Episode 02

Professional World is the second episode in the Smile Down the Runway (anime).

Summary
Learning that Ikuto isn't really a student of the Geika Institute of Fashion, Kenji retracts his offer. Furthermore, he punishes Chiyuki for lying to him and puts her on suspension. Abruptly, Ikuto claims he was the one who set up Chiyuki to this meeting and that he never wanted to be a fashion designer.

Afterward, Ikuto picks up his youngest sister at preschool and believes that he doesn't need to be a fashion designer. However, the next day, Chiyuki approaches him again in the dressmaking room and tells him she's going to try again to convince her father. Furthermore, she plans on hiring him to become her personal designer. At first, Ikuto refuses, however, after a contentious argument between the two, Ikuto becomes inspired to become her designer after seeing a fashion magazine in her bag.

Later that day, Ikuto attends a personal meeting with Kenji while wearing an outfit that he designed himself. Although he's impressed by this new piece, Kenji cannot hire him due to him still being a high school student. On the other hand, he still sees potential in his craft and recommends him to a former employee of his named Hajime Yanagida.

On their way to Hajime's design studio, Chiyuki warns Ikuto about Hajime's personality and then leaves him. Reaching Hajime's studio, Ikuto is met by Hajime wearing an in-progress design. He then helps him with it and after he finishes it is introduced to his co-workers who are finishing their two-hour nap. Although he praises him as an up and coming designer, he rips the outfit that he stitched. He goes on a blunt tirade of how he improperly stitched the outfit. In his apologetic defense, Ikuto confesses he's self-taught and that he's still a high school student. Upon learning this, Hajime has a mini-meltdown Kenji omitting these details from him. Stubbornly, Ikuto refuses to leave the studio and asks to redeem himself by fixing the dress. Surprisingly, Hajime allows him too and as Ikuto fixes the dress, he gets some pointers from one of the workers there. In the end, Hajime gives Ikuto a passing grade, but still believes that he should leave. Adamant to continue working there, Ikuto's stubborn nature allows him to work there longer. He learns from one of the co-workers there that Hajime is upset about the upcoming fashion show called the Tokyo Fashion Week. Due to a fallout, Chiyuki replaces the model that dropped out, much to Hajime's frustration. To make matters worse, the dress that she's to wear is far too big for her. Right when the co-worker was to fix it she gets a bloody nose and becomes light-headed. This prompts Ikuto to volunteer to fix the dress.

Characters

 * Chiyuki Fujito
 * Ikuto Tsumura
 * Kenji Fujito
 * Hajime Yanagida