Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 34: Sample (There is also a “former family” side)
※The point of view switches midway.
“This… this can’t be… Am I dreaming?”
“Can clothes really be made this fast?”
“No, normally it shouldn’t be that easy. Even getting costumes made for idols takes a lot of time… As expected of Go-kun.”
“Tsumu-tsumu’s clothes are amazing. Just looking at them is exciting… but actually wearing them is the best part.”
One sample was already finished, and I had Keina try it on.
She happily twirled around in front of the mirror, and seeing her so delighted made me happy too.
“I’m glad you like it.”
Watching Keina have so much fun, I felt a wave of relief wash over me.
“U-um, Sakasegawa-kun… Weren’t we just supposed to come up with designs to match the models today? It kind of seems like the clothes are already finished…”
Himeji-san asked me.
“Huh? No, they’re not finished yet. There are still parts I need to refine, and maybe an entirely different idea would work better. For now, I just shaped the design that was in my head into a rough form. I still have a lot of thinking to do.”
“You mean… this is what you made just roughly? It already looks like it could be sold in stores.”
“And wait—you didn’t even sketch a design or anything… You just pulled out the fabric and made it this far?”
Takarazuka-san and Asuka-san looked genuinely astonished.
“Hmm… I think this is pretty normal?”
(Celena-san always worked like this, so I thought this was how it’s usually done.)
I simply answered what I thought in response to Asuka-san’s question.
“No no no no!! That’s not normal at all! If that became the standard, we’d all be out of a job!!”
“Exactly! I’ve been watching and wondering what on earth you were doing—this is just too amazing!!”
Suddenly, the women in the atelier jumped into the conversation.
“Uh, really? Sorry… Could you tell me how you usually go about making clothes?”
Since I only knew how Celena-san made clothes, I asked the atelier staff.
“Well, normally… we start by thinking of the concept for the show and then collect materials based on that. Those materials might be actual vintage clothing, images, or literature.”
“From there, we create design drafts. Just coming up with those can take a lot of time. Then we turn those flat designs into three-dimensional human-shaped patterns—the blueprints for the clothes.”
“But… Sakasegawa-kun didn’t do any of that…”
Himeji-san muttered quietly as the women explained.
“Exactly! That’s what’s so weird! Clothes are made of countless parts, so if the pattern isn’t spot on, the pieces won’t fit together right, and the final shape will look off.”
“But this outfit has a perfect silhouette. The waist shaping, the elegant sleeve curves… it’s absolutely captivating.”
“To finish something this fast and this beautifully with hand stitching, not even using a sewing machine—this is craftsmanship at a divine level!!”
The women couldn’t stop talking, still caught up in their excitement.
“And you’re telling us this is just a sample? Unbelievable! Such a delicate and adorable piece… Just who in the world taught you how to make clothes!?”
They all crowded around me.
(Whoa, the pressure is intense…)
Overwhelmed by their energy, I still answered:
“Um, I learned from Celena-san of the brand CELENA.”
““““Ehhh!? Celena-san!?!?””””
The women in the atelier shouted in shock.
“So all those legends about her were true…”
“I thought she didn’t take on apprentices?”
“This might be a rare chance to learn her techniques.”
“Yeah, we’ll probably never get another opportunity like this.”
The women began whispering amongst themselves.
Then, having reached some sort of conclusion, they turned to me.
““““Would you mind if we observed your process!?””””
(Hmm… I wonder if watching me will really be helpful for them…)
Even with those doubts, I wasn’t the kind of person who could say no when asked like that.
“Sure, go ahead!”
““““Thank you so much!!””””
Everyone bowed their heads in unison.
“I don’t know much about fashion, but if the pros are this impressed…”
“Hmph! Tsumu-tsumu is amazing, you know?”
“Hey, he’s not your Go-kun. But seriously, you’re always breaking the mold.”
“Sakasegawa-kun, you’re incredible!”
“I’m just doing things the way I usually do… but still, I’m happy.”
Everyone praised me, and honestly, it made me really happy.
