Chapter 146: Trying Out Modeling

“Takkun, are you really okay?”

“Yup, I decided to give it a try.”

Today’s my first day doing modeling.

When I decided to appear on TV for Seira-chan, I thought I’d try modeling too.

I enter the studio, and they start setting my hairstyle. Come to think of it, Nana said she wanted to see me with my bangs up.

I never got around to it since then, so today’s my first proper hair styling.

They wet my hair, dry it, shape it, and use gel? Wax? to set it in place.

“Kya~♡, Takkun, you’re so cool!♡.”

Karen-oneechan, who came along, is super excited, snapping photos of me.

“Takkun♡, You don’t have to think about anything complicated♡, Just pose as they tell you♡.”

“Okay…”

“Takkun, male models are so rare, just standing there would be enough!”

“G-Got it…”

So basically, “Don’t be too nervous,” right?

I stand under the lights and cameras, posing as instructed.

“Looks great~♡, Next, eyes to the camera, please♡.”

Honestly, my mind’s blank, and I don’t remember a thing, but it’s over in a flash.

“Takkun♡, You were amazing!♡.”

Mom hugs me, tearing up. Karen-oneechan looks satisfied too.

“You’re exaggerating…”

“No way! Not at all♡, This product’s gonna sell out♡.”

“Just because a guy did some amateur modeling…”

“Might need to prep for more production♡.”

“Even Mom…”

*

A few days later, the photos are ready and posted on the EC site’s sales page.

After discussing with Reina-san, Mom, and Karen-oneechan, they decided to include my face clearly.

At first, we talked about not showing my face, but Karen-oneechan said that’d defeat the point of me doing it.

Well, yeah, if you can’t see my face, you wouldn’t know it’s a guy.

Plus, if showing my face causes any issues, Reina-san will handle it.

Not just for “me” but for “us.” She’s protecting a pretty wide range.

They even got approval to show my face in the footage from Seira-chan’s live show, which was initially planned to be aired with my face hidden.

Reina-san contacted the TV station president for me, and she was thrilled, apparently.

“Wow~♡, Takkun’s photos are awesome~♡.”

“You don’t have to stare that much…”

“No, no! What kind of big sister doesn’t admire her little brother’s success! …Huh? It froze?”

“For real, the page is stuck… Ah!”

Karen-oneechan was browsing the product page I modeled for when it froze mid-load.

Then, weird numbers and words popped up, and not only the photos but the entire EC site stopped working.

“Maybe…”

I look at Mom, who’s on the phone with someone. After a while, she gets a surprising response.

“…Phew, the server crashed, they said.”

“Takkun♡, Crashing the server♡.”

“R-Really my fault?”

“Well~♡, This never happened before, so your photos must be super popular and crashed the server♡.”

Mom and Karen-oneechan are way too carefree… I might not be able to go outside anymore… Well, I don’t go out much anyway.

“Big sis, big trouble! It’s blowing up on SNS! Number one trending!”

Sakura comes with more headache-inducing news. I check SNS, and it’s flooded with my photos.

“This… I’ll contact the Men’s Ministry right away.”

The Men’s Ministry is scrambling from top to bottom, making sure my photos aren’t misused.

“No way to predict this, right~♡.”

“Yeah… I never thought it’d get this big…”

“It’s okay, Takkun♡, Leave it all to the grown-ups♡.”

Mom says something reassuring, but I wonder how this’ll turn out…

*

“Takkun, it’s gotten huge~♡.”

“Uuu…”

“It’s all over the news, trending every day♡, Mom said she’s got interviews and press conferences now♡.”

Even a few days later, the buzz hasn’t died down.

If anything, with the server reinforced so people can see the photos anytime, the internet’s flooded with reactions.

“Takuya♡, No need to worry♡.”

“Yes, leave everything to us♡.”

“See!♡, Reina-san says so too♡.”

Kaede cheers me up so brightly it’s almost carefree. Reina-san doesn’t even seem that busy, so maybe it’s fine?

“When men do modeling or entertainment, this almost always happens, so the Men’s Ministry has a manual for it.”

Reina-san talks to me calmly, like there’s no problem at all.

“And we prepared in advance, so it’s all within expectations♡.”

“C-Cool…”

“E-Ehehe♡.”

My mumbled comment makes Reina-san drop her cool and blush.

“Ahem! So, Takuya-sama, just keep living as usual!♡.”

“Thank you, Reina-san!”

I can’t help but hug Reina-san and say “thank you” a ton.

“Okay, Takuya, as usual, let’s go shopping!♡.”

“U-Uh, yeah…”

Kaede drags me out, and we leave in Satsuki-san’s car.

It’s not like people swarm me or anything, just some distant murmurs.

Since causing trouble would get them punished instantly, everyone just looks and holds back.

“See!♡, It’s fine♡.”

“Yeah, you’re right…”

And no one’s following us everywhere we go.

In my past life, police wouldn’t act on stalking unless there was actual harm, but in this world, if a man even feels a bit stalked, it’s an arrestable offense.

“Ah♡, Takuya♡, What about this skirt?♡.”

Kaede’s totally unbothered, lost in shopping. I’m the only one worrying. Am I too much of a worrywart?

