the pheasant and the quail

Tohri: “And that is that...”

Tohri: “Fashion is subjective!”

Tohri: “Of course, beside the fundamental rules of art such as color theory, it depends on what species you are, what your best physical traits are, and you should strive to enhance those! But most importantly...”

Tohri: “Art is about self-expression! And well, no objective advice can be given to that, right~? Decorating yourself should be a perfect mixture of what you are—and what you love.”

Tohri: “Hence why, as I am proud of my roots and culture, I flawlessy incorporate traditional fashion gimmicks with what I love equally as much; the innovative, the modern, technology!”

Tohri: “But of course, all of my traits are perfect the way they are, and the same applies to every bird (and, human, I suppose...) So fashion should be used as a form of self-love, rather than to conform to what beauty industry insists is ideal. We live in a society with over at least a hundred of distinct bird species, of varying colors, sizes, shapes, and characters. Humans are a bit less diverse, but nonetheless I think this applies to every sentient creature!

Hitori: “The problem is that... He wasn’t wrong. I completely agree that Iwamine is arrogant, and doesn’t seem like he cares about anyone unless it directly interrupts his little personal bubble. While I can’t exactly compare my experiences with him to... Nishikikouji’s, Iwamine hurt me too. I don’t want him to suffer for what he did, but I definitely would like him to change his ways.

So I gave Nishikikouji one piece of advice I’ve gotten to know about Iwamine and his weaknesses...

...I revealed to him that Shuu Iwamine is scared of fire.

It’s something that I found out directly about Iwamine a long time ago. I regret it now, but in the heat of our conversation with Nishikikouji, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to give him a little bit of what he begs of me.

...I guess I didn’t know that Iwamine’s relation to fire is a bit less of a fear, and a bit more of a phobia, or even something much more...intense.

He was and still is just a part-time teacher. His main occupation is being the Editor-in-chief of a manga publishing company. He comes on Mondays and Fridays, sometimes during other days in the week too. He teaches art to all kinds of age-ranging students and holds the Workshop Club nowadays. Back then I didn’t know him though.

One day...

I don’t remember anything, of course. But when I woke up in the infirmary, Iwamine said that it’s a golden pheasant whose name he forgot that brought me in, and left before I woke up.

The next time I saw Nishikikouji, I thanked him for helping Kazuaki and me, and unfortunately I suggested that I owe him one, so he can ask me for help any time...

Hitori: ...wait, did you say “quail-ity”? haha. that’s a bit funny.