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Koharu woke well before dawn on the first day of the overseas tour. She had her bags already packed for two weeks of runway shows, so she padded around her apartment like a zombie. Still half-asleep, she took a short shower, changed into slacks and a trenchcoat over a gauzy white button down, and left her apartment with her luggage. Suzu was waiting in the lobby, two coffees in her hand. Hisame was beside her, sipping from her own mug, the string of the tea bag hanging out. They each had their luggage beside them as well, and looked as exhausted as Koharu felt.
“Morning, boss,” Suzu said, handing one of the coffees to Koharu with her trademark smirk. “We could tell you didn’t get to bed until late last night,” she added, and not for the first time, she rolled her eyes over the fact that her two closest friends shared an apartment on the floor below her.
“Yeah, I had my contract renegotiation meeting last night, and I was staying up thinking about it,” she admitted.
“Oh?” Hisame asked, eyebrows raised. From outside, they could see the hired car sent by Futaba pull up, and rolled their luggage out to meet the driver who would take them to the airport.
“Yeah, Saegusa-san was talking about how she wants a ‘face’ for the brand and they do have some feelers out, but I asked her why we weren’t being considered.”
Suzu nodded, climbing into the backseat after Koharu, once the luggage was loaded. “Did she say why?”
Koharu shook her head. “She agreed to pay more attention to us, which means I have really got to prove myself this season,” she said, biting her lip. “I know I could do it…”
“Of course you can!” Suzu said cheerfully, and Koharu wondered if this was really her first coffee of the day. “Honestly, go for it, I’m happy as long as Saegusa-san assigns me to HANA again.”
“What is it with you and them?” Hisame asked.
Suzu sighed in an imitation of wistfulness. “They hand-pick their models, I probably have no chance of joining directly, but I just love working with Mahiru.”
“Oh, so it’s like that,” Koharu said, teasingly. She let Suzu try to badly defend herself and gazed out the window at the scenery flowing by. Soon enough, they were at the airport, and Koharu could see Daiba Nana and some of the other HANA staff just inside the entrance. They joined the group, a couple of staff members taking their luggage to put with the group’s pile.
“Nana-san!” Hisame called out, greeting the photographer with a hug. Suzu, likewise, ran up to greet both Mahiru and Karen. Koharu spied Hikari in the corner, poring over a tablet that Kaoruko was holding, the two of them speaking urgently about something.
She saw Junna beside Futaba, the two of them looking over some travel documents and counting the bags, cases, and other luggage in the corner. And lastly she saw Maya and Claudine, sitting on a nearby bench and looking as exhausted as Koharu felt. She remembered, distantly, that Claudine had been called with Shizuha, Akira, and others to give testimony at Kirin’s hearing, and wondered if that had happened already, or if it was still to come. Maya, meanwhile, looked different than usual, more unfocused. Koharu had noticed it ever since the night when the staff was caught digging through her bag. She wanted to go over, to say good morning, at least, but remembered the awkward air between herself and Maya, since the rejection Maya gave her a couple months ago. So she stayed put, greeting the other Seiran models as they arrived.
The flight wasn’t very long - the first stop on their runway tour was Seoul - and they touched down when the sun was high in the sky. They first drove to the venue, to deliver the stage props and clothing so the staff could steam, iron, repair, and set up as needed. Suzu and Hisame volunteered to help, but Koharu was surprised when Kaoruko dismissed the rest of them, instructing them to “sleep well so you can look fresh faced tomorrow”. They were shuttled to a nearby hotel, and emailed a schedule from Mahiru that included dinner as a group tonight, rehearsal the next morning, and the show following in the evening. After the show, as was customary, there would be a party.
Koharu was given a room that she would be sharing with Suzu, but for now, she had it to herself. She flopped back onto the mattress of one of the two beds, relaxing for a few minutes until her luggage arrived, on a cart pushed by a porter. She unpacked, hanging the clothes that might wrinkle, and changed into something more comfortable. She still had a few hours left, so she napped.
Suzu woke her up sometime later, eyes bright. “Come on and get changed, we’re gonna be late to dinner!”
Koharu stretched, pushing the covers off herself lazily. “What do you mean? Why didn’t you wake me up sooner?”
“Well… I just got back myself, honestly, there was so much to do to set up.”
