Smile at the Runway 1

Runway de Waratte (Smile at the Runway)
Chapter 01:



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[Page 001]
[TITLE] Smile at the Runway
Show Model:
refers to models who focus on performing at Fashion Shows.

This

[CAPTION] Every step, every dress, clears the path to a world of limitless possibilities…

is a tale of how I, Fujito Chiyuki, becomes a top model.


[Page 002-003]
And also…

{ A fierce model and her dress! // An unprecedented journey lies ahead!! }
[TITLE] Smile at the Runway
[BOX] One Outfit: This is your story.
[BIG PROMO TEXT] To the Paris Fashion Week!
[BIG PROMO TEXT] MEGA NEW SERIES 63 PAGES!!

[Page 004]
What?! Chiyuki-chan, you got even taller?!
Smile at the Runway
[promo text] To the Paris Fashion Week!
[promo text] Mega New Serialization!!

Yup!
Wow~ 158 cm* and still in 4th grade? You are one hell of a girl.
[BOX:] Fujito Chiyuki // AGE: 10
[*TL NOTE:] For Americans: 158cm = 5’2”

Hey, hey Shizuku-san! How tall do you need to be to perform at Paricolle*?!
Umm... at least
[*TL NOTE:] Paricolle = Shorthand for “Paris Collection”, which is the Japanese name for Paris Fashion Week.

175 cm
[*TL NOTE:] 175cm = 5’9”
{ Mmmm~~~ }
{ A bit more!! }


[Page 005]
This is Shizuku-san.
She was the first model from my dad’s Modeling Agency, “Mille neige”, to perform at the Paris Fashion Week.

{ The greatest fashion festival that only a handful of top models can participate: }
{ the Paris Fashion Week. }
{ It became my }

greatest
admiration.

I will definitely be on the Paricolle* too!!
Work on your remaining 20 cm first.
[*TL NOTE:] Paricolle = Shorthand for “Paris Collection”, which is the Japanese name for Paris Fashion Week.


[Page 006]
The president must be so proud.

Her looks and height are perfect, and she’s still only 10 years old.
< PAT PAT >
His own daughter is a prodigy right on track to become the star of the Agency.

And she’s still in the middle of her growth spurt so she’ll easily go beyond 180cm…. I’m so jealous.
The world of modeling is all about height these days.

Chiyuki.
< OPEN >
Dad!

I’ve got a big job for you.
< LIFT >

Paricolle?!
No.
< YAYYYYYY >
And since then,


[Page 007-008]
I entered my final year of High School,
without gaining a single centimeter.

Fujito-san, you are on Day Duty tomorrow,
so please don’t forget to collect the Career Survey.
[WHITEBOARD] Career Survey

< POP >

Ye--s
< Scribble Scribble >

Done!
< Scribble >


[Page 009]
[paper-title] Career Survey
[paper-name:] Year: 3 Class: 2 Name: Fujito Chiyuki
[Table-row1] Priority | School Name | Major
[Table-row2] 1st Choice | SUPERMODEL
[Table-row3] 2nd Choice |
[Table-row4] 3rd Choice |
[Table-bot] If you plan on finding employment, please put your career choice instead of the school name.

My, my. Our fair lady is at a whole new level.
So jealous~

Look. These things are all about how loud you can say it, okay?
You haven’t said it though.
I was just about to!

I am a Supermodel!
You already are though.
Is Supermodel really your final goal?

….You’re right.

[SCRATCH] SUPERMODEL
HYPERMODEL


[Page 010]
But our Lady Chiyuki’s sure got everything.
Bet you’ll get to do whatever you want with your career and your love life.

Your dad’s the President of the Modeling Agency, Mille neige.
The company’s even branching out to perfumes and apparels industry these days.

Hey Chiyuki~ Can I turn our relationship into a job offer?
Maybe? If you do everything I say.
Yes! { hahaha }

My dad isn’t the kind that listens to my childish requests though.

U- Umm….

Fujito-san..
Here.. is mine…

< FLAP >
[upside-down-on-paper] WORK

Oh-.... I don’t remember your name.
Come on Chiyuki, he’s your classmate. It’s….
What was your name again?
?!


[page 011]
Tsumura! It’s Tsumura Ikuto!
Ah! The bean sprout box!

Bean sprout?
Remember last year? He’s the guy that people were making fun of at the Sports Festival because his lunchbox was just white rice and bean sprouts.
Wait, is it that widespread?!

