Work Text:
"Higuchi," Kouyou calls just as Higuchi finishes wiping off the last bits of her makeup, "do you have a minute?"
Higuchi tosses the dirty makeup wipe in the trash, grimacing at the idea of having to cleanse her face the moment she reaches home. It's a shame that she can't just let her head hit the pillow and knock out, but has to put in so much time and care into maintaining her skin. "Yeah!"
Kouyou steps into the room, her sharp boots clicking against the tiled floors. She's holding a clipboard, probably signing off some documents that Higuchi is never allowed to see no matter how long she's been working here.
The Port Model, or PM for short, is a highly prestigious modelling agency in Japan. Known for its strict diets and its unique front-page shoots, the PM produces only the most classy models that dominate fashion magazines and runways alike.
Higuchi herself is a runway model scouted by none other than her current agent, Kouyou. She does all of the job bookings for Higuchi, finding shoots that she thinks will fit Higuchi's vibe, as she likes to call it. Spring fashion is the most common for her, with its soft hues and pastel colours that go well with Higuchi's gentle features.
Years ago, when Higuchi first started modelling, she had been so excited that she would take up any opportunity possible. However, as all things go, a fresh face in a harsh environment can only last so long before being beaten down.
Higuchi doesn't want to shit on her job. She loves it, and she's made loads of friends under this agency that she wouldn't trade for the world. However, as much as she loathes to admit it, something about this industry has snuffed out her spark. She doesn't find the same joy in the clothes she models anymore, not the way she once did, and every pose she does feels practised and controlled rather than how Higuchi wants it to be.
She supposes she cannot afford to be too picky, though. Modelling is a job where artistic expression comes from the clothing, not the model itself. Higuchi's role is to let the clothes shine, to translate the message that the client had in mind when designing. So she shouldn't complain, even if every shoot she does feels dull and lacklustre these days.
"Well done on the shoot today," Kouyou says, looking up from her clipboard with a tight-lipped smile. "I apologise for the chaos, though. That team was only recently put together, so they're a bit new to this whole thing."
Higuchi lets out a laugh at the memory. The team was recommended by Lippmann, one of her fellow friends, and a famous model slash actor in Japan. Although, between Albatross' highly unique vision that none of them seem to have nailed, Doc's lighting collapsing halfway, and Iceman's camera almost breaking because of it, well—
Higuchi can say that The Flags are a fun team, at least. But she's still going to be really grateful that she came out alive after working with them.
"Anyway, are you all set for your flight tomorrow? I contacted the head of the company to confirm your participation. Do you have your speech ready?"
Higuchi nods, her lips thinning out into a weak smile when she remembers her latest job. She's flying to Canada as an esteemed guest to participate in a fashion show. It's one that focuses on showcasing models and designs from all around the world. Higuchi has no idea how Kouyou managed to land her this position, but then again, this is her chance to really bring her face worldwide. She mustn't miss it.
"Good. It'll be a long flight. Text me if you need anything, okay? You should go home and get some rest." With that, Kouyou clicks her pen and waves, leaving the room.
Higuchi holds back a sigh at the idea of being in an aeroplane for almost 12 hours. But a job is a job, and she especially cannot pass up something as big as this. Lippmann would have her head.
So Higuchi reminds herself to slip into the position she's supposed to play and packs up quickly, leaving the room with her chest feeling heavy.
Higuchi's airport experience is going absolutely wonderfully.
That was sarcastic. Completely so.
It didn't start out too bad. First, Tachihara dropped her off, sending her an air kiss to wish her luck. Except the moment she entered the airport and he drove away, Higuchi realised that she left her purse in his car—it contained the most important things like her wallet and passport. So she waited for Tachihara to figure out a way to turn back, taking up about thirty minutes.
Normally, this wouldn't matter. Higuchi has a habit of arriving at the airport at least three hours early, something that's been drilled into her since she was a child. Except, this time she wasn't that early, because it's currently holiday season and the roads were a lot more packed than either of them expected. So Higuchi has to rush through the motions of checking in and baggage claiming and the like, and by the time she's done, boarding has already begun.
A little miffed that she didn't get time to shop around and eat something, Higuchi joins the queue to the plane, and then there was no space to store her baggage overhead, so she has to squeeze everything she has under the seat, giving her no leg room, and—
God, whatever. Higuchi's just tired. It's ass o'clock in the morning. No one wants to be stuck in a plane with hundreds of strangers at this kind of timing.
Shutting her eyes, Higuchi leans her head against the wall, deciding to sleep away the irritation and the hunger. Therefore, she doesn't notice someone slide into the seat next to her, only until she is woken up by a gentle shake to her shoulder.
"Hey," the person says as Higuchi blinks her eyes open wearily. "Do you want a ham, egg, or vegetable sandwich?"
"W-what?" Higuchi mumbles as she swings between the states of dreaming and reality. "Vegetable."
She says it more out of habit than genuine thought. Before she can dwell on the odd question even further, the tray in front of her is being dragged down, and the stranger places a box and a cup onto it.
Higuchi finally manages to peel her eyes open and take a look at what's happening. The first thing she sees is bright orange liquid in the cup, next to a hearty vegetable sandwich in a clear box. The next is the stranger next to her, a girl who looks no older than twenty-five, with fiery red hair and the longest eyelashes Higuchi has ever seen in her life. The stranger opens her mouth to speak and Higuchi catches sight of shiny braces too.
"Sorry to have woken you up. I thought you'd prefer having something to eat," she says.
"Oh." Higuchi puts two and two together. "Yes, I would. Thank you."
The stranger smiles and turns back to her own food, opening up the box. When Higuchi looks at her tray, she notices that all her food is shifted on the right side of the tray further away from Higuchi, for the left side is taken up by a pink sketchbook and a pencil rolling on top.
Bringing her eyes back to her own tray, Higuchi takes a sip of orange juice, the sharp citrus taste waking her up. She takes a deep breath, waiting for her stomach to feel ready for food, before she picks up her sandwich to take a small bite.
