"While you're right about needing to undress, couldn't you have phrased it differently? Like, 'Change your clothes, you'll be modeling' or something?"
"Why use more words when two will do?" Chiori retorted dismissively.
"I guess you have a point..." Luna still felt a bit embarrassed.
Chiori sighed. "We're both girls. What are you worried about? I just need to take your measurements."
"That's even worse than just changing clothes!"
"Don't overthink it. I'm not interested in you that way."
Having reached this point, Luna could only sigh and resign herself to the situation. After all, she had accepted the quest herself and couldn't back out now, even though she had already broken her promise to Lynette and lost all credibility.
As she glanced around the room, she noticed that while it was relatively tidy, many items had no proper place and were piled up in various corners.
"Your place is really small," Luna remarked, making conversation as she changed out of her outer clothes.
"No money," Chiori replied tersely.
"Will Fashion Week bring you money?"
Chiori pulled out her measuring tape. "Orders will come, contacts will be made, and connections can be monetized. If my designs get high scores, there'll be bonuses too—a drop in the bucket compared to the industry's wealth, but better than nothing."
"Oh~" Luna responded nonchalantly, clearly uninterested.
Judging by the cheap clothes she had tossed on the bed, Chiori could tell Luna cared little for fashion or personal style. Yet, with her perfect proportions and striking features, she looked stunning in anything she wore.
Born to be a model—that's exactly what they mean by that.
"Raise your arm."
"Mmm."
Chiori stood behind Luna, measuring her bust.
She could smell the fragrance in Luna's hair. Though Chiori didn't particularly care, maintaining silence would only make the atmosphere more awkward.
"I didn't expect you to have other clothes."
Luna's cheeks flushed slightly as she averted her gaze. "I'm meeting a client, after all. Did you really think I only had that one outfit?"
"I did, actually."
"What kind of person do you think I am?"
Chiori couldn't immediately come up with a suitable description, so she simply said, "Beautiful, but a woman who disregards or even wastes her beauty."
"If you keep saying things like that, I'll get the wrong idea."
"Tsk."
"You actually tsked? Your personality leaves much to be desired."
Chiori shrugged indifferently. "Say whatever you want."
She tightened the measuring tape slightly, and Luna felt her waist cinch in a bit.
After measuring Luna's hips, Chiori nodded in satisfaction. "Good. You're perfect as my model."
"Can I change back into my clothes now?"
"Suit yourself."
"...Does that mean I don't have to change?"
Chiori crossed her arms, a smirk playing on her lips. "If you're the type who likes to wander around other people's homes naked, I don't mind."
"I was just joking! Of course I'm not that kind of person."
Luna quickly changed back into her clothes.
Having obtained the measurements, Chiori jotted them down on paper.
"Is there anything else?"
"No, that's all."
Just as the words left her lips, Chiori remembered something Luna had said a few days earlier:
Because I don't want to stop. Once I stop, I'll start having wild thoughts. Whether it's hunting monsters or taking on quests, I don't want to let myself stop.
Glancing at Luna, who was aimlessly wandering around the room and frequently casting glances her way, Chiori abruptly changed her tone.
"Gather these materials for me."
Luna smiled. "Alright."
She took the list Chiori handed her and left the room with swift, silent steps.
Even the door closed without a sound.
More like a thief than an adventurer.
Chiori lowered her head and picked up the design sketches.
She desperately wanted to showcase more outfits at Fashion Week, but regrettably, given her current resources, she could only create one.
The single, all-or-nothing piece.
Patternmaking, cutting, sewing... she had to handle every step of the process herself.
She refused to settle for conservative, traditional styles—that wasn't what she was after.
"I won't lose."
But sacrificing her individuality to conform, to get swept up in others' trends, would be worse than defeat.
As this thought crossed her mind, Chiori inadvertently recalled Luna.
Such a peculiar woman, she mused.
Though perhaps we share some common ground... As the thought crossed her mind, the faint, refreshing scent she'd caught earlier seemed to linger in her nostrils.
It wasn't the aroma of Inazuma, yet it inexplicably made her feel at ease.
Many more days passed.
Chiori repeatedly invited Luna to her home.
The already small house often felt slightly cramped because of these visits.
"You never tidy up your things properly, do you?" Luna remarked, eyeing the cluttered room.
