Patchwork Inspiration [Chiaki/Komachi]

i am not interested in fulfilling borrowed dreams

❝

The workshop for the Fashion Design majors was as equipped, if not better, than the costume workshop of the Theatre Department. But what Komachi needed wasn't a specific piece of equipment or a certain material. The tailor was well aware of the scattershot sense of inspiration, so she was grasping at any possible leads she could get a hold on. If she was making a jacket for someone from the Theatre Department, then to Komachi it made sense to work in the Theatre Department's locale.

Whether or not it was helping was arguable.

Above a large table in the center of the workshop, Komachi frowned as she hunched over the countless sketches and concepts that were strewn about. She was dressed in her comically oversized 'working' jacket even though there was little actual tailoring to be done, save for pinning a few scraps on blank prototype jackets which hung off of hangers on a nearby rack.

Komachi was no stranger to the iterative design processes, and more than a few of the sketches would make incredible outfits on their own...but no matter what design Komachi came up with, it never felt like it would encapsulate the spirit of the girl it was supposed to be for.

So, what would?

Komachi raised her hand and drew a deep breath in, barely able to restrain herself from slamming a fist into the table and potentially scattering the papers. It took another moment for the brunette to stablize herself and step away from the table, leaning back against the closest wall with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face.

"<Tch. Why is this project being so difficult?>" Komachi asked aloud to an empty room, switching to German in her rare bout of outward frustration. She pushed off from the wall and started to pace around the table, ostensibly glancing at all the sketches she had already done.

"<I have submitted so many of these kinds of designs...for graded work...and even production! And under time constraints too! So. Why. Is. This. Not. Working?!>" Komachi sighed and shook her head before returning to the spot where she was leaning previously. "<What is different...?">

The tailor's final question was much softer, and the silence that followed seemed to be the reply. Komachi turned her head towards the door. She had left it open out of habit - the summer months during the play she was a part of were warm and necessitated the airflow, but it was unnecesary now in the autumn. Focusing on the doorway, Komachi could hear faint echoes from the hallway. Footsteps? Voices? It all combined into sonic mud...but maybe it was a herald for some new source of inspiration.

CHIAKI ROKUJŌ ● notes: ● 000

MADE BY MIZO

Footsteps echoing rather loudly, hitting the floor like the fast, frantic yet methodic beat of a drum, and getting ever so nearer..
A headful of blonde hair suddenly peered through the doorway, bright purple eyes staring widely in interest.
"Hey, hello!"
Chiaki entered the room fully, waving with an excited smile on her face, tone energetic and speaking rather quickly, and not taking too much notice of the as of yet, stranger's expression, and what she may have been currently doing.

Not being too well acquainted with the majority of the students, or teachers, or even the local area, Chiaki's first few attempts to discover things, besides running in hallways, weren't exactly too fruitful due to not putting that much effort.
Today would be different, however. Or at least, should be different. Hopefully not enough to scare anyone, although she'd probably possibly have done that with the times she'd dashed through the hallways.
"I'm Chiaki, I'm kinda new here and wanted to introduce myself. I'm from Kamakura and I'm a second year! Also doing theater here, so I thought it'd be best to talk to someone in the same area of expertise as me."
She bowed, before correcting her posture and leaning against the wall.

"D'ya- ahem, sorry-"
She cleared her throat, quickly correcting herself.
"Would it be possible to talk for a bit, miss? Wait, sorry.. would it be possible to talk for a bit, senpai? I know it's a bit of a random request but.. I would appreciate it."
Again correcting herself everso quickly, Chiaki was assuming that the other girl was indeed a third year, at least because she seemed so tall, and not taking any notice of much else.
Or the fact yet again, that she was new.

Did it matter so much?
Time would have to give her an answer on that.

i am not interested in fulfilling borrowed dreams

❝

Out of reflex, Komachi's eyes darted towards the doorway as she way a blonde-haired girl peek in. It was a welcome distraction, and any frustration that was on her face quickly melted into an expression of curiosity. The tailor pushed herself off the wall and relaxed her stance, blinking in surprise at how very...friendly this girl was.

