Summer's Here! 2

Of all the clubs in the alliance, Clothiers is the most wholesome, the most motivated, and the one with the most thought-out plan.

But we haven't checked in on them in a while. I wonder how they're doing now? Moriarty did seem very confident the last time we talked...

Yeah. It almost made me feel like he was tempting fate a little.

Anyway, only one way to find out. Knock, knock!

Yo, Crane! Got another thread refill for you!

Here you are, Crane. I've completed the three embroidery pieces you requested.

Très bien! You've both been so helpful.

And here are the newly woven chambray and satin pieces, along with willow for dyeing if you need it!

Whoa... It's chaotic, but I can feel the passion from here.

Hey, Habby! What were the materials you need me to get again?

Hang on. Lemme just finish up this embroi

Never mind me. I can handle this on my own. Go on and help Mordred.

Yes, Lord Vlad! I'll leave you to it, then!

Wow. There's so much going on here I hardly know where to look.

Oh, hello, everyone. I'd like to offer you some tea...

...but I'm afraid I have my wingsI mean, hands, completely full!

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Well...

...it's going absolutely wonderfully! I've never felt so continuously inspired to create!

Okay, Mordred, here's the next list of materials we need.

Got it! Back in a flash!

See you later, Mordred! Our shining king of cosplayers!

King of Cosplayers, huh? Hell yeah!

All right, time for me to get back to work, too!

Oh yes, we can do this! After all, there's nothing we want to be doing more right now!

Well, um, I can tell you're all very passionate about your respective roles, and that you're very excited about this project...

...but I don't see an actual book anywhere?

Good point. All I can see are clothes.

Aside from tha

...

Aah!

M-Moriarty!? Senpai, Moriarty appears to be just hanging on by a thread!

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Nnn... Th-the schedule...

Chloe will be...ruthlessly checking in soon... Must...report...contact...and consult...

What? That's strange... My calculations are...off...

Moriarty? Are you okay?

...(Gasp)

Oh, it's you.

I'm sorry. I think I lost consciousness there for a moment. How are the oth

I see. They're all still hard at work.

I don't understand! Where did I miscalculate?

Everything should have been perfect. My schedule was supposed to be a thing of beauty.

How could I let this happen!?

Khh, now I'm no better than the kind of idiot who claims they're 99.9 percent certain to win!

Please calm down, Moriarty. Can you tell us what happened here?

Well...

I hate to admit it, but...my schedule was a bust. Clothiers' doujin plans have ended in abject failure.

You want to know what happened? Very well.

I'll tell you how we became intoxicated with our dreams, and how those very dreams ultimately led to our downfall!

Annnd flashback.

？！

Isn't this exciting, Habbycat? I can't wait.

You said it, Crane. I can't stop dreaming of all the possibilities.

Hehe, man, it's been ages since I got an outfit tailored.

Oh, but don't make me anything too cutesy or frilly, got it? I only do that if it's something really special!

Hehe, don't worry, we're well aware.

I promise we'll make you shine in a whole new light with exactly the kind of clothes you ask us to make!

Oh, yes, that reminds me. We won't be making any outfits from scratch for this project.

Huh?

We simply don't have enough time. Whatever new outfits you make, I'd like you to do so using your existing assets.

You both already have an abundance of clothes to choose from in your respective wardrobes, do you not?

Oh yes, very much so.

Some of my customers prefer casual prêt-à-porter outfits rather than custom-made ones, after all.

Yeah, whenever me and Crane have a spare moment, we usually use that time to make new outfits, so we have tons now.

Excellent. Then we'll sift through those outfits to find ones that will be a good match for Mordred and adjust them as necessary.

That should help us save a great deal of time compared to making brand-new clothes.

Which is good, as our time is limited, given we must also take and edit photos, assemble them into a book, and then print in sufficient quantities.

I see. That does make sense. All right, we'll do that.

In that case, we'd better go fetch those wardrobes from Chaldea. We've got a whooole bunch, after all!

Then you'll need help. Allow me to assist.

You sure? Thanks, Your Highness! Honestly, I wasn't sure how I was gonna carry them all here by myself.

If there's gonna be a bunch of hard labor involved, I'll help, too. It oughta be a good workout!

That's the last one!

Man, I didn't think carrying clothes would be a big deal, but they're pretty heavy when you have enough of them.

You guys made all these yourselves?

Yup, sure did.

I'd spin thread out of Miss Crane's feathers, then she'd weave that thread into cloth and turn it into clothes.

