Another ten days passed, and the highly anticipated Fashion Week finally arrived.
Designers, celebrities, and models from around the world had already gathered in the city.
Night.
"As I've mentioned before, Fashion Shows are primarily about 'showcasing' the clothing. While a scoring system has been introduced in recent years, the main focus remains on showcasing design styles and aesthetics to attract clients, fashion editors, and the like," Chiori explained as she hurried toward the exhibition hall.
"Nervous?" Luna asked curiously.
"...A little, but I'm confident everything will be fine. After all, we have my designs and your beauty," Chiori replied with a smile.
Luna was destined to be an unforgettable star.
Luna laughed. "What if we don't get good results?"
"We'll deal with that later."
"I'll support you then? I've decided to buy myself a house."
Chiori crossed her arms. "I have no interest in being anyone's pet."
"You're even calling 'having a sugar mama' 'being a pet' now?" Luna exclaimed in surprise.
"Well, aren't they essentially the same thing?" Chiori retorted.
As they spoke, the fashion show venue came into view.
In addition to the general public, fashion industry luminaries from around the world were in attendance. Chiori surveyed the crowd, still feeling a flicker of nervousness, but the apprehension she'd felt when first deciding to participate in the show had completely dissipated.
Luna whispered, "I'll be right back."
"Mm, just don't embarrass yourself. I heard some models used to trip and fall during the runway shows. That wouldn't be a good look."
"Don't worry," Luna replied confidently. "No matter which way I fall, I'll always land on my feet."
Are you a cat?
Chiori chuckled and raised her hand.
Luna, sensing her intention, slapped a high-five and waved goodbye as she disappeared into the backstage area.
"Chiori? So you did come after all..."
The slightly familiar voice made Chiori sigh. "What, am I not allowed to be here? If you're giving up, Usher, that's your choice. It has nothing to do with me."
Usher frowned. "Was that your model just now?"
"Yes," Chiori replied.
"...Aren't you and your model afraid of embarrassing yourselves?"
Chiori inhaled sharply. "This is the Fashion Show venue. I don't want to cause a scene, but if you don't shut your mouth, I might have to resort to some... 'sharp' methods."
Her gaze, directed at Usher, radiated icy fury.
Usher ducked his head, then snapped back, "Don't say I didn't warn you! Everyone talks about how fashion needs to break boundaries, but the ones most resistant to change are precisely these so-called 'authorities'!"
"...Hmph."
"Good luck to you then."
Usher's voice lowered as he retreated into the crowd.
Chiori scoffed softly. "How utterly boring."
Fashion and trends couldn't be dictated by individuals, but they could certainly be led by them.
"Let's show them what we're made of, Luna," she murmured, crossing her arms.
The Fashion Show officially began.
One model after another emerged, their attire ranging from extravagant to peculiar, or even... bizarre. They strode with steady, graceful steps, gliding past a barrage of flashing cameras and captivated gazes before pausing at the forefront, where they fully expressed their charm through movement, highlighting the unique features and beauty of their garments.
Each ensemble possessed its own distinctive flair, astonishing the audience and leaving them utterly delighted.
As expected of Fontaine, truly different from Inazuma, Chiori mused. These outfits are quite impressive.
Except for those inexplicably bizarre ones.
But if that's all there is... A smirk tugged at her lips.
The next moment, a familiar golden hue caught her eye.
She's here!
Click... The crisp sound of high heels echoed through the venue, causing the orchestra to falter briefly. The starlight-like flashes of cameras fell silent.
"Wow..."
A heartfelt gasp escaped someone's lips.
The reason was simple: the sheer, breathtaking beauty of the sight before them.
A flawless fusion of Inazuman and Fontaine elements, the outfit exuded both Inazuma's refined elegance and Fontaine's avant-garde flair. Beneath her radiant golden hair, a gentle smile captivated all who beheld it, making it impossible to look away.
Beautiful... utterly beautiful!
Snapping back to reality, Luna was greeted by a relentless barrage of camera flashes. Desperate not to miss a single second, the shutters clicked incessantly.
Luna stepped to the front of the stage and glanced down at Chiori below the platform.
How do I look? she asked with a wink, curtsying slightly—her right eye winking because her left was adorned with a floral ornament crafted from a Gem Flower. She looked as bewitching as the ghost women from Inazuma's ghost stories.
Chiori simply smiled and gave her two thumbs up.
It was the first time Luna had ever seen her make such a gesture. Satisfied, Luna retreated backstage amidst the flashes and adoring gazes.
She knew the outcome was already decided.
Fashion Show: The Budding Maiden and the Thunderous Tailor
Crushing the Stars—Inazuma's Thunder Roars!
The next day's headlines were indeed dominated by stories about her and Chiori.
This marked the most significant step forward for the establishment of Chioriya Boutique. As for Luna...
"My model doesn't work for anyone else," Chiori would always declare to anyone who tried to poach her.
Luna had no ambition to pursue modeling further. If Chiori hadn't needed her, she would never have become a model in the first place, and she gradually faded from public view.
Under Chiori's care for a year, her lingering health issues had largely subsided, and she no longer grew weak so easily.
And then-
And that's how she ended up as she is now.
Chiori pulled her consciousness back from her memories, casting a helpless glance at Luna, who was gently patting her stomach.
"Luna."
"Hmm?"
"I remembered our first meeting. You were so different back then."
Chiori walked over to the sofa and sat down.
She leaned down and gently stroked Luna's stomach.
The way she used to be... Luna thought absently, smiling. "Not that different, right?"
"Oh, it's a huge difference."
Back then, Luna would have mistaken Chiori's actions as teasing and blushed easily.
Feeling Chiori's hand tracing gentle circles, Luna murmured, "You could go a little lower, you know?"
Now, Luna frequently teases her, always lighting the fire but never putting it out, testing her patience.
The only thing that hadn't changed was her inner nature.
She still listened to others without fully taking their words to heart, continuing to act on her own impulses. And her attitude remained as casual and nonchalant as ever, showing no semblance of seriousness.
Chiori had always hoped Luna would show more seriousness and sincerity when saying things like, "I want to kiss you."
But her wish remained unfulfilled.
Whether Luna was a lesbian back then, Chiori couldn't say. But she knew she herself was.
That's why she acted so nonchalantly when she saw Luna's lingerie, responding to her teasing with only a few sharp retorts.
And after harboring this secret crush for so long, the result was:
A large golden retriever who appeared out of nowhere calling her "partner."
Luna had become a star, even stealing Furina's heart and now cohabitating with her.
She had a good relationship with Clorinde, and her bond with her childhood friend Lynette showed signs of rekindling... Not to mention her blatant infatuation with Arlecchino.
It felt like waking up one morning to find the entire world had become her romantic rival.
She couldn't afford to wait for Luna to make a move any longer.
She didn't want to regret it.
"Luna."
"Hmm?"
"I want to kiss you."
Luna's eyes widened in surprise, then she smiled, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Weren't you the one who rejected me when I tried to do that before?"
"I like you," Chiori declared bluntly.
Luna gazed at Chiori and chuckled softly. "In what sense of 'like'?"
Chiori tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, bending closer to Luna's face, her breath carrying an uncontainable heat—though she knew this wasn't the right place for that kind of thing.
But at least let her satisfy this desire she had suppressed for so long.
Their lips met.
It wasn't enough. Chiori wanted to possess Luna's entire being—her warmth, her breath, her lips, her chest, her hands, her legs, every part of her. She wanted to claim it all.
Yes.
"It's a kind of love that wants to break you," Chiori whispered, her face flushed crimson.