Japan – Career Bank
"You’re so immature. Completely clueless."
Group headquarters.
"A high schooler at his age, still obsessed with kids' shows?"
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Vice President Kiyao Masachi.
He had a problem.
"The real issue is having a father who makes too much money."
And that issue was his son, Kiyao Kaito.
Was wealth the problem?
Had growing up with everything he wanted spoiled him?
He lacked a sense of maturity.
No—he lacked it entirely.
"Kamen Rider..."
Well, at least it wasn’t Super Sentai.
At least Kamen Rider had a slightly older demographic.
But honestly, what was the difference?
To outsiders, it all looked childish.
"Can’t even brag about my kid if this is what he’s into."
That was the core of his dilemma.
He wanted to brag about his son, but there was nothing to boast about.
Other fathers talked about their kids excelling in school, getting into top universities—
Meanwhile, his son only cared about luxury brands and Kamen Rider.
How was he supposed to educate him properly?
"Today, he’s off looking at that Louis Vuitton x Supreme collab..."
The more he thought about it, the heavier his sighs became.
***
May 3rd – Filming Schedule Confirmed
"Shooting is set for May 3rd."
"Because of conditioning?"
"Yeah, most likely. Shall We Get Married? will probably be filmed around the third week of the month."
Busy.
"That works. Then we can go straight back to Korea to finish filming."
As if making up for lost time,
2017 had been nothing but back-to-back schedules.
But the reason he could handle it—
『For the first time in history! Shall We Get Married? maintains a 15% viewership rating!』
『Our Fake Wedding preview: A heartwarming art class date!』
『University gym memberships on the rise! The ideal college physique is now a must!』
『Kim Donghu is pure poison! Art students’ unrealistic expectations skyrocketing! "Wait, where’s the perfect senior I was looking for?"』
Titles like these popping up online made it all worth it.
Seeing how well the projects in Korea were doing—
that enthusiasm became the driving force behind his work.
"You know what?"
"What?"
"I can see exactly what you’re thinking on your face. But you’re wrong."
"...What the hell am I wrong about now?"
"The reason you’re keeping up isn’t some deep love for your fans—it’s your consistent supplement intake, your balanced diet, and your two-hour workouts every day."
"...."
What the hell? Could Seokho hyung read minds?
No way.
But sometimes, he could read him so well it was unsettling.
"No smoking, no drinking, early to bed, early to rise, even taking naps. Your condition management is almost too perfect."
Not to mention the regular massages to keep his muscles loose.
Seokho hyung firmly dismissed the idea that fan support had any effect on physical endurance.
"I’ve seen plenty of actors push themselves too hard. They pour their bodies into their work, desperate to meet expectations—but it never works."
For people whose bodies were their assets,
health management always came first.
And health management was all about conditioning.
But why was he suddenly launching into this long-winded explanation?
Ah.
"You just want to justify why we’re staying in a five-star luxury hotel, don’t you?"
Because their accommodations were ridiculously expensive.
"Yeah... yeah. Look, Mijoo kept saying the rooms were way too pricey."
"Well, if it’s over a hundred a night, it is expensive."
"But still! Staying somewhere like this keeps you in top condition! Our star needs the best!"
As he desperately tried to justify the cost—
"Wait, what does our comfort have to do with the star staying here?"
Mijoo noona chimed in, clearly unimpressed.
"It does matter. If the staff is in good condition, they can take better care of the actor."
"Okay, maybe for a stylist. But why you?"
"I’m Donghu’s manager."
"You’re still sticking to that act?"
"Ahem. It’s not an act. I am his manager."
"...Sure you are."
Mijoo noona shot him a deadpan look but shrugged it off.
She seemed to have accepted that this kind of luxury was just part of the job now.
"By the way, is it true that Kim Jones is coming?"
Mijoo noona’s eyes sparkled at the mention.
Given her passion for fashion,
the idea of Louis Vuitton’s artistic director for menswear being present was huge.
"Yeah, he’s coming. Apparently, a few other designers will be there too."
"What? That many for a lookbook shoot?"
"They probably just want to see Donghu. Honestly, if it weren’t for the military service issue, he’d already be in Paris."
France. Paris.
There was only one person that made him think of that place.
I wonder how Yerim is doing.
Since that intense moment between them—
they hadn’t contacted each other.
Almost like an unspoken agreement.
They’d meet again, eventually.
They heard about each other through mutual acquaintances.
But neither had reached out.
How incredible will she be when we see each other again?
He was looking forward to it.
She said it would take about three years.
So, about two and a half left?
With those thoughts lingering—
"I’m gonna rest for a bit."
"Yeah, get some real sleep, Donghu!"
"Then I’ll go shopping."
