((T/N: What kind of title is that 😭 Like he's yakuza))
"Please, have some, Sumita-san."
Chihaya Tetsuya poured Sumita Mana a glass of ice water.
Mana's words just now, spoken from a complete outsider's perspective, had given him an unprecedented angle to think from.
"Let's go back to what we were talking about... To you, what kind of event is the [TGC]?"
"Hm? Oh, it's just a simple festival, like the Kouhaku, that's held every year. For a regular audience member like me, the biggest meaning of the [TGC] is to give us a chance to better understand and enjoy popular fashion, and to see our favorite artists shine on the runway. No matter how you look at it, it should be a happy and wonderful thing!"
Mana truthfully stated her views on the grand event.
"That's why I think your way of thinking is a little too serious, Chihaya-san. If you participate with too much of a 'competitive spirit' or a 'sense of mission,' it's really out of place. If your two senpais knew you were designing their clothes with such a heavy heart, their own mindsets would surely become heavy too, and that would lead to the three of you being unable to properly enjoy this [TGC]... Wouldn't that be such a waste? Since it's such a happy event, why can't you face it with a more relaxed attitude?"
"Enjoy..."
Tetsuya fell into deep thought.
"Ever since I first learned about the [TGC], it has always been closely tied to the interests of my brand... Before I knew it, I could no longer see it as an enjoyable event."
"Being tied to your interests doesn't have to stop you from enjoying the event. Like I said, as long as you participate with a winner's mentality, then no matter the outcome, it should be acceptable to you!"
Mana said.
"Or is there some hellish setting I don't know about... where someone will suffer misfortune if you fail!?"
"...There's nothing like that."
Tetsuya shook his head.
His brand wouldn't go out of business just because he lost to that top designer, and Ai and Uika wouldn't lose their popularity just because they lost the chance to be in the finale.
On the contrary, just as Mana had said, for the three of them, being able to compete on the same stage as a world-class designer and model was already a victory in itself. This meant that no matter the final result, he was already in the position of a "winner"...
So, why had he been viewing this contest so seriously before?
"The reason I started my own brand in the first place was to gain the power to compete with a brand that had once plagiarized me. And for me at that time, the [TGC] was an excellent opportunity to turn the tables... Chief Hasegawa, my former boss, also hoped that I could use this opportunity to let my talent blossom."
Tetsuya reflected on his mental state when he first started out on his own.
"Later, as Ai and Uika's fame grew, and with the combined efforts of many people, the success of that live pushed my brand's recognition to a level I couldn't have imagined. And the brand that plagiarized me suffered a backlash from their own perverse actions. Although they still have a considerable say in the low-to-mid-end market, to me, they are no longer much of a threat."
With the strong support of Ai and Uika, and the future vision of the plan Sakiko had laid out, the pressure from [NozAK!] had gradually disappeared, and Tetsuya had grown accustomed to straightforward success. Driven by this smooth-sailing career and the confidence and pride in his own skills, he had come all this way... until the appearance of Jean.
In the end, Tetsuya, also a genius, had had it too easy, so much so that he had completely overlooked his still-lacking real-world experience. This world-class designer from France made him realize his own immaturity so deeply for the first time, and for the first time, made him feel a sense of defeat in the field of fashion design.
Under the influence of his usual way of thinking, he had inevitably associated this sense of defeat with the pressure once brought on by [NozAK!], and saw Jean as a similar "enemy." But in reality, there was no conflict between him and Jean. On the contrary, Jean had given him a precious opportunity to compete with a world-class designer and attract the attention of the high-end fashion industry.
Just as Mana had said... perhaps he had indeed lost to Jean in terms of design skill, but that didn't mean he would lose anything because of it.
It was a destined defeat, but at the same time, it would be a defeat from which he was certain to gain something. Although it was a bit of a shame that Ai and Uika might not get the finale spot this time... just being able to let them share a stage with a world-class model and hold an important position like the [First Look] was an achievement that could be written into the history of the idol industry.
So...
"...Not with a competitive spirit and sense of mission, but enjoying this grand event with a winner's mentality?"
Tetsuya first muttered to himself, then looked up at the consultant before him, who was enjoying the glass of ice water, a look of relief on his face.
"Speaking of which, I think you just said... if those two knew I was designing their clothes with such a heavy heart, they wouldn't be able to enjoy this [TGC] either, right?"
"Eh? Ah, yes..."
Mana put down her glass, a slightly embarrassed smile on her face.
"After all, from what I've heard from the manager, both of them seem to value your opinion very much. If you approach the [TGC] with such a serious attitude, then they will surely face the upcoming practices and activities with a corresponding attitude. As a member of the same group, and as a regular girl who likes popular fashion, I definitely hope they can properly enjoy this [TGC]!"
"..."
Looking at the pure and genuine kindness on Mana's face, Tetsuya was stunned for a good while before he chuckled.
"A regular girl... I don't see how you fit that description at all."
"Oh, come on, it's the truth. If both senpais are 100-point girls, then I'm at best a passing grade of 60 or 70."
Mana waved her hand.
"In fact, I still can't believe I was able to join such an amazing group. Ahh~ I'm sure that until the day I die, I will absolutely see joining [Summer Zodiac] as my greatest pride, you know?"
"..."
Hearing this, Tetsuya couldn't help but look closely at Mana's smile again.
It was a simple smile, one that couldn't hide any pretense or lies. This meant that Sumita Mana seemed to have genuinely, from the bottom of her heart, accepted the fact that she was not on the same level as Hoshino Ai and Misumi Uika...
...
"Sumita-san."
"Yes?"
"For the joint exhibition this August, would you do me the honor of being the main model for that day's promotion?"
"...Eh?"