Beside her, the stranger chows down her breakfast at breakneck speed. Then, she leans back on her chair, opens up her sketchbook at an angle just enough for Higuchi to be unable to see it discreetly, and begins doodling.
Okay. Higuchi knows it's none of her business. But, for some odd reason, she can't drag her eyes away from the girl next to her.
Maybe it's because of the way she's dressed, a poofy skirt and hair tied in frizzy twin braids, a few star-shaped pimple patches on her face. Or maybe it's because of this magnetic, unexplainable spark in her eyes, one you only catch if you know where to look. The girl's entire energy is intriguing and Higuchi doesn't want to stare, but—
"What?" she asks sharply, sending Higuchi a raised eyebrow. "Do I have something on my face?"
Higuchi jumps. "N-no, sorry! I just, um… I like your dress."
"Oh." She softens immediately, a smile growing on her face. Higuchi thinks that it's a very pretty smile. "Thanks. I made it myself for a school project."
"Really?" Higuchi cannot keep the shock out of her voice. "You did that while studying?"
She laughs. "I'm still studying, but yeah. It's one of my favourites. I'm Lucy, by the way."
Ah, a foreign name. Higuchi straightens her posture, taking Lucy's offered hand and shaking it. "I'm Higuchi. You're not from Japan?"
"Nope. I moved here for university, but I'm heading back to Canada to visit my family for the holidays," Lucy explains. "What about you?"
"Work," Higuchi sighs. "So, are you a fashion student?"
"Yup. It's my final year." Lucy holds up a peace sign. "I'm thinking of taking up an internship soon to boost my portfolio. Something that'll help me break into the industry the moment I graduate. It's going to be great. I'm going to be a star!"
Higuchi cannot help but smile. She recognises that kind of passion—it's one she used to hold deep in her heart. "A star, huh? That's awesome!"
Lucy ducks her head shyly. "I've been told I come off too ambitious. Thanks. So, uh… what do you do for work?"
Higuchi hesitates. It's not that she's embarrassed about her job or anything, but it feels a little awkward that their fields are so closely related, yet their levels of passion and commitment are at completely opposite ends of the spectrum.
Higuchi glances at the seat in front of her, specifically where the magazines are stored. She didn't look through them yet, but she recognises one of the covers and knows exactly what release it is. Because she was in it.
She's not on the cover page, thankfully, but if Lucy got bored within these twelve hours (a highly likely situation), then she's bound to pick up one of the fashion magazines and flip through it. And Higuchi does not feel like going through the oh my God you're a model? It makes sense for how pretty you are! conversation again.
So she's stuck here. It's a now-or-later kind of situation, eh?
"I, um, I'm a model," Higuchi spits out.
Lucy, unpredictably, doesn't react very strongly. She doesn't go all wide-eyed and start gushing. She doesn't wrinkle her nose in a way that indicates that she doesn't think of modelling as a real job either. She only stares blankly at Higuchi, like she's waiting for something else.
"...I work with the Port Model?" Higuchi attempts to elaborate.
Lucy snaps her fingers. "Higuchi Ichiyou!"
Wow, first name jumpscare. Higuchi almost feels like she's being stalked. She chuckles, albeit a little awkwardly, and nods.
"I've seen you in magazines and stuff," Lucy says with a nod. "But you didn't look very happy when you said that. Oh, is this a confidential thing? You're not supposed to tell people?"
Higuchi shakes her head. "Ah, it's nothing like that. Never mind me. How long are you staying?"
The conversation delves away from their work and stuff after that. Higuchi finds out that Lucy is from New London, that she's turning twenty-three, and that she has a cat named Anne at home. She learns that Lucy loves tarts, used to be on the swim team in high school, and—
Lucy is one of the most interesting people Higuchi has ever met. Or maybe she's biased, considering how her life has been stagnant since she was fifteen, but Lucy just has so many stories and her emotions seem to explode out of her.
When they're done with their food, Higuchi goes back to catching some sleep. Lucy continues drawing in her sketchbook, and while curiosity tugs at Higuchi's heart, she chooses not to pry. After all, Lucy granted her the decency to not talk about her job when she noticed Higuchi's discomfort, so it's only fair to do the same.
After they finally land, Higuchi and Lucy walk out of the plane together. When they've checked out and grabbed their suitcases, Lucy kindly guides her to the correct terminal.
It's around ten in the morning. Higuchi's hotel is about an hour drive away, so she has to get going if she wants to grab lunch on time. Plus she can’t check-in just yet. She's already exhausted, and she knows jet lag isn't going to be easy on her, but she doesn't want to leave just yet.
"Here you are," Lucy announces, pointing at a large sliding glass door. "You can catch a cab there. Will you be alright on your own?"
"Ah, yes!" Higuchi snaps out of her thoughts, nodding hurriedly at the other girl. "Thank you. I, um, wish you luck for your school and stuff."
An idea pops into her head. Higuchi digs into her purse, pulling out her wallet and tugging at the zip. She takes out a small card, holding it between her fingers and bowing. "This is my business card. If you ever need advice or something, I'd be happy to help!"
Lucy's eyes grow wide. "Oh, you don't have to—"
"Really, I owe you one."
Higuchi watches as a subtle flush overtakes Lucy's cheeks. She takes the offered card, tucking it safely in her own bag before taking out a notepad and pen. With the pen, she scribbles down something before ripping the paper off, handing it to Higuchi. "I have to go now—my friend is picking me up, but this is my number. In case you need help, too."
Higuchi's heart stutters in her chest when she takes the paper, folding it up. Their fingers brush and she swallows down a lump in her throat.
Lucy waves, sending her a warm smile, and that's the last thing Higuchi sees before she's turning around, dragging her suitcase along with her. Taking a deep breath, Higuchi puts on her brave girl face and begins walking away too.
Higuchi stumbles out of the cab, her eyes threatening to fall shut at any given moment. She looks up at the sky, trying to process the fact that the sun is shining down on her and that it's the middle of broad daylight. If she was in Japan, she'd be walking around in the dead of the night.