That was because it happened to be the day before payday….
[PAPER:] WORK
Are you poor?

Work? Is it because of money?
Eh
Chiyuki, that’s mean.

Ah, sorry.
Chiyuki, you are too frank.
{ BEH~~ }
My bad~.

Tsumura-kun, right? Got it! Let’s have a fun final year.
Y-yes!

Home? For work?
Yeah.
[Page 012]
‘Cause I am a Supermodel.

Dreams aren’t something you wish, but something you grant.
That is my belief.
If I give up, my fortune will give up too.
That’s why I keep on shouting:

GROW BODY, GROW!!
{ YEAAAAAAH }

Well!
It will grow eventually. Yup.

Alright, time for my revenge match….


[Page 013]
“You’re Fired.” That’s what my boss (dad) told me two years ago.

Shizuku-san, can I go to Paricolle?

Dad, I want to go to Paris.

Hey,

Chiyuki, let me make this clear.
It’s impossible to reach Paris with that height.
If you keep acting like a spoiled brat, I’ll have to fire y-

Who says it’s impossible!!

[BOX] And that was the final blow.

Come on, Chiyuki
[SIGN:] Mille neige
I’ve said it in your last audition, your last last audition, and the one even before that.
Remember? Say it.


[Page 014]
“Let’s do our best for Paricolle”
I said you’re fired so don’t come again!!

{ Sigh… }
Anyway, what kind of nerve do you have to think you can re-audition?

I don’t want to hear it from someone that’s trying to retire as quickly as possible for a stable income~

Fired Fired Fired Fired Fired Fired Fired Fired
Go home!!
Come on now, Ms. Shizuku.

So, Chiyuki…
What’s that?

It’s the dress you wore at Paricolle.
I pass if I look good in this, right?


[Page 015]
Pitiful. Midget. Ugly.
Woah?!

Last one was just for payback.
What are those heels.

There’s nothing more hideous than wearing heels just to fake one’s height.
< Step >
…!!
And there are plenty of models that can simply look good with a dress.

The job of a fashion model isn’t to show yourself,

it’s to captivate the dress. #PR: captivate/infatuate
That’s why you need a certain height, and a certain look.


[Page 016]
We aren’t a big-time agency that can force things to happen through connections.

You need to earn the spotlight you desire with your own skills.

Can you do that?
With that unfortunate height of yours?

Chiyuki, it’s impossible.

Give up.

Chiyuki-san.

If you don’t mind, try this.


[Page 017]
It’s a list of audition schedules of big modeling agencies other than us.
You got great looks, so I’m sure you’ll be able to get in.

You might be able to things that you can’t do at a mid-sized agency like ours.
If things go well, y-
Takahashi-san.

No worries.
< Hee hee~ >
I don’t give up that easily~

Let Shizuku-san know that I’ll be back~
That’s right.

My dream,
Is not just to be on the Paris Fashion Week.

Hey, daddy.


[Page 018]
F-fujito-san!!
May I redo the career survey, please?

Eh
I got to hand them over to the teacher by end of school today.
< Chatter Chatter >
I- I’ll be quick…
< Woah Woah >
< Chatter >

< Woa--- Woa--- >

{ “I’ll be quick” my ass }
{ School’s almost over… }

Tsumura-kun was in the Craft club?
Tsumura? Who?

It’s the gloomy guy with a bowl cut from yesterday.
Ah!
He’s so invisible! I totally forgot about him!


[Page 019]
[SIGN] Clothing Room

Tsumura-kun, survey.
!
S-Sorry!!

Here it-
AHH!!

WORK #TS: with eraser marks.

Nothing’s changed….
< Bow Bow >

Ah this DVD!!
Why do you have it?!


[Page 020]
It’s Paricolle!
My club advisor let me borrow it...
And it’s the one Shizuku-san was on!!

It’s so pretty….

….Mmm?
Tsumura-kun, what were you doing?
Ah… I was trying to make something just like it.

What?
{ It’s not even the same fabric. }
I don’t have any materials! I usually have to dismantle old clothes to scavenge what I need.

Ah, it’s Tsumura-kun, so there’s no money to buy fabric.
< I see >
T-that’s pretty rude!


[Page 021]
He’s so invisible! I totally forgot about him!
He’s actually quite interesting.

Hey Tsumura-kun, do you think I’ll look good on these?
Eh?!

Why all of a sudden?!
Just cause! Tell me.

But that’s… Won’t it be sexual harassment?!
Get on with it.

