Ch.73 : The Fashion Competition Begins
The next day, the school buzzed with excitement. The main courtyard was packed with students, all waiting for the start of the fashion competition. Representatives from each class had gathered, and the event committee was scrambling to get everything ready.
Among the crowd, a long-haired silver-gray girl moved with purpose, snapping pictures from various angles with her professional-looking camera. Her elegant face and sharp eyes exuded an aura that instantly captivated the boys around her. They stared in awe, caught between admiration and infatuation.
On the stage, one of the organizers began announcing the rules of the event. Three special changing rooms had been set up, each stocked with clothing to match different themes that would be revealed one by one. In each round, three contestants from different classes would enter one room, choose the outfit that best fit the theme, and walk the stage.
At the judges' table, a stern woman sat silently, exuding a powerful presence. It was Chloe's mother. Whispers rippled through the crowd—was Chloe going to get special treatment with her mom on the panel?
Those who didn't know the truth made the wrong assumption. In reality, her mother disliked her.
"Let's see how you'll manage to win with me here," she thought coldly, a cryptic smile curling on her lips.
Across the field, Chloe looked nervous. She kept glancing toward the judges' table, her eyes dropping every time they met her mother's. Nic noticed. He started to approach her—but was cut off when Jack suddenly stepped in.
"Hey, Chloe! Don't worry, I'm sure you'll do great!" Jack said cheerfully.
Chloe didn't respond. It was as if she hadn't heard him, or maybe she simply didn't care.
Soon after, the organizer spoke again.
"Time's up! The fashion contest begins now!"
"The first theme is... ELEGANCE!"
Cheers erupted. The crowd leaned forward in anticipation.
"First up: Classes 3-A, 3-B, and 3-C! Please send your representatives!"
From Class A, Olivia stepped forward with grace. From Class B, Leona walked out confidently. And from Class C, a slightly nervous girl named Mia followed behind.
Excited murmurs spread throughout the students.
"Olivia's definitely gonna win. She's naturally elegant!"
"Don't count out Leona—she's got royal vibes!"
From the sidelines, Nic watched and cheered them on with enthusiasm. The three contestants entered their dressing room to choose their outfits.
When the timer ended, they walked out in full display—and left the audience speechless.
The silver-haired photographer girl clicked her camera rapidly, capturing every moment with intensity.
Olivia wore a flowing navy-blue gown with silver lace detailing cascading from her shoulders to her hem. Her long silver hair was styled in a half-braid, adorned with tiny pearls. With her calm gaze and elegant demeanor, she looked like royalty straight out of a fairytale.
Leona wore a golden gown with rich maroon accents, exuding the opulence of a noble princess. Diamond accessories sparkled around her neck and wrists, making her every move feel luxurious and commanding.
Mia, despite being more of a side character, gave her best shot. She wore a simple black dress with delicate gold embroidery. Though not as striking as the others, she held herself with quiet confidence.
As they posed, the judges tallied their scores:
Olivia: 30 points — Perfect!
Leona: 25 points
Mia: 20 points
Cheers broke out. Class A took the lead after the first round!
Next up were Classes 3-D, 3-E, and 3-F.
Hani represented Class D.
Erina stepped forward for Class E.
Fina was chosen for Class F.
They all performed well, but couldn't match Olivia and Leona. The scores reflected that:
Hani: 25
Erina: 25
Fina: 25
From the bleachers, Jack clicked his tongue.
"What's with Chloe's mom giving Erina only 5 points?! That's just cruel."
Sitting next to him, Nic chuckled quietly.
"She's a professional judge. If the score's low, maybe something really was missing."
Still, his eyes kept drifting toward Chloe, who hadn't said a word. Something was clearly bothering her, and Nic was determined to figure out what.
With Class A in the lead after round one, the organizer announced the next theme: NATURE.
This time, the participants were:
Class A: Yui
Class B: Melody
Class C: Dian
Even though they were technically competing now, Nic cheered for them all. His support made his girlfriends smile, their motivation rising.
As the girls stepped out onto the stage, the atmosphere shifted again.
Yui wore an emerald-green dress with leaf patterns trailing down its length. A crown of flowers adorned her head, and with every step, she looked like a forest fairy brought to life.
Melody's dress embodied the sea. Layers of shimmering blue fabric mimicked the waves, and glittering sequins resembled drops of water. She moved with the grace of a goddess from the ocean.
Dian's choice was a warm golden-brown gown, symbolizing the richness of the earth. Though her outfit was simpler, she walked with unwavering confidence.
The judges were visibly impressed—even Chloe's mother nodded with approval.
The scores:
Yui: 30
Melody: 30
Dian: 20
Excitement rippled through the students. Bets started forming on whether Class A or B would take the crown, while others hoped for a dramatic comeback from another class.
The next group took the stage:
Class D: Nina
Class E: Selfi
Class F: Gea
Before Selfi entered the dressing room, Nic gently tapped her shoulder.
"Pick something that truly shows the beauty of nature. Something with a unique, natural touch."
Selfi smiled, feeling more confident after that.
When she stepped out, jaws dropped.
Her pastel green dress was light and airy, with embroidered butterflies that looked as if they were about to fly. A crown of tiny twigs and wildflowers adorned her head, giving her the appearance of a gentle forest spirit.
The judges loved it:
Selfi: 30
Nina: 25
Gea: 25
Current standings:
Class A: 60
Class B: 55
Class C: 40
Class D: 50
Class E: 55
Class F: 50
Class E was starting to fall behind, with only two rounds left.
Then came the most anticipated theme yet: HORROR.
This time, all six classes competed together to amp up the excitement.
Participants:
Class A: Jenny
Class B: Fanny
Class C: Wendy
Class D: Tio
Class E: Jack
Class F: Noah
Students buzzed when they heard Jack's name.
"Why is he even in this? He doesn't know anything about fashion!"
"Is he just trying to show off in front of girls?"
As the contestants walked out, the crowd fell silent in awe.
Jenny emerged as a horror nurse—a seductive yet creepy version. Her uniform was tight with just the right amount of tear in all the wrong places. The male students, including Nic, were left speechless.
Fanny embodied a ghost from an old tale, wearing a tattered black kimono with pale skin and glowing red eyes.
Wendy became a cracked porcelain doll, complete with fractured face makeup and a vintage white dress that looked haunted.
Tio appeared as a faceless man—his makeup effects were so good, it genuinely unsettled people.
Noah dressed as a zombie, covered in fake blood with an eerie, dead expression.
And finally… Jack.
Everyone waited, expecting something amazing.
Instead, Jack pranced out in a vampire costume—hopping and bouncing like an overexcited bunny.
Silence.
Then laughter. The crowd burst into howls of laughter. Even the judges couldn't hold it in. Nic sighed.
"Knew it…"
Scores:
Jenny: 30
Fanny: 30
Wendy: 20
Tio: 25
Jack: 15
Noah: 20
Updated scoreboard:
Class A: 90
Class B: 85
Class C: 60
Class D: 75
Class E: 70
Class F: 70
Class E was slipping behind, with only two rounds left.
Just then, Chloe approached Nic and said in a firm voice, "Let me take the next round." Her hands trembled slightly.
Nic looked her in the eyes and said calmly, "Relax. We'll prove something… at the end."
Chloe slowly nodded. A quiet determination started to build within her.
Meanwhile, the silver-haired girl with the camera, still unnoticed by most, zoomed in and took a snapshot of the moment between Chloe and Nic, her eyes sparkling with interest.
To be continued...