Vol. 2 Chapter 10 – Image Change (2) [Boost Start]

—The next day, after school.

Before heading to my part-time job, I stood before a certain building with a great resolve in my heart.

Hair Salon 『Marin』

It was the beauty salon I usually went to, my regular place, but today was different from all previous visits.

The first step to gaining confidence… As Ogata-san said, start by changing the appearance.

‘Please give me a cool hairstyle that would appeal to girls.’

I repeated the order I had practiced countless times in my mind.

Okay, I can do this.

Having completed the perfect rehearsal, I took a step forward and opened the automatic door.

Entering the mildly air-conditioned interior, the woman reading a magazine at the counter turned around.

“Oh, if it isn’t Reiya. Welcome~” (Minami)

Kochi Minami-san, the owner of this salon and Ichiru-san’s senior from high school, greeted me in her usual friendly tone.

“Hello. It’s gotten a bit long, so I’d like to request a cut…” (Reiya)
“Oh, gotcha. All the appointments just finished, and I was bored, so you came at a good time.” (Minami)

Minami-san returned the magazine to the rack and prompted me to sit in the chair.

“…So, just trimming it up like usual today?” (Minami)

After putting down my bag and sitting, she asked from behind the mirror, scissors in hand.

Everything was going according to the simulation so far, all that was left was to say those words—

“Um… well, today… g-gi… gi…rls…” (Reiya)
“Johnny…? You mean like Johnny Depp?” (Minami)
“No, more like Johnny Silverhand… No, that’s not it. Not Johnny, gi-rls…” (Reiya)
“Jesse…? Like Aaron Paul?” (Minami)
“Not that either… I mean, basically…” (Reiya)

It should have been easy, but my nervousness peaked right here, and I couldn’t say it properly.

“Well, what then? Should I give you the trendy natural-looking mash cut?” (Minami)
“Y-Yeah…! That! That’s the kind of thing…!” (Reiya)

It wasn’t as planned, but I managed to convey my intention by latching onto her suggestion.

“…Eh? Really?” (Minami)

Perhaps she was just teasing, because she sounded genuinely taken aback.

“No… I mean, I want something like that… just in that kind of direction, basically what I want to say is… like an urban style, or like GigaChad…” (Reiya)
“Basically, something that would be popular with girls, right?” (Minami)

Minami-san grinned, and our eyes met in the mirror.

“P-Popular isn’t really… No, please do it…” (Reiya)
“See? You said it properly.” (Minami)

Chuckling again, Minami-san began her preparations.

It wasn’t quite how I’d envisioned it, but I had somehow cleared the first hurdle.

The cutting cape was put on, and she moved behind me, scissors in hand.

“…So, what specifically did you have in mind? Want to look through a hair catalog or something?” (Minami)
“Honestly, I look but don’t understand anything, so I’ll leave it to your sense, Minami-san…” (Reiya)

Acknowledging my own pathetic state allowed words expressing my pathetic yet forward-moving intent to emerge.

“Gotcha. Okay then… let’s go for a natural look without making it too sharp.” (Minami)

With that, she began cutting my hair.

The hair, combed through, was cut with light sounds, falling softly at my feet.

Perhaps because she was boldly cutting my usually unrewarding hair, her hand movements felt lighter than usual.

“So, what prompted the change of heart?” (Minami)

After a few minutes of cutting, Minami-san brought it up.

“…What do you mean?” (Reiya)
“Usually, your uninspired order is just ‘trim it short appropriately,’ but suddenly it’s ‘something popular with girls.’ What’s that about?” (Minami)
“Well… um…” (Reiya)
“It’s late for a high school debut… could it be… you found someone you like…?” (Minami)
“Well… something like that…” (Reiya)

When I answered honestly, the hand cutting my hair stopped dead.

“No way, really?” (Minami)

She reacted with surprise, despite having brought it up herself.

“…It’s true.” (Reiya)

When I affirmed weakly, Minami-san’s face in the mirror twisted into a grin.

“What kind of girl? Cute?” (Minami)

As if starved for such topics, she latched onto it eagerly.

“Well… I think she’d be considered quite cute by general standards.” (Reiya)
“Hoh~… What type of girl is she? What do you like about her?” (Minami)

Answer one question, and the next flew out rapid-fire.

“What are you going to do asking all that…” (Reiya)
“Because I’m curious! I see~… So spring has finally come for the gloomy loner boy who was always just playing games~” (Minami)
“Haa…” (Reiya)
“So, what kind of girl? Tell your big sis.” (Minami)
“It’s embarrassing, so I don’t really want to say…” (Reiya)
“Hmm… But have you forgotten that I hold the power of life and death over you right now…? Meaning, I could give you the other Ronaldo’s hairstyle right now, making you face even more embarrassment in front of the girl you like tomorrow…” (Minami)

She ostentatiously snipped the scissors above my head.

