Hitomi and Megumi crossed the hall until they reached two men who were talking. One of them was very animated, while the other remained serious, listening.
The enthusiastic man was talking about politics, taxes, and complaining about the state of the industry. He moved his hands and arms a lot to emphasize his indignation.
The other man didn't seem particularly interested in the topic. He had perfect posture and a face that looked like an impenetrable wall.
Tall, blond, blue-eyed, and fair-skinned, he was elegantly dressed. His gloved hands held a champagne glass that seemed untouched. Perceptive, he noticed the presence of two people approaching and turned to see who they were.
"Did you come to beg not to walk the runway tomorrow? Are you scared?" said the man, staring at Hitomi. His voice was serious and firm, his expression too, but there was a faint trace of elegant, subtle sarcasm.
"Oh, Kaoru Vacchiano, please... You'd cry curled up in a corner if I didn't walk for you," replied Hitomi, returning the provocation with her usual ironic tone.
The man in question was the young owner and heir of Vacchiano Enterprises, Kaoru Vacchiano; the one reporters and models couldn't stop talking about. It was said that, despite being only twenty-seven, he was an excellent manager who had taken over the company after his father's passing years earlier.
Vacchiano's company produced clothing, shoes, accessories, and perfumes. Beyond fashion, it had also partnered with cellphone companies to produce exclusive branded models, riding the wave of those devices' growing popularity. A traditional company, yet Kaoru, despite his rigid appearance, was the one responsible for modernizing it without losing its essence.
Working for Vacchiano meant better contracts and higher paychecks. Hitomi was sharp when it came to business and knew it well, so she decided to take advantage of the opportunity that the event's happy hour provided.
"I want to introduce you to someone…"
"Oh, the rookie model, Megumi, the one you insisted on pushing toward me…" said Kaoru, cutting off Hitomi, his tone devoid of emotion. In fact, there was even a hint of disdain in it.
Megumi took the cue and immediately extended her hand to greet him.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Vacchiano. I'll be walking for you. I hope you'll like my work."
Kaoru looked at Megumi, who was smiling politely, like any well-trained model. He glanced at her hand, took his out of his pocket, and shook hers.
"Don't think that being Hitomi's acquaintance means you'll have any advantages. I expect results."
"I understand, Mr. Vacchiano." replied Megumi, meeting his seriousness with quiet confidence.
Hitomi, watching the interaction, noticed that Kaoru was wearing black gloves. She raised an eyebrow, finding the style unusual for him.
"Are gloves a trend now, Kaoru? You're not usually eccentric."
The businessman heard her remark, turned his back to them, and replied dismissively:
"Maybe I'm becoming one. I'll be going. Get some rest."
The two women watched him leave the hall. Hitomi looked at Megumi, appearing a bit uncomfortable and slightly embarrassed.
"That rudeness is just a façade, he's soft-hearted inside." explained Hitomi.
"It's fine. I imagine responsibility has made him more rigid." said Megumi calmly, seeming to understand his behavior.
"Well… if that's how you see it, you won't have trouble in this business." said Hitomi, impressed by her pupil's composure.
The party continued, lively conversations, food, and drinks all around. In the background, a man with purple hair looked perfectly at ease, drinking and observing. It was Iker, who had infiltrated the venue. Beside him was a beautiful woman with pink hair. Standing about 1.70 meters tall, she would normally be considered tall, but not in that room full of models above 1.75.
"Elegant event, isn't it?" said the pink-haired woman, holding a red-fruit cocktail.
"Very! They sure know how to throw a party!" replied Iker, sipping his caipirinha.
The young woman wore delicate pink-toned makeup that matched her curious gaze toward Iker.
"Did you come here to have fun?"
"I'm organizing some jobs, Aaliyah." replied Iker with a friendly smile.
April 14, Fashion Week, Day 2
On the second day of Fashion Week, the shows went on as usual, seven more that day.
Hitomi and Megumi participated in a show themed "Gala in the Forest." The brand, known for its evening and formal gowns, opened with a model wearing a black lace ball gown embroidered with crystals. The sleeves added a dramatic effect, long, sheer, and veil-like.
Dry ice covered the runway, and soon Megumi appeared wearing a black and gold dress also adorned with crystals. For the theme, the designers added a chiffon cape and hood, giving her an elegant, dramatic air. Her hair was straightened, and her makeup was flawless, done in earthy tones.
