Note: Mai-Hime is an anime that was done by the studio Sunrise and is based on a manga.
Natsuki Kuga drove to Shizuru Fujino's house. Shizuru was planning on taking Natsuki to a special place. However, Natsuki had been dealing with fighting so much crime that she had forgotten where she and Shizuru were going. She hoped that Shizuru wouldn't be mad at her poor memory. She knocked on the door.
Shizuru opened the door and said, "Hi sweetheart."
Natsuki replied, "Hi Shizuru. I'm afraid that I'm guilty of forgetting where we're headed to."
Shizuru hugged Natsuki and tried to comfort her by saying, "You shouldn't feel sorry at all. You've fought like ten criminals in the past week. You can easily be excused for a few forgotten memories."
Natsuki smiled and said, "Thank you. Where are we going?"
Shizuru replied, "To the new clothes store."
Natsuki didn't think that looking at a bunch of fancy clothes was that exciting, but she was always grateful to get to spend the day with Shizuru. She and Shizuru went into Natsuki's car and went to the new clothes store.
Natsuki and Shizuru walked inside the store while holding hands with each other. They looked around and saw that the store was big, but there wasn't that many customers for a grand opening.
Natsuki accidentally bumped into a fussy female model. The model glared at Natsuki and asked, "What's your problem?"
Natsuki nervously answered, "I'm truly sorry sir. My brain's been a little distracted recently."
The model replied, "Sounds like you're an idiot."
Natsuki faced Shizuru and asked, "How come there's so few customers here?" Shizuru shrugged her shoulders.
The model said, "They probably want to avoid dealing with bumbling fools like you." The model pushed Natsuki out of her way and walked out.
Natsuki whispered to Shizuru, "Who was that jerk?"
Shizuru said, "I've seen her in advertisements for this store. She's a model."
Natsuki replied, "She doesn't have a beautiful enough personality to be a model."
The owner of the store walked up to the customers and said, "Greetings everybody. I"m Lennie Richardson Bennett, but you can just call me the clown that runs this place." He laughed. Some of the customers rolled their eyes.
Mr. Bennett said, "This is going to be a very special store, because we're selling some of the most stylish new clothes. Prepare to meet our model."
Mr. Bennett's top clothes designer, named Ms. Fashion, walked up to him and said, "The model quit."
Mr. Bennett angrily asked, "Why didn't you tell me that before the speech? You just made me look an idiot in front of our first group of customers." He faced the customers and said, "Our presentation has been cancelled, but feel free to start shopping."
Natsuki whispered to Shizuru, "What an embarrassing way to open the store."
Shizuru replied, "Lets check out the clothes they got here. The dresses I saw in their ads are amazing."
Natsuki and Shizuru started looking around the store while Mr. Bennett had a meeting with Ms. Fashion in the purse aisle. Mr. Bennett nervously asked, "How am I supposed to run this place without a model for my advertising?"
Ms. Fashion confidently answered, "There are plenty of stylish people that would take the job."
Mr. Bennett said, "We don't have time to look for a model. I need to get advertisements out as soon as possible and I need a beautiful person to model the clothes."
Ms. Fashion looked around the store and pointed to Natsuki. She faced Mr. Bennett and said, "I think that young lady has the potential to make this store the money you need." Mr. Bennett was more of an expert of on money than fashion so he trusted Ms. Fashion's suggestion.
Mr. Bennett walked up to Natsuki and said, "Greetings. I'm Lennie Richardson Bennett, the clown prince of fashion."
Natsuki replied, "No offense sir, but you announced your name like ten minutes ago so I already knew it."
Mr. Bennett said, "Fair enough, but I figured that I should tell you it a second time since you're going to start working here."
Natsuki raised her eyebrows and asked, "What are you talking about?"
Mr. Bennett said, "My previous model quit so you can have the job."
Natsuki was surprised to be randomly offered a job in fashion. Shizuru complimented Natsuki on her looks about a dozen times a day, but she still thought she was average looking. She said, "I'm flattered by your unexpected offer, but I'm busy with other stuff."
Mr. Bennett had a confident smile on his face while opening a briefcase of money and saying, "Work starts tomorrow."
Natsuki smiled and replied, "No it doesn't, because I'm turning down your offer." Mr. Bennett had never dealt with anybody who rejected a briefcase of money offer so he had the biggest surprised face of his life.
Shizuru put her arm around Natsuki and said, "You should take the job. This new store will fall apart if they don't get a model soon and we need a place to get the latest fashion." She blushed at Natsuki and said, "You'd be a lovely model."
Natsuki sighed and said, "I'll take the job, but only for a month."
Mr. Bennett replied, "That'll give me enough time to find a new model so I accept that deal." Natsuki and Mr. Bennett shook hands.
Natsuki and Shizuru went into Natsuki's car and started heading home. Shizuru smiled and asked, "Aren't you thrilled to become a model?"
Natsuki answered, "It doesn't seem like my cup of tea."