Back when I was making clothes for Mika-san’s brand, I was never praised—not even once.
After that, even though I was nervous with everyone in the atelier watching me, I continued my work.
And by the end of that day, I had completed rough samples for all five looks.
○ ●
[Former Family Side – Mika]
“How many times must I tell you before you understand!?”
“S-sorry!”
At a certain atelier—
Mika had come to check the sample clothes for her entry in Girl Collection (GalColle).
“You actually thought I would want to wear something like this!?”
“Well, this was based on the image you described before, Mika-san…”
Looking at the finished sample, Mika began to complain.
Designer Atsushi Nishiwaki was left confused by her sudden change of tone.
“When exactly was ‘before’? A girl’s feelings are fleeting, you know. If you take this long, my passion for it cools off!”
“Even if you say that, from our side things have been progressing smoothly…”
Mika couldn’t hide her irritation at Nishiwaki’s response.
“It’s been a month since then! And after taking so long, you have the nerve to act like that’s acceptable?”
“With all due respect, that’s about how long it normally takes to produce a sample.”
“Hah… So now you’re lying just to cover for your own inability? I’m absolutely appalled. I thought it was strange from the start that you didn’t have a design proposal or a sample ready right after I gave you the concept. People may call you a brilliant designer, but it seems you’re just a fraud!”
Nishiwaki’s pride took a hit, and he snapped back.
“If it could be done that quickly, it wouldn’t be such a struggle! We designers wrack our brains to create a concept, then we draw the patterns to turn it into something wearable. Then we carefully cut the fabric and sew it together before we finally get a sample. Turning vague ideas into reality like that instantly would be a miracle. I’ve only ever heard of such stories in myths about top international designers — and even then, I bet those are just embellished tales to hype up their brands!”
“Ugh, spare me the long excuses. Anyone could do it if they tried.”
(If he can do it, then it’s hardly impressive. Is this man trying to scam me and just take my money?)
Mika had begun to judge all fashion design by Go’s standards.
Even though what Go did was truly extraordinary, she saw it as average — even subpar.
“I, for one, don’t know a single person who could do that.”
Nishiwaki wasn’t wrong.
Clothing doesn’t come together that easily.
“Enough. I gave you my vision — your job is just to follow it and make it real, isn’t it? What could possibly be so difficult? If I wear something I truly want to wear, it’ll fly off the shelves.”
Mika believed that merely suggesting her ideal outfit and choosing from the results made her the genius.
She didn’t realize how misguided that was.
She thought simply making requests was enough, without understanding anything about what went on behind the scenes.
“Sigh, anyway, this won’t do. I’d like you to remake it — more delicate and cute this time, if you please.”
“Wait… but that’s completely different from the previous image you gave! That’s practically starting over from scratch!”
“Yes, obviously. You’ll have it ready before Girl Collection, yes? I believe I’ve paid a fair amount for this, so I expect results that match. If not, I’m happy to terminate the contract — and in that case, I’ll expect a full refund of the advance payment.”
“Guh… Understood.”
While Nishiwaki was indeed a skilled designer, his personal life was a mess.
He was a hopeless gambling addict and had already blown through the advance payment.
(Damn it! I thought this influencer-brand gig would be easy — just show some generic designs to a clueless amateur and walk away with cash. But how many times does she want me to redo this!? I can’t even quit — the money’s gone, and I’ve got no way to pay it back.)
“Well then, I expect a new sample by the end of this week at the latest. Girl Collection is just around the corner. I’ll be counting on you.”
Mika offered no real design direction as she issued her command and left the atelier.
Once she was gone, Nishiwaki furiously kicked the chair nearby.
“Damn it!! There’s no way I’ll make it in time now. What the hell do I do…? Wait—hold on. Wasn’t there a rumor about some incredible new designer working at an atelier nearby? That’s right… In that case…!”
The desperate decision Nishiwaki made next…
…would soon set off a major incident.
But no one had the slightest clue what was coming, as the Girl Collection event loomed ever closer.