And after keeping that up for a while, we ended up with a small mountain of 'em.

Nice. All right, I'mma wear the shit out of these outfits.

Okay, let's get this fitting session started!

Huh. I've never worn so many different outfits in one day before. I guess this cosplay stuff ain't all bad.

(Good, good. Things are turning out just like I thought they would.)

C'mon, keep 'em coming. I'll rock whatever you throw at me.

Oh, just don't give me anything real fluffy or dainty!

I've gotta look badass first and foremost.

Hey, Crane. Don't you think Mordred's

Oh yes, Habbycat. Mordred is just...

Picture-perfect!

Such gallant ferocity! Such youthful menace! Your every move, every gesture, throws my heart into utter turmoil!

You are my inspiration. My star. Your light is simply daaazzling! Ahh, mon amour! Mon amour!

Ahh, no matter how far I delve, my reverence for you only deepens. Eternity. The point where the sun melts into the sea. You know what I mean, don't you!?

I'm a math major, so no, I can't say that I do...

I don't know what you're talking about either, but I can tell I feel the same way. You're a great model, Mordred.

Hell yeah, keep it coming. I'm never gonna say no to compliments! Hahaha!

Well, Mordred? Are you glad you took me up on my invitation now?

Yeah! This is fun!

Although, it is a little... Hmm...

What's wrong?

I guess it just feels kinda...anticlimactic? Like, I don't really feel like I'm fighting anyone this way.

I see. So you wish to feel like you're fighting...

...

What's up, Lord Vlad?

Mordred's statement just gave me an idea. Give me a moment. I'll be back soon.

Hmm???

Well, I guess that's okay. Right now, we're still just trying on outfits.

I'm sure this will feel real to you soon enough.

Um, Habbycat? I've just been hit with inspiration again.

You too? I know what you mean. There's just something motivating about this!

Hm? What are you two talking about?

Have you seen how brightly Mordred shines with ready-to-wear outfits!?

So then, if we were to tailor new outfits for her, just think how wonderful that would be!

Whoa, whoa! Let's not do anything hasty!

Please, listen to me. We have no time to spare. I mean it. None whatsoever.

I'll even say it in French: "No time to spare!" Wait. That was still English, wasn't it? Hmm. It seems this is throwing me for more of a loop than I realized.

Aww. So we can't make new outfits?

I understand how you feel. I think it's wonderful how you have so much desire to create. But if we fail, it will all be for naught.

Right now, we really need to focus on choosing the outfits we're going to photograph and reworking them as necessary.

O-oh, yes, you're right! This is no time for a tailor to be dithering, is it?

...I understand.

I'm back.

Now, take a look at this embroidery.

Oooh!!!

It's...it's a lion!

What gorgeous stitching! What brilliant use of color! This...this is a lion rampant!

Whoa, these threads are actually trembling with joy! Did you make this yourself, Lord Vlad?

Only to pass the time. Fortunately, there is no end of needle and thread to be found in this environment.

Whoa, that's awesome! I can't believe you drew all this with just thread.

This is some good shit!

You like it, Mordred? Then take it. It's yours.

You sure?

Mordred. Young lion of treachery. You were the model for this very creature.

It was your youthful soul that inspired me to create it.

Damn, seriously? Well okay then! Wooo!

Hang on. What are you all talking about?

Cloth-weaving crane.

Yes?

Thread-spinning fairy.

Yeah!?

I wish to support your creative desires. Why not follow our passion where it leads, even if it should take us right to the edge of a precipice?

You mean

I, too, am in favor of creating new outfits for Mordred.

All right!

Hold it right there! You DO understand the time constraints we're under, yes!?

I do.

And you still want to do this!? Are you mad!?

Yes. What of it?

Oh, right. You ARE mad, aren't you!?

Hell yeah! Now this is starting to feel like a fight! Can't wait to see what kind of treacherous outfits you come up with!

Gladly!

No! Stop! We don't have time for this!

I'm sorry, Moriarty. I truly am.

But now that we've been given a request, we HAVE to fulfill it! Ahh, I'm so happy right now!

Ahh, I can feel the design ideas coming to me! (Click clack, woosh. Click clack, woosh)

Welp, no going back now! We're just gonna have to see this through!

Sorry, Moriarty! (Frenzied spinning wheel whirr)

Don't bother apologizing if you're just going to do it anyway! My plan... My schedule... It's all going awry!

