Our Minette Belle

...Another waking dream! All right, where are we?

Ooh, a cute little village this time. Okay, cottage is in right now! Better soak up all the inspiration I can before I wake up.

Mimi? Where are you running off to?

Huh. You look just like Nina's cat...

Wait, Aldo?

N-Nina? What are you doing here?!

What do you mean what am I doing? Dreaming, obviously.

I think this is the first time someone I know has shown up in a dream! I wonder why?

...A dream?

Yeah. This is my dream. In the real world I'm napping back at the atelier.

No... This isn't a dream.

Of course it is! What else would it be?

I don't know how I should explain it... But this is definitely reality.

Heh. Says the character in my dream.

Oh, we're done already?

Bummer. See you around, dream-Aldo. Or maybe not!

Hold it! I'm telling you, this isn't a dream!

A wormhole?!

Nina, wait!

Aldo?!

Phew. That was a weird one. Even had Aldo show up. So random.

Wait, why are you in my studio?! This is getting a little out there.

I told you, it's NOT a dream!

So...everything I thought was a dream...was real all along?

Yeah. Looks like Mimi's got the power to open spacetime rifts at will.

Real... Not dreams... Real...

Even when we first met, you thought it was a dream.

But it wasn't, we knew each other after that. You never thought that was strange?

Look, when you're as sleep-deprived as me, things get reaaally foggy. I NEVER remember what's going on. To be honest, I thought I'd just forgotten how we met.

...You seriously need to get some sleep.

I...really thought I was sleeping this whole time. In retrospect, that explains a lot.

Ahhhh! The time!!

Something going on?

YES! I've got a really important meeting at that boutique in the Gamma District. I've gotta go, now!

When I first heard the designer for Minette Belle was interested in a collaboration, I was honestly stunned. I'm really looking forward to making this a success.

Yeah... I think so too, I... *yaaawn*

S-So sorry!

It's fine. Anyway...for the shirt design, like I mentioned earlier, my brand usually...

(I'm dead tired. I thought I was sleeping last night, but I wasn't... And then Aldo was there, and explaining, and I had to go...)

Excuse me. Are you even listening?

Am I, er, y-yes! So sorry!

...You seem exhausted. You've been nodding off this whole time.

I don't think we'll get anywhere like this. Let's reschedule the meeting for another day.

I...I really blew it...

Over. It's over it's over it's over it's over it's over it's over it's over it's over it's over... It's ALL over, Mimi! I'm finished!

I totally offended that designer... I sent him an apology afterward, but the reply was cold as ice. He said the collab is still on, so there's that... But only because it was already in motion.

Next time, though? No, there won't BE a next time!

Ughhh... Once words of this gets out... I'm finished in the fashion industry. No one will want to work with me ever again.

...This is all YOUR fault, Mimi! I'm delirious because of you!

I'm never jumping in one of those rifts again! If you want to go run around in other eras, Mimi, fine, but don't drag me with along with you!

You're innocent? As if! It's at least partially your fault!

Deny it all you want, but it's true!

Minette Belle is finished! You dumb, stupid cat!!

And I'm stupider! Idiot, Sad sack who ruins everything! Stupid stupid stupid stuuuuupid!

*huff* *puff* O-Okay... Time out...

Ah...

I'm...not going. Not this time.

Hm? Minette?

Oh, is she yours? She's just lovely! So her name's Minette, is it?

No. She belongs to a friend of mine.

She's here by herself?

Ah...

She knows her way around just fine. Everyone here loves her! Why, some folks say they've even seen His Majesty himself stop to pamper her!

Really?

Nina's atelier should be somewhere around here.

Nina?

Aldo. Long time no...see...

Nina?!

To the atelier...please... ......Goodbye.

Why aren't you sleeping?!

Feeling better?

Yeah...a little rest helped.

You sure? Those bags under your eyes look worse than ever, Nina. What's going on?

Well, I can't sleep!! Mimi, she...she's...

Mimi ran away after our fight, and I'm too worried to rest.

What? But Mimi's...

Yes, I'm trying to be rational. She has to come back! So I threw myself into work... And I have zero designs to show for it. What if she's lost? What if she's dead?!

Mimi left me, I can't design... WHAT'S THE POINT OF LIVING?

That's what I'm trying to tell you! I saw Mimi, in my time. I know where she is. I got worried when she was by herself, so I came looking for you.

Y-You saw her?! She's in your era?

Please, Aldo! You have to take me there! We need to mend things!

Of course. Let's go.

So Mimi's here...

Let's start asking around. See if anyone's spotted her.

Forewarning... When I talk to strangers, I, um...I get weird. Just ignore it, okay?

Weird...how?

Don't worry about it. I'm just psyching myself up. Let's...let's start asking!