F-fujito-san, you are a model so I think you’ll look good on anything....
Of course~
{ so casual }

Then are there any that’ll look even better?
Even better?!

C-can I go take a look for a bit?!


[Page 022]
Woah…

Did you make all these…?
Yes. I’m the only member so….

If you see anything you like, feel free to take it ho-
Huh? No need.

It’ll be too embarrassing to go around wearing a dress made by an amateur.
< Click Click >

How about this, Fujito-san?!


[Page 023]
That kinda piss me off a lot.

You better tell me in details
why
you thought
I’ll look better in these.
S-sorry!!
But you are always so direct and much more-

…..
You. Keep going.

….But I see it now.

In case of Fujito-san, you need to find a good balance between her feminine outer appearance and her masculine personality.
then I should cut the sleeves and extend the height…

He just said I’m a [BOLD]guy.


[Page 024]
But look at this.
If I look carefully, I can see the marks of reusing it over and over….

All the fabrics in here weren’t enough.

{ He must really love }
{ making clothes. }

You should just be a fashion designer.


[Page 025]
Eh...ah… no, I can’t…. I don’t really want to anyway.
Huh? Reelly?

But you wrote:
[SURVEY-MAIN] WORK
[SURVEY-FADED-BEHIND] Designer School in Tokyo
Designer School in Tokyo.

even though you erased it afterwards.

F-Fujito-san…
Do you think someone with just high school education can become a fashion designer?


[Page 026]
So you do want to be one.

I dunno? Impossible probably.

All the designers I know all studied in specialized schools.

My dad’s policy for new hires also require a college degree from a fashion school as minimum requirement.

The fashion industry
tend to be surprisingly strict.

Yes. I knew it was strict.
That’s what I found when I researched it.

You probably can’t go because of financial reasons, right Tsumura-kun?
But there are lot of scholarships these days.

I have three sisters below me.


[Page 027]
A really smart one,
another that’s very good at Volleyball and super popular,
and the youngest is just super adorable cause she’s so little.

Giving up on her studies even though all the teachers say she has the grades to aim for any university,
Or declining an offer from a school with a top-level team just because the travel cost of away matches is too high.
And as a 5 year old…. I want her to be able to choose whatever she wants in the future.

All

All of these will be resolved once I get a job this year.


[Page 028]
So I won’t be going to college.
I have no desire to.

Ahh…. I see.

He is the same as me.

Even though he has something he wants to pursue, the things he was born with won’t allow him.

But that shouldn’t be a reason to give u-

「 F-Fujito-san… Do you think someone with just high school education can become a fashion designer?」
「 I dunno? 」

Wait…?


[Page 029]
[BIG BOLD] Impossible [/Big bold] probably.
Chiyuki…. it’s [BIG BOLD]impossible.

{ What did I }
{ just say? }


[Page 030]
No way…
Ahh…. I see. He is the same as me.

Impossible? Who is? Tsumura-kun? Or…
M--
Thank you so much, Fujito-san.

I will be able to my decision without any regrets thanks to your honest answer.

Eh?! Fujito-san?!

< Creak >
Umm...


[Page 031]
There is no way I think it’s impossible.

[SIGN] Mille neige Audition Hall

Give up already.
{ I failed… }
Chiyuki.

{ Again… }

[FLYER TITLE] Talent Agency Audition Notice
[FLYER BODY] -dition #TS: front cutoff
[FLYER BODY] We frequently hold audition for newcomers looking to #TS: front and end gets cut off.
[FLYER BODY] , so please apply through mail. #TS: front cutoff
[FLYER BODY] Male & Female (performance area unknown) #TS: front cutoff
[FLYER BODY] in details). Please attach your photo in the back, and make sure to #TS: front & back cutoff
[FLYER BODY] list them there. #TS: front cutoff
[FLYER BODY] District. Kabukicho West 3-3-6 Matsuyama Building 4, 5th Floor. #TS: front cutoff
[FLYER BODY] -dition. New Recruit Program. #TS: front cutoff
[FLYER BODY] is not available. #TS: front cutoff
[FLYER BODY] , please. #TS: front cutoff
[FLYER BODY] We will contact you within two weeks by phone or mail. #TS: front cutoff

{ A different agency…. }


[Page 032]
You pass.
Please be part of our agency from tomorrow.

...Really?

Yes.
Here are the paperworks, so please bring them next time.

I knew it was possible!
I have the talent!
I got into a major agency in my first try!!
How do you not call this a talent?

