Chapter 14
Tsukimi and Kuranosuke woke up knowing how busy their day would be. But both still took the time to make breakfast and hover over each other a bit. They didn't have time to linger with their affections. But that didn't stop Kuranosuke from pecking her on her forehead, cheeks, and even lips occasionally.
Tsukimi blushed and smiled in response to every one. She was still on the fence about being a couple. It wasn't because she wasn't fond of the idea. The idea actually made her quite happy. She just didn't want to make this whole thing easy on Kuranosuke. Perhaps, it was a bit cruel to hold off on outright telling him they could be an official couple. It's just that she wanted him to romance her as much as possible before she fully committed to the idea.
Kuranosuke smiled at her over the kitchen table as they began to eat their food. "So, let's go over the events for today. Remind me when and who we will be meeting with first."
Tsukimi chewed delicately before she responded. "The first meeting is at 10am with the one that specialized in blouses and skirts. Sorry I don't recall the name off the top of my head without my file."
Kuranosuke shook his head. "No that's okay. But that means we have two and a half hours before then. You said we had a lot of work to do this morning. Did you mean something besides the meetings with our potential staff?" In truth he was hoping she had just wanted to start the day early, and that they had more time to themselves. Realistically, he knew that she wouldn't say anything without reason.
Tsukimi took a sip of juice before responding. "Yeah, I ordered some of the studio equipment and it is supposed to arrive here shortly. I wanted us to be partially set up in there in case one of them asked to see the area they would most often be working in."
Kuranosuke nodded as he mentally went over where to put things. Once the two finished eating they got ready for the day and headed to the floor of the boutique, waiting out for when the moving truck would arrive. While he was waiting he looked around the boutique. They would soon have to do something with this space. Set up some kind of plan on how they wanted it to look. "Tsukimi, have you considered any designs for this room?"
"I don't really work that well with straight angles and lines. But I did try to map out some pictures of what I thought some of the walls and counters should look like." Tsukimi replied and turned to smile at him. "You were thinking we should do something about this space soon weren't you?"
"Yeah, actually I have a friend that is studying interior design. His name is Saito Hideki. I could set up a time sometime this week before you start back up with school again to meet him."
Tsukimi nodded in reply and smiled at him as the moving truck arrived. They let them in and Tsukimi directed them to putting things on the second floor. She hadn't ordered too much as of yet. Only one large table situated in the middle, two drafting tables, and 3 sewing machines and sewing tables. But it was at the very least a good starting point. They could definitely also use a couple of computers and desks at the very least. Kuranosuke made a mental note to take care of that later.
OoO
After the studio was set up the two only had a few moments to spare before expecting the first arrival. Tsukimi ran upstairs to get her folder and came back with only seconds to spare when a small young man approached the door. He seemed to be nervous as he looked in and smiled.
Kuranosuke let him in and directed him to where Tsukimi still stood. They all exchanged hand shakes as he introduced himself as Kato Akiyama. "Why don't we go up to the studio and talk. We at least have somewhere to sit there."
Once seated Kuranosuke took charge of the interview. "Why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself Kato-san?"
"Oh no please, call me Akiyama. I mean perhaps it's a bit presumptuous of me but I do hope that you will consider me, and if not I would at least like us all to be friends. As you saw in my portfolio I specialize in blouses and skirts. I especially like the way I can make a skirt flow as if it were to have it's own movement. If you were to look at my blouses I do specialize in a similar technique as my skirts. But I can also make design something more traditional in style as well." He didn't stop to take many breaths in his long bit of dialogue. It didn't surprise either Tsukimi or Kuranosuke when he finally finished his thought that he took such a deep breath he probably sucked up a quarter of the rooms oxygen.
"Er, would you like some water? Or something else to drink?" Tsukimi quickly offered, worried he made himself parched from his long tirade of words.
"No, no, I'm okay."
Kuranosuke looked Akiyama in the eyes before continuing. "So, what about our email really grabbed your attention? Or what was your driving force behind applying in general?"