Chiori yawned. "As long as I can find what I need, it's fine. Besides, I don't have the energy to clean up..."
"Then I'll help you," Luna offered. "No charge."
"...There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world."
"That's alright. I used to help my family with cleaning all the time, especially mechanical devices. I'm quite skilled with those."
After all, Lynette couldn't touch such things.
Chiori glanced sideways and said, "Let's have you try it on first."
"Okay!"
Luna tried on the outfit.
The fabric was repurposed from Chiori's own old clothes. Fortunately, the clothes her parents had bought her were all made of high-quality materials, so there were no worries about minor flaws.
"Is this Inazuman clothing?"
"Yes, but not entirely."
Chiori raised her hand, instructing Luna to perform various movements to check the fit and drape.
"Punish you in the name of the moon! Like this?" Luna crossed her hands, making a pose with her index fingers, thumbs, and pinkies...
"Where did you learn that pose?"
"I don't know. It just feels like I've seen it somewhere before... maybe in a dream. Or perhaps it's a memory from a past life? Dramas often use that trope, right? Past lovers destined to reunite in this life."
Chiori sighed. "Whatever works, I suppose."
She tugged at the hem of Luna's dress, her gaze fixed intently on Luna's face.
"Truly stunning."
Luna's eyes flickered, and she blushed. "As expected, you Inazumans—"
"I meant the overall impression of you and my design," Chiori clarified, though the explanation felt somewhat awkward.
Even for someone as blunt as her, there were certain things she couldn't say without feeling a reaction. To mistake her for an emotionless straight-talk machine would be a grave error.
"You suit my designs perfectly."
"You're making me sound like the perfect clothes hanger. Perhaps it's your clothes that suit me?" Luna countered, crossing her arms.
"It's the same thing."
"How is that the same?"
Chiori nodded in satisfaction. "Take it off now."
"Mm."
After Luna changed, Chiori draped the garment over a mannequin and began three-dimensional tailoring—using her twin blades.
"Your tools really look like weapons."
"They are weapons, but weapons are tools too. If they can slice through flesh, there's no reason they can't cut fabric." Chiori replied casually.
Whether in fashion or conduct, the people of Inazuma had always given off the impression of being like an old tortoise, stubbornly clinging to tradition. Yet Chiori defied this stereotype completely.
Luna sat on Chiori's bed, their bond having deepened these past few days. Perhaps they could even be considered friends now. If so, Chiori would be the first friend Luna had made since leaving the House of the Hearth.
"Chiori, why did you come to Fontaine?" Luna asked softly.
"Because Inazuma doesn't have what I want," Chiori replied quietly.
"You mean fashion shows?"
"...No. Beauty."
"Beauty?"
Chiori picked up a scrap of fabric she had just cut and returned to her desk.
"I love the fabrics from Inazuma—they're smooth and durable. Though they never seem to dry properly in that cursed weather—thunderstorms and rain at the drop of a hat—I don't dislike Inazuma itself."
"But I can't stand their rigid traditions."
"True beauty transcends any fixed form. It evolves with the times yet remains timeless. Even a century or two from now, people will still be moved, captivated, even brought to tears by the brilliance of this moment."
"It's like holding a bird tightly in your arms—you can preserve its vibrant feathers for a moment, but only by letting it soar can it leave an indelible, unfading mark across the sky..."
"Inazuma fears letting this bird take flight."
"Perhaps the shogun feels the same. But ultimately, the beautiful colors I seek simply don't exist there."
"That's why I came to Fontaine."
Luna nodded in understanding and admiration.
"Chiori, you're incredibly brave."
Chiori brushed a strand of hair aside. "It's not bravery, but longing, dissatisfaction, and a refusal to surrender."
"I refuse to say 'you're right' to those who reject my blades, my clothes, my ideals."
"I want my own shop and brand—not to be someone else's subordinate."
Of course, everything comes at a price.
The effort required to achieve this cannot be sustained by mere impulsiveness.
"I think Chiori like this is dazzling," Luna whispered softly.
"Really?"
Chiori turned to look at Luna.
"Yeah, to me, you're dazzling," Luna said, her eyes downcast.
"...What about you?"
"Me?"
"Yes, why did you become an adventurer?"
Luna closed her eyes at the question.
"Why, indeed..." she murmured, as if she didn't quite know the answer herself. Her voice was full of confusion, like a kitten that had wandered out of its home and didn't know where to go.
