[Novel: Venus Syndrome] [278] A Clear Autumn Day with Eiken Grade 2

Chapter 1: Passing Eiken Grade 2

The dressing room of the dress brand "Felice" always smells of soft fabric.
That morning, Riko Takekuma was holding her smartphone in front of the mirror.

《Congratulations on passing Eiken Grade 2》

As she read the email over and over, she let out a small laugh that made her shoulders tremble.
The atmosphere before a shoot is usually tense, but for today, she felt it was okay to be a little excited. Her heart was as clear as an autumn sky.

"Look at this."
Riko called out to Nao Hiwadaya, who was adjusting the hem of her blouse next to her.

"Hmm?" Nao turned around.
Riko held out her smartphone screen.

"I passed Eiken Grade 2!"

"Whoa! That's amazing, Riko-chan!"
A voice also flew in from the back of the dressing room.
"That's the real deal, isn't it!" Yumi Yakuno laughed while stretching.

The three of them are "Venus children" who work as exclusive "Torso-sans" for the dress brand "Felice".Venus children.
Born without arms, they work in a profession called "Torso-san," where they actually wear clothes to attend exhibitions and photo shoots.

They wear the clothes not as people, but as substitutes for mannequins.
Because they have no arms, they do not interfere with the fabric, highlighting the structure of the costumes.
Standing quietly, not moving, and not disturbing the voice of the fabric—that is the "immobile body" role required of them.

Riko Takekuma is often assigned structural dress lines due to her tall 172cm height and strong skeletal frame.
Nao Hiwadaya is often requested for basting and exhibitions, taking advantage of her soft atmosphere,
and Yumi Yakuno is valued for bringing out the beauty of clothes in still-life photography and shots from behind.

"Grade 2 means you can handle normal daily conversation, right?" Nao said.
"My teacher told me, 'You're at a level where you can even use it on the job.'"
Riko puffed out her chest, looking a bit proud.

"That's so cool... We only ever say things like 'Okay' or 'Good.'"
When Yumi shrugged exaggeratedly, laughter spread among the three.

"But, you know. If an overseas brand ever comes and says, 'I want you to wear this,' I want to be able to say 'Yes' myself, even if just a little."

Saying that, Riko gently lifted her shoulders.
The smooth shoulder line without arms is there for the fabric again today.

Will her words ever be able to catch up to this body?
She tucked that thought away in her heart, without telling anyone.

Chapter 2: "Dead Swan"

"Takekuma-san, um, about next week... is the time okay for you?"

Before lunch break, Sato from sales approached her modestly.
He is still young among the Felice sales team and is always somewhat reserved.

"Yes, it's fine. Was there something?"

Riko stood up and brushed off her uniform skirt with her knees.
Sato said while operating the tablet in his hand.

"There's a Belgian brand called 'Jamadour,' and their designer is coming to Japan and wants to use a Japanese torso model.
And when I showed them the materials, they said they wanted you."

"Eh... me?"

"Your shoulder line and the height of your knees. Plus, they said, 'The structural static posture is beautiful.' It's a direct request from the designer. Is your English okay?"

At that moment, Riko's back straightened.
(It finally came)

"Yes. It's okay. At least for daily conversation..."

Sato from sales smiled and nodded, looking somewhat relieved.
"Well, we'll have an interpreter there just in case, but please handle what you can."

"Yes, of course."

She answered quietly, but inside, she was applauding.
(Eiken Grade 2 wasn't a waste!)

When she returned to the dressing room, she immediately reported it to Nao and Yumi.

"Whoa, isn't that amazing? A direct request from an overseas brand!"
Nao Hiwadaya stood there with her mouth open.

"What is that, that's super global."
Yumi Yakuno said it casually, but her eyes looked a little happy.

"Thanks. But I'll do my best. ...I hope I can communicate properly in English."

Riko's heart was pounding.

Chapter 3: A Few Days Later, Studio in Tokyo

"Riko-san, nice to meet you! I’m Sabine Jamadour. Call me Sabine, please!"

She was a bright and lively woman.
Sabine Jamadour, a French woman with short hair.
Holding an avant-garde dress that combined linen and leather, she was giving instructions to the staff.

"This dress is not passive. It’s—presence. You understand, yes?"

(Presence... existence?)

"Yes. I understand..."

Her tongue wouldn't move due to nervousness.
She could tell her pronunciation was falling apart.

"Good! Let’s try!"

The fitting began, and the lighting was set up.
Riko stood as she always did.
Slowly, she pulled her shoulders back and dropped her center of gravity straight down.

"No no no—more… collapse. Like, elegant fall. You know? Like… dead swan."

"Dead swan."

She heard it. But she didn't understand the meaning.

"Death of a swan"?

How should she collapse? Where should she relax her strength?
She panicked. Her understanding was slow, and the words wouldn't come.

"Sorry, please say again slowly…"

Sabine laughed and said,
"Don’t worry. You’re doing great!"

She felt saved by that smile.

However, the interpreter who was waiting right next to them stepped forward quietly.

"It seems she wants you to 'make your posture collapse more beautifully.' Like letting your breath out."

"Oh, yes."

In the end, she had to rely on the interpreter.
She couldn't respond with her own words at all.

Chapter 4: After the Shoot

"Riko-san is perfect. Very… still but alive. That’s what I wanted."

Sabine said that and left, looking satisfied.
The set was filled with applause, and the sales staff were relieved.

But deep in Riko's chest, something heavy remained.

It wasn't "perfect."

──She hadn't been able to communicate a single thing herself.

While changing in the dressing room, Riko looked down at her shoulder line.
Those smooth shoulders without arms.

Even if she could hear the voice of the fabric, she couldn't reach it with words.
There are days like that.
That reality remained in her chest, heavier than the Eiken Grade 2 passing notification.

The TV in the waiting room was giving the weather forecast.

Tomorrow in the Kanto region, we will be blessed with clear autumn weather. However, from tonight through the morning, there will be few clouds, and temperatures are expected to drop significantly in many areas due to radiative cooling. The minimum temperature will fall below 10 degrees in inland areas, and the morning will be wrapped in a chilly air. During the day, refreshing sunlight will pour down, but the maximum temperature will be around 20 degrees, making it a comfortable day for this time of year. Please be careful of the temperature difference between morning and evening."

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