H-Hello! Have you seen a kitten anywhere?

She's...she's cute. Like a little baby...

(So this is what she meant by "weird." She can't even look straight at strangers.)

It's her cat. She's got a pink ribbon on.

Now that you mention it... I did see a ribboned cat wandering near my house yesterday. Poor thing looked like a stray. She was unbelievably sweet! I would've let her inside to stay if she'd wanted.

F-Forget it! Mimi's MY cat!

Um...sorry...

No harm done. I have cats of my own, so I understand how you feel. Afraid I haven't seen her today, though.

All right...thank you.

Let's try asking somewhere else.

Hey there. You didn't spot a cat with a pink ribbon around here, did you?

Yeah, earlier this morning. Right around here. The ribbon was super fancy, too!

But it's been a while now, so she's probably moved on.

That's okay. Thanks.

Mimi's ribbon... I gave that to her. As Minette Belle's designer, I mean. I'll never make another. It's a one-of-a-kind piece, for a one-of-kind client.

I wanted it to make her happy to wear it. I spent three whole days, and nights, on that design. All for that wish. When I finally gave it to her...that was the moment I knew I was ready to build Minette Belle into a brand.

I'm sure Mimi feels that, too.

Minette Belle... My brand, did you know I based it on a fairy tale? It goes... That once upon a time, there was a king who gave a beautiful tiny bell to his beloved pet kitten.

The sound of the bell was so bright and pure that it lifted the hearts of everyone who heard it. I wanted my clothes to brighten people's lives the same way. I really felt like...with Mimi at my side, I could actually do it.

Minette's not just your friend, she's your partner, after all. Let's ask around some more.

Excuse me. We're looking for a local cat, one with a pink ribbon. Have you seen her around here today?

Oh dear, is she lost? I'm sorry, I haven't seen her.

Mimi...

So you're her owner?

When I praised her ribbon, she lit right up. Sat right up like she was showing it off.

Sh-She did?!

But now that I think back... There was a touch of loneliness in her eyes. I bet she was thinking about you.

I... I hope so...

Come on. Let's keep looking.

Right.

We asked around everywhere...but no one knows where she's gone.

Mimi was a cat I just picked up, actually. Did I ever tell you? She just kind of appeared one day. There was this flash of light like the one when we traveled back here...

(Hm? Then I guess Mimi might be from a completely different time period.)

It's like...ironic, right? Figures that she'd disappear without a trace too.

Mimi... Please...come back.

I'm sorry I lashed out at you. It wasn't your fault, you didn't do anything wrong. W-Without you, I just...

Mimi?!

So that's where you were!

You know what I think? Maybe Mimi wanted to apologize too. She was probably just waiting to see how you felt.

Apologize?

Your arms and legs, those scratches are all from her, right?

Oh. Yeah... From when we fought.

Don't worry, they're already healing. A little scratch never bothered me. I'm the one who should be sorry. Let's go home, okay?

Welcome home, Mimi! Let's get you comfy!

I'll get you some food.

So... Listen, Mimi. Tomorrow I've got another meeting with that designer I upset. If I want to smooth things over, I have to bring everything I've got. Every idea I'm capable of. I really need this to work out. I've got to do whatever it takes.

And, Mimi... Those places you take me... That's where I get the most inspiration.

When I think about it... Minette Belle isn't just MY brand. It's ours, you're just as big of a part of it as me. So, um... Next time you open up another one of those wormholes...can I come with you?

Here's the list of proposals I put together with the designer for the collaboration. The revision requests you mentioned last time, I thought we could incorporate them like this...

......

S-So...what do you think?

Quite frankly? It's excellent. I was worried you might not be taking this collaboration seriously. But seeing you come so thoroughly prepared... You must have been truly exhausted that day. Being a manager for a rising brand can't be easy either...

N-No. Even so, it was unprofessional of me to come to our meeting without enough sleep.

But this marketing idea, illustrations of the cats used to model each brand, it's brilliant. It's infinitely adaptable. And since Minette Belle is taking on multiple collaborations at once... I can see the display now. Rows of T-shirts, each with a different cat design. That would be a sensation.

R-Really?

Yes. Please tell your designer I'd like to workshop this idea further.

Of course! She'll be thrilled.

(The meeting went...surprisingly well.) (And the collab plan is finally starting to take shape!) (Now all I need...is the right inspiration to bring the designs to life.)

...Say, Mimi... I-I know I said "inspiration," but...

Where even are we?!

Of course I trust you. No matter where we are, I'll find some spark for the next design.

This place is like a dream... Feels like anything could happen here, don't you think? I've got a good feeling about this.

Mimi...are you trying to get inspired, too?

Heh. That's my girl! Let's get looking, Minette Belle's a design duo, after all!