She drags her aching feet into the hotel, digging around for her necessary forms and whatever and heading up to the counter, where a receptionist greets her with a pleasant smile. It's all fine and dandy until—
"Overbooked?" Higuchi repeats, unable to believe her ears.
The receptionist apologises again, spewing something about their system crashing and human error and compensation, but Higuchi barely processes anything, her head spinning.
She's tired enough as it is, and even on a good day, she wouldn't fight anyone on this. It's too much effort, it gets them nowhere, and she knows there's nothing she can do about it. She waves the receptionist's apologies away, reassuring her that it's fine because she doesn't like it when someone else is as anxious as her anyway. She'll just have to figure something out on her own, text Kouyou when she's awake, but that won't be for another six hours at least…
Higuchi heads over to the lounge, dropping onto one of the couches and wracking her brain. She opens up her phone, tapping on the maps app and trying to find the nearest accommodation. She'll have to fork the money out from her own pocket, at least until Kouyou can settle this on her end.
Higuchi bites her lip. The nearest hotel is way out of her budget. She doesn't want to stay too far either, for she has a fashion show to be at the next day. She needs to be in the area.
Her eyes are beginning to burn. Tears prick at the corners and she feels a sinking weight in her bones, fear gripping her heart. She's never been good at situations like these. Her English is also subpar at best, which definitely isn't helping.
Reaching into her bag, Higuchi pulls out a water bottle in hopes of cooling herself down first, when her hand brushes against her wallet. She stares at it, recalling the folded-up piece of paper that she carefully slid into the back pocket earlier, hesitating.
Would it be weird to call Lucy? It's been barely two hours since they separated. Plus, Lucy's already done so much for her, and who knows where she's at right now. She did say a friend was picking her up, but they could be so far away right now that calling her for help wouldn't even be a feasible solution.
Chewing on her bottom lip, Higuchi pulls out the paper and unfolds it. Certainly, she has nothing to lose, but if this solution fails too, Higuchi might actually crumple in on herself. She can't take so many losses in one day. She'll collapse.
Well… It seems she has no other choice, though. Taking a deep breath, Higuchi dials the number and brings her phone up to her ear.
Lucy shows up in a sleek, dark blue car, the windows rolled down and sunglasses on her face. She's in the passenger's seat, and two other people are in the car. The driver has light brown hair tied up in an elegant updo and a comically large hat despite being indoors. The other sits at the back, wearing a cardigan and round glasses.
"Higuchi!" Lucy says, waving. "Didn't think I'd be seeing you again so soon. Hop in."
Higuchi bows at least ten times before opening the door and sliding into the back. The girl with the glasses gives her a polite nod, though Higuchi notices the way she grips her cardigan tighter and wonders if she should just jump into the ocean instead. She doesn't want to interrupt what is clearly a reunion between friends, plus she's causing trouble for all of them, not just Lucy.
"Back we go," the driver says, turning the wheel. She makes eye contact with Higuchi through the rearview mirror, who freezes. She narrows her eyes, lips thinning, before Lucy smacks her arm.
"You're making your scary face again," Lucy says with a shake of her head, turning back to smile at Higuchi. "This is Margaret, and that's Louisa. They're my friends from high school."
"I'm not making a face," Margaret huffs, and Higuchi is impressed at how smooth her Japanese is. "I'm just admiring her. Your hair is very pretty, Higuchi."
"Oh!" She flushes, tucking a bit of hair behind her ear. "Thank you. Um, I really like yours too."
Margaret grins. "You're sweet. You can sleep, if you want. Lucy's been stubbornly staying awake, but I know she's not lasting the entire drive without knocking out."
"Untrue," Lucy grumbles, crossing her arms.
"You just had an almost thirteen hour flight," Louisa pipes up. Her voice is much more gentle, unlike Lucy or Margaret's sharper ones. "You don't have to stay awake for us just because you miss us. We have a few days together."
"I don't like it when you analyse me like that."
"Go to sleep, then."
Higuchi watches them interact, a bit of laughter bubbling up her throat. She swallows it down, though, leaning against the car door and closing her eyes, letting exhaustion take over.
When Higuchi is woken up again, she steps out of the car and is met with a tall brick building. Lucy says her goodbyes to her friends, giving them both a big hug. Once they drive away, she turns to Higuchi, gesturing to the building. "Okay. My apartment's on the seventh floor, but unfortunately, there's no elevator. If you want to quit, now's your chance."
It takes Higuchi a while to realise that she's joking. "That's okay. You're doing more than enough for me."
After Lucy had heard about her predicament, she had offered to let Higuchi stay over at hers for the three days that she'll be in Canada. Higuchi had vehemently denied, not wanting to impose, but Lucy was firm in her offer and insisted that she didn't mind. With no other choices, Higuchi would be a fool to not take her up on that offer anyway.
Vaguely, she had wondered if Lucy was a serial killer, but after seeing her painstakingly drag her suitcase up seven flights of stairs and struggle to find her keys, she decides that she has more things to worry about.
Lucy flings her door open, inviting her in. Higuchi toes her shoes off and places her suitcase by the entrance before she begins looking around.
It's a small, one bedroom apartment, with chequered floors and light pink walls. There's a few paintings hung up and the carpet in the living room is a shocking shade of turquoise. At first glance, it's a lot of colour, but somehow, it fits Lucy.
"It's a bit dusty," Lucy says, brushing her fingers past the books stacked on the coffee table with a wince. "My other friend is stopping by in a bit. He was cat-sitting Anne for me, plus he'll bring over food for lunch. Dinner. Whatever. Let me text him to get another set."
As Lucy's fingers fly over her phone, Higuchi perches herself on the edge of the couch, unsure of what to do with herself. She takes out her own phone, realising that Kouyou should be awake by now, and updates her on the situation. Kouyou responds almost immediately, which makes her breathe a sigh of relief.