It was jarring to be called 'senpai'. Komachi was aware that technically, she was a senpai to the first years, but it wasn't so clear that this Chiaki-san was a first year. In fact...'Chiaki' was a given name, wasn't it? Was this girl really this casual? If it weren't for the fact that the blonde-haired girl said she was from Kamakura, Komachi would have pegged her as being like one of her best friends Misha, foreign born but with a Japanese name.

"<Guten Tag, Frau Chiaki...ah...>" Komachi cleared her through in embarrassment. Her recent thoughts were still stuck in German, but she smiled as she switched back to Japanese. "...good afternoon, Chiaki-san. How may this Ikezawa-san help you?"

The workshop was a bit of an mess. Sure, it made enough sense to Komachi, but if she was going to be helping someone, she figured that tidying up a bit. While she was loathe to make space by stacking sketches atop each other, she started to at least organize them on the desk, slowly making a hole in the workbench as she waiting for Chiaki-san to reply.

CHIAKI ROKUJŌ ● notes: ● 000

MADE BY MIZO

"Umm- well, let's start simple enough.."
Chiaki tapped a finger against her forehead, briefly puzzled with what exactly to start off.
"Kamakura- no, wait. Fukui. This place isn't too familliar with me, and I'm not too familiar with it. It's not somewhere as rural as Akita but- anyway, don't wanna sound like my dad!"

The tone of the blonde went back to its energetic self.
"Back to the point. At the least, I wanted to introduce myself, but for the most part I'd just like to talk about things. That, and maybe we can get acquianted with each other? You seem cool enough to not yell at me for entering in that manner."

If that made any sense, Chiaki would be happy. Using complicated, and formal words were not on today's vocabulary.
She continued to lean against the wall for a few moments, before coming closer.
"So, I can guess you're well acquainted with.. what's the word.. you're well acquainted with clothes, yeah! The whole process of designing them, for stage productions and all that stuff, yeah? Since we're in the same-ish area of expertise- I thought it'd be alright if I learned a little more about what goes on here. Considering that I might be wearing things from here.."

First impressions! Just what the other school was teaching her, and one of the few things she'd managed to pick up before completely tuning out.

Her smile remained.
"As long as that's really okay with you Ikezawa-senpai?"

i am not interested in fulfilling borrowed dreams

❝

Komachi chuckled at the comparison of Fukui's urbanicity to Kamakura. It was a stark, almost stabbing, reminder for the tailor that she herself really was a city girl through and through. Still, it helped Komachi gain a bit more context on what Chiaki was doing.

"Ohoho~? Here to make friends? And taking the most direct approach? Well, I certainly respect that," Komachi said with a hearty chuckle as she finished tidying up a bit. Now that she thought of it, she came to the realization that despite the pride on how forceful she could be, she never took that route in finding friends. Indeed...it was Yuki who found her first, then the rest came after.

"Well, before I start - I've only done one production as costume designer for the Theatre Department. I'm really part of the Fashion Design department, so if you're casted for one of the upcoming productions, I sadly can't tell you what you'll be wearing," Komachi explained, wanting to get that out of the way. Maybe Chiaki was a first year, but as far as Komachi could remember and discern, Chiaki wasn't in the same department as her.

"Now, with that out of the way - I'd be glad chatting with you. Just been racking my brain here and figuring something out, but I think I could do with a change for a bit." Komachi clapped and rubbed her hands together excitedly before glancing at the racks of prototype jackets, a brief idea coming to mind. "Got an idea in mind, or shall I just pick something at random?"

CHIAKI ROKUJŌ ● notes: ● 000

MADE BY MIZO

Chiaki stepped forward again, and took a glance at the jackets that Ikezawa-senpai's attention was briefly focused on.
"Well.. if you're in the fashion department, surely that's more difficult than designing a costume for a character, right? At least, if you have a solid idea on what character you're designing a costume for, you can at least get into their head and figure out what they'd likely be wearing in a scene. It must be harder trying to design clothes in general if you have all of those freedoms and restrictions, Ikezawa-senpai?"
But surely, if Ikezawa-senpai was here for long enough, there was a reason she'd continue doing what she did, logically.

