Vol 1 Chapter 58 – Model Shoot 2

Michi Mama isn’t streaming. My streams are usually longer, so Mitsu-san seems worn out.

I’m not that tired myself; I just want to rest my throat after hours of singing.

The next day… Today’s a modeling shoot.

“Please take good care of me again today!”

“Sure thing—looking forward to it.”

Once again, Yasuda-san is on camera, and Yuuzi-san handles makeup.

After makeup and a wardrobe change, I stand before Yasuda-san. Apparently the image people have of me is a gothic-loli with a guitar—even though I play violin too…

So I’m photographed singing while holding the guitar again. I make sure not to sing a song I’ve practiced too well—otherwise Yasuda-san forgets to press the shutter.

“Yep, as always, you’re great, Rin-chan!”

After about three cuts, Yasuda-san praises me.

Well, Mitsu-san’s been praising me nonstop anyway.

“Thank you!”

“Come on, hydrate! It’s hot, right?”

Yeah, it’s the height of summer, yet I’m in an autumn outfit. Even with the AC cranked up “gangan”, the lights are pretty warm.

“Okay!”

I answer and run over to Mitsu-san.

“Here you go— “pakari””

Mitsu-san hands me a sports drink.

While I’m drinking, Yasuda-san approaches, magazine in hand.

“So, for the next winter shoot, I’d like a sister-coord with a certain kid model. Your partner would be SilverAiris-chan.”

As he speaks, the page he opens shows someone I recognize.

“Gin-san!?”

It’s a photo of Gin-san in the same Clockchild outfit as me. His hair, skin—down to his brows and lashes—are snow-white and stunning. He’d mentioned being albino; this must be his natural coloring.

Albinism is a congenital condition where the genes that produce melanin are missing. Melanin shows up all over the body—black hair, for instance, is melanin. When melanin is sparse, the color turns pale, almost white.

Gin-san’s albinism seems extreme: no melanin at all. His body is pure white, his eyes bright red—because the iris lacks pigment and the blood’s color shines through.

He must have it tough; even a little UV light can burn his skin.

“Oh? You know him?”

“Yes—he’s one of my viewers!”

Come to think of it, he’d said he wanted to collab. Looks like he made it happen fast.

“Gotcha! So, will you collab with him?”

There was only one possible answer.

“Of course!”

What a strange twist of fate. Middle-aged kid models are a ludicrously rare breed, yet two of them have met. Opportunities like this don’t come often.

“Hmm, so this is Gin-kun, huh.”

Beside me, Mitsu-san peers at the magazine.

“That’s right. He’s a top model at Shirai Pro! Well, now we have Rin-chan too!”

“Huh!? They’re putting me next to someone this gorgeous!?”

Gin-san has the tranquil beauty unique to albinos—yet he’s incredibly fun to talk to.

“Sure—because you’re just as cute!”

Yasuda-san says it flat-out. So I’m apparently super cute even by girl standards…

“Well, Rin-kun is the best in the world!”

And Mitsu-san backs up the idea I’m struggling with.

“I-I’m… just normal…”

Flustered, my brain boiling, I drop my gaze.

“Think we can film the next shoot…?”

Watching me, Yasuda-san mutters.

We return to the shoot. This time they hand me a violin.

“Eh? This, now?”

“Yep—we figured we’d push Violinist Rin-chan too.”

“O-okay.”

I take my usual stance with the violin.

“Wow—amazing! That’s downright sultry! A kid model shouldn’t be making that face!”

What kind of face is that supposed to be?

I believe the violin’s charm lies in the sensuality of its sound. Compared to it, the guitar’s voice is masculine.

In other words, the violin carries a wealth of harmonic overtones. Female voices have more overtones than male voices, making them feel softer and higher, even when the fundamental pitch is the same.

That’s why I think the violin’s tone radiates feminine allure.

“What kind of face is that!?”

It’s the first time anyone’s put it that way. Is it… a naughty face?

“Eh!? Rin-kun, you’ve been playing with that face…?”

During live performances, Mitsu-san and I both face the screen, so she only sees my profile.

Apparently, without realizing, I’ve been making a seductive expression.

“Yeah, nice! Very mature! Every girl out there is gonna be crushing hard!”

Saying that, Yasuda-san fires the shutter again and again.

The shoot ends in no time. We planned on six cuts, but wound up with ten. Yasuda-san, beaming “hokuhoku”, slipped in four extra violin shots.

Because it was all indoors today, the job was pretty easy—so nothing like last time happened.