Episode 04

Young Talents is the fourth episode in the Smile Down the Runway (anime).

Summary
Late at night, Ikuto returns home and is rebuked by his oldest younger sister about how he's out late doing work without informing them.

The following day, Ikuto briefly visits his mom in the hospital and walks in on her being scolded by her nurse. After he leaves, it's revealed that his oldest younger sister was there as well and in the discussion, she has with her mom. She's given some money to help pay for her tuition to college.

At work, Hajime gives Ikuto a big piece of advice and that's to drop out of the industry if you're doing fashion design because you simply like it. Because of the many trials and endeavors, designers have to go through to make an impression, having half-hearted feelings like that would get him nowhere. Because of his hard work, Ikuto is paid by Hajime. When he gives his earnings to his oldest younger sister, she snaps at him for working on her behalf. It's then explained that the money he's earned was from his apprenticeship job with Hajime. This allows him to reconcile with his sister.

Eventually, Ikuto gives Hajime a better answer than just wanting to pursue a career in fashion design. In his answer, he admits that he has many people that want to see him succeed in his career and he wants to make clothes for people. All of this stems from his natural love of clothes To this sentiment, Hajime approves of it. Just then, one of the workers there quits due to the person's family disapproving of the harsh work environment. Therefore, he's put in charge of an upcoming exhibition. The next day, Ikuto informs Chiyuki about it and she wishes him good luck.

On the day of the exhibition, Ikuto sees and meets several celebrity figures in the fashion industry. He also meets and helps a model named Kokoro Hasegawa. Once a large commission is finalized for Hajime's work, Hajime has Ikuto negotiate a deal with the Geika Institute of Fashion principal Shoko Takaoka.

Shoko brings Ikuto to her school and there he meets Toh Ayano, who immediately accurately gauges his clothing. The following day, Kokoro and Toh visit Hajime's studio to help them with their work. Hajime reveals a bit of Toh's background how he's the grandson of the famous Mai Ayano. Wasting no time, Hajime informs the group that they're going to make a bias cut shirt. After watching Ikuto start the preparations, Toh quickly creates an example product and Hajime has Ikuto draw up the design schematics.

Once this is all finished, Toh and Hajime talk alone about how Toh wants to make Ikuto his partner.

Characters

 * Chiyuki Fujito
 * Ikuto Tsumura
 * Hajime Yanagida
 * Mai Ayano
 * Shoko Takaoka
 * Kokoro Hasegawa
 * Toh Ayano