"I'm under the impression you like to see things through, and you're not gonna give up on something easily! Creativity.. I'm bad at it but when I put my mind to it, something'll work out. So, if you pick something at random, I'll expect you'd be more than good enough to just... y'know.."
Chiaki briefly paused as she searched for the appropriate word.
"Get it done? The whole creative process is something you're good with. Being able to improvise, or come up with something on the spot, it's something I wish I could do more often."
Chiaki picked a seat, spinning it around and sitting on it backwards, her arms resting on the backrest of the seat.

"If I didn't explain it well enough, Kamakura isn't the most exciting place people can go to. What do we have there? A bunch of temples. Sure, it's great if you're into old things, but if you aren't, and you hate sand? Barely anything. That's why I couldn't wait to go to Fukui, even if it is pretty cold.. it's more in with the times."
Chiaki exhaled, gripping the chair tightly for a few moments
"I went off on a rant, sorry. Let's get back to what we were talking about."

i am not interested in fulfilling borrowed dreams

❝

From the very start, Komachi had the impression that Chiaki was a bit of a kind-hearted scatterbrain, and the free-flowing way Chiaki talked reinforced it further. Not that it was a problem - after all, Chiaki was here in a rather prestigious school, so she had to have some skill and smarts. And even then, some of the smartest girls that the tailor knew seemed to be rather...eccentric.

-...if you have a solid idea on what character you're designing a costume for, you can at least get into their head and figure out what they'd likely be wearing in a scene.-

That little quip stuck in Komachi's mind, leaving her only vaguely following the rest of Chiaki's mix of praise over Komachi's tenacity followed by her continued exposition of Kamakura. Komachi put her hands on her hips and glanced to the side, riffling though her mind as started to grasp the root of her issue.

That was until Chiaki asked to return to the original topic.

"Well, there wasn't much of a topic that I put up," Komachi replied with a relaxed laugh a she started to walk around the table in a circle. "But you said something about being able to design an outfit having a clear idea of how a character would think and act in a given setting, right? So, what do you do when you...don't have as clear an idea?"

Komachi's wandering ended in front of the rack of prototypes. Aimlessly, she grabbed the sleeve of one of them and lifted them, as if insipration would be found under it.

"What I would call my magnum opus, and really the reason why I ended up in fashion design, was a jacket I made for a childhood friend named Yuki. I got to know her quite well. She was a girl with a strong sense of justice and an unshakeable will, and she needed to wear something that was as strong as she was yet with all the utilities that let her do all the things she wanted to do. And...I was able to do it. I made something that captured her essense."

With a sigh, the tailor let the sleeve slip through her fingers, and with her other hand she pointed towards the stack of sketches piled onto the table.

"Now, what do I do for a girl that...I haven't known as long? I don't...know how to capture that essence. What to focus on." There was a rising sense of frustration in Komachi's voice as she walked back over to the table, hunching over the patterns again. "In classes, she's this unstoppable force of will and focus. But outside of classes, when I'm with her...she's so...graceful and caring and beautiful and dutiful. What do I focus on? Which of all of these is...is 'her'?"

There was a telling expression on Komachi's face, a mix of awestruck, adoration, and almost longing. A distant smile paired with a tone of voice clearly in admiraton as she described the girl she had in mind before returning back to reality. "Yeah, you're right. I'll figure it out somehow. Even if it means just...being more direct with her. I wanted it to be a surprise to her. Well, she knows that I am making this for her. But not exactly what it looks like."

Once more, Komachi stood up and looked to Chiaki. "Sorry, I monologued, but my question stands - what do I do for a girl who...I want to really make her happy with this while I barely...know what to do?"

