Seaside Fashionista Episode 4 Part 2

Things start with us in the office Suzuka was taking us to as she, Tetsuya, and Arachne are standing around in silence. You either talk to Arachne and comment on how heavy the mood is, talk to Tetsuya and ask him to calm everyone down, or ask Suzuka to lighten up a bit.

Going A, Arachne is surprised you can bring yourself to say anything at all in these conditions and wonders what sort of hells you’ve gone through. It helped ease the tension, but she wonders if Tetsuya and Suzuka getting even more frightening is an effect of the office.

Tetsuya finally decides to be the one to break the silence for real, reminding you that he told you not to stir up crap. You either apologize, prompt Arachne to apologize too, or disclaim any responsibility.

Tetsuya decides to let it be and move on with the topic. He talks about the blow up that happened back in Arachne’s store and says it’s not clear who’s at fault, then sees what Suzuka thinks. She agrees, so he recaps that he let you two in because you guys have business with her. After that, he says you can do whatever. You either thank him casually, thank him a step more politely, or get a little uppity and say you’ll do just that.

A and B go the same way where Tetsuya seems surprised and says you two had a deal, then adds that he doesn’t really feel like having contact with outsiders, you especially. Suzuka then says she understands the situation and accepts they’re partly to blame. After that she says she’ll work with you guys as much as she can, and calls it the terms of her deal with you.

Narration talks about how the other Outlaws would have been surprised as hell if they knew how much lenience Suzuka and Tetsuya just gave you. Arachne composes herself and acts more resolute, thanking her for understanding and cooperation.

Moving along, Arachne asks Suzuka to tell her what kind of clothes she’d like her to make. Narration says her determination was momentary and that she’s putting on a front for Suzuka. Suzuka for her part is surprised at this sudden question and asks why she has to do that.

Arachne only explains it as part of fulfilling her challenge and for the sake of future brands, then prompts her to answer again. Suzuka still doesn’t understand. You either get a little frustrated, say this has turned abstract, or cut to explaining it properly.

In any case after an explanation Tetsuya gets what’s happening and comments on being dragged into a rough situation. Arachne says getting rough problems out of the way early will make going forward easier, though ever since she opened the shop her near future has been rocky.

Tetsuya says he didn’t mean you guys when he said it but doesn’t press the point. He then suggests that Suzuka just ask you guys for whatever the hell she wants since he’s sure she must have an idea or two. Suzuka cops to it and thinks about the swimsuit picture she saw in the beginning, but claims she can’t talk about it since she has her own style.

Suzuka talks about how having you guys make something she won’t wear wouldn’t jive with the gangster’s code, and Tetsuya and Arachne stare at her in silence. She of course gets defensive and asks if they have a problem with her.

Arachne decides to ask her a different question and asks that Suzuka be direct and honest. She asks Suzuka why she didn’t like her clothes. Suzuka is embarrassed and claims there wasn’t anything that ‘suited her.’ You notice with some confusion that Suzuka is being evasive and unlike herself.

Arachne seems to pick up on the evasiveness as well and decides not to question the honesty of the answer. Instead she asks what clothes that suit her even means. Suzuka says she used to be called Boss, but now she’s just a high school girl. Suzuka thinks of high school girls as being free spirited and the type of people to chase after fads and trends. She then says she’s free to not pick any of Arachne’s clothes.

Arachne concedes the point, but asks her what her style actually is. A video streamer? A fashion copycat collage? If she is, she’d be free under a very restricted scope. Arachne says she herself is pursuing a brand that’s different in concept from the average apparel maker. It’s going to be things that are both artwork and tools.

She then dramatically proclaims her fashion is about passion towards Shadows. If anyone were to talk about copying fashion or things that ‘suit them’ to her, she would call that Baby’s First Fashion Game. Arachne then tries to ask Suzuka again for something specific and for what it is she’s hiding.

Suzuka speaks up to take offense and says Arachne doesn’t seem to understand what high school girls are about. She talks about how they way they live is awesome. Suzuka denies being a copycat and says being a high school girl is a matter of life and death.