“So you were lingering around Mahiru…”
Suzu put on a mock-innocent expression, and Koharu knew she had it correct.
Koharu shook her head. “Well, whatever, if we’re late, we’re late. Have you seen my hairbrush?”
Luckily, the restaurant was not far from the hotel, and they were not the last ones to arrive. Nana and Hisame came in a few minutes later, and Koharu wondered if Hisame had even been back to the hotel room, or was with Nana the whole time. Nervously, she glanced around the room, trying to spot Junna, but it seemed that she wasn’t present. Looking around some more, she couldn’t find Maya, either.
The dining service was casual, with a buffet and small tables to sit and mingle at. It was mostly a closed party, but Koharu did spot some French industry people in the crowd - mostly notable because no men worked at HANA.
Koharu watched as Kaoruko stood from the table Claudine was sitting at, and took the newly vacated seat. Futaba was also at the table, but she was talking on her cell phone, with a finger pressed to her other ear.
Claudine didn’t make Koharu nervous anymore, not like the time they first met, but she still didn’t feel completely at ease in her presence. She wasn’t sure if it was the years of experience Claudine had on her, or if it was her relationship with Maya, or something else completely. But she thought of the Christmas party, of loaning her coat to Maya, of how they were all in this together, and gathered her courage.
“Saijou-san, I heard there was a hearing recently? I hope it went well.”
Claudine smiled in a way that didn’t quite reach her eyes and fingered the wine glass sitting before her. “Please, call me Claudine, I’ve reminded you before, no?”
Koharu felt herself blushing, and nodded. “Sure, Claudine.” The name sounded too familiar passing from her lips, but it didn’t even seem to phase Claudine. Perhaps that was her European side.
“Yes, we had the hearing yesterday, honestly I’m quite exhausted. But I’m glad it’s over. There will probably be several days of deliberation, and we might not hear the result right away.”
“Oh, I see.” Koharu smiled conspiratorially. “If you want to sneak out early, I’ll cover for you.”
Claudine sipped her wine and smiled in kind. “Oh, thank you, but I’m afraid I can’t take you up on that offer. See, I’m here covering for Tendo Maya.” Claudine glanced down the table towards the industry men. “Plus I’m one of the only people who can speak French here tonight, so I’m on socializing duty, and in exchange they’ll all owe me one.”
Now this first part was a surprise. Koharu had thought Maya was merely running late. She had never known Maya to miss an event before. “Is everything alright with Tendo-san?” she asked.
“Worry about me!” Claudine joked. “I’m the one who just got chewed out by Kaoruko for letting her stay behind!” Her expression changed then, to a more serious one. She turned towards Koharu more fully so they were out of earshot of other guests and dropped her voice. “But Maya’s alright. She was at the hearing too so she’s also exhausted, but also…” she trailed off, fingers still fiddling with the wine glass. “I think she’s had a bit of a shock. She’s figuring things out.”
“Oh, let her know I hope she’s feeling better soon.”
Claudine looked at Koharu with a strange expression on her face for a moment, as if considering her. “What happened between you?” she asked.
Koharu felt her stomach drop. How could Claudine not know? Was she just teasing her, making her say it aloud? But she knew that wasn’t true. Claudine wasn’t cruel. She might hold Maya’s heart, but she wasn’t gloating about it. In fact, she looked as lost as Koharu felt. “I confessed to her, a couple months ago. And was rejected.”
Once she said the words aloud, a strange sort of calm settled over her. It was all in the open now, like airing her dirty laundry. Futaba stood to move to a quieter part of the room, and Claudine let her walk away before replying. “What? Oh, mon Dieu, of course. How did I not see it?” She smiled grimly in sympathy. “I apologize for asking, that was uncalled for.”
Koharu shook her head. “No, no, it’s fine. I’m glad I said it aloud, honestly, I feel lighter, somehow.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, I think Maya could use you as a friend right now.”
Koharu nodded, somewhat on autopilot, tipsy after a couple drinks and not expecting this. She remembered Claudine’s reaction to finding her in their apartment unexpectedly with Maya, and hastening to leave after. And now, here was the same woman, telling her to spend more time with Maya. She wanted to ask why, but before she could, Claudine stretched an arm out towards her, key card in hand.
