There's always something so incredibly nervwracking about the last few hours before a fashion show. It did not even matter how big the show was, or how many people who were attending, it was always the same. Or at least that is what Kaoru guessed. She had never been in a fashionshow before, big or small, but she was certain that the tingling feeling in her tummy was absolutely normal! It wasn’t like she could be the only one who was feeling it. After all, this was a BIG event! The whole school would be watching, as well as people from the local newspaper and all of the parents. Except her own, of course. They were still in Sapporo where she had left them six months ago. Oh well, they probably would not have liked to go to something like this anyway. They didn’t really care for her obsession with fashion and clothing, they were more focused on their daughter getting a good education in the big city. Still, once she got all famous and had her own shop and everything they would just HAVE to be proud of her! Just like Yuki-san was.
Speaking of Yuki… He was supposed to be here! The young woman looked around frantically from her place in the lineup backstage. There were people everywhere; models, designers, teachers, other students… but the one person she really wanted to talk to was no where to be seen! Her Art teacher had promised to come and be her moral support before the big show but he simply wasn’t here! “Oh phooey!" The girl exclaimed, her shoulders sagging and her lower lip protruding in a pout. She knew the man had other responsibilities, of course, so she shouldn’t feel so disappointed that he didn’t come. There was an exhibition in a different part of the school for all of the Art Students and Higurashi-sensei would have to spend most of his time there… but he had PROMISED! And Yuki-san always kept his promises!
The next couple of minutes ticked by and Kaoru started to fidget nervously. This was her first ever fashionshow… AND the first time she ever showed her work to anyone other than her immediate friends and family. She had managed to complete five whole outfits, although she had been forced to work late into the night to finish off all of the details. It had been hard work, and she had been sooooo tired, but it was worth it. She was really happy with the small collection she had created and she was sure the audience would like it too. It was cute, so who wouldn’t? But the strange tingling sensation in her tummy persisted. Oh, if only Yuki-san was here! He always knew the right things to say to make Kaoru forget all about her nerves.
“Kaoru-chan!" Kaoru’s eyes snapped up in surprise when she heard her name being called out and she looked around, quickly spotting her beloved teacher behind a horde of other students. He smiled at her and slowly made his way through the crowd to greet her. “I told you I would be here, didn’t I?"
“Mm!" The young woman nodded ecstatically, a bright smile spreading across her face. Then she did a little twirl, her wide skirt flaring and her red curls bouncing in the air. “How do I look?"
Her teacher smiled gently and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “You’ll knock them dead."
Her nerves were completely forgotten.
