TV-Series
Description
Kokoro Hasegawa, a first-year student at the Geika Institute of Fashion, stands at 181 centimeters. Her naturally shy, submissive, and meek personality initially made her self-conscious about her height, though this complex lessened after being scouted as a model during high school. This led to her part-time affiliation with the modeling agency Bon Rouge. Despite innate talent and physical advantages that make her stature an asset, Kokoro dislikes aspects of modeling. Lingering self-doubt and a sense of debt to her manager, Yu Igarashi, prevent her from quitting despite her disinterest.
Her true passion is fashion design, inspired by admiration for renowned designer Mai Ayano, driving her enrollment at Geika. She develops a one-sided romantic interest in classmate Ikuto Tsumura, an aspiring designer. Interactions with Ikuto contribute to her gradual gain in self-assurance. During her freshman autumn, Kokoro wins the Grand Prix at the Geika Institute Fashion Festival. However, one judge, a model viewing Kokoro as a rival, strategically voted for her design to discourage her from modeling. Most judges acknowledged her work would likely have placed fourth or fifth without this intervention.
Following her win, Kokoro quits modeling to focus entirely on design. She studies abroad in Paris, then gains experience as a pattern maker for Toh Ayano's brand, AYANO, upon returning to Japan. Her career progresses when she joins Ikuto Tsumura's newly established brand, EGAO, where her exceptional design skills position her as a potential second lead designer.
Kokoro's journey embodies a conflict between her extraordinary natural talent for modeling, where she excels effortlessly, and her dedicated pursuit of design, where success demands persistent hard work. While she could achieve top-tier status as a model, she finds greater happiness and purpose in design's creative challenges, even without reaching the same pinnacle of recognition. Her relationship with co-lead character Chiyuki Fujito involves initial clashes, partly stemming from their shared connection to Ikuto and contrasting fashion paths, but they later reconcile through collaboration and develop a mutual friendship.
Her true passion is fashion design, inspired by admiration for renowned designer Mai Ayano, driving her enrollment at Geika. She develops a one-sided romantic interest in classmate Ikuto Tsumura, an aspiring designer. Interactions with Ikuto contribute to her gradual gain in self-assurance. During her freshman autumn, Kokoro wins the Grand Prix at the Geika Institute Fashion Festival. However, one judge, a model viewing Kokoro as a rival, strategically voted for her design to discourage her from modeling. Most judges acknowledged her work would likely have placed fourth or fifth without this intervention.
Following her win, Kokoro quits modeling to focus entirely on design. She studies abroad in Paris, then gains experience as a pattern maker for Toh Ayano's brand, AYANO, upon returning to Japan. Her career progresses when she joins Ikuto Tsumura's newly established brand, EGAO, where her exceptional design skills position her as a potential second lead designer.
Kokoro's journey embodies a conflict between her extraordinary natural talent for modeling, where she excels effortlessly, and her dedicated pursuit of design, where success demands persistent hard work. While she could achieve top-tier status as a model, she finds greater happiness and purpose in design's creative challenges, even without reaching the same pinnacle of recognition. Her relationship with co-lead character Chiyuki Fujito involves initial clashes, partly stemming from their shared connection to Ikuto and contrasting fashion paths, but they later reconcile through collaboration and develop a mutual friendship.