"So these are this spring's best-selling clothes?"
Looking at the list and accompanying photos that Yamabuki had just organized for her, Luna wore a thoughtful expression.
"Let's see... I can't just judge it based on whether it's boring or not. I have to consider its cost, pattern, and things like that. If that's the case... Hmm, this simple-style coordination... Hmm..."
Luna really wanted to point out some ingenious design aspect of this seemingly unoriginal, simple outfit, like how Sakiko had pointed out cost-saving measures or ease of mass production. However, no matter how she looked at it, this outfit was nothing more than an "industrial product" that just happened to meet current selling points and had been excessively promoted by the media...
"Yachiyo... I still can't find anything praiseworthy about this outfit."
Luna complained.
"Could you please explain its merits to me?"
"..."
This time, however, the head maid Yamabuki could not meet her master's expectations.
"I am sorry, Luna-sama, but I cannot."
The head maid shook her head.
"Because in my eyes... this design has far too many shortcomings."
With that, she immediately pointed to the top half of the outfit.
"First is this large logo. While it's perfectly normal for this style of simple clothing to have a commercial logo, the pattern of this garment was clearly not designed for it. This is a very standard loose-fit pattern. The biggest advantage of such a design is that it can be worn by people of all genders and body types, but... once you add this large logo, the nature of it changes."
The head maid then pointed specifically to the chest area.
"For example, here. If a more well-endowed woman were to wear this, the logo would deform due to the natural folds of the fabric, making what should be a simple embellishment distracting and unsightly. Fortunately, their logo's shape is relatively simple, otherwise it would be an absolute disaster. If they had intended to use a large logo from the start, they should have created separate designs for men and women, rather than this single, one-size-fits-all approach."
"Then there is the lower half. These drawstring cuffs are a completely superfluous design. While they do seem to offer the wearer more room for adjustment, if you actually tighten the cuffs, you'll immediately find that it drastically changes the original silhouette and causes the fabric to bunch up, which clashes horribly with the flat, loose white top."
At this, the head maid shook her head.
"The original design concept for this outfit is actually very simple and easy to understand, and it met all the conditions for being a bestseller. But it is precisely these unnecessary additions that have added so many flaws to what should have been a clean and perfect design."
"It's like a clumsy modification."
After hearing Yamabuki Yachiyo's critique, Luna couldn't help but look at the design picture again.
"Leaving aside the big logo... Yachiyo, don't you think this top gives you a sense of déjà vu?"
Luna pointed to the area under the garment's arm.
"Raglan sleeves, hidden stitching at the armpit to avoid 'penguin sleeves' while reducing fabric usage... This construction method, we just saw it two days ago—"
"Indeed. It is Chihaya-sama's."
Yamabuki Yachiyo answered without hesitation.
"Please take a look at this. This is an autumn outfit that Chihaya-sama sold through the Mitsumine Trading Company last year."
"...Ah."
Without even needing to look closely, a quick glance was all it took for Luna to see the connection.
"If you remove all of those superfluous designs from before... the final product would look just like this."
"Precisely."
Yamabuki Yachiyo nodded.
"To others, they would probably just think that the designer of this outfit has joined [nozAK!]. But for those of us in the know, the meaning behind these two designs is all too obvious."
"Plagiarism."
Luna's expression instantly turned cold.
"And executed in the clumsiest way possible."
"I believe this is also precisely why Chihaya-sama wishes to establish his own brand."
Yamabuki Yachiyo said.
"Although I do not know the history between them, it seems he has been targeted by [nozAK!]."
"How arrogant..."
The displeasure on Luna's face intensified.
"Acting so recklessly just because they have capital and media influence... Tsk, but Chihaya Tetsuya's personal resume is just too thin."
"Orphanage background, adopted at twelve and sent to art school, dropped out of Geika Institute of Fashion in less than half a year due to a plagiarism dispute. A resume like that is far from enough to challenge an established fashion brand that currently dominates the low-to-mid-end market."
Yamabuki Yachiyo put away the design pictures.
"Even just starting his own brand isn't enough. He needs to make a louder noise, one loud enough for the entire industry to notice."
"...Does that idol's performance outfit count?"
Luna asked.
"Anyone with a bit of knowledge should be able to understand the level of that outfit, right?"
"While it is indeed very strong in terms of influence and popularity... it is still just an 'idol's performance outfit,' not 'fashion'."
Yamabuki Yachiyo gave a negative answer.
"To be recognized by the entire industry, he needs actual achievements, such as a successful fashion show, contracts with famous celebrities, and sales figures that can surpass [nozAK!]. But for Chihaya-sama, who is starting from scratch, who knows how long it will take to achieve all that."
At this, she couldn't help but look down at Luna.
"Chihaya-sama's personal brand will likely not be able to meet our expectations in the short term. In fact... its very establishment will likely face considerable resistance."
"...I don't care."
Luna said calmly.
"I've never expected a return on my investments before anyway. Now that I've finally found a project I like, I don't care if I lose money. Besides... you said it was only for the short term. As long as we take a long-term view, it should be fine, right?"
"Yes, precisely."
Seeing that her master had no intention of abandoning this designer she so highly regarded for the sake of immediate gains, a small smile appeared on Yamabuki Yachiyo's face.
"And fortunately, it seems we are not the only ones who see his potential."
"? Who else?"
Luna asked, a little curious.
"Besides us, there's someone else who has noticed Chihaya Tetsuya?"
"Yes. Though not many, they do exist... For example, the [Watanabe Productions] agency that Hoshino Ai-sama belongs to. Although they have not made an explicit statement, the fact that they are still collaborating with Chihaya-sama makes their high regard for him clear. And then... there is another company I am not very familiar with, which suddenly contacted me yesterday. It seems they are also interested in investing in Chihaya-sama's brand."
With a slightly puzzled tone, Yamabuki Yachiyo slowly spoke the company's name—
"The name of that company... is the [Nagasaki Economic Consulting Firm]."