"Haruka! Thank you so much for coming today!"
"You're welcome, Hasekura-san. It's such an honor to be working with you again."
"Please, just call me Diane. We'll be working together a lot!"
Haruka was at the studio to help Diane with a photoshoot. The only difference with this photoshoot was that Haruka was going to be paid as a model and she was here without Heath or Masami.
"Okay, Haruka, we're going to do a few concepts today. We're going to start with a princess theme so if you could, please go and get changed before doing your hair and makeup."
Haruka couldn't recognize herself when she stepped out of the changing room. She was dressed in a stunning green gown and her hair was curled and coiled in a beautiful chaotic mess on her head. A delicate tiara sat atop her head and she wore shoes that matched her dress.
"Haruka, your job with this photoshoot is to show off this purse. I want you to make this purse desirable and amazing!"
Haruka wasn't sure what to do with Diane's description so she did what she thought was best. The photographer praised Haruka for her effort but he pointed out that there were a few things that needed to be worked on, such as her facial expressions and stiff poses.
"She has a lot of potential to be photogenic," said the photographer, "Let's put on some relevant music to see if that will help with the poses. In the mean time, let's move on to the next set."
Haruka's body loosened as she went through the next few photoshoots. She shot a photoshoot for a new makeup brand that Diane was producing and she also wore clothes that were being produced by the company for the summer season. Haruka spotted Diane talking to someone and she saw that it was Tomoe. They greeted each other and Diane told Haruka that they would be doing a photoshoot together.
"I'm glad I'm working with someone I know," Tomoe confided, "I'm not too comfortable posing with strangers."
"Me neither," Haruka agreed, "Do you do this often?"
"I do, but only because Heath blackmails me into helping him," Tomoe laughed.
For this particular photoshoot, Diane wanted Haruka and Tomoe to wear sports wear. Tomoe and Haruka's first outfit were stylish tracksuits; their second outfit was a pair of matching shorts and tank tops. Their final outfit was suited to their individual style. Haruka was dressed in a pair of leggings with neon lining and a white jacket that was left unzipped to show off the stylish sports bra while Tomoe was dressed in skinny joggers and a jacket that was zipped to show off the cool funnel neck.
"I hope Kyosuke isn't angry at me for posing so intimately with you," Tomoe said quietly during the photoshoot.
"Intimate? This isn't intimate at all."
"On the contrary; you and I are quite close together."
Haruka blushed when she realized that Tomoe was right but she quickly regained her composure as the photographer continued snapping away and suggesting poses.
"I didn't notice. I guess I was too caught up with the photoshoot."
Tomoe smiled, "It's good to be dedicated to something you like."
After the photoshoot ended, Haruka and Tomoe changed back to their regular clothes. Diane thanked them and she gave them money as well as a kiss on the cheek. Diane gifted a purse to Haruka and she gifted a jacket to Tomoe before they left. The sun was setting so Tomoe offered to walk Haruka home. Haruka asked about the Stride club and how Kyosuke was doing in the club.
"He's doing well but frankly, I don't think the third years like us very much."
"Why is that?"
"Because we're second years and the regulars are mostly third years. They're probably wondering why their fellow third years were overtaken by some second years."
"But you guys are talented and that's why you made it onto the roster. The third years have no reason to be bitter about it."
"That's true, but they're third years so this year's End of Summer tournament will be their last."
"Oh, yeah...I forgot about that."
After club activities in the summer, third year students left club activities to focus on college entrance exams. They were discouraged from participating in their clubs and encouraged to study instead of playing sports or engaging in extracurricular activities.
"After this tournament...I may go to America."
Haruka was shocked, "America?"
Tomoe chuckled at Haruka's expression, "I can see why Kyosuke likes you so much. You're cute."
Haruka covered her face but she pressed on with her question, "Why are you going to America?"
Tomoe looked up at the sky and breathed deeply.
"I love running. It's everything to me. I live it; I breathe it. In America, they have training regimens that will help me fulfil my potential. There is a dream I want to achieve and I believe that going to America will help me achieve it," he lowered his gaze, "I haven't talked to Heath or Kyosuke about it, though. Going to America isn't set in stone so I don't want to raise any false alarms."
Haruka nodded in agreement,
"You're going to tell them if you leave, though, right?"
Tomoe paused before he smiled and spoke,
"Of course."