I can do this.

I can still aim for Paris.


[Page 033]
Hey Fujito-san! Hold it right there!

Teacher?
Please redo this!

You didn’t even collect the surveys properly.
Tsumura-kun was the one that turned them in.
Ah.

Come on, it’s all a thing of the past~
Weren’t these given to you last week anyway?
Were you procastinating?
Be quiet!!

What is this “Hypermodel” anyway?
What kind of person writes this as her career choice?!

Here.
Redo it!


[Page 034]
[SCRATCH] SUPERMODEL
HYPERMODEL
In the first place, I don’t get the difference between supermodel and hypermodel!
< BAM >

Supermodels are models that perform at Paricolle.
Don’t look at me as if it’s some common knowledge.

Then how about hypermodel?

It’s a list of audition schedules of big modeling agencies other than us.
You might be able to things that you can’t do at a mid-sized agency like ours.

You pass.
Please be part of our agency from tomorrow.

Hyper-...model.

[Page 35]
Hey daddy.

My dream,
Isn’t just to be on Paricolle.

Hypermodel…

is a model from Mille neige,
That goes to perform in Paris.


[Page 36]
Right.
That’s right.
I will perform in Paris as a member of Mille neige.
{ Huh? }
{ Huh? }
I will perform in Paris as a member of Mille neige.
These things are all about how loud you can say it.
You can’t make it come true If you don’t say it out loud.

I WILL PERFORM IN PARIS AS A MEMBER OF MILLE NEIGE!!

I won’t give up anymore!! I will do anything I can!!

Thanks for the help teacher! I made my resolve!
Huh….?


[Page 37]
The job of a fashion model isn’t to show yourself,
it’s to captivate the dress.

Honestly, I’m lost on what I need to do
to achieve my dream.

Tsumura-kun!!
[SIGN] Clothing Room
But,

in other words, it needs to look attractive when I’m wearing it!

I will give you all the clothes I’m not wearing anymore,
so make me a dress that will look the best when I’m wearing it!!

Huh?

[Page 38]
We will tell you the results later.
Please wait at the hallway outside.

Will Chiyuki-san be coming today too?
...who knows.

There’s something I wanted to ask for a long time. Why don’t you ban her from coming?
Our president said to let her do as she pleases.

And that she is someone who won’t give up until she does.
by herself.

That’s why we just have to keep telling her that she doesn’t have talent until she gives up by herself.
….That’s a tough role to play.

It’s nothing for me,


[Page 39]
compared to what she’s going through.

There is nothing more painful than to keep on pursuing a fruitless dream.

E-excuse me!
It’s fine. Let her in.

That’s why Chiyuki,
I will say it over and over again.


[Page 40]
{ That you going to Paris with that height }

{ is impos- }


[Page 41-42]
[notext]

[Page 43]
What…. Is that.
I-is it weird…?!

That’s not it…

Shizuku-san.
I won’t give up.

The fact that I was born as dad’s daughter.

The fact that my dad founded a Modeling Agency.

The fact that I saw Shizuku-san on that stage.

My entire life is screaming that I want to be on that stage.
You see? That’s why….


[Page 44]
I wouldn’t be myself if I were to give up.

…..

Aren’t you going to say anything?

Do you… plan on chasing a dream you will never be able to achieve?

I will make it happen! I’ve got all my life.

You aren’t making any sense…
A 158cm tall Paricolle model.
...It’s complete nonsense.
Even though it’s nonsense,

at that one moment,


[Page 45-46]
{ I saw a glimpse }
{ of Paris. }

[Page 47]
1%
I saw a 1% possibility.

You brought your seal with you, right?
Come to the desk later.

I will go over the contract with you.

Chiyuki,

Mille neige is the same age as you,
because I found it on the same year you were born.


[Page 48]
I had planned
to give the place a french name,
but I wasn’t sure what.

But while struggling… your dad discovered the one name that is the most precious to him:

Mille neige
Chi (thousand) yuki (snow)

[Page 49]
And with that, the deal is sealed.

Well, I’m sure you know already,
but now you aren’t allowed to take any jobs without going through our agency, okay?

< drip >
< drip >
HEY

It was before I came here, so it’s safe!!
What did you do?!
It was a Street Snap...
Oh, that thing where Fashion magazines take shots of regular people?


[Page 50]
Aren’t you a former pro?
Why were you so excited?
C-cause it’s been a while!!
{ Getting seen by people. }
Thanks to someone!!