"Okay! I’ll take care of work."
He headed straight to his room.
Now over twenty,
an adult,
and technically, as per Our Fake Wedding, he could legally register a marriage anytime.
And yet—
"I want it all."
Greed was starting to take root.
***
May 3rd – Karaken Grand Studio, Japan
"Hmm, I don’t really like this environment."
"Exactly. To think we have to witness our muse’s face in a place like this."
"Wasn’t there a more refined studio available? I mean, of course, we respect the decision, but this just doesn’t feel... Louis Vuitton enough."
Draped head to toe in Louis Vuitton, the trio complained endlessly, without a single pause.
"Can’t you just be quiet?"
"...."
At Kim Jones’ words, they immediately shut their mouths, as if they’d never been talking in the first place.
"You didn’t have to come. No one invited you."
"And let you see Donghu Kim all by yourself? Does that sound fair?"
"Louis Vuitton’s muse belongs to all of Louis Vuitton!"
"Besides, since it’s his first shoot, of course, we have to show our support!"
Still, the idea of not coming was unthinkable to them.
Emphasizing once again that monopolizing Kim Donghu was out of the question,
they continued their chatter until there was only an hour left before the shoot.
Creak.
"Hello."
The studio doors opened, revealing the very man they had been waiting for.
"Ooh la la!"
"Bravo!"
"Genial!"
They gasped in unison.
From head to toe, he was impeccably dressed in Louis Vuitton.
The casual yet refined contrast of sneakers.
And to tie it all together, a Richard Mille watch.
Unreal proportions.
Unmatched visuals.
A physique that defied logic.
And with a flawless outfit on top of that,
it was impossible not to be in awe.
The ultimate Louis Vuitton muse.
Walking sophistication, intensity, elegance, and beauty.
A living, breathing embodiment of the brand.
Just watching him walk in sent waves of inspiration crashing through their minds.
Five new designs instantly popped into their heads.
The urge to throw him onto a runway was overwhelming.
"Not today."
Sensing their hunger, Kim Jones sighed and pulled out the pre-prepared outfits.
The Louis Vuitton x Supreme collaboration.
The pieces were already designed and finalized—there was nothing to add.
"Today, we’re only shooting this."
"This is absurd!"
"Mon Dieu!"
"Oh non!"
The trio immediately despaired, but there was nothing they could do.
But then—
"I know I haven’t fulfilled my duties as a muse properly. So, if time allows, I’d be happy to cooperate as much as possible while I’m in Japan."
An unexpected response from Kim Donghu.
No, even more shocking was—
"W-Wait, you speak French?"
"Yes, a little."
"But in our meetings, you spoke in English..."
"Oh, I learned from a French script. So really, I only know a little."
"No, no... This isn’t a little! This is too good!"
He was way too fluent.
How the hell was he this good?
If you closed your eyes,
you could see a native speaker standing before you.
"D-Donghu, you can speak French too?!"
"My god, my artist is terrifyingly talented. What if he starts styling himself next?!"
Even the people who had come with him were shocked.
Once the initial surprise wore off—
"So... when you say cooperate?"
"As in, fulfilling my role as a muse. You’ve all been very accommodating, so I’d like to do my part as well."
"Ooh la la... I love this."
Kim Jones responded as composedly as possible.
But internally—
This is insane! This is what a real muse is, you fools!
Inside, he was already clapping like a seal.
The desire to show this to the world was burning through him.
"Alright, let’s start with the lookbook shoot. The outfits are ready—just put them on in order."
"Understood."
As Kim Donghu stepped into the changing room—
The trio lost their minds.
"He volunteered to cooperate?! In French?!"
"He understands us! And speaks it perfectly!"
"If I had known, I would’ve learned Korean! Oh non!"
They had underestimated him.
He had shown them this level of respect,
yet they had only been focused on their own desires.
They felt ashamed.
"As a sign of our remorse... We should keep a respectful distance."
"Yes. The shoot itself isn’t our domain, after all."
"Kim Jones will handle it. We’ll just, um... observe from afar."
And so, as they discreetly shuffled backward—
Thud.
They bumped into someone.
"Hm?"
"Oh?"
"Huh?"
Which was strange.
They had booked the entire venue—
so who the hell was this?
Just as confusion set in—
"Ah... Would it be alright if I watched?"
The stranger spoke first.
He spoke in French—his pronunciation was awful, though.
"My name is Kiyao Kaito. I’m very interested in luxury fashion."
An unexpected introduction.
The trio’s response was immediate.
"And?"
"Get out."
"Okay, now leave."
"That’s nice. Now go."
Who the hell are you?
You’re not Kim Donghu, so don’t get ahead of yourself.