Dream Star

But gradually, as she grew older, she started a.s.sisting with the cleaning after the show . It was around when she was four years old and had learned how to walk properly without stumbling . She wanted an excuse to hold pieces of that gorgeous clothing, and jewels . To feel it with her very own fingers, jewels and clothes of the most exceptional quality .

The items that adore her mother"s wardrobe, workshop - the items that make all girls s.h.i.+ne . That sort of world was something she had always yearned for . Holding those items, made it feel like she had gotten a step closer .

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20x.x.x

Once having reached the age of 9, Kasumi could sleep alone and even developed her skill and pa.s.sion for fas.h.i.+on further with decorating the remaining sc.r.a.ps of clothes that Mother did not need to use . As well as decorating her own room and making look so similar to a dressing room, that anyone who first came in would mistaken it for one . Her world was dazzling and bright one . So never once did Kasumi expect it all to come cras.h.i.+ng down . At a young age like that, who would expect her life to split after one incidence .

It was the evening when Lila"s family had come back from vacation . They had gone for a long time and finally came back . Kasumi was still awake since she was preparing her room, knowing her best friend would come visiting her tomorrow with news on her adventures and travels . She had heard in a letter that Lila gave her, that she received exciting news during the trip," Soon I will be an elder sister . I"ve always felt slightly irked whenever Kyoko-nee treated me as a kid . But now I understand her feelings . "

Her preparations, however, had been interrupted when she hears a smas.h.i.+ng sound, followed by sobs, "Mother?" Kasumi mumbles . Did something happen? She quickly leaves her room and makes her way down the steps . There was a lot, but she"s always been equally fast at running and walking, so it didn"t take her long before she got down . Kasumi slightly opened the large doors and peered inside, to spot a few broken pieces of cutlery and her sobbing mother speaking with . . her father .

He came back! Her father had been busy with work for a few weeks now, so she hadn"t seen him in two weeks . Kasumi was excited to see him, and usually, she would rush up to hug him . However, even she could tell that the situation was serious . What"s going on? Why is Mother crying?

"Futaba, calm down . "

"No ! We have to find her . Ran-chan, where could she have possibly gone when she was pregnant? In that state --where could she have ---" Her mother sentence falls short as she turns to the side and throws up . Kasumi could see her usual bright completion seemed to fade, and she seemed sick .

"Calm down, if you break down too we"re going to have a problem," father reached over and pats her back .

" . . Yes . . . your right . . . but," her mother seemed to have to calm down . But Kasumi still saw a grim expression on the girls face .

"I understand how you feel . I have no idea what"s going on either . However, this situation is real . Yuhi"s a mess; his king levels are way out of control . I brought Lila here, and I believe Tsueno took Kyoko with him . "

Lila? Kasumi glances over at the couch to find her friend curled up in a ball, "Lilchan," Futaba called out .

"Unnh . . . Ren-san, protect . . Mother," from where Kasumi stood, she could see Lilas expression . She looks like she is in pain .

"Succhan did she ---"

Her father shook his head; a solemn and sad expression plastered on his face . That"s when she decided to step up . She didn"t want to watch this unusual situation any longer; it hurt seeing her parents this way .

"Kasumi-chan, I"m sorry, did we wake you?"

"Um, Mother . Father . Good evening . Lila is --?"

"She will stay here for a few days . Will you bring her to your room?" Father asked .

Kasumi nodded, and Father lifts Lila in his arms, and they made their way upstairs . For once he says nothing to her, and she noted how Mother"s expression seemed to grow darker, the second they left . Ruby colored eyes, that symbol of a hanyou . Her mother"s eyes have always been beautiful to her, and yet when she saw them glowing just then . For the first time, Iwa Kasumi found herself being afraid of her own mother .

. . . . .
Once Lila was tucked in and asleep, Kasumi followed her father downstairs, "Father?"

"Don"t worry about Lila . She"s fine . . for now . And your mother will be too . "

Will they? Kasumi was unsure, that was the first time she had ever seen her mother like that . The first time she ever saw her best friend in such a weak state .

