Chapter 14 - The Mob Heroine Is My Kink!
The stylist lifted Mogami-san's bangs with her hand. It was probably just to check the length, but thanks to that, Mogami-san's eyes were now completely visible.
They were beautiful, crystal-clear, sky-blue eyes.
…So. What should we do? Right now, Mogami-san and I were facing the ultimate choice.
(Should she cut her bangs or not… which would be better?)
If I'm being completely honest, I don't want her to cut them. But, the entire reason she resolved to get her hair cut in the first place was for Sanada. In that case, it's probably better to emphasize her beautiful eyes which was her greatest charm.
“My bangs, um…”
She was clearly hesitating, too. She was looking at me through the mirror, and I got the feeling she was asking me to make the decision.
If I tell her I want them cut, she'll probably do exactly as I say. She was just that obedient and pure. She wouldn't doubt my words. It's a fact that makes me happy, but it's also incredibly dangerous. My one decision right here could have a massive impact on the entire story.
That pressure was making it hard for me to think straight.
“Either way is fine? If so, I'll cut them short based on my judgment."
"...Yes. Please do."
Mogami-san probably realized I was struggling to decide. That's why she nodded to the stylist, her voice sounding almost apologetic.
It was as if she was trying to say, 'Sorry for putting all this pressure on you.' Our eyes, which had been locked in the mirror... slowly drifted away.
She said she wanted to change. If that's the case... then yeah, to really change her image, cutting her bangs short is probably the right move. Sanada would definitely notice her more that way. A single hairstyle could completely change someone’s impression. Especially for someone like Mogami-san, who had never tried to polish her natural charm before. Even a jewel is just a worthless-looking rock before it's cut. It's only when a craftsman gets involved that its value skyrockets.
Therefore, she should cut them.
I knew that perfectly well.
“No! Keep the bangs long!”
Just as the stylist raised her scissors, I blurted that out without thinking.
I know what I just did. I know that in terms of helping her with Sanada, in terms of her glow-up... this decision is completely and totally wrong. I am fully aware of that.
But even so… I couldn’t help it. I found myself preferring it long as it is now.
“You prefer them long, boyfriend-kun? They get in her eyes, you know. If I trimmed them, she’d look even cuter.”
“Sorry. It’s… my kink.”
“Ohh, that confession came out of nowhere. Even I’m a little thrown off by that one.”
“Y-your k-k-kink!?”
The stylist and Mogami-san were both completely bewildered. But still... I couldn't back down now.
"Just a small trim, please! I'm just a huge sucker for girls with the 'mekakure' trait!"
“...Fufu. You're just bursting with youth, huh? It's refreshing. So, Mogami-chan, what do you think? Boyfriend-kun here says he wants to keep them long. Is that okay with you?”
"Um, uh... yes. The length... please leave it as is."
And then, Mogami-san nodded. Her gaze, which she'd averted earlier, met mine again in the mirror. And this time, for some reason, her expression looked almost a little bit happier than before.
"To be honest... I've had this hairstyle my whole life... so I... I was scared to cut it short."
"Oh, really? Well, in that case, can't be helped. It's a real shame to waste such great material... but if that's the deal, I can work with it. Alright, leave the rest to me. I'll make you look amazing."
As expected, this onee-san was a reliable stylist. Should I call her a master artisan? She didn't just have her own vision, she also had the skills to actually make her client's wishes come true.
(She’s a great stylist… no wonder this salon is so popular.)
I was in sales in my past life. I dealt with a lot of businessmen and managers. Because of that, I'm pretty confident in my ability to read people.
I could tell this stylist was trustworthy. So, I'll just leave it to her. No need to micromanage.
“Boyfriend-kun, you’re quite the pervert, huh?”
“He’s a p-p-pervert!?”
"Yep. But he's one of the good perverts, so you're fine."
“I’m not a pervert, I just have a mekakure kink.”
She kept up the small talk, even while she was cutting. Her hands were completely focused, but she also had the conversational skill to keep us from getting bored. Thanks to that, the time just flew by.
Finally, she washed Mogami-san’s hair, blow-dried it, and styled it neatly. And when I looked at the finished result, only one thing came out of my mouth.
“So c-cute.”
Yep. Just as I expected. The mob heroine had now bloomed.
With her new hairstyle, she was, from any angle, nothing less than a total beauty.