As she settles that, Lucy heads into a room, presumably her bedroom. She comes out a bit later dressed in a sweater and shorts, her hair undone as well. A while later, the doorbell rings, and when Lucy opens the door, it reveals a redheaded man with his shirt unbuttoned, holding a large ragdoll cat in a cage and a plastic bag of food. He strolls in like he owns the place, setting both those things on the dining table, pausing when he spots Higuchi. "Whoa. You didn't tell me you were housing an absolute babe, Lucy."
"Shut the fuck up," Lucy says, hitting his bare chest with a fist. He doubles over like he's in pain before giving her a quick hug, mentioning something in English. Higuchi only manages to pick up on the words Nathaniel, clown, and tomorrow before the man is leaving as quick as a flash.
Lucy opens up the cage and Anne leaps out, slamming into her. She stumbles from the weight, laughing in delight and cooing over the cat, who nuzzles her cheek affectionately. It's a lovely sight. Higuchi watches, the edges of her lips quirking up, before feeling some sort of ache deep in her chest.
She ignores it, standing up to help Lucy unpack the food. Inside the plastic bag, she finds two containers of poutine, some bread sticks, and a box of strawberry tarts. Still cuddling Anne, Lucy drags out two chairs and offers Higuchi a seat.
Lucy spends the time telling Higuchi about her friends. She talks about the guy that was just here—Mark, who is training to be a pilot, Margaret and Louisa, a mysterious man named John who she only sees a few times a year because of how chaotic his life is…
In return, Higuchi shares about her own friends. She talks about Tachihara and Gin and Lippmann, swinging her legs as she eats. It's so easy talking to Lucy, who listens attentively and always has a clever response to things. Halfway through, Anne leaves her side and comes up to Higuchi, its fur brushing against her ankles. She flinches, but after Lucy gives her the go, she bends over to pet Anne, relishing in how fluffy it is.
When they're done with their food, Higuchi throws it out and gets to unpacking her suitcase. Thankfully, she brought her own toiletries and essentials, so she doesn't have to leech off of Lucy any more than she already is. No matter how often Lucy insists that it's fine, she's going to feel terrible about this for the foreseeable future. That's her style, as Tachihara would say.
It's mostly smooth-sailing from here, though. Lucy is a wonderful host, and Higuchi does her best to stay out of the way. By the time night falls, Higuchi is content to collapse on the couch, taking the spare blanket that Lucy offers. She sends a final update to Kouyou, reassuring her that she's fine, before saying goodnight to Lucy and letting her turn off the lights.
Lucy retreats to her own room, bringing in Anne with her, and Higuchi gets ready for a good night's rest.
She does not, in fact, get a good night's rest.
Maybe it's the jet lag, or maybe it's some other mysterious reason that she isn't granted the fortune of knowing, but Higuchi wakes up at almost two in the morning, staring up at the ceiling before groaning and turning onto her side.
She shouldn't be awake right now. She has to look presentable for her fashion show tomorrow— no, today. Higuchi pushes herself up, biting back a groan at the ache in her neck and looking around. She stands up, ignoring the spin in her head as she tries to find her water bottle in the dark, when she pauses.
From Lucy's room, just through the crack of the door, a bit of light is seeping through. Is Lucy going through jet lag too? It would be morning already in Japan, but still…
Hesitating, Higuchi creeps towards the door and raps her knuckles against the wood. Immediately, there is the sound of a chair falling over, a yowl, and a muffled curse, and she regrets knocking so loudly. The door opens a bit later, revealing Lucy with a pair of scissors pointed outwards, and Higuchi takes a surprised step back.
"Oh," Lucy blurts, lowering her weapon. "Sorry, I thought you were an intruder! What are you doing up?"
"I just woke up myself," Higuchi admits. "Why are you up?"
Lucy ducks her head, but she opens the door a little wider, enough for Anne to weave between her legs and towards Higuchi. "I couldn't sleep. Actually, I didn't even realise it was so late."
Higuchi glances inside the room and sees the same large, black sketchbook splayed out on a white desk, a lone pencil rolling on the paper. Lucy bends down to pick Anne up, cradling it in her arms.
"Cool," Higuchi says, unsure of what else to say. "Um… Sorry for disturbing you. I just—"
"Do you want to come in?" Lucy blurts. She nudges the door wider with her foot. "I mean, if you can't sleep, I wouldn't mind company."
A burst of excitement and relief shoots through Higuchi. It's so intense that it shocks even herself. "Oh, sure!"
Lucy lets her in and Higuchi shuts the door behind her, walking in. Lucy's room, like the rest of her apartment, is decorated to a tee. Lots of paintings are framed and hung on beige walls. The floor is carpeted a dark pink and the rest of her furniture is the same shade of off-white. She has so many pillows on her bed that it looks more pillow than mattress, and Lucy grabs a random one, tossing it to Higuchi. She picks up her sketchbook, about to close it, but Higuchi catches a glimpse and—
"That's incredible!" she gasps.
Lucy freezes, turning to her with wide eyes. Her cheeks flush bright pink. "I-it's just a concept. I don't— I mean, I've got better work for my project right now."
"That's a concept? It's so detailed." Higuchi doesn't mean to push, but she can't help it. After a bit more stuttering, Lucy caves, dropping to the floor with her and laying out her sketchbook, letting her see. And, wow, Higuchi thought she's worked with pretty exquisite designs before, but Lucy's drawings are—
"Unique," Higuchi mumbles, finger tracing over one of the designs. It's a long, black, flowy dress with an asymmetric cut at the bottom. The bodice seems to be some sort of vine-like pattern, crawling up to the neck. "Are these rhinestones?"
"Yeah," Lucy says with a small smile. "They're a bit more halloween-inspired. I did these during October."
Higuchi flips to another page. The designs here are a lot brighter, adopting colours of pink and baby blue. One of the dresses has a slanted bodice reminiscent of a kimono's cut, with puffy sleeves and layers of tulle. Another dress has large ribbons as sleeves and sweet flower designs on the skirt.
"Those are more simplistic," Lucy mumbles, looking away shyly. "They're inspired by the dolls I used to play with as a child. I've always loved playing dress-up."
"They're adorable," Higuchi assures, eyes fixed on the one with a long, translucent train of chiffon. "Oh, this is cool!"