Man... You've got it pretty rough, huh?

And whose fault is that!?

And there you have it. I did my best to keep up as long as I could, but I could only go so far.

At some point, I completely ran out of steam and was reduced to a decorative object taking up space in the corner until you all showed up.

It does sound like you've been through a lot.

Yes, well, while that's certainly true, I don't begrudge anyone else in the club for this state of affairs.

I should have accounted for the difficulties of managing temperamental artists in my original calculations.

They are, in essence, chaos personified. That was a factor I failed to account for in my planning.

I can picture Poincaré laughing at this. Alongside that accursed old man... Grr, just the thought of it ticks me off to no end.

You know, when you get right down to it, maybe it was never possible to calculate this sort of thing to begin with.

For that matter...maybe mathematics itself is completely unnecessary in this world...

(Yikes. He really has been through the wringer.)

I can see everyone else is still making clothes at breakneck speed, but...

？！

Hmm... Yes, that's going to be difficult. Right now, they're working hard without a clear goal in sight.

Mordred ended up completely entrancing our two seamstresses without meaning to.

It is apparently something about their distinctive form of charisma that enables, perhaps, a desire to cheer such a person on.

But as a result, Miss Crane and Habetrot have completely lost themselves in their tailoring efforts.

Yup. I knew it was a bad idea to tempt fate by saying something like "My calculations are perfect."

Oh stuff it.

Anyway, I'm still surprised Vlad went along with this, too. Yet another factor I utterly failed to account for.

Perhaps he has some connection to Mordred I was unaware of.

...Come to think of it, I remember now that he had a younger brother when he was still alive.

Radu III, yes. They grew up together as children, but went on to wage war against each other as adults.

Well, I suppose there's no point mulling over why a Berserker does anything.

It's not like there's any way to stop them!

So we won't be able to stop them easily then...

I can't say they didn't bring this on themselves, but it still seems like a waste to come this far and not have a book to show for it.

？！

Good idea. We still have time before ServantFes is supposed to begin.

How can we help them course correct from here, Moriarty?

Course correct, huh... Well, I doubt they'd listen to anything an outsider has to say at this point. The only one who would have a hope of getting through to them is Mordred.

Mo?

Yes, currently Miss Crane and Habetrot are so focused on the knight that they would surely tie themselves into knots if it would please them.

In which case, they would likely go in whatever direction Mordred specified.

Of course, I have no idea what direction that might be at this point.

I wonder if there's a good idea we just haven't thought of yet...

？！

Well, I'd say Habetrot is definitely into bridal gowns.

Vlad is into embroidery, and Miss Crane is a die-hard idol stan.

Hmm... From that perspective, Mordred seems like the only one who doesn't fit in.

Bridal gowns and embroidery both boil down to an appreciation for beautiful clothes, right? And outfits are a big part of idol culture, so the connection there is obvious.

？！

Senpai? Did you just think of something?

？！

Hey there. I'm the expert.

Merlin!?

! (Proper Human History Merlin!)

That's right. Fujimaru here all but begged me to help.

While I was a little hesitant to come all the way to an island resort just to wax eloquent on idols, I can't say no to my hardworking Master.

So here I am, Mister Tropical, ready to offer advice.

It sounds like this latest impossible challenge involves making Mordred into an idol?

Right. If it works, they should be able to finish their doujin on time.

I don't suppose you have any ideas?

Well, if I were in your shoes...

Me, an idol? No freaking way!!!

Oh, you're no fun.

You want me to wear a frilly dress and slap a fake smile on my face? Are you outta your mind?

I could throw in a flower crown too, if that would help.

I got a better idea. How 'bout I make a crown outta your hair by ripping it from your scalp instead?

No means no, assface!

What are you thinking, mage? You can't dress up our young lion like some sort of tame kitten.

(Wow, he seems...really fired up about this.)

I think we may be working off different definitions of idol here.

You don't have to dance around with a fake smile to be one. Isn't that right, Miss Crane?

Y-yes! of course! One of the great things about idols is how varied they are.

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My pleasure! The concept of idols began with the great sch

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Oh. Right. (Dejected)

Okay, I'll do my best.

Mordred. You and I are both Servants, yes?

Yeah.

Then would you say you and I are similar?

Hell no. We're practically a different species.

There you go. Just like Servants, idols are nothing more than a category, and a wide-spanning one at that.

Indeed, there are countless ways to be an idol.