Suzuka then dramatically declares that true high school girls seek the coolest of things and do whatever it takes as they walk a bloody path. She also accuses Arachne’s fashion being nothing more than self-satisfaction underneath it all. Trotting something out to your friends and not having it noticed would be the most laughable thing ever.

Arachne is of course riled up by this and points out that Suzuka isn’t really what people would think of as a normal high school girl. She looks more like a yakuza wife if anything.

Suzuka is taken back in turn and responds by calling Arachne a scrub of a designer. Sparks start flying between the two of them, and you either start getting concerned with how incompatible the two of them are or ask Tetsuya to do something.

Tetsuya just watches and makes no sign of moving to intervene. You then decide to prompt Arachne to start the measuring battle to clash with Suzuka at full force since there are things she doesn’t know. Arachne is shocked by the suggestion and asks if you’re the type to blow things away.

Arachne also starts saying that, like she previously mentioned, if she doesn’t know what direction to take for the clothes she’s supposed to make...you interrupt to say Suzuka already said she wanted something that suited her.

Arachne admits she did say that but says that’s the furthest point away from her stance. As she says that she understands what you’re getting at, saying that Suzuka’s Shadow is still behind that order. She says it’s a nice idea and had a small spark of inspiration.

Arachne says Suzuka is keeping something behind what’s she’s said, which has a certain form for her Shadow. Battling is the only way to figure out what that is.

Suzuka asks if she’s gonna bring it, which she’s fine with as that would be the quickest way forward. She declares she’ll show how cool high school girls are, which starts the episode battle. The story continues after that.

After the battle narration picks up midway by talking about how Suzuka’s measuring battle is different from the others so far. Suzuka is impressed that Arachne isn’t all talk while Arachne likewise is impressed by how direct and unwavering Suzuka is.

Narration says that in the other battles, Arachne was in a sense the subject. Her customers had the tacit understanding they were showing themselves to her. But this time as the two trade blows, they’re asserting themselves to each other. When the battle moved to the streets spectators started to gather.

Arachne says she understands Suzuka more little by little, like the big sisterly disposition she seems to make a show of. She psychoanalyzes Suzuka as not wanting to betray a certain someone’s expectations, saying she feels a strong fear and shadow hidden in that point.

When asked whether it’s true, Suzuka grimaces for a second like she’s remembering an old memory. Arachne brings up meeting one person’s expectations would mean turning back on someone else’s. She says Suzuka is bound by many people’s expectations and asks what she thinks.

Suzuka fires back asking what’s so wrong with meeting expectations (title drop). Arachne answers that there isn’t anything wrong, so Suzuka asks if she means to make fun of her.

Arachne says that’s who she is, so she will just be answering her request. Clothes are something to be seen by others, but it’s also important to feel good when wearing them. And in Suzuka’s case, if she’s lying about that she’d be making a waste of everything.

Suzuka comments on how talkative Arachne is and asks her to keep battling some more. After another round of attacks she’s impressed that Arachne dodged one of her moves and asks if she’s really facing her. She’s started understanding her bit by bit too from this fight. Suzuka then asks if Arachne can’t betray her own expectations.

Arachne is shocked by the remark, and narration talks about how the crossing of blades and needles are getting faster and stronger. Arachne starts commenting on how weird Suzuka is forfighting so hard despite trying to be a high school girl. But then, if she keeps looking for it and answering expectations, there’s no way she can turn out awkwardly.

Suzuka asks what lies ahead for Arachne if she keeps sticking to the way she’s been living. Arachne doesn’t argue the point, and Suzuka laughs. She talks about how tactless, stubborn, and terrible at living Arachne is, which she feels is comparable to looking in a mirror.

You comment on them verbally abusing each other and how they seem to be having fun. Arachne asks Suzuka to show her a bit more what her idea of high school girl-ness and coolness is. She answers that if she wants to know, she should come at her with everything, and at the same time she asks Arachne to show her what her art is more too.