"Listen Kasumi? You"re going to have to do me a favor . "

"Yes?"

"From now on I"ll be leaving the house a lot . I"ll be gone for long periods of time," he explained .

Her father even now is still a famous person, although he no longer sings anymore . His work in the music industry is valuable, so he has a stable job . Occasionally he takes two-week trips somewhere, "Where will you be going father? Is it for work?"

"No, I have to bring back someone important to your mother and me . "

Kasumi hesitated before she mumbled, "Aunt Sumire?"

Her father didn"t seem surprised at all with her words . Instead, he chuckles lightly," . . You"re a sharp one, huh?"

"Father did Aunt Sumire really -"

Kasumi didn"t understand the situation . But seeing Lila there, seeing her mother fall apart, seeing her father sad . She put two and two together . Kasumi always saw her mother and Lila"s as very close for best friends; the two seemed more like sisters . At some point, it crossed her mind . If something ever happened to Aunt Sumire, what would happen to her mother? She never thought that vague thought would end up becoming a reality, one year later .

"She didn"t abandon them . But she"s gone now . We have to get her back . Will you take care of your mother and Eijiro for me? Your brother acts tough, but he"s too similar to me . So I know he"s weak . "

" . . Okay . Lila too doesn"t worry about her father . I will take care of her . "

Her father smiled weakly and kissed her forehead . "Really, I"m so sorry, Kasumi . You"re only young too . But, you"re the only one I can rely on with this job,"

. . .

Present Day October XX 2035 - Y Building -

From that day onwards, her father was rarely seen at home; and when he was . He was either too busy on the phone, or speaking with others in the meeting room, or fast asleep . He barely had time to spend with her, mother and brother as a family . Since then her family changed too . But even then Kasumi never held resentment towards Lila and her mother . Indeed, the situation came about because of Lila"s mother running away . However, Kasumi couldn"t hate her friend"s mother at all .

Only one good thing came out of that situation; she finally understood it . Why her father and mother, as well as their acquaintances, s.h.i.+ned so brightly . The reason why they all radiated the same auras as bright as stars, it was because of that woman .

Teras.h.i.+ma Sumire, that person was everybody"s start point . It was because of her they all pursued their dreams . But the reason why these dreams became a reality is because of Lila . Her thoughts broke off when somebody nudged her, and she turned to her a.s.sistant .

"Now it"s time for our fas.h.i.+on advice corner . What sorts of letters do we have today?" Kasumi asked her a.s.sistant .

"First, we have a letter from a girl in fifth grade . "Lately, it feels like all the combinations I come up with and clothes I buy are the same . Do you experience the same? If so, what do you do to change your situation?"

"My favorite thing to do is walk around the town . Not only do I get to admire the scenery, but I can also people watch and window shop . People watching is very helpful for a designer because it involves learning about people"s tastes . Wandering around the streets, going to places you have not gone before, or just staying at home . Anything can be used as a source of inspiration, even the most simple things," Kasumi winked, "You will know right away, call it a designers intuition . "

"Kasumi-chan, what if intuition doesn"t work? Like for slow people," she saw her a.s.sistant weeping, and her sweat fell .

"Then you ask for help, remember a designer cannot design a dress alone . "

After a few more questions were asked, they eventually reached the end of the program .

"We"ll end today with an announcement . We"ll be holding a contest on this program for your dress ideas . The theme will be Winter Miracle . The idols who design the best dress will be able to wear it for a special live . We will choose the winner based on the right parameters, the quality of your coord, regardless of your year, cla.s.s, and school . Yes, this contest is open to any school in j.a.pan . You do not have to be an idol to partic.i.p.ate, aspiring idols to be or just those who enjoy performing will be eligible to partic.i.p.ate," Kasumi tapped the side of the roof and a small screen with the details appears in front of her, "I"ll be on the panel of judges along with the staff of my brand . We"ll be waiting for your applications . "