After several models had walked, Hitomi entered in a full-skirted gown, moving with unmatched grace. She twirled the skirt in such a way that it revealed her legs, clad in high boots. Her look was completed with a scarf tied around her neck, adding even more flair.
The final model wore a red satin gown with a high slit, revealing one leg. Covered in crystals, it closed the show with luxury and sophistication.
That night featured other memorable runways as well. The brand that ended the day made a bold and costly bet: they invited the most popular singer of the moment: Ayu, to close the night. The audience was thrilled. Short, blonde, blue-eyed, and only eighteen, the singer was already a fashion icon and stole the show wearing a shimmering fringed mini dress by the brand.
April 15, Fashion Week, Day 3
The next morning, Hitomi went to visit Megumi, carrying the huge, detailed local newspaper in her hands.
"Megumi!"
"Hm?" murmured Megumi, distracted.
"Look at this!" said Hitomi, handing her the paper.
"Huh? Some big news?" asked Megumi, puzzled as she took it.
She flipped through the pages, wondering what she was supposed to find, an attack, a city event, a random curiosity?
Turning the pages carefully, she finally found a full section dedicated to the first two days of Fashion Week.
As she read, she saw her name listed among the three models who had drawn the most attention at the event. Her eyes widened and a bright smile spread across her face.
"They're talking about me!"
Her hands gripped the newspaper tightly, her eyes shining with excitement impossible to hide. She turned her gaze to her mentor, who was watching her proudly.
"Thank you so much, Hitomi!"
"Oh, come on… I just gave you a little push. The credit's all yours!" said Hitomi, turning around and walking away.
That night, other shows took place, each one more glamorous than the last. But the most anticipated moment of the evening was undoubtedly the final show, and the audience's murmurs made their excitement clear.
"Vacchiano's closing the third day! They're definitely stealing the spotlight!"
"I can't believe I'm actually seeing this show!"
"He kept the whole collection secret!"
"Hey, have you heard the latest gossip about Mr. Vacchiano?"
"No, I haven't… this'll be his second time, right?"
Backstage, the models were being dressed and styled with extreme care to meet the brand's high standards. Both men's and women's collections were ready, flawless fabrics that would surely impress.
But in the dressing area, not even the expensive garments drew as much attention as… Mr. Vacchiano himself. Not because of his fame, those who worked in fashion were used to powerful people. The stares he drew were for another reason entirely: he was glowing, literally. His skin emitted a faint light. People tried, and failed, to hide their unease. Kaoru noticed.
Damn it. This thing's gotten way worse… If it weren't for my brand's show today, I wouldn't even be here. I managed to dodge the reporters… but surely someone must've seen this mess, he thought.
Used to handling crises, Kaoru oversaw a backstage that was fast-paced yet organized. Five minutes before showtime, everyone was in position, and the outfits were arranged neatly on the racks for quick changes. Everything was numbered, labeled, with names and photos. Nothing could go wrong, every possible mishap had a solution.
Yet, moments before the show began, darkness swallowed the entire venue.
Why did the lights go out so early? thought Kaoru, as his glowing skin illuminated the area around him.
A strong wind, like a tornado, burst through the shopping mall hall where the event was being held. Dragging everything in its path, it was a phenomenon no forecast had predicted. Clothes, chairs, and people were swept away. The partition walls of the dressing rooms collapsed, injuring many in the chaos.
"EVERYTHING'S GONE FLYING! EVACUATE!" shouted the security staff, urging everyone to move.
Some ran for themselves, others stopped to help the injured. The evacuation happened as quickly as possible, but panic filled the air.
Hitomi, slightly hurt and hiding behind a fallen partition, spotted Megumi nearby, also injured.
"Megumi, are you okay? Do you think this is…"
"…I'm… fine… it must be…" answered Megumi weakly.
Still inside, Kaoru Vacchiano stood frozen. His eyes were wide, his pupils dilated, his fists clenched, a mix of fear and fury coursing through him.
What a disaster. Everything's gone, the show's destroyed, and now my skin's glowing like this, he thought, staring down at himself.
The stress seemed to have worsened his condition. Before, his glow was faint, now he shone like a beacon.
Even my blood glows… This must be a nightmare. Like some trash horror movie, Kaoru kept thinking, masking his fear with sarcasm.
As those thoughts raced through his mind, a male voice suddenly echoed nearby.
"You have Potentia of light, don't you? I wasn't informed about any men with powers here." said Iker, his deep, firm voice resonating.
Kaoru couldn't understand a single word the man said, but deep inside, he knew his nightmare was only just beginning.