Ibaraki runs up to investigate and is surprised to see Arachne, especially since she’s keeping up with Suzuka. Tetsugyuu is also surprised and says she’s like a knight-errant/youxia. Tetsuya comments on this way of doing things being appropriate for them as Kabukicho people. Gyoubu says it’s one way of communicating for them, and he’s glad the two are enjoying themselves.

You either comment on them engaging in a weird way, say they’re alike, or cheer them both on. Both continue ramping it up though neither can stop themselves, so they wait for something to change it up. Arachne says she wants to see more of Suzuka’s brilliant style. Suzuka says she sees Arachne’s passion through her needles and thread. After one more strike, you call an end to it there.

Both Suzuka and Arachne drop their battle stances and then break out into smiles. Suzuka says she vaguely understands Arachne’s passion for shadows and apologizes for making fun of it earlier. Arachne says the same goes for her, saying she forgot about living for the future. Now she’s gotten some new inspiration.

Arachne then asks Suzuka one more time to make sure whether she wants her to make something. Suzuka says she’ll make the order, but she’s totally going to laugh if Arachne flubs it up. Both laugh, and you either wonder if they’ve become friends or say you don’t get them.

In any case Suzuka remembers something and asks if Arachne could also do something about the clothes they wear for the club. Tsukuyomi messes up a bit, so there’s some things Suzuka wants fixed up. Arachne agrees and says that will be it for negotiations. On that note, Arachne says she understands the high school girl soul, but she asks what sort of thing Suzuka actually wants in that style.

Suzuka is flustered about being asked and tries to ask for something cool since in Japan style can also refer to body types. You clarify that Arachne means actual clothes, like something celebrity casual or something pretty. Suzuka then asks if she has to say so right there.

Ibaraki tries to get Suzuka to answer it and unknowingly pressures her by saying she pick something that would meet their expectations. Tetsuya cuts him off by pulling in his ear. Tetsugyuu tries suggesting that Suzuka should get something that lets everyone know of her fashion, but Gyoubu cuts him off the same way.

Tetsuya tells Ibaraki he has a lot of work to do before the store opens. Gyoubu says they should break it up with the boorishness and get back to their own work. Suzuka comments on how unnatural that was and compares it to a comedy act.

But back to that question, Suzuka starts trying to answer. You either prompt her to say it since you want to know, or you just stare at her silently. She asks if that’s your expectation and seems ready to just say so when Tetsuya comes back to tell her something.

When asked what’s up, Tetsuya says that if Suzuka has things she wants to do, she should just do as she pleases. He won’t laugh even if she changes, but he might be a little envious. Tetsuya does figure that Suzuka might not want to hear that coming from who’s empty and doesn’t have the same desires. That’s all he wanted to say, so he walks off again.

Suzuka snorts a little and asks if that’s him giving her a nudge. She calls everyone in Kabukicho pathetic, which is why she has to go at things so hard. That said she feels she has to meet the expectations put on her, so she asks Arachne to come closer so she can tell her without you hearing.

Arachne agrees to do so, so you say that maybe that would be better without you there, say it might be better to talk in private, or tell them to have fun later together. Suzuka however tells you to come along. You are either surprised by this, ask if you have anything else to do, or ask if she wants you to follow her.

Going B if it matters, Suzuka says she’s still not at liberty to say what she wants. She still has a reputation to consider among the guild, and it’s not like she can show her high school girlness around them anyways. In which case she wants you to come along to be a lookout. You then either act like an underling and agree or say you want her to be cuter.

Suzuka tells you not to make fun of her and sighs about you, then claims that her current way of living is important to her, that’s all. Suzuka asks if Arachne minds, though it should be since you two came together. Arachne says you’re her cameraman-assistant-advisor, so it’s fine for you to come with.

The three of you then head off into some parts of Shinjuku as you have heated discussion after discussion. At some point towards the night you guys need a break, so you shelve the topic to go eat and play. This goes on pretty much all night, and the episode part ends there.