"...Why, indeed?" Luna looked at Chiori.
Chiori quietly met her gaze.
"How would I know?" she replied.
"Right," Luna said, standing up.
"Leaving already?" Chiori asked.
"No, I told you, I came to help you tidy up the room. You can even give me some simple sewing tasks. Consider it an extra service I'm offering."
An extra service...
Chiori stared at Luna.
"Why?"
"Because I want to see the clothes you create as soon as possible, and I want to see the look on your face when your dream comes true."
Luna smiled softly.
Chiori murmured, "I see."
After a moment of silence, she asked, "What do you think of the clothes I make?"
"They're very novel, but also quite beautiful. Wearing them on me feels like a bit of a waste," Luna replied frankly.
Chiori's expression softened visibly.
Though some people appreciated her designs and praised them, their numbers were small. Still, she had her supporters.
But Luna's candid response brought her a deeper sense of satisfaction.
Perhaps it's because Luna is my model, Chiori mused to herself.
"You truly have no taste," Chiori remarked.
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Luna retorted, annoyed.
Chiori clarified, "I was referring to your last statement. If I thought my clothes would be wasted on you, I wouldn't have invited you in the first place."
Luna: "..."
"If you lack confidence in your own judgment and aesthetic sense, then trust mine," Chiori declared confidently. "My aesthetic sense is never wrong."
"But whether everyone else will accept it is another matter entirely," Luna countered with a sly smile.
Chiori huffed, "You're too talkative."
"...You cut the fabric from your own clothes, right?"
"Yes."
"If you had more fabric, could you make it even better?"
"Absolutely."
Luna nodded knowingly.
The next day, when Chiori opened her shop door, yawning, she found Luna standing there, smiling at her. Behind Luna were several boxes stacked high with fabric.
Chiori didn't know what to say.
"...This is basically you paying to work," she finally remarked.
Luna smiled faintly. "Just consider it a debt you owe me."
"...Fine," Chiori hesitated for a moment before slowly nodding. "Thank you. This gesture is a bit overwhelming, but I'll accept it gratefully."
"Mm-hmm, carry them yourself. I'm tired." Luna brushed the dirt off her pants, clearly having just returned from the wilderness and bought the fabric at the shop on the way.
"I know, go rest. I'll make you a meal as a reward."
"Chiori can actually cook?" Luna exclaimed in surprise.
Chiori raised an eyebrow but said nothing. When it came to desserts, her skills were second to none.
A short while later, under Luna's expectant gaze, Chiori presented a plate of steaming, specially made taiyaki.
Each taiyaki was shaped like a different garment, exquisitely detailed like miniature doll clothes rather than edible treats.
Is this really a dessert?
"Why are you just staring without eating? Go on, eat." Chiori said impatiently.
"I just feel weird eating this..."
"Taiyaki," Chiori clarified.
"Right, taiyaki. It feels like I'm biting into someone else's clothes. It's kind of embarrassing."
Chiori took a deep breath. "Eat it or not?"
"Eat!"
Luna picked up the scissors lying beside the plate. "What's this?"
"Scissors, not chopsticks. I forgot to put them away..."
"Can I have them? They're so pretty."
These were clearly handmade by Chiori herself. The handles were shaped like katana, adorned with delicate red flowers, making them small, exquisite, and utterly charming.
"Whatever," Chiori replied casually.
"Thanks!"
Luna picked up a piece of taiyaki with her chopsticks and popped the whole thing into her mouth.
Chiori sighed in exasperation. "You ate the whole thing at once..."
"Whew... Is that a problem?... I'm not the type to nibble... Whew..." Luna chewed, exhaling hot air.
"If it's too hot, don't eat it all at once."
"Mmm... These must have taken ages to make, right? Do we really have time to waste?"
"No."
"Then—"
"This isn't a waste," Chiori interrupted.
Leaning her cheek on her hand, she watched Luna's slightly dazed expression and smiled softly.
"How could spending time with a friend ever be considered a waste?"
Even with the Fashion Show just a day away, Chiori refused to be constrained. She would decide what to do herself, including taking the time to cook a meal for Luna.
Luna's cheeks flushed. "So... you can buy friends with money after all..."
"...Tch."
"Why are you clicking your tongue again? I was just joking!"