"Actually, I'm a bit nervous to admit it. But I recognized the picture on it. I was actually at the contest myself. They had the blouse competition earlier on in the day and I got runner up. But I like to stay for the whole thing to see what is out there." He paused. "I honestly was in awe of the dress you two made. It inspired me. My skirts ended up having more physical flare to their silhouettes. I became more bold with the stitching on some of my blouses. The minute I saw that email I knew I had to apply. I truly believe this boutique would be a wonderful resource for creativity."
"Do you have any problem working underneath a name that is not your own?"
"Not at all. I always kind of figured I would be a part of a bigger fashion label. I am probably even more so excited to get this opportunity. Being a part of a brand new fashion label and team is pretty amazing. Plus like I said you two inspired me so much from that contest. I think in a way me supporting your team with my designs is a way of saying thank you." Akiyama smiled shyly again.
"Give us just a second, Akiyama." Kuranosuke pulled Tsukimi into the stairwell. "So, what do you think of him?"
"His portfolio is amazing and his personality is bright. I don't see him having a problem fitting in, and working with us. I might be concerned about the other potential staff. But not much point in worrying about that when we haven't selected them for certain yet."
"I agree," Kuranosuke replied. "I did consider asking him about sewing. But I don't think he would lack the ability with some of his stitching."
"Should we ask if he thinks it's beneath himself to do possible alterations, and help sew other garments?" Tsukimi voiced a thought she had during the interview.
Kuranosuke shook his head and the two walked back in to the room. "So a couple of things. Number one, do you have a problem with the possibility of helping sew or doing alterations for our possible clientele?"
"No, not at all." He shook his head quickly in response. "I don't mind filling in where I may be needed."
Tsukimi who had been quiet during most of the interview chimed in. "I think we are pretty set on inviting you to join us. However, I do want us to meet as a team once we select everyone and make sure we are all able to work together."
"So, make sure we have team chemistry?" Akiyama asked smiling at Tsukimi.
She blushed in response. "Something like that."
The next person they met with was Hisakawa Ami. She was the only seamstress they actually had in line to interview. She was petite and seemed to be rather shy. She reserved vocalizing anything to when she was asked a question. One of their questions had been how fast she could sew. She had asked if she could demonstrate. When she got behind the sewing machine and began working a set of lavender and dark brown eyes opened wide in amazement. "So fast." They both uttered simultaneously.
The moment reminded Tsukimi of when they first saw Chieko similarly sew at the speed of light. Ami didn't sew quite as fast but she was also doing western stitching which was a tad trickier. Tsukimi also invited her to join them with the same stipulation about being able to work with the others as a team.
Maede Daisuke was the next to arrive. He came across as rather aloof and stoic but he definitely knew how to design some amazing dress slacks and jeans. His portfolio didn't reflect a single type either. In regards to jeans his portfolio reflected his ability to do: skinny, flare, boot cut, and many more. They also varied in fit from being tight in the seat of the pants to a more relaxed fit style.
Daisuke really had the ability to work for any company so the two were confused why he would apply here. "I won't lie I didn't apply out of some need to be part of a new team. I know I would fit into a bigger fashion company easily. The thing is I don't believe in starting as a small peon in a bigger company. I would rather build my own name. I realize that anything I create here would be under your label. But even if I veered in another direction later at least this would be a great learning experience for me."
The two hesitated to include him. But all of his thought processes were sound. So regardless of his lack of enthusiasm they invited him to meet up with everyone at a later time.
Kuranosuke was immediately hesitant about the next person he let in. Himura Kiyoko had sharp facial features. Her ears were adorned with a plethora of earrings from the traditional earlobe and climbing all the way up the helix to the triangular fossa. Her nose was also pierced. She wore her hair buzzed on the sides with only a small section in a wispy bob cut on the top.
Her clothing attire was also extreme. She wore a large army green military style jacket over a very revealing lace bustier. She paired these with tight ripped skinny jeans, the holes held together in some spots with safety pins, and combat boots.
