By the time Sakiko and the others returned from their meeting, Tetsuya had already recovered to his normal state.
Although a hint of weariness could still be seen in his expression, at least his eyes were no longer as vacant as before.
"Tetsuya-kun, are you alright now?"
Seeing this, Sakiko hurried over and asked with concern.
"I'm so sorry. It's all my fault you got so tired."
"It's okay, Sakiko. I was a bit dazed just now, but I've fully recovered."
Tetsuya flexed his arm, striking a motivated pose.
"And thanks to you, I now have a new idea for my future design philosophy."
"Really? That's good..."
Sakiko first let out a small sigh of relief, then immediately said.
"Well then, seeing as I've accidentally caused trouble again today... how about we just call today's punishment null and void?"
"Er, no, no, no! Actually, I've already fully felt your repentance, Sakiko, so we can just end the punishment here!"
Tetsuya frantically shot down the idea, sweating bullets.
Although being served by a maid was certainly a luxurious indulgence for a man, he had no desire to re-experience that feeling of being caught between desire and inspiration anytime soon.
"M-more importantly, shouldn't we be having dinner soon? Soyo, could I ask you to handle it?"
He quickly turned his head to speak to Nagasaki Soyo, who was behind Sakiko. Soyo seemed to understand his "distress signal" and replied with a smile.
"Mhm, I understand."
Soyo agreed naturally, then took two steps forward to Sakiko's side and said to her.
"Sakiko, if you really feel you didn't take good care of Tetsuya today, then you can come and help me cook."
"Mhm, I will!"
Genuinely wanting to make it up to him, Sakiko immediately accepted Soyo's suggestion and followed her into the kitchen. Chihaya Anon, who loved to be where the action was, tagged along as well.
In an instant, only Tetsuya and Wakaba Mutsumi were left in the living room.
"...Are you really okay now?"
Mutsumi asked him.
"I heard them talking in their room just now... It seems Sakiko was really hard on you."
"Ahaha, it wasn't that exaggerated. Sakiko just wanted to use the opportunity to test my limits... Oh, right, Wakaba-san, while I was sketching this afternoon, I actually designed a set of matching dresses using you and Sakiko as a template."
As he spoke, Tetsuya pulled two sheets from the stack of designs on the coffee table.
"If you don't mind, would you like to take a look?"
"..."
Mutsumi silently moved closer to him. However, when she actually saw the design he showed her, she could only reply with a look of regret.
"I'm sorry, Chihaya-san... I don't really understand design sketches."
No matter how exquisite his designs were, to a complete layperson with no knowledge of fashion, it was nothing more than a drawing of a dress.
"But I trust your aesthetic sense, Chihaya-san. If it's your design, then it will definitely be suitable."
Mutsumi said with a firm tone.
Hearing this, Tetsuya laughed and put down the design.
"You trust me a little too much, don't you? But... I really do want to make this set, so I might have to ask you to try it on later... Hm? Wait, if you have to try it on anyway..."
At this, as if remembering something, Tetsuya suddenly slapped his thigh.
"Wakaba-san!!"
"Y-yes!?"
Startled, Mutsumi instinctively straightened her posture.
"What is it, Chihaya-san?"
"I know this might be a little difficult for you to ask, but... I really must ask you!"
Tetsuya put his hands together in a pleading gesture.
"On the day of the exhibition... could I ask you and Sakiko to be my temporary models?"
"...Eh?!"
Mutsumi let out what was possibly the loudest gasp of her entire life.
...
(Since my designs are fundamentally based on my feelings for the people around me... then it's only natural that the sources of those feelings would be the most suitable models.)
Tetsuya thought to himself.
Fortunately, the girls gathered around him were all beautiful enough to be idols. Having them as models wouldn't lower the brand's prestige in the slightest; in fact, it would make his model lineup seem incredibly luxurious.
Most importantly, according to his brand philosophy, the girls wouldn't need to do anything special just to show off the clothes.
No specific stage, no professional runway walk. They just had to put on the clothes he designed and stand there naturally.
The biggest difference between Chihaya Tetsuya and other fashion designers was that his clothes were never designed to flaunt his own taste and principles, but purely for the sake of the wearer.
In other words, the model wearing the clothes was the focus, more so than the clothes themselves.
If he could properly demonstrate this point to all the guests at the exhibition, then... his brand would acquire a uniqueness that set it apart from all others on the market.
And in the fashion industry, uniqueness was the most precious and important selling point.
"Of course, this is just my personal request. You are completely free to refuse, Wakaba-san."
Tetsuya said.
"So please, don't feel any pressure at all. If you don't want to do it, you just have to say no."
"It's not that... I don't want to..."
Mutsumi slowly shook her head.
"It's just that I never thought that I could be up to the task of being a 'model'..."
"It's fine! Your looks are already on par with a print model, Wakaba-san. And with your unique aura, you'll have no problem at all!"
Tetsuya said with complete confidence.
"And not just you and Sakiko... Ai, Uika, Anon, and Soyo can all be my models too!"
At this thought, he excitedly ran to the kitchen and spoke to the three inside with a tone full of hope and pleading.
"Listen, everyone! For the upcoming exhibition, could I ask you all to be my models?"
"Eh?! Models?!"
"Really? That's great! I've wanted to be a model for so long!"
"Tetsuya... can we talk about this after we've finished cooking?"
The group in the kitchen was thrown into a state of chaos by the sudden invitation.
Meanwhile, Mutsumi remained where she was, a pensive expression on her face...
Together with Sakiko, and Soyo, and the others?
For Mutsumi, who until now had always been a quiet observer, this was the first time she had the chance to be involved as a participant.
And without her even realizing it, had their relationship in his eyes already become close enough for him to ask something like this?
If that's the case..
Looking at the lively scene in the kitchen, a scene she could join just by taking a few steps forward, Mutsumi had already made her decision.