CHIAKI ROKUJŌ ● notes: ● 000

MADE BY MIZO

"Right.."
Chiaki's mind went for picking up on some basic concepts.
"So, if you barely know her.. tell me what she exactly gives you the thought of?"
More thinking, again that was difficult since she didn't know anyone at all..

Going off of the advice she'd heard in some movies and TV, Chiaki attempted some knowledge she had no experience of, staring at the ceiling as she spoke.

"What's she like? Her interests, food she likes, all that riff-raff, y'know? It's like an aesthetic for her, if I'm interpreting what you're sayin' properly? Otherwise, I'd just lightly start asking really pointless questions until I get questioned as to why I'm questioning her so much. And, her fashion choices too! If she's not into stuff with guitars, drums and whatnot, best to avoid a t-shirt with flames. I really think it's best to start of with knowing someone first before you go and make them clothes."

She then looked back to Komachi.
"I hope that made sense. Really. Otherwise, I'm just as stumped as you are."
More attempts went through her head, and crashed into the wall that represented her lack of creativity.
She tapped her palm against her forehead a few times, and stared upwards.

"I feel like all these ideas are falling out of my head before I can grasp at them. You're amazing if you can keep this up, Ikezawa-senpai! I wish we'd met sooner if I knew there were creative minds like you around- I'm getting off of topic again, aah-"
Attempt two.

She lightly slammed her fist on the table.
"Going back on what we said about costumes! Right! In that person's head, your acquiantance, friend, whatever.. if it's something she doesn't know what it looks like, surely you'd want a surprise that wasn't too fancy, and unrelated? I don't expect a friend of mine to come out with an entire suit praising my qualities. If I was that friend in question.. a jacket like you said.. you can do a lot with those.. or a t-shirt, or a hoodie.. since you said you haven't known 'em as long, yeah?"
Chiaki forced a grin.

"I don't know what else, Ikezawa-senpai. We may need to consult with someone that isn't me."

i am not interested in fulfilling borrowed dreams

❝

Indeed, Chiaki was a chatterbox. An amusing, scattered, stream-of-concious chatterbox. It was highly reminiscent of Komachi's childhood friend Yukari - a genius who you could hand over the most disjointed scraps of information and she could make sense of it all. So even though the questions Chiaki posed were ones that Komachi had asked herself already and even nswered, it was the final bits that produced the breakthrough that Komachi needed.

"I'm consulting with you precisely because you are effectively on the outside looking in," Komachi said with a smile. "You have no biases, and thus you can see things I can't. And indeed, you have."

There was a pause before Komachi took her turn to monologue. "To answer your question, she's a very hard-working girl who is incredibly adept in coordinating people. She seems to enjoy it, even. But outside of that, she has a kind heart, almost like a nagging mother of sorts. But she does it because she cares, and will spare no effort." With a grin, Komachi pointed at Chiaki with a wink. "Also, her food...is really good. She doesn't really have much preferences in things. I think she just defaults to the simple joys because...of her family circumstances."

Komachi caught herself, realizing that perhaps Valerie's past was better not brought up any further. Instead, she looked back at the table and started to pick through the the pile again, searching. "But you're right. I shouldn't focus on having the jacket be a personification of her, something that praises her. This isn't for a play or for a fashion show, where I need to get across to some audience who a person is and what they are like."

She picked out a few sketches that had features that she liked, then grabbed a nearby pencil and started to sketch, thinking aloud.

"No. She needs something...functional. It must keep her warm. It must be durable, able to survive the years. The form should be useful in both casual and semi-formal situations, so she can use it in as many social contexts as possible. Colour should be neutral enough to be used with any other part of her wardrobe, even the small accents, like the barette I got her. It should be easy to clean so she doesn't waste time on it and other resources."

The tall tailor seemed focused for a few moments before blinking, remembering she was not alone. She glanced over to Chiaki, asking, "...ah. Chiaki-san? What do you think?"