Some do wear cute outfits and smile all the time, yes, but others are dark and gothic and full of melancholy.

Just as every Saber wields a different sword, or no two Casters chant the same spells...

...there are as many ways to be an idol as there are idols themselves.

Show me a hundred idols, and I'll show you a hundred of the brightest stars in the sky! To be an idol is to be an invincible, unstoppable force of nature!

Okay, okay, I got it! Now back the hell off, would ya!?

Hmm...

Be that as it may, even if Mordred were to agree, I still fail to see what we would hope to gain by making them into an idol now.

？！

Good grief. Fine, I'll explain this part.

Making Mordred an idol will give our book the conceptual direction it's currently missing.

Back when the plan was to make a book about you, Vlad, our concept was to show you wearing suits, yes?

Right now, the three of you are making outfits based solely on whatever whims happen to cross your minds.

But, if Mordred were to become an idol, with the specific traits that entails, that would instantly narrow down what sort of outfits you'd need for the book, no?

I see... Yes, that's very true. Once a stage persona is chosen, clothing would practically design itself.

(Of course they would. I came up with the idea, and I've been producing idols since before the internet was even a thing.)

So, what? The book'll get done on time as long as I give being an idol a shot?

At the very least, the odds wouldn't be zero.

...

All right, let's say I do this. I still got no frigging clue what kinda idol I'd be.

You got any ideas there, Moriarty?

I may not know much about idols, but I do have a fairly good grasp on who you are.

You are a hopelessly defiant rebel; a misfit who refuses to be confined to any one box. That is your nature.

So you're picking a fight with me now? Fine, bring it. I'll take you on with my sword or my fists, your choice.

I was just telling it like it is. And your reaction right there proves my point. If you were to become an idol, this would be your persona.

...I dunno. Would that even fly as an idol?

I don't know. But I do know that pretending to be someone you're not won't get us anywhere.

...

You can do this.

Idols are all about inspiring people to dream. You can be an out-of-control problem child and still do that.

Miss Crane said it herself, right?

As long as you shine bright, then you're an idol, no matter what kind of person you are.

Just look at your fellow club members. They're already entranced with you.

Oh yes, very much so!

There you have it: Straight from the expert's mouth. You can indeed be an idol while staying true to yourself.

And that means your outfits can be fully in line with your own tastes. Now, what sort of outfits do you want to wear, Mordred?

My impression would be for clothes that are easy to move around in during personal time.

Where's the fun in wearing ordinary clothes? You've got to wear something that'll inspire the fans.

For example, a long dress that flaps around in big billowing waves.

Are you nuts? Get the hell outta here with that bullshit. There's no &%$#ing way I'm wearing a skir

What if you wore spats or the like underneath?

Oh?

I like the way you think, Merlin!

Sounds like a promising suggestion for Mordred's new style.

...Hey, Crane.

Can you make an idol outfit like that that looks, y'know, badass instead of cute?

Absolutely!

Ahh, I can see it now. Your valiant figure, adorned in an elegant, beautiful outfit... Mmm, that's good!

Je vois! I have an idea for how to present your charm in idol form!

I-I see... All right, let's give this a shot!

Then it's decided. Our book will be a photo collection of Mordred as a fictional idol.

To capture both their unique beauty and inherent nobility!

...

What do you think, Count Vlad?

I have no objections. Indeed, I'd like to see this book myself. And most importantly, it has Miss Crane and Habetrot excited and raring to get to work.

Oh yes! Definitely!

That's a relief. All right, I'll leave you to it then and be on my way. Good luck.

The hell you think you're going? You started this, so you'd damn well better stick around to the end.

Huh?

？！

...

I suppose you have a point. I may very well have trouble falling asleep if I were to abandon this project halfway through.

All right, fine. Now that we have a clear direction, I may as well stick around to the end.

If you're going to put yourselves through hell, I'll be there to accompany you!

Th-thank you so much!

Miss Crane, I'm trusting you to come up with Mordred's idol backstory.

Once you do, I'll use it as my basis for the captions I'll write for each photo.

Understood! I'll put together the very best story I can! Ahhh, élan vital!

I've actually gotta go to the hotel out west soon, but I'll stick around a little longer until the book's done.

Thanks for doing the same, Moriarty!

Very well, but I'm warning you now: this will be my one and only doujin excursion!

Having said that, I will make sure to do my job perfectly, or my name isn't James Moriarty!

All right, here's where the real battle begins. Let's go, everyone!