“Do me a favor, please?” Claudine asked. “Check on Maya, make sure she’s not up there sulking too badly? I would do it myself, but I am obligated to stay and entertain.”
Too surprised by this turn of events to decline, and honestly too scared to turn down Saijou Claudine asking for a direct favor, Koharu took the keycard, listened to Claudine’s directions for the room number, and escaped once Kaoruko’s back was turned.
Koharu did not go directly to the room. Instead, she went out to the street the hotel was on, going to a convenience store and purchasing a couple drinks, some ready-to-eat entrees and side dishes, and a few other items. She brought her items up to Maya’s room, with a polite call of “room service” that brought Maya to the door in just a few seconds.
“I didn’t or- …Yanagi-san.” Maya stood before her in an old T-shirt and loose pajama pants, by far the most casual attire Koharu had ever seen her, including her gym outfits.
“Special delivery,” Koharu explained. “May I come in?”
Maya just nodded and stepped back to allow Koharu to enter. She took off her shoes and set up the items on the small table in the room, presenting Maya’s dinner options along with cold medicine, stress-relieving bath salts, and candy. “What is all this?” Maya asked, slipping on the hotel’s bathrobe and coming to investigate. Koharu could see her laptop propped open on one of the two beds along with a water bottle, but not much else for signs of life in this hotel room.
“Claudine mentioned you weren’t having a great night, but I wasn’t sure what was wrong, so I tried to hit all the bases: food, drinks, medicine, sweets, relaxation.”
“Ah, but-”
“But we’re still friends, Maya, so please don’t worry about it. I heard you had a bad time recently, and you also went to that hearing before coming on this early flight, so let me treat you a little.”
Koharu watched the gears turning in Maya’s head quickly, and then she moved in first to the tteokbokki, and then to the beef bulgogi. Koharu cracked a peach soda while Maya drank a barley tea, and they sat in relative silence while Maya ate what appeared to be her first meal in some time.
“Do your parents support you modeling?” Maya asked, once she had slowed down some.
“Like… do they encourage me?”
Maya nodded, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand in the most un-Maya-like gesture Koharu had ever seen on her. “Yeah, did they ever want you to choose a different career?”
“Oh. Well, of course. I think almost everyone’s parents are worried about a career in entertainment or fashion. My father is a dentist and my mom keeps all his records, so I think they hoped I could carry that on, or maybe something similar, like being a nurse. Why?”
“Do they support you now?”
Maya was watching Koharu with a curious stare, as if the answer to this question was plaguing her. “Claudine’s parent’s support everything she does. I read an article that Yukishiro Akira’s parents have moved their home specifically to help her career,” Maya added.
Koharu laughed nervously. “I wouldn’t go that far. My parents and I get along well, and they trust me enough to make the best decision for my own life and career. That’s enough for me.”
This seemed to give Maya pause, and she stopped halfway through unwrapping one of the strawberry candies Koharu had brought. “The best decision for me…”
“Maya what is all this about? Are your parents putting pressure on you? What decision do you have to make?”
But even as she was trying to rush the questions out, Koharu knew it was too late. She could hear the bustle down the hall of Futaba and Claudine arguing loudly, and instinctively she stood up.
The door clicked open, and both conversations stopped abruptly. Futaba stood in the hall staring at Maya for a moment, an unusually sheepish look on her face, before turning to Claudine and reminding her that first call is at 8AM and bidding all of them a polite goodnight.
Claudine sighed and entered the room then, seemingly annoyed at Futaba’s behavior, all of which was going over Koharu’s head, and honestly, she didn’t care to know. She wished to keep on good terms with her friends and work towards the top model spot at Seiran. Everything else was a distraction.
Claudine, it appeared, had drunk quite a bit more than when Koharu left her, and Koharu now handed her a bottle of water and began gathering her things, wondering how the first day of runways was going to go. “Those men can talk, and drink!” she was mumbling, gathering her things for a shower. “Maya you missed out, they had a cake down there you would have loved!”
Koharu bid the two of them her goodbyes and gratefully slipped back to her own, relatively peaceful room, but was already missing the quiet of her own apartment in Tokyo. There was just the two shows in Seoul, then one in Milan, then two in Paris, and then they would be home….