CHIAKI ROKUJŌ ● notes: ● 000

MADE BY MIZO

"Functional. Jacket. Uhh... I dunno? Formal isn't my sort of thing.. are denim jackets formal? Or what about a blazer.. that's not a jacket. It sort of sounds like you're trying to mix chalk and cheese here.. one thing can't be two things, yadda yadda.."
Chiaki sighed, tapping her index finger against her own head a few times, staring into nothingness for a few moments, followed by a soft sigh.

"You know, I'd just ask 'em straight up, if I was my mother and all.. rather than risk the whole thing of making something with no idea. It's like.. if you made food for someone, and didn't ask if they had any allergies, taste preferences or something.. I don't really understand why it has to be so much of a surprise. Why don't you go over the design with her? If I ordered a cake from a special place, I'd want them to know what I wanted. I'm bad with gifts and all.. would most likely give something back if I didn't like it myself, but that's just me.."
That was one side of the argument, but the other?

"That's the careful route. Careful is the less fun way, I don't like waiting for things honestly. This person isn't me, and you know what she likes best, yes?"
Chiaki exhaled, and leaned forward a bit.
"Still.. just go for something simple? Just.. well.. favorite colors, you already know all the materials and stuff.. something that just blends for formal and casual like you said. I'm not artistic. Just go through your sketches, and decide on what's best, what you believe is best, and what you know is best. It's not the best doing a blind guess, but I think she'd appreciate the whole effort of you deciding to go for it anyway instead of an apology.. can't you just make what's the highest degree of effort on your part in? I'm wholly sure if you know her well enough, she'd be fine with what you design and craft?"
Her neutral expression gave way to a smirk.

i am not interested in fulfilling borrowed dreams

❝

Komachi couldn't help but chuckle at Chiaki's smirk. It still took the tailor a few moments to process anything that the other girl had said, yet she enjoyed every moment of it. It really was like being with her childhood friend Yukari all over again, and it made Komachi feel a rare sense of homesickness. Without any windows in the workshop, the tall girl looked out the door and into the hallway and sighed.

"Yeah. You're right. I'll just ask." Komachi said. There was a mix of relief and confusion in her voice as she glanced back to her sketches. "I'm not sure...why I wanted to make it a surprise. I never made it a surprise for when I did this for my friend Yuki. Or even my other friends. They were with me, every step of the way." The tailor shifted a few papers aside, then lifted one of them to look at it, frowning slightly. The design was one of her most common ones, derived from one of the more...socially-presentable jackets that she had made for Yuki.

Yuki, Yuki, Yuki. Why does she keep thinking of Yuki?

"You say that if I know her well enough, she'd be fine. But I don't know her well enough. Or rather...I don't feel confident that I know her well enough," Komachi said wistfully, still looking at the sketch she had in hand. "I mean...I kind of...do know her. What she is like, what she can do well. Maybe even what may fit her. The kinds of things that would be useful for her. And that... she really is so...beautiful when she does smile, you know...? Full of warmth and cheer." Komachi seemed to smile, lost in the memory of when she gifted Valerie that barette.

But as she put the paper down again, Komachi's mind drifted, shifting through the papers again. "I don't know. I'm reminded of my friends back home. And...a girl that I really liked. That's...Yuki." Komachi breathlessly laughed and shook her head. "I made so many wonderful jackets for her. And she was happy with them. Yet...I could never...breach the wall around her." She stopped at another sketch, holding it up. It was a more sporty look, one that one could easily run in, one based on a design for another friend.

"There was another girl, Miharu...always seemed to be able to reach out to her, and get her words across even when Yuki was at her most stubborn. She cared a lot about Yuki too. And they were...they got along...so much better than I did..."

Komachi put the sketch down, frowning. "...I don't know what's going on in my head, why I'm so worried about making this jacket for a friend. But it really does feel like...if I don't get it right I..." The tailor frowned, at a loss for words.