Where were you taken?
At the street in front of the office, right below our company logo.
< Flip >
Humph.

I was wondering if there’s something that could go along with what I’m wearing today! I was just killing time.
Go along with it?

Didn’t you buy those from Mille neige? { is it new? }
Huh?!
Ah, yup. You’re right.

{ It’s a dress made by a nobody… I can’t let people know... }
{ Rgh… }

That look dress is so cute! Where did you buy them?!
Huh?!
Ah, umm…..

I am someone who is going to be a hypermodel!


[Page 51]
There’s no way I can say: “it’s handmade by a friend~”
It’s from the shop right here!!

[small] The Spring Full Set from the hot brand, “Mille neige”.

The Spring Full Set from the hot brand, “Mille neige”.

Sara-san, the recording is about to start.
Coming~


[Page 52]
This dress is so cute.

154 Following
[button] TWEET

3,913,965 Followers #TS: gets cut off.
[button] TWEET
< TAP >

[Page 053]
{ It’s Chiyuki. }

{ This Chiyuki’s so cute. }

This dress is cute! #TS: front is a bit cutoff.
< TAP >

< TAP >

< TAP >

< PRRRRRR >

[Page 54]
I am sorry, but that product isn’t from our catalog.
< PRRRR >
Yes… yes….
< PRRRR >
I’m so sorry.
< Click >
< PRRRR >
Yes, this is Maeda from Millie neige sales department.
< Click >
< PRRRRRR >
In regards to that issue, we-
< Click >

What should we do, sir?

I will go ask Chiyuki.
I’ll leave the rest to you.


[Page 055]
SNAP
All done!

For Ichika?
Nope. It’s Aoi’s.

Huh?! Me?!
Then why is it a skirt?!

I told you I don’t like them because I have to watch out how I move.
But look. It looks like a skirt on the outside, but on the inside…
Ohhhh

That’s not the issue here!!
Hey, brother.


[Page 056]
You don’t have to force yourself to get a job.

Honoka,
I’m doing it because I want to.

But you have something you really love…
Ik-kun~~~!!

Ao-chan,
No-chan,

Ichika, and mommy,
are all Ik-kun’s customers!!


[Page 057]
That’s why Ik-kun is our dressmaker,
and he will always be our dressmaker!!

< grip >

Geez…
{ It’s not that simple… }
PRRRRRRRR

< TATATATATAT >

Hiiii this is Tsumura Dress Store~~~
Wait! Baka Ichika!!

Who is Fujito?
Ik-kun’s girlfriend?

Huh?


[Page 058]
I am the President of Mille neige,
Fujito Kenji.

Thank you for coming here on such a short notice, Tsumura-kun.
N-n-no problem sir!

You might have already heard about it from Chiyuki, but I’ll get straight to the point:


[Page 059]
We would like to buy the design of the dress you made for Chiyuki.

…….Huh?

N-no, why would something I made be….?!
I am really sorry for what happened.
My company ended up taking credit for something you have created.

That’s why I called you here to see if we could formally turn it into a product of ours.

Of course!! Please, as you wish!!
Thank you.

Why didn’t I realize it from the start?


[Page 060]
And there is one more thing I wanted to discuss.

This is a completely separate issue,
but a designer we had originally in mind for a certain project, decided to go independent recently.

Because I recognize,

It’s a project about telling a story through the designs.
「Unrequited Love」
「Confession」
「Happiness」
「Eternity」
We want to tell a tale through four dresses with “Love” as the main theme.

this gaze

It's the gaze
How about it?
I was given when I was little.


[Page 061]
Would you like to work
{ Those are eyes }

at our place as a designer?
{ gazing at raw talent. }

That’s right. This is-


[Page 062]
a tale of how I, Fujito Chiyuki, becomes a top model.

Designers are the real stars of the fashion industry! That’s the same for this project too.
So I’m sure it might make you nervous… but feel free to come up with anything you want.

Since,

And,


[Page 063]
The real star of this story is you,
{ If your passion is right. // And you truly dream it. // A miracle will always be waiting for you!! } #top-left corner caption
{ Story of a fledgling designer and his model’s challenge towards Paris, starts here!! }

[black bar] a tale of how Tsumura Ikuto
[bubble] Tsumura Ikuto-kun.

{ Next issue is another big one with 42-pages! Please stay tuned!! } #low-right caption/

[black bar] becomes a top designer.

< TO BE CONTINUED >