It's less like a dress and more like an artistic piece. The back is stitched together with lots of fabric, bright orange and gold bleeding into each other. It looks like a phoenix’s wings. The rest of the dress is a dull, ash grey, making the back stand out even more.
“The concept of that was rebirth,” Lucy says, thumb tracing over the wings. “To burn yourself down and build yourself back up.”
She pauses, glancing at Higuchi. “When I first applied for fashion school, I was rejected. No big reason or anything. I just didn’t get in.”
Lucy leans back on her palms, looking up at her ceiling. Her hair falls behind her in loose waves, brushing against the floor. “I wanted to die, I think. It sounds so overdramatic, but it was my dream, and it was crushed by a robotic, heartless email. So I took my first ever sketchbook, the one I used in my portfolio, and set it all on fire.”
Higuchi cannot help the quiet gasp in her throat. She covers her mouth with a hand, but Lucy reaches out, tugging at her wrist and bringing it back down. She smiles assuringly. “It’s okay. When I think back, even I’m shocked at how reckless of a decision it was. It felt like I was jumping out of a helicopter in the sky or something. No thought whatsoever, and years of work lost to the fire. My friends screamed at me. Margaret, especially—she grabbed me by my collar and yelled until her throat went raw. I think that really knocked some sense into me.”
Lucy looks down at the phoenix dress again. “I picked up a pencil again after that. I was afraid to face my own shortcomings, so I let it all burn to ashes. I hated everything about fashion at that moment, but still, I drew.” She points to a few blobs on the paper, barely visible, and chuckles. “See that? Those are tears. I cried.”
“Why’d you try again?” Higuchi dares to ask.
She can’t imagine the willpower it took—being down in the dumps, misery coating your thoughts, a ruined passion, and continuing on anyway. She’s been teetering on the verge of giving up for so long that once she takes the leap, she would never want to come back.
Someone like her, who cannot handle failure and doesn’t even like fashion anymore, is unfitting in this industry.
“Oh, well…” Lucy shrugs, tapping her chin. “If it’s something you once loved, then isn’t it worth it to try and find that love again?”
Higuchi’s eyes grow wide.
Oh.
“Anyway, I worked real hard again, and the next year, I applied for university in Japan. I was really stressed, but Margaret and Louisa helped me through it, and in the end, I got accepted. And that was when I drew this dress—” She points to the vibrant orange wings. “—to signify my comeback.”
A few seconds of silence tick by. Lucy backtracks, an awkward laugh leaving her throat. “Sorry, was that too much? You didn’t really ask for my whole life story…”
“No,” Higuchi says. Her heart feels numb and warm at the same time, like she’s being caressed and beaten down simultaneously. Like she’s burning and rising back up. “Thank you. I really admire you, Lucy.”
A strong blush coats her face as she huffs, turning away. “D-Don’t you have a fashion show to attend soon? Go to bed!”
Higuchi can’t help the grin on her face. “I will. Goodnight.”
“I expect to see you on my front page again!” Lucy yells, her hands curved around her lips.
Higuchi glances back, even though they always tell you not to at airports, and feels a pang in her chest. Lucy is grinning, showing off her braces and not a care in the world in her eyes, and Higuchi is—
She’s really, really going to miss her.
It’s not a forever goodbye, she knows. Lucy will come back to Japan when she has to, and they have each other’s numbers saved now, but still, this feels like a path of divergence. Lucy is going to continue working hard to become a star, and Higuchi is going to go back to her job, except…
This time, she wants to reignite her passion. She wants to be better again.
“I expect to see your name on the headlines soon,” Higuchi replies, grinning back softly. “Bye bye, Lucy.”
Lucy waves, her arm swinging around her head wildly, and Higuchi thinks that if she could, she’d still try to ensure their paths would cross again. A model and a fashion designer don’t walk very different roads, after all.
It wouldn’t be impossible. She’d just have to pull some strings, and she knows the perfect person to go to for it.
“It’s not like you to take an interest in a designer like this, especially an upcoming novice,” Kouyou notes. Her fingers flip through the papers swiftly. It’s Lucy’s public portfolio that Higuchi found, printed out, and brought to the studio first thing in the morning.
“I know,” Higuchi mumbles, her cheeks feeling hot. “But she helped me a lot in Canada. I thought it was only fair to repay her.”
At that, Kouyou quirks an eyebrow. “Is that truly your sole reason for recommending her to us?”
Higuchi freezes. She bows her head, a ball of shame rising up her throat. It’s been a long time since Higuchi has wanted something, and asking for something as big as this feels like an overkill.
“I-I mean… You were looking to open up internships again… And I overheard Hirotsu-san mention that too—”
“I’m not saying no,” Kouyou interrupts. She sets the papers down. “She has an interesting vision. I know a few people who would be happy to interview her. You mentioned she’s a student?”
“Final year.” Higuchi nods, looking back up. Kouyou’s eyes are searching, like they’re doubting her credibility. Higuchi wants to cower away, but she remembers Lucy’s bright smile and confident voice and feels that, if she can do something to bring her one step closer to her dream, she will.
“…I see,” Kouyou mumbles, picking up a notepad. “I’ll put you down as her referral, then.”
Higuchi jumps. “What?”
“You are referring her, are you not?” When Higuchi nods sheepishly again, Kouyou huffs out a laugh. “You know, it’s nice to hear you voice out something like this. You haven’t had that spark in your eyes in a while.”
Higuchi feels her cheeks burst aflame again. She shrugs, her heart stuttering. “It’s nothing.”
“It doesn’t look like nothing… If you need someone to talk to, I’ll be here.”
There’s an underlying, coy implication in her words that only serve to fluster Higuchi further. She shakes her head, already jittery with how much she wants to scurry out of the room and whine to Tachihara or something. When Kouyou dismisses her, she does exactly that, listening to the older woman’s chuckles echo from behind her.
Still, she smiles.