CHIAKI ROKUJŌ ● notes: ● 000

MADE BY MIZO

"I think you're overthinking it, senpai! Everything's about taking risks. Think about it like.. erm- well, like a race car driver. He wakes up, and gives it his all. Even if he's gonna die, he's at full steam, and doesn't care more about doing what he loves. I like to put that thinking whenever I get into somethin' real grand, like applying here! And to add to it, it's your friend. I did say in doing what you believed was right.. so-"

Chiaki exhaled, and almost slammed her palm on the desk, stopping herself in soon time. A puzzled expression dawned on her, as she then realised the fact she was contradicting herself in quick order.
"Senpai, wait... I'm givin' ya mixed signals n' all- Lemme go back to the beginning."
She inhaled, and began talking again, in a much slower fashion than before, and not as loud.

"This situation we have ourselves in, yes? You wished to design a garment for a good friend of yours, a unique one at that. So, the two options we've got: There's the surprise option, I'm sure they'd appreciate that; there's also the option of asking her, since you two are close enough as friends, I don't see why asking her isn't much of a bad thing. That.. or.."
Chiaki ran a hand through her bangs.
"Senpai, you sound stressed or indecisive about this. I don't know what makes you tick, and I'd rather not be a direct cause of.. well, pushing you in the wrong direction, to say."
Tapping her fingers on the desk, she'd sigh, sitting back in her seat, and look away, eyes staring at the wall.
It was difficult enough to pick out her own clothes, let alone helping someone else out with designing them. It wasn't a simple matter of just throwing a pattern on a generic garment. And it was from someone in a different field of skill. There were her suggestions, but she herself didn't feel too confident in them, not knowing Ikezawa-senpai's creative process whatsoever, but...

"If you need to make a decision, do what you know and feel is correct, and stick to it. I can't decide which is the best for you, senpai."

i am not interested in fulfilling borrowed dreams

❝

With a much Chiaki-san seemed to bounce around, it was hard for Komachi to stay so upset, let alone capable of following the other girl's wild jumps in subject. But, Chiaki-san was right. Sort of. Komachi knew she was overthinking things, but why she was overthinking was the thing that was eluding her.

"I appreciate your insight, Chiaki-san. You may not think you are...but you really are incredible when it comes to getting someone's mind moving," Komachi said, stepping away from the workshop table and slowly pacing around to calm down. "But, I think some things that you said are not...quite right. Not that...I've explained things well." After a sigh, Komachi chuckled and shook her head.

...since you two are close enough as friends...

Komachi paused her pacing and leaned against the nearby wall, looking up to the ceiling. "Do you really think Belrose-san and I are close as friends? We've...hung out a bit. She's even saved me that one time I sort of forgot to eat for a while. We...that really...that wasn't a date at the bookstore, was it...?" The brunette tailor shook her head before tapping her cheeks before hanging her head.

"That's it." Another sigh escaped Komachi's lips, full of frustration and exhaustion. She stood up straight again, putting her hands in one of the many pockets in her utility jacket. "That's it. I want to be closer to Belrose-san. That's why I really am banking on this jacket. Because if I don't get any closer to her now...I never will." A weak frown overtook Komachi's face as she looked over to Chiaki, as if asking for help again.

CHIAKI ROKUJŌ ● notes: ● 000

MADE BY MIZO

"Absolutely, definitely. Please don't dwell on it to the point it's all you think about, but please do it. For your own happiness, Ikezawa-senpai. It's not like you're able to exactly.. you know, give her full attention, since people like us are busy with so many things, you, her and me included. Next time you two do meet, just strike up the question, and I'm sure you two'll just get along well? At least, that's what I'm inclined to believe. So! Just when you've both got the time, strike up the question and say what you need to say. Being forward is better than just assuming she'll understand what you actually would like to do, Ikezawa-senpai."
Again, Chiaki began to tap her fingers on the desk, staring up at Ikezawa-senpai with baited breath.

"You.. really care about it enough to think this much. Don't hold the thought, and just go with it. Because I think if you don't do anything, then there's no point in thinking about this, and that's just something that'd make me feel sick. And we definitely don't want that."
Standing up, Chiaki stood closer.
It was easy enough to empathize with longing. At least, she was so dissatisfied with how things were in the past. Ikezawa-senpai's longing for a particular person's acceptance, while she was largely unfamiliar with it at all, was of a sort Chiaki found she could most definitely relate to. And being that Chiaki was the type to just go ahead with whatever, this was the best outcome, if she could get Ikezawa-senpai to act on those feelings.