But thanks to Kaede, I realized I’m protected not just by the grown-ups around me but by the law and the kindness of good citizens.

After tagging along with Kaede’s shopping, we go home and have a normal dinner.

*

“Takkun, big news! So many fashion magazines sent modeling offers!♡.”

“W-Wow… This many…”

“These aren’t even all of them, but I picked the big-name ones Takkun should do!♡.”

Karen-oneechan brought a stack of fashion magazines as thick as all my textbooks combined.

“Hmm… Doing PR for Mom’s company’s products is one thing, but fashion magazines…”

“It’s fine, right?♡, You don’t have to be super stylish or anything♡, It’s probably the same kind of work!♡.”

I flip through the magazines, spilling my anxieties.

“Ah, Seira-chan…”

“Oh♡, Found her already?♡, Yup♡, She’s an exclusive model for that magazine, Seira-chan♡.”

“Really… Maybe this one…”

“Ooh♡, It’s decided~♡.”

“W-Wait, I mean, if I do it! …I haven’t said I’d take the offer yet.”

“Boo! Come on, just do it♡, Take the offer♡.”

Karen-oneechan was already acting like I’d accept the offer. That was close.

“Seira-chan would be thrilled, I bet~♡, Modeling with Takkun♡.”

“But…”

“You’re doing the TV thing to support Seira-chan, right?♡, Do the magazine with her and back her up♡.”

“Yeah…”

“Ah♡, You just said ‘yeah’♡, Reina-saaan♡, Takuya says he’ll do it if it’s with Seira-chan!♡.”

“Yes♡, Understood♡.”

My vague agreement got snatched up by Karen-oneechan in a flash, and now I’m set to appear in the magazine.

*

“Thank you for taking the time for this interview today.”

“N-No, it’s fine…”

Right now, after shooting photos with Seira-chan, I’m in a separate room doing an interview with her.

The editor-in-chief herself came to greet us, and I’m super nervous.

“This time, did you agree to our magazine’s interview because your fiancée, Seira-san, is an exclusive model here?”

The interviewer lady starts talking with a gentle vibe.

“Y-Yes… I thought I could support Seira-chan even a little…”

“Takkun…♡.”

“Seira-san, you came here during a rare break from your tour…”

“No! Being with Takkun is the most relaxing thing!♡.”

“You two get along so well♡… Could you share how you met?♡.”

“Takkun and I are cousins♡.”

“I see♡, So your marriage was decided long ago?♡.”

“Was it… decided?”

I don’t know when my marriage to Seira-chan was set, so I end up asking her instead of answering.

“Hmm… It was decided, I guess, but our marriage is our choice!♡.”

“So, you two love each other and chose to marry?♡.”

““Yes!””

Seira-chan and I answer in unison.

“That’s wonderful~♡, It’s the kind of marriage girls dream of♡.”

“Takkun’s really an amazing guy!♡.”

“Ufufu♡, I can tell just from talking to you both♡, So what do you like about each other?♡.”

“Seira-chan’s hardworking nature makes you want to cheer her on… Well, her fans probably know that already… But she supports me a ton and gives me this sense of reassurance by leading the way.”

“I see, I see♡, And you, Seira-san?♡.”

“I love Takkun’s kindness, like, how truly open-hearted he is!♡.”

“For example, how so?♡.”

“Hmm~♡, Like how he doesn’t judge girls by their looks!♡.”

I-Is that a good thing…? I’m still not used to it, but everyone’s been praising me for it.

“Even girls who worry about having big breasts or sharp eyes, he talks to them without caring!♡.”

“That’s amazing♡.”

“It really is♡, He even makes them his fiancées♡.”

“What!?”

Seira-chan spilling that she’s my fiancée makes Satsuki-san, standing behind us, turn bright red.

“He doesn’t get mad about physical touch either~♡, He’s so kind~♡.”

“Indeed, the photo shoot went super smoothly, and the fact that you’re doing this interview for such a kind reason speaks volumes♡.”

The interviewer lady and Seira-chan hit it off, praising me a ton.

But yeah, the photo shoot did have me and Seira-chan getting close for some shots. A normal guy might not handle it. Seira-chan’s breasts are kinda big.

“Since you’re cousins, do you have any childhood stories?♡.”

“Uh…”

Oh no, what do I do? Should I be honest? Seira-chan could probably answer, so I could match her story.

I look to Reina-san for help, and she answers for me.

“S-So sorry!! We didn’t know, and to ask such…”

The interviewer and editor-in-chief stand up and bow to me.

“No, it’s not something anyone could predict.”

“Takuya-san…♡.”

“It’s okay to write about my memory in the magazine… Actually, it’s better if people know.”

“Got it♡, Then, let’s try again… Please share a sweet story about you two♡.”

Seira-chan and I tell the interviewer about her recent live show.

“Wow, that’s so♡… I’m jealous♡.”

The interviewer’s jealous of our high-five. I’ll give her one when we’re done.

We keep answering questions together, and I end up enjoying the interview more than I expected.

I had no idea at the time that the magazine with Seira-chan and me on the cover would sell enough to break world records.