Although Chihaya Tetsuya had already gotten a rough idea of the other brands' setups during the preparation phase, when the exhibition actually began, the splendid sight before him was still a refreshing spectacle.
The hidden ace designs of each brand were now finally revealed to the world, and the themed decorations and embellishments of each booth had become clear.
A traditional, Japanese-style clothing brand displayed its main product for the season, a "kimono-style coat," in a central position, setting its background to match the theme, showcasing a stunning sense of uniqueness and artistry. A well-known outdoor brand presented its new mountaineering series, which had taken years to develop, going all out on practicality and new materials.
"...Tetsuya?"
Seeing his hands gradually slowing down, Nagasaki Soyo shook her head with a helpless air.
The group of four models was still changing in the designated dressing room, so for now, it was just the two of them setting up the booth.
"You can look all you want during your break. But until then, can we at least finish setting up our own booth?"
"Ah... sorry."
Having been reminded several times, Tetsuya let out an embarrassed chuckle.
"I'm just really curious what that new material the outdoor brand is showing is like... and I really want to study their design philosophy for outdoor wear."
"Such a natural-born workaholic."
Hearing his response, Soyo couldn't help but laugh.
"When we first met, didn't you say you didn't really find any joy in making clothes? The way you are now is a little different from what you said back then."
"It's probably because my way of thinking has changed."
Tetsuya naturally remembered the heartfelt words he had once spoken to her.
"Compared to the me back then, who was just being pushed along by obsession and a series of causal events, the me now has a reason I must work hard for..."
At this, he turned his head to look at her.
"Even without considering the future of [Starry Sky], just thinking that you all will continue to wear the clothes I make in the future gives me an endless supply of motivation!"
So, even if it was just so the important people around him could wear more comfortable clothes, he would continue to work hard.
"Alright, alright, I know you care about us. Can you just pretend I didn't say anything?"
No matter how much time passed, Soyo could never get used to his straightforward way of speaking.
To hide her shyness, she could only change the subject back to work.
"By the way, is our display method really going to be okay?"
Soyo gestured behind her.
"Half of it is this strange apparatus, and the other half looks like a rest area..."
Just as she said, compared to the gorgeous and eye-catching setups of the other brands, Tetsuya's booth was decidedly strange.
Aside from a mysterious contraption still hidden under a giant curtain, the other part, with its tables, chairs, bookshelves, and a bar counter, made the [Starry Sky] booth look like a lounge area for the joint exhibition.
"We're not going to be seen as just making up the numbers by the other brands and guests, are we?"
Just as Soyo was worrying about this, an unfamiliar voice suddenly came from behind them.
"It's been a long time, Chihaya Tetsuya."
"...Ah."
Looking in the direction of the voice, Tetsuya was first momentarily stunned before replying politely, "...It's been a long time, Ogino-san."
"!"
Hearing that name, a look of undisguised shock and vigilance appeared on Soyo's face.
The person who had just appeared in front of the [Starry Sky] booth was none other than the vile plagiarist who had once copied his work and forced him to withdraw from the Geika Institute of Fashion, Ko Ogino!
"I thought you would have laid low for a while after leaving Geika... I didn't expect that after only a year, not only have you not given up on the design industry, you even have your own brand..."
As Ko Ogino spoke, he shifted his gaze to the clothes Tetsuya had on display.
"[Real Clothes], huh... Hmph."
His eyes were filled with unconcealed contempt.
"Even though you've left Geika, you should still remember the mission of us designers that we learned in our first design class, right?"
"Mhm, of course I remember."
Faced with his arrogant attitude, Tetsuya's response was incredibly calm.
"An excellent fashion designer has an obligation to discover new trends."
"Mhm, good, word for word."
Ko Ogino nodded, then looked again at the [Starry Sky] booth.
"In that case, it seems I won't need to consider you a competitor from now on."
He shook his head, looking disinterested.
"After all, your work... no matter how I look at it, has absolutely nothing to do with 'trends'."
"...!"
Hearing this, Soyo subconsciously frowned.
She had long known that this man was an irredeemable scoundrel, but she never imagined he would go out of his way to provoke Tetsuya to his face. Moreover, as someone in the know, she was well aware that the only reason Ko Ogino could look down on [Starry Sky] from such a high horse was because he had plagiarized the work of the world-class designer, Jean.