"I know you'll do well. I'm just sure of it! So, when you do get to it, which I know is something someone as skilled as you are is capable of, please tell me!"

Chiaki then held her hand out, and offered a high-five.

i am not interested in fulfilling borrowed dreams

❝

Listening to Chiaki was like drinking from a firehose. Not that Komachi nethier minded nor was caught off-guard at this point, save for the high-five, which the brunette chuckled as her hand met Chiaki's. She stood up straight, then slouched a bit with a sigh of relief, feeling a bit more relaxed now and with a bit more clarity of mind.

"Well...time is a strange thing. I probably have more than her, between schoolwork and her job," Komachi said as she walked over to the rack of prototype jackets. She started to organize them, guided by an intuition, ordering them from least favored to favored. "Yet, we've always seemed to run into each other somehow, despite being in different departments. Well, she has come over to visit me for tea anyways, and we have each other's numbers, so it's probably a matter of time before we do meet again."

With the rack organized to her liking, she pulled the three on the right off the rack and turned to carry them onto the table. "Funny story really," Komachi continued. From the remaining pile of papers on the table, the brunette tailor extracted the draft sketches associated with the three jackets on the table as she talked. "Now that I think of it... It's the same issue I had with Yuki. I figured I could never stack up against Miharu, so I never pulled the trigger. So of course they got together. And here I am again, agonizing on getting the perfect shot. Probably should take my chance now before someone else swoops in."

On the table now were three jackets with their sketchs laid atop it. All were uniform white and made of the same material, so what differentiated them was their shape. Despite their very varied design, they all seemed to be more of a pop and cutesy style. Not so much formal - presentable, perhaps, but much more stylized than functional while not totally sacrificing function.

"So...here we go. Time to cast the dice." Komachi said, folding her arms and looking at her three candidates. With a sigh, she glanced over to Chiaki again. "Well. Enough of me monologuing. How's things in the theatre side? It was absurdly busy the dramatic the last time I was around, having to help with the winter show."

CHIAKI ROKUJŌ ● notes: ● 000

MADE BY MIZO

"On my end, in the theater course? There's no progress yet. I've been so focused on trying to get around.. make sure I don't get lost, and trying to remind myself how to get through other subjects. It's not easy, Ikezawa-senpai."

Chiaki admitted, turning her head to the side, her tone less energetic and lively, and taking on more of a somber edge to it.

"When.. when you try to put effort into things, and others don't appreciate that, I think it's one of the worst feelings possible. I've done so much to get where I am today, but even then, I'm so anxious as to what's ahead. And that'll probably never go away until something starts taking hold, or progress happens."

Closing her eyes, she touched her hand against her head, and groaned in slight frustration.
"Still.. I'd rather be bad at what I'm currently doing than ever go back to that accursed business school in Tokyo. The winter show at least gives me some faint hope that I'll be able to fit in."
She sat down, hugging herself.

"The anxiety is going to drive me up the wall, Ikezawa-senpai. I don't know what I'll do until someone gives me the right moment. I'll throw all of my effort into it when I get that chance."
She faintly smiled, closing her eyes again.

i am not interested in fulfilling borrowed dreams

❝

"Hah, yeah, I understand that feeling," Komachi replied, feeling a tad nostalgic. "You start off feeling on top of the world because you're so skilled compared to your other friends. But, when you get here, you're among the best of the best, so it get a lot harder for you to stand out. I know the teachers try not to get us to compete but...there's only so many roles in a give job available, right?"

Komachi smiled even though Chiaki's spirit seemed to flag a bit at the subject of school. For all of the other girl's eccentricities and energy, it was still strange sense of reassurance that Chiaki had this side of her too. As for the state of the Theatre Department, the tailor found herself unsurprised.