Almost an entire year passes. When Lucy returned from Canada and found out about her invitation, she had sent Higuchi a long, indecipherable text message with a mess of letters. Her second message comes in to thank her, followed by an innocent blue heart emoji that has Higuchi staring at it for what feels like hours, butterflies in her stomach.
They don’t see each other much, with Lucy busy with school and Higuchi with her own things to do. They video call occasionally and Lucy updates her on her projects, but she mostly keeps her in the dark about what exactly she’s creating. She talks about different fabrics and an assortment of colours that Higuchi has never heard the names of before, and she doesn’t quite get some of it but she nods along anyway.
Because Lucy shines the brightest when she’s talking about the thing she’s passionate about, and that’s when Higuchi’s the most starstruck.
It’s another boring Tuesday, with Higuchi hiding in her room to avoid the chill of the winter afternoon when she receives a phone call. She picks it up and hears an unfamiliar, deep voice.
“Hello. Is this Higuchi-san?”
She straightens up. “Yes, who is this?”
“I am Kunikida Doppo, calling from Uzumaki Agency.” Higuchi wracks her brain trying to recall what agency that is. It rings a bell, but before she can place it, Kunikida continues speaking. “I understand you work with the Port Model?”
Higuchi hums a confirmation.
“We’ve been in touch with Kouyou-san from your agency. We have a designer interested in casting you. Would you be available for a go-see this coming Friday?”
“Oh.” Higuchi raises an eyebrow. Usually, it’d be Kouyou relaying this kind of information to her and other models their agency works with, and not directly like this. “Um, may I know who the designer is?”
“She’s new to the field. It’s her debut,” Kunikida replies dismissively. “She was quite insistent on casting you, but you are welcome to decline.”
Something about his tone makes Higuchi kind of scared to decline, actually, but she doesn’t say that out loud. “That’s okay. I’m free, how will I get the details?”
“I’ll email them to you by today. You can confirm it via a reply.” Kunikida is already typing away. “Thank you for your time, Higuchi-san.”
“Sure,” she says, but the call has already ended, leaving her staring at her phone in bewilderment.
Friday rolls around in the blink of an eye. Higuchi steps out of her car, bundled up in a warm brown coat and a blue scarf but still feeling like her nose is about to fall off. She rushes into the studio, groaning when she sees that the elevator is out of order and making the climb up to the fourth floor.
By the time she reaches the front door, she’s sweating and her hair probably looks like a mess. She grumbles, pushing the door open, and is greeted by white studio lights and a large, open window. Inside the studio stands a tall blond man, another brown-haired man hanging off his shoulders, and—
Higuchi feels her heart stop in her chest.
Teal, downturned eyes look up to meet hers. Instantly, a smile spreads across Lucy’s face, warm and inviting. Her hair is held up in a high bun similar to Higuchi’s own and she’s holding a clipboard to her chest.
“Hi,” Lucy says with a light laugh, taking in Higuchi’s shocked expression. “How are you?”
“You’re debuting,” Higuchi blurts out, taking a few steps in. Up close, she can see that Lucy’s braces have changed to a charming turquoise colour. She flushes when she realises how unprofessional she’s being, but the brown-haired man is grinning and the blond is turning around, heading towards a desk.
“Isn’t it exciting?” Lucy grins. It softens into something more mellow. “It’s all thanks to your recommendation. I don’t think I’d ever get an opportunity like this without you.”
“You would’ve,” Higuchi assures. “Your designs are otherworldly.”
“Aw, you flatter me,” Lucy giggles, but there’s a light flush on her cheeks that not even the studio lights can wash out. “I know this isn’t how the process usually goes, but I really want you to model one of my designs. If that’s not too much to ask…”
“I’d love to,” Higuchi gushes. She glances around. “Can I see what it is?”
Lucy wags a finger. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to keep it a surprise until the fitting day.”
“Oh?” Higuchi tilts her head. “Is it like that for all the models?”
“Nope. Just you.” She ducks her head, a lock of hair falling from her bun and shielding her face. “That’s… pretty much it. You can go to Kunikida-san over there to confirm the details. After that, um.”
“After?”
“…I’m going for my lunch break, so if you’re free, you can join me. There’s a café downstairs that makes a mean curry rice.”
Higuchi’s heart flutters. “I do like curry rice.”
Lucy’s smile puts all the constellations to shame. “I’ll wait for you, then.”
"Next!"
Higuchi walks into the fitting area, hair and makeup already done. It was her first time working with the team—her hair is pulled back into a sleek bun with a few braids held within it, courtesy of Nikolai, and her makeup bright red, with her eyeshadow looking like a fading sunset, done by Sigma's talented hands. When Higuchi walks in, the first thing she sees is an entire line of mannequins against the white backdrop. Lucy stands somewhere at the end, talking to Kunikida and holding onto a pair of black heels.
The previous model nods at Higuchi, brushing past her and shutting the curtain. Lucy spots her, waving her over with an easy grin. "Hey, come in!"
Higuchi takes a few steps, eyes scanning the dresses in awe. The first dress is dark grey, long and droopy. At its layers are a bunch of tulle expertly sewn on, until it eventually turns to black. It looks like ashes falling onto the ground.
The next few dresses are of a similar design, each getting darker and darker until it's simply pure black. Each dress also has a bodice that's made of a thin material, making it look like sand.
And then the next one has long, flowy sleeves, almost water-like with how easily it sways. The tips are red, slowly crawling up towards the neckline and then the bodice with each progressing dress. The last one is hidden by Lucy's frame, who steps aside the moment Higuchi looks at her expectantly.
Instantly, a gasp lodges itself in Higuchi's throat.
The final gown stands tall and regal, the bodice black and fading into a striking sunset, similar to Higuchi's makeup. Sequins cover its entirety, giving it a shimmering look that twinkles under the studio lights. Its skirt stretches out, dragging against the ground, its layers shaped in a way that look like feathers, flowing backwards. It's sleeveless, with more feather-like shapes clinging onto the straps, almost like wings.
Higuchi walks closer, her heart thumping heavily. Lucy's hand brushes against the skirt and its layers shift, the colours fluctuating. Its colour dances like a flickering flame, as loud as the burning sun.