Meanwhile, after hearing his comment, Tetsuya was first slightly taken aback, then a helpless smile involuntarily appeared on his face.
"To you, Ogino-san, a 'trend'... is probably just something that can gain everyone's approval. For example, the design I entered into the competition back then, a certain set of casual wear that was supposed to be bought out by the Mitsumine Trading Company, and the works of the world-famous designer, Jean."
"Wh-!?"
Hearing Tetsuya's list, Ko Ogino's expression changed instinctively.
It was no surprise to him that Tetsuya knew about his plagiarism during the competition back then. However, neither the incident with Mitsumine Trading Company last year nor the plagiarism of Jean at this exhibition should have been known to him...
Where did he get this information? How much does he know about what I've done?
"...I'm sorry, I have no idea what you're talking about."
Realizing that continuing this conversation would only be to his disadvantage, Ko Ogino could only feign calmness.
"In any case, this time, you absolutely cannot win against me."
"Eh? Only this time?"
Tetsuya, who now fully understood his true nature, blinked with feigned surprise.
"Didn't I already lose to you once back at Geika? Why do you make it sound as if you've ever lost to me, Ogino-san?"
"Tch..."
His bluff called, Ko Ogino became even more flustered and exasperated.
"You can have your moment of verbal victory for now. As fellow brand owners, let's let the results of this exhibition do the talking!"
"Let the results do the talking... You're not wrong there."
Tetsuya smiled and replied in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant.
"Well then, I will be very much looking forward to the final results of [NozAK!] at this exhibition."
...
"...Tch, in the end, he's just an ignorant amateur, daring to participate in an exhibition like this with just 'everyday clothes'," Ko Ogino muttered through gritted teeth after leaving the [Starry Sky] booth. "This time, I have that Jean's design. He's not even worthy of being compared to me—"
Just as he was trying to refute the imaginary enemy in his mind that he had never defeated with these unheard threats, a commotion in the distance made him involuntarily look up.
"What's all the noise... Hm?"
The source of the noise was a group of models coming out of the dressing room.
He naturally recognized their identities. Two of them were members of the currently most popular idol group, a group that [NozAK!] had been unable to hire no matter how much they offered—the members of [Summer Zodiac]. And according to the official announcement, they were now the exclusive models for [Starry Sky]...
"I have no idea how that poor orphan got involved with this idol group."
At this thought, his gaze turned even more jealous.
"But it doesn't matter. If I can secure the finale brand spot this time, I'll be able to work with world-class models. At that point, mere idols will be nothing... Eh?"
Just as he was about to look away, the clothes the models were wearing made him freeze on the spot.
"...Wait, are they really wearing the same clothes Tetsuya had on display just now?"
While Ko Ogino was certainly not a competent designer, he still possessed the most basic knowledge of clothing. Even from a considerable distance, he recognized that the outfits on the models were the same ones he had seen at the booth.
But... that's impossible?
What he had seen at the booth were just some ordinary clothes you could find anywhere. But why... why was the scene before him completely different from what he had expected?
What is that unique, unified feeling? And what is that presence, completely different from the rest of the venue?
This time... just what kind of design has Chihaya Tetsuya come up with?!
...
"Ah, you're back."
Tetsuya went to greet the four models, who had finished changing and had, in the process, captured the attention of the entire venue.
"Come on. Since everything's ready, it's time for us to complete the final step."
As he spoke, he reached for the curtain beside him. The other models also took their positions, ready to unveil it with him.
"...Hm?"
Just then, Miyata Uika noticed Nagasaki Soyo's extremely unpleasant expression.
"What's wrong, Nagasaki-san? You look very unhappy."
"...It's nothing. I was just bored by someone who's really bad at telling jokes."
Soyo shook her head, then stood with Tetsuya in front of the apparatus hidden by the giant curtain.
Hearing her explanation, Tetsuya couldn't help but chuckle, but he didn't bother to say anything more.
After all, at this joint exhibition, he had only one opponent: Jean.
As for Ko Ogino... he had never even considered him from the start.
"If that guy wants to let the results do the talking, then let's grant his wish. Come on, everyone. Just pull back the curtain like I said. 3, 2, 1—"
The next second, on his command, the giant curtain was pulled away by everyone at once.
And when the device beneath it was officially revealed, almost everyone who saw it let out the same cry of surprise at the same time.
"A planetarium?!"