"Honestly, I only got to the position as second-in-command of the costume design was because I bullyed my way though people who just...were too scared to do anything. So maybe instead of waiting for someone else to give you your big break... go out and get it yourself?" Komachi suggested, tacking on, "Well, more easily said than done, sorry." She started to clean up the workshop. Papers to stack up to be filed neatly later, scraps of cloth to be binned, and then putting all the other prototypes.

As realization strikes Komachi, paused, blinking momentarily before looking to Chiaki. "Hold on. I can't be your senpai if you were in the Winter show last year too. Well. No matter." At this point, the brunette felt like any notion of seniority was moot as another idea came to mind.

"Hey, was wondering. Do you have any IM service you use?" Komachi asked as she patted down her various pockets to find which one held her phone. From one of the pockets in her sleeves, the tailor pulled out a smartphone, its case made from a very conspicous black and sturdy material, one expecting to be handled roughly. "Was thinking, exchanging contact info. Maybe we can hang out some time."

CHIAKI ROKUJŌ ● notes: ● 000

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Ikezawa-senpai, second in command of her own department? Wow, that was certainly something. Although, someone would have to be in that spot anyway, Chiaki wasn't just expecting to be meeting someone that high up in ther own field of expertise.
Although, Ikezawa-senpai didn't really give off an impression showing the opposite, so it would have to work out.

The thought of actually making a friend relatively quickly was reassuring. It seemed Chiaki wasn't going to run around in circles until she got a result this time.
And.. that was definitely the preferred result.
"Ah- Ikezawa-senpai, I wasn't here last year.. I only arrived recently."
Reaching into one of her pockets, Chiaki brought out quite a new looking shiny, sleek metallic orange phone, and quickly set upon unlocking the device, the lock screen being that of Chiaki outside one of the temples in Kamakura, albeit with black hair instead of blonde.

"One sec.."
Scrolling through the various games on her phone, Chiaki selected LINE, and quickly brought up her profile's details.
"There we are."

"As for hanging out, I'd really like to. Just like, I gotta avoid.. messing up n'stuff. Still, I'm pretty much always around provided over things don't get in the way.. It's all good though!"
She smiled.

i am not interested in fulfilling borrowed dreams

❝

Komachi continued to grin, even though the details of Chiaki's phone didn't go unnoticed. Breifly, the tailor could spot a picture of what looked like a girl with Chiaki's face in front of a shrine, the key difference being the girl in front of her had blonde hair instead of black. For a moment, Komachi mused - was Chiaki a shrime maiden before? But in the end, it didn't matter - a friend was a friend and Chiaki had a cute look about her either way.

"Hey, don't worry about that, Chiaki-chan," Komachi replied cheerfully, noticing that Chiaki had pulled up LINE. A few quick button presses and Komachi did the same. "I mean, we're here in school to learn how to not mess things up right?"

Komachi's thumbs moved quickly to pick up Chiaki's details, quickly sending a friend request and a test message. "Alrighty then. Feel free to shoot me a message whenever, you know? I'll usually pick up so long as I'm not busy with school work or...family things." Komachi rolled her eyes a bit as she spoke of her family. "Don't worry, nothing bad, just that my dad's business likes to rope me into things every now and then. And to be fair, it is for my own education."

From the corner of her eye, Komachi could see someone peeking in. With a chuckle, Komachi waved at the girl peeking in, gesturing for her to enter. "Ah, senpai, give me a moment, I'm almost done here," Komachi called up, picking up the stack of sketches and piling them into a box. "Sorry, Chiaki-chan, I only booked a single time slot for this room, so I do need to clear out," the tailor explained, walking over to the rack of protoypes.

There was a pause before Komachi put her hands on the rack to look to Chiaki once more. "Thanks for your help, Chiaki-chan. I look forward to hearing from you soon," Komachi said before she started to push the rack out the door, waving one last time and shouting, "Take care~! Call anytime!"

@tagsomeone ● notes: ● 000

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