I thought she was joking, but there was a sliver of fear that this person might actually do it.

“She’s really bright, and it’s fun being with her… like… like the sun…” (Reiya)

Though somewhat reluctant, I resigned myself, considering this part of changing myself.

“Wow~… What else, what else…?” (Minami)
“She’s super popular with everyone, guys and girls… excels in both academics and sports, especially tennis, which she plays, she’s incredible… Probably world-class… like on a different dimension…” (Reiya)

Though it should have been embarrassing, once I started talking, her charms flowed out effortlessly.

“And, she’s really someone who fits the word ‘flawless’… but that doesn’t mean she’s hard to approach or anything… she actually has a surprisingly innocent and childish side—” (Reiya)

As I spoke up to that point, I caught sight of Minami-san’s reflection in the mirror.

She wore the stickiest grin of the day.

“That’s why I didn’t want to say anything…” (Reiya)
“Sorry, sorry. No, but it sounds like a proper springtime of youth, and your big sis is relieved. When I first met you, you were just this little brat, and now you’ve reached that age.” (Minami)
“Well, it has been about seven years since then…” (Reiya)
“Right, seven years already… I was a second-year in high school, Chiru was a first-year… That was when we were both at our most reckless.” (Minami)

Minami-san stopped her hands, speaking in a tone recalling the distant past.

“Reckless… Well, yeah, that was the case…” (Reiya)
“Thinking back, I was pretty crazy back then too. Doing all sorts of wild things…” (Minami)
“But, in the end, thanks to you, Minami-san, Ichiru-san found the trigger to move forward… and now she’s able to open her own shop. My parents were grateful too.” (Reiya)
“…I hope that’s the case~” (Minami)

Her tone was slightly suggestive.

I wondered if there was something more, but not wanting to rehash stories from back then now, I kept it to myself.

After that, the cut finished while we engaged in harmless small talk.

“How’s that! Turned out pretty good, don’t you think?” (Minami)

The back mirror was unfolded, showing the overall look.

“It’s like… it’s not me…” (Reiya)

I stated the cliché first impression while examining the details.

The slightly artless arrangement followed the vibe from before, yet it was clearly a different, more chic hairstyle.

Styling product gave it movement throughout, and my eyebrows were trimmed slightly thinner than usual.

It might be strange to say it myself, but I certainly thought my appearance had become considerably better than before.

“Pretty good, right? The base material was decent, but the best part is definitely my skill.” (Minami)

Nodding in self-praise, she made final micro-adjustments with her hands.

The thought that I’d have to do this myself every morning from tomorrow made me feel a bit weary.

“…Okay, done! With this, that girl will be head over heels for Reiya!” (Minami)
“Head over heels…” (Reiya)
“Anyway, good luck! Kid! High school life is over in a flash, so live without regrets!” (Minami)

With a final light pat on the back, I stood up from the chair.

“Here, this is on the house.” (Minami)

As I took out my wallet to pay, a new bottle of styling product was handed to me.

“Thanks, for everything.” (Reiya)
“Don’t mention it! Instead, tell Chiru I’ll be visiting soon, so if there are any good guys, introduce me.” (Minami)
“Haa… I’ll pass on the message. Well then, excuse me.” (Reiya)

I gave Minami-san a nod, passed through the automatic door, and left the salon.

“Whoops… That took longer than expected…” (Reiya)

Checking the clock, the evening business hours were fast approaching.

I had told them beforehand I was getting my hair cut, but being late for opening wasn’t good.

I headed towards Mizumoritei at a slightly brisk pace.

Stopping at a traffic light, I happened to see my reflection in a nearby glass window.

I hadn’t thought much of it at Minami-san’s place, but seeing it again now felt strange.

The imbalance of my appearance changing while nothing inside had.

It felt kind of restless… strangely unsettling.

Before worrying about confidence, I needed to get used to it myself first…

Walking along with such thoughts, Mizumoritei came into view after about ten minutes.

My cousin’s sudden image change, when he’d previously had absolutely no sense of style.

What kind of reaction would Ichiru-san have? As I harbored a little anxiety—

“…Hm?” (Reiya)

I noticed a suspicious figure in front of the restaurant.

An unusually large build, flashy clothes with an ethnic flavor.

Pacing back and forth in front of the shop, as if hesitating about something.

Suspicious… Very suspicious…

‘Suspicious person’ were the three words that best described this individual.

Could it be… Ichiru-san’s stalker…?

If so, I couldn’t overlook it.

Phone in hand, I prepared to call the police at any moment.

Trying not to be noticed, I stealthily approached.

Maintaining a distance of about 5 meters, I peeked from the side to discern their identity—

“Eh…? T-Taiju-san…?” (Reiya)

Realizing who it was, a trembling voice escaped my lips.