"This is the final piece in my collection," Lucy explains, her eyes soft. "Rebirth."
"Like a phoenix," Higuchi mumbles faintly. "It's beautiful."
"You're the only one I want to wear it." Lucy crosses her arms, glancing at it, as if she cannot bear to look Higuchi in the eye right now. "I know it's not your usual style, but… You know…"
"I do," she blurts. "I want to. Thank you."
At that, Lucy chuckles. "Let's try it on then, shall we?"
After helping her into the dress and zipping it up, Lucy begins doing her thing. Higuchi closes her eyes and allows herself to relax, letting Lucy fuss around with the fitting and adjusting and whatever else she needs to do. She does flinch when Lucy's fingers brush against her bare shoulders, but Lucy moves on, probably not noticing it.
Higuchi does, though. Suddenly, every touch feels like electricity and she struggles to stand still. Lucy's hands feel like the tides dragging her in and she fights not to sink.
When Lucy's done, she gets Higuchi to walk a few steps. The dress is surprisingly light, at least not the heaviest thing Higuchi has had to wear. She catches a look at herself in the mirror and is stunned to see how bold the colours are against her pale hair and skin, but the makeup manages to draw everything together.
"You look amazing," Lucy gasps, coming up from behind her. "Is it too tight here?"
Her hands rest on Higuchi's waist and she sucks in a breath. "N-nope. Not at all."
"Okay. The straps? Can you swing your arms?"
Her fingers slide up to her shoulders, tapping there. Sincerely, Higuchi is going to die. "They're fine."
"Okay. Kunikida-san—"
"Here," the man says, passing over a tray. Lucy chuckles, taking the thing on top of it and holding it up for Higuchi to see. It's a black lace choker with intricate designs and orange, droplet-shaped jewels hanging from thin gold chains around it.
"I'll help you put it on," Lucy says, her hands coming up in front of Higuchi's neck as she unclasps the necklace. Higuchi's skin tingles everywhere and she has to remind herself that Lucy is just doing her job, even if every kiss of her fingertips on her skin makes her burn up.
When the final look is confirmed, Higuchi gets out of the dress and jewellery, silently mourning the end. The show is in two days, so she'll be back soon enough, but still. Lucy just makes it so difficult to say goodbye to.
"Are you nervous?" Higuchi asks as Lucy is returning the dress to the mannequin.
"For my debut?" Lucy glances at her, smiling wryly. "Of course. I don't know if it'll succeed or not."
Suddenly, Higuchi feels terribly anxious. "Are you sure you want me as your final model? I mean, like you said, this isn't what I'm known for. I don't know if I'll do your design justice."
Lucy snorts. "That's subjective. I am worried about succeeding, but more than that, this is a really personal collection. Even if it doesn't do well, I won't regret designing it. And I won't regret having you as my star."
Higuchi blushes. "Y-your star?"
"My star," Lucy confirms with a confident smile. "So I'll see you in two days, Higuchi."
Unable to help it, Higuchi smiles back. "You will."
Elegant, heavenly music blasts from the speakers. The beat is slow and sensual as the audience settles down. When the lights shut, the crowd is enshrouded in darkness. A voice memo plays with a young girl's voice.
"I'm Lucy Maud Montgomery. I'm going to be a star."
The headlights flick on. The runway glows. Models start strutting down, hips swaying to the beat, dresses floating like ash clouds. The camera shutters begin going off.
The music begins to hum with something much stronger underneath. It builds up steadily until it explodes like a volcanic eruption, and like a shooting star, Higuchi enters the stage.
The camera shutters go haywire. The dress sparkles and Higuchi feels like she's ascending, a heavenly high rushing through her veins. She presents Lucy's gorgeous creation as best as she can, and in turn, she feels beautiful.
Not just beautiful, but alive. Like a flame reignited.
As she poses for the cameras, Higuchi feels an old memory resurface: Her first runway show, a rousing success, in the prettiest lilac dress she's ever seen. She felt as light as a feather swaying down the stage, the fabric against her skin gentle and homely. Like a match made in heaven.
That kind of bond with fashion is something she's been struggling to rekindle all this time, and right now, she's found it again. Her red string of fate, tied to the talented hands of Lucy Montgomery, bringing her back to life once more.
When the show ends, Higuchi returns to the back just in time to see Lucy on her way out to thank the audience. They're hidden just behind the stage, just out of sight from the crowd. Higuchi catches her eye and gasps when she grabs her hand, squeezing it tightly.
"Thank you," Lucy says, her voice barely audible over the music, but still landing on Higuchi's ears, "for making my dream come true."
With their hands still clasped together, she bows deeply, eyes shut. Higuchi's breath hitches.
Lucy's first bow of gratitude isn't to the audience. It's to Higuchi. And Higuchi's chest swells with pride as she beams back, squeezing her hand even tighter when Lucy rises.
"Thank you," she whispers, "for reminding me of mine."
Backstage, after the show, everyone is busy cleaning up. Lucy is nowhere to be seen, probably still outside getting interviewed for her work and whatever else she has to do after a debut show. Higuchi is one of the last to return, so she has to wait for someone to be available to help her for a while.
By the time Sigma comes over, unzipping her dress and letting her step out of it, the backstage is beginning to clear out. Higuchi changes into comfortable clothes and assures them that she can put the dress back on the mannequin by herself, which will then be transported for safekeeping, and Sigma bids her farewell, complimenting her on a job well done.
As Kunikida's voice commanding the room fills her ears, she arranges the dress onto the mannequin, fingers trailing down the sides. The fabric is such a stunning shade of orange, truly a statement piece that'll reach the headlines. As Higuchi walks around the mannequin, ready to zip the dress up, she pauses, noticing the tag at the back.
She barely even felt it with the way it was sewn into the fabric, seamless and tiny. Higuchi smiles, thumbing over the beige tag and leaning closer to look for Lucy's signature.
To: My phoenix, Higuchi Ichiyou
May my heart burn endlessly for yours.
