Chapter 69: Nine colors of light

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Translator: Soafp

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Friday.

After school, I head to the hair salon I had booked in advance.

When I get off at a station I don’t usually use, I feel lost, surrounded by unfamiliar places. I’m sure you’ve felt that before.

But what’s even more unfamiliar…

“You’re the one with the reservation under Hajime Toumachi, right? Please come this way.”

“Y-Yes (completely tense).”

“How’s your hair been since last time? No itchiness or dryness, right?”

“It’s f-fine… (introvert mode).”

The hair salon.

This overwhelmingly stylish space.

And of course, the hairdresser is stylish too.

I feel like disappearing (just leave the money behind).

Ah, but with this hair color, I guess I “qualify” to be here… (revived).

“Just a haircut today… Do you have any style in mind?”

“Ehh (frozen).”

Wait, when you get your hair cut, aren’t the options just “long,” “normal,” or “short”? I didn’t think about this because last time I just had it dyed.

This is bad. What even counts as a “style”? The only haircut I know is a buzz cut… which means no hair at all.

Maybe I could go for a bald look and paint it somehow—

“Hey! Toumachi!”

“Eh?”

“Ara, do you know him, Rio?”

“Yep☆ He’s a friend!”

Suddenly, a voice calls from the chair next to me.

It's Hiiragi-san. Surprised to see her here.

And hey, she actually called me a friend (tears of joy).

I glance over and see she's just sitting there on her phone, not getting a haircut or anything. What is she doing?

“Toumachi, you totally look like the type who's only ever gone to a 1000-yen barber.”

“Hey, that’s rude, Rio!”

“…That's actually true.”

“A-ara…”

“Well then, leave it to me☆ I'll take care of you!”

“Eh?”

“Haha, if it's her, it should be fine. Why not give it a try?”

Honestly, I’m scared.

But if the hairdresser says it’s okay, then I guess I'll trust her.

After all, this is the same hairdresser who dyed my hair in rainbow colors last time.

And it’s not like I have any other option than a buzz cut.

“Alright then… please, Hiiragi-san.”

---

“Is this… me? (I just wanted to say that).”

Looking into the mirror.

Yeah, to be honest, not much has changed (obviously).

It's just a haircut, you don't suddenly become handsome or anything (angry about reality).

She trimmed my long bangs and thinned out the rest, and that was it.

But—there's something subtle that feels different compared to the usual 1000-yen cuts.

The bangs, the balance, the attention to detail.

Well, this was a 6000-yen cut, after all (sorry for underestimating it).

“Yeah, this is about right for Toumachi☆”

“Is it?”

“Given your hair color, it's all about balance☆”

“That makes sense.”

“If you were really handsome, you could go for something more dramatic.”

“Yeah, that's true (damage dealt).”

“If you were handsome☆”

“Yeah, sure (why did she repeat that?).”

“Hahaha!”

“What are you laughing at? (seriously, what?).”

Honestly, this level of honesty is easier to handle.

If people kept telling me I was handsome, I'd start getting delusional and end up crashing hard.

“Rio, stop teasing him. It suits you perfectly!”

“Thank you… by the way, Hiiragi-san, what are you doing here?”

“Oh, her—”

“I’m on a break after finishing a photoshoot☆”

“Wait, what?”

“Yeah, I'm a model. I was taking promotional photos for this salon!”

“I-I see (white as a sheet).”

“Haha, Rio is quite popular, you know.”

Yeah, she’s definitely from a different world.

Model? She said model, right?

That’s a job I probably won't be able to do in this lifetime, or even in my next reincarnation.

I mean, it's unlikely I'll even pass down any genes in the first place (human failure).

…

Anyway, as a creature of the shadows, I shall take my leave! (zoom out).

“Oh, wait!”

“…Eh?”

Just then, her expression shifted, and for a moment, she looked like her usual “demon queen” self.

“Toumachi, why don’t you try being a model?”

“Not happening.”

Without missing even a fraction of a second, I gave my answer.

“Hahaha! Your reply was way too fast!”

“Well, of course…!”

“But the kind of model I’m talking about probably isn’t what you’re imagining, right?”

“Huh?”

“See, I'm a professional model for work, but you'd be a customer model!”

“…?”

The concept of being a model is starting to lose all meaning.

“What I mean is… more like being a practice model.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Someone with a hair color like yours is pretty rare, you know…”

“If that's the case, then sure, why not…”

This feels like some kind of business deal.

I wonder what the market value of my rainbow-colored hair is.

“…We could even do it for free if you’d like…”

“Wait, seriously? (forgetting my polite tone).”

“Fuahaha! Deal sealed!”

“We’ll post pictures on our official social media, but we can blur your face if you prefer.”

“That'd be great. Please put a mosaic over my face (bowing in gratitude).”

“Aww, what a waste☆”

“Haha (laughing with 1% enthusiasm).”

It’s seriously embarrassing.

I don’t have that much confidence in myself (staying humble).

---

“Haa… haa… It’s magnificent!” (Hairdresser)

“(Disturbed)” (Toumachi)

“That’s good, that’s good!”

The result?

I now have two additional colors in my hair.

With the sound of heavy breathing from the obsessed hairdresser (creep) behind me and Hiiragi-san (the demon queen) watching, I stood surrounded by them both.

“The original seven colors now enhanced with two new vibrant strands… simply magnificent!”

“Yeah, I guess (taken aback).”

“It’s like spring and autumn have blended into the rainbow across the sky… ahh… AAAAHHH!”

“(Absolutely terrified)”

“The white-pink and maple-orange add a warm feel to it☆”

“Yeah, it feels like a warmer rainbow now.”

“Hahaha! It's so colorful☆”

So, the two new colors?

Among the original seven in my hair, I now had pink and orange streaks (highlights) added.

The hairdresser may be a bit… eccentric (no offense), but their skill is legit—the result is amazing!

“But why pink and orange?”

“…Ah, well, I just had a sudden inspiration, you know.”

“Hmm?”

The real reason isn't something I can say aloud.

If anyone found out, I'd die of embarrassment.

As long as no one checks my phone, I should be safe… stay calm.

“Can… can I take photos? Haa… haa…”

“…Do whatever you want (resigned).”

“Mei-san, you’re such a creep☆”

“……”

“He… he’s not hearing that… (scared).”

Mei, the hairdresser, caresses my hair while snapping photos. And Hiiragi-san is still here for some reason.

“That aside… When we first dyed your hair in rainbow colors, it wasn't this impressive.”

“Huh?”

“Now, the many colors really suit you, Toumachi.”

“T-Thanks.”

“Honestly, even nine colors seem too few. It feels like the more colors you add, the better it suits you… Toumachi, you’re quite a fascinating person.”

And those words from the hairdresser stick in my mind somehow.

“Admit it, Mei-san, you just want to add more colors☆”

“That's not it!!!”

“……”

I've turned into a guinea pig.

By the time this chaotic photoshoot was finally over, it was already late into the night.