's nothing wrong with learning a few... 'other uses' for 'ropes' and 'ties'."
Kokoro said.
"I don't know what you all are planning to do, but learning a little extra will surely come in handy someday... Don't you think?"
"...Yes!"
Grasping Kokoro's hidden meaning, Sakiko's eyes instantly lit up.
"Please, you must teach me!"
"Mhm. Well then, let's start by learning the most basic knots..."
Today, Togawa Sakiko was also growing, diligently and swiftly.
—Ten days remain until the first practical lesson in rope arts.