Shizuru said, "I look forward to seeing advertisements for the store that have you in them. I'll save them in my photo album forever." Natsuki blushed.
The next day Natsuki went back to the clothes store. Mr. Bennett and Ms. Fashion led Natsuki to a room where the modeling pictures were taken. Natsuki asked, "Is this going to take all day?"
Mr. Bennett answered, "Don't worry. The clothes are so good looking that I'm sure you won't care about the time. The first thing we need you to try on will blow your socks off. I mean that, because the first thing we're advertising is flip flops."
Natsuki replied, "Okay." She took off her shoes and socks. Ms. Fashion put a pair of green cat flip flops on Natsuki's feet. Natsuki looked at them and asked, "What's up with the green cat design?"
Mr. Bennett answered, "Cats aren't usually green so it's comedy gold." He laughed. Natsuki wasn't amused.
Ms. Fashion was the photographer. She faced Natsuki and said, "Point your feet in the air while smiling."
Natsuki sighed and replied, "Alright." She did what she was asked to. Ms. Fashion took the picture.
Mr. Bennett said, "It's time for the dress." He threw a dress to Natsuki. Ms. Fashion led Natsuki to the changing stall.
A few minutes later Natsuki came back and was wearing a blue dress that had drawings of penguins getting punched by crocodiles. Natsuki said, "I know that a model shouldn't question the boss about the outfits, but what is thing about?"
Mr. Bennett said, "Penguins and crocodiles have no known type of rivalry. The dress is so eccentric that it's sure to attract customers."
Natsuki was weirded out, but she went along with it. She asked, "How should I pose?"
Ms. Fashion answered, "Put one hand on your hip and smile." Natsuki did it.
Mr. Bennett said, "The swimsuit is our next fashion item." He threw a swimsuit and Natsuki caught it.
Natsuki got on a swimsuit that had a lava design on it. She asked, "What's up with the lava look?"
Mr. Bennett said, "Lava is the last thing people would expect from something you wear to a pool. My ideas sure are special." Natsuki rolled her eyes.
Ms. Fashion said, "Even I am struggling to find a way to advertise this silliness."
Mr. Bennett whispered to Ms. Fashion, "Can we set her hair on fire? I think it might look cool in a advertisement."
Ms. Fashion whispered back, "We'd get sued if we did that."
Mr. Bennett whispered, "Then I won't go along with it."
Natsuki said, "I'm getting cold so can you take the picture?"
Mr. Bennett laughed and replied, "It's ironic to complain about the cold when you're wearing a lava themed outfit."
Ms. Fashion said, "Just do a cute smile." Natsuki was in an angry mood, but she managed to get a cute smile to come to her face by thinking about Shizuru. Ms. Fashion took the picture.
Mr. Bennett had Natsuki advertise a few other clothing items including a hat that had a batty design, a sweater that had a picture of pencils on it, and a jacket that had pictures of paperclips on it.
Ms. Fashion said, "The modeling is finished."
Natsuki asked, "Will I have to come back tomorrow?"
Mr. Bennett answered, "Those are the only model shots we need for our advertisements this month. However, I'm expecting to see you next month."
Natsuki replied, "Modeling was a nice thing to try out, but I don't think that I want to do it regularly."
Mr. Bennett handed Natsuki his business card and said, "Reconsider your feelings." Natsuki put the card in her jacket and walked away.
The next week the model shots of Natsuki started appearing in advertisements for the store. Pictures of Natsuki were in paper ads, TV commercials, and a few billboards.
Natsuki and Shizuru went for a walk around the city. Natsuki looked around and saw a billboard of her wearing the penguins vs. crocodiles dress. She said, "How humiliating."
Shizuru smiled and replied, "It's the prettiest billboard that I've ever seen."
Natsuki said, "Yeah right. I can't believe I agreed to let them use advertisements of me all over the city. I'm sure that people will make fun of me for months."
A woman overheard Natsuki and replied, "I saw five people at a nearby store who were wearing that dress."
Natsuki asked, "Really?"
Shizuru pointed to the swimming pool across the street. Natsuki looked and saw half of the swimmers were wearing the lava themed swimsuit.
Natsuki asked, "Why would they wear that?"
Shizuru smiled and answered, "Your cute smile was the perfect advertising gimmick."
Natsuki replied, "Thinking about you is what made me smile so you deserve the credit."
Shizuru blushed and said, "The reason I pressured you into doing the model shots is because I wanted the whole world to see how beautiful you are."
Natsuki replied, "Looks aren't everything. Besides, I'm hardly anything special."
Shizuru held Natsuki's hand and said, "Your beauty is more than your looks. You have a beautiful heart. Do you know what I mean?"
Natsuki replied, "Yes I do. When I first met you I thought you were pretty, but I wasn't attracted to you. What made me love you was the beauty of your heart, because I've never seen anything more lovely than your sweet kindness." Shizuru smiled and kissed Natsuki. The most beautiful thing in their lives was the love that they had for each other.