Chapter 15 - The Mob Heroine's Glow Up
Before she had her hair done, it had been a long, messy mess. Her bangs were long, too, and there was just so much hair that you could barely even see her eyes… Don't get me wrong, I like that version of Mobuko-chan, too... but even so, I've got to admit, she looks much better now.
"Yep. This is a masterpiece... I really am a genius."
The stylist proudly praised her own work, nodding deeply with satisfaction as she admired Mogami-san's reflection in the mirror.
Mogami-san, on the other hand...
"I-I'm too scared to open my eyes!"
If I remember right, she'd closed them tightly around the time her bangs were being trimmed, and since then, she hadn't looked in the mirror even once. Which meant at this point, Mogami-san still hadn't seen it. She had no idea that a total beauty was being reflected in that mirror.
"Fufu, such an innocent reaction. You're making this onee-san feel young again… Alright, boyfriend-kun, it's your turn. I'll leave the rest to you."
And with that, the stylist stepped away. It looked like she was entrusting Mogami-san who was stubbornly refusing to open her eyes to me.
"Mogami-san. It's okay. You can open your eyes."
"B-But! My hair feels so light... and I'm really scared because I think my face is laid bare for everyone to see."
Perhaps that timid psychological state was present before, too, which was what might've influenced her past hairstyle as well. It was just like how, not long ago, she couldn't bring herself to take off her tracksuit.
Her hair was another one of her defensive walls. A way to separate herself from others, to block their gazes, even just a little... and as a result, she became a 'mob heroine,' completely unnoticed by anyone.
But... that's all in the past now. And I can say that with absolute certainty. Because today, on this very day... Mogami-san has been reborn.
"...Sato-kun... h-how... how do I look?"
"You look really great. No doubt about it."
"Really?"
"Of course. I mean, I already thought you were cute... but this just makes you even cuter. I'm 100% sure about that, so don't worry."
I said it clearly, to reassure her. And I said it honestly, to make sure my real feelings got through.
"It's the kind of hairstyle I really love. I don't care what anyone will think about it, but personally, I like it a lot."
Don't get me wrong, I liked her previous hairstyle, too. I never thought there was anything lacking about her to begin with. But I had to admit it, frustrating as it was.
Her new hairstyle was one that anyone would find beautiful.
"...Ehehe. I see... so you really love it, Sato-kun."
My words seemed to have eased her anxiety, at least a little. The terrified look on her face had suddenly softened.
"Thank you. Hearing you say that makes me feel a bit relieved... I'm going to take a proper look now, okay?"
And then, she opened her eyes and saw the new her, reflected in the mirror. And in that instant, her jaw dropped.
"W-who is that!?"
Her appearance had changed so drastically that she couldn't even recognize herself. And honestly, that was understandable.
Her hair, which had once reached all the way down to her waist, now stopped around her neck. Plus, what used to be a heavy, bushy mess full of split ends had been thinned out, making it look incredibly light. The stylist had mentioned during the cut that this soft, rounded style was classified as a 'bob'.
Even though all she'd done was trim it, somehow the entire texture seemed to have transformed. Her once pitch-black hair, which used to absorb light, now looked as if it gently reflected it instead.
And, most importantly... the biggest change was her bangs.
The length was still just a bit below her eyes. Still long enough to properly hide them. But they were... 'wispier,' maybe? The volume was much lighter. Thanks to that, it was so much easier to see her eyes than before. Now, every time she moved, you could catch a glimpse of those sky-blue eyes.
Her 'mekakure' trait was still there. But on top of that, her expressions were now so much easier to see.
"I-I-I-Is this me?"
She still couldn't seem to believe it was her. With a shocked expression, she started lightly slapping her own cheeks. Does she think she's dreaming, or something?
Well, either way, she'd have to face reality soon. She's not 'Mobuko-chan' anymore, the niche character that only a few people cared about.
Because... now, she had become a total beauty that no one could possibly ever ignore.