It wasn't until he reviewed her profile that he began to mentally stop judging her solely on her appearance. She shook hands with the two of them and they sat at the table upstairs. "Wow this place has a lot of potential. I can see why you chose it."
Tsukimi smiled. "Yeah, I think we got really lucky finding this location."
"Not as lucky as I got when I saw that e-flyer, dove." Kuranosuke's eye twitched at the term of affection. "I have been receiving request upon request to come work for several big wigs all over town. I don't want to work at some more corporate level. I want to be more free spirited. I want to work somewhere like this. I mean look at those windows!" She got up to look outside. "I can see working here as very freeing and liberating."
"Was it just your desire to work somewhere new that compelled you to apply, or was there something more?' Kuranosuke realized that his phrasing might have been a bit sharp. But if she was just wanting to be here for some relaxation factor he worried about her production level.
"Honestly? The picture itself called to me a lot. I thought of the many different shoes I could design to go with that dress. I turned out five different designs that first night. Then I was still working on more the next day. I think total I ended up with fifteen designs from one outfit. I have never been that inspired in my life. Being inspired by that one gown made me hopeful of being able to produce even more design ideas at the same fast paced production level. I hope you will select me to join you."
Kuranosuke and Tsukimi argued a bit back and forth in the stairwell before her key point finally won him over. "We aren't quite selecting the team yet. We are selecting those with a strong profile that we hope will work together. If she can't work with the others then she will be out." So despite Kuranosuke's initial misgivings they invited her back.
The final person they met with was Ito Mirai. She was the craft designer that Tsukimi had found on the internet. It was her jewelry that mostly captivated Tsukimi, but she had a little bit of everything in her crafting store. It had surprised both Kuranosuke and Tsukimi that she had brought someone else along with her. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out they were related as their features were quiet similar. The younger had a bit wider eyes and a slightly shorter chin. But otherwise they were quite visually similar.
"This is my sister Sorano. She works as my assistant." She paused while they all greeted each other. "I brought some of my physical work with me so you could see it for yourself. I personally don't feel that pictures do it justice. But perhaps I am just a bit biased."
When Tsukimi picked up a glass orchid pendant her expression spoke volumes. Mirai was not just biased. Her work was exquisite. Mirai interrupted Tsukimi's appreciation of her work to inquire about her vision with the shop. What she would like to hope to achieve and asked about her own designs.
Somehow that turned into Tsukimi inviting the two girls up to the apartment. They squished in on the couch and looked at both of Tsukimi's sketchbooks. Tsukimi made sure to take a moment to ask them not to look at the last page of the design sketchbook. A few minutes stretched rapidly into hours and the four ended up spending supper together.
After a few movies and being well fed the girls said goodbye and Tsukimi turned to Kuranosuke. "No matter what I want those two to work with us."
"I agree. You seemed to form a quick friendship with those two."
Tsukimi smiled softly. "You didn't seem to like Kyoko all that much."
"I don't know she just seemed to be too gruff to me." Kuranosuke shrugged.
"I think you were judging too much on how she looked. Heck, I am really surprised that you did so. You aren't like that. You didn't judge me that way." Tsukimi stated.
Kuranosuke realized that she had a point. He had been quite unfair in his judgment of Kyoko. He would have to open his mind a bit more to the shoe designer and hope everything would work for the best. "I wasn't too fond of her calling you dove."
Tsukimi smirked lightly at Kuranosuke. "Why's that?"
"She can't have a pet name for you before I do!"
Tsukimi laughed at his exclamation. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Then, I guess you will just have to come up with a better one." She stated before initiating a good night kiss. Of course what she intended as just a light brushing of lips quickly escalated and they both were out of breath when it ended.
"I vote we end every night like that, and begin every morning the same way." Kuranosuke smirked down at Tsukimi.
"I don't know. I'm not sure how much work we would get done that way."
Kuranosuke groaned in mock annoyance.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I hope to post the next one in a couple weeks.
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