She stills.
Higuchi blinks a few times, like that would make the words disappear, replaced with Lucy's watermark like she was expecting. But a few seconds tick by and the tag remains as it is, its neat script staining itself into Higuchi's retinas. She stares for what feels like ages, her vision blurring around the edges, just mindlessly focused on those little words—
"Everything okay there, Higuchi-san?" Kunikida calls, snapping her out of her thoughts. She flinches, zipping the dress back up in such a hurry it's a wonder her fingers didn't get caught in the zipper.
"I'm okay!" she rushes out. She swallows back the odd lump in her throat, sending Kunikida a thumbs up. After a while, he nods at her and goes off to do something else, and she scurries away, a hand pressed to her chest, where her heart is slamming against her ribcage.
She could pretend to be obtuse about this. She could pretend that a burning heart is just a measly flame and that Lucy's confessions are just words on a piece of fabric, but Higuchi knows otherwise. As much as she wants to doubt this, convince herself that she's living off false hope, Lucy's intentions are as clear as day and as straightforward as they can be.
Higuchi will not lie and say she isn't afraid, but if Lucy lays her heart out so openly for her, she can only pay her back.
Higuchi sprints out of the theatre, out onto the streets. It's drizzling, rain droplets pattering lightly onto the concrete ground, splattering with every hurried step she takes. She has no idea where she's going, simply letting the wind carry her. The city lights from high-rise buildings and cars racing through the night all begin to blur together, fading into nothing in Higuchi's eyes.
And then, like a speck of blood on an old black-and-white photograph, Higuchi sees a flash of red.
Her eyes pinpoint onto the woman on the other side of the road, waving goodbye at an interviewer, turning around just in time to spot her too. Lucy visibly jumps, her eyes growing wide as saucers as Higuchi barely glances both ways before making her way across. When she ducks under the shelter that Lucy's waiting at, she feels a cold shiver run through her spine.
"You're soaked!" Lucy gasps, much of an exaggeration, but Higuchi lets her fret. She takes off her scarf, wrapping it around her in a frantic hurry. "Spring showers are no joke, Higuchi, what were you thinking? You'll catch a cold!"
Higuchi snatches a glance at herself in the glass display window of the shop they're standing outside of. Her hair has already come undone, sticking to her face oddly, and a bit of her eyeshadow is running down her cheek. She's still panting like she just ran a marathon.
She could not look any less put-together, but this is how Higuchi offers her heart—not the perfect supermodel, not the eye-catching phoenix, but just herself in her rawest form. Her realest.
"Lucy," she gasps out, gripping onto her wrists. Her hands are freezing, but Lucy doesn't pull away, instead looking at her with a light frown, something anxious yet alive brimming in those teal eyes. "I saw your tag. I…"
"Oh," she murmurs. "You don't have to say anything. It was just a private detail."
"But if it was for anyone to find out, it would have been me, right?" Higuchi asks. She doesn't need the confirmation, but desperately, she wants it anyway.
"Only you." Lucy nods, and Higuchi breaks out into a wide, relieved smile.
Before she knows it, she's being tugged forward, sending her stumbling. A pair of lips press to hers and she gasps, her eyes fluttering close. She lets go of one of Lucy's wrists, moving up to cup her cheek, and Lucy shivers. She tilts her head, slotting their lips together better than before, and Higuchi is dragged onto the wildest ride of her life.
It burns her as much as it saves her—death and rebirth, a fall and a rise.
Lucy kisses like she's trying to crumble Higuchi down to her simplest form, like she's a raging wildfire that consumes over and over and over. Passion pours from her lips the way it does from her pencil to her sketchbook and Higuchi can only concede. She breaks until she's nothing more than a blank slate, free for Lucy's hands to sculpt, to hold.
But then Lucy wraps a hand around her waist, a shuddering breath leaving her lips, and it feels like a soothing cool all the same. Like she's caressing Higuchi's soul, coaxing her into something new, something better, like her simplest form held the potential for something so much more. Lucy has always seen the better in her, even when she herself couldn't, and she kisses like she's proud of how far Higuchi has come.
"You're my phoenix," Lucy whispers against her lips.
In all her devastating honesty, Higuchi replies, "And you're my star."
MONTGOMERY SPRING DEBUT 2012: ANNE OF ABYSSAL RED
Take a look at our upcoming superstar fashion designer! At just 24, Lucy M. Montgomery has made her break into the fashion industry with a concept deeply inspired by her years of struggle and hope—the falling of ashes and the rebirth of a phoenix!
"I think there's nothing wrong with starting over," the Canadian woman says at an interview after her debut show. "Sometimes, you have to go back to the drawing board. The simplest, most basic form often has the most potential. Similarly, dust can always be rebirthed into something better. That's the idea behind my designs."
Working with Uzumaki Agency, a famous fashion agency run by the efficient Kunikida Doppo, Montgomery quickly carved out a space for herself in the industry. With her haunting, elegant designs, she dominates the runway and leaves the audience awestruck.
The Phoenix, a gown that is sure to remain a statement for years to come, is a statement piece made from Montgomery's intricate sequin placements and fabric layering that gives off a colour-shifting, sparkly, eye-catching design! Famous fashion critic Fitzgerald commented that "It is the embodiment of a wild flame that demands your attention." Others have drawn comparisons to sunsets and pointed out the immense talent from Montgomery's young, rookie hands.
When asked for her secret to her star piece, Montgomery mentions Higuchi Ichiyou, the runway model that brought the piece to life. From Port Models, a high class model agency, Higuchi has been working in this industry for almost a decade. Her expertise seems to be a key inspiration in Montgomery's design process and endless passion, and it is hoped that more collaborations between this duo will rise to fame somewhere in the near future.
Montgomery's youthful spunk and captivating ideas will continue to keep us hooked as we wait for her next big hit! The fashion industry can be ready to welcome in some new, breathtaking talent soon. Subscribe and stay tuned for more fashion updates by the Angels Fair, where we provide limited monthly stories.
"I'm Lucy Montgomery. I'm going to be a star."