Chapter 6: Chapter 5: Haircut
[Chapter 5: Haircut]
'Yes. It worked!'
Ayaka was overjoyed of her master plan actually working. In the back of her mind, she's already celebrating a grand festival all to herself.
Realizing what I have to do from now on, I hesitantly asked Ayaka.
"Umm... how do you act normal again...?"
"So we're starting from there?! Σ(°-°)"
I have been doing this Phantom character for as long as I can remember. What can be considered as normal behavior is very vague to me at this point.
"Sigh, you're hopeless... what would you do without me"
She said with a cheeky smile.
Ayaka sigh but it wasn't a sign of ridiculing my lack of normal sense, in fact, it was though she was happy to be relied upon.
"Okay, starting tomorrow we will start your training. Tomorrow just so happens to be the start of our summer vacation." She declared.
Ayaka pumped her fist in the air cheering for the moment. "We shall use this time to transform you into the perfect side character that's able to blend in with the crowds."
"...Ah- y, yeah"
I raised my fist in the air slowly, unsure about what was happening. Ayaka has this cunning grin on her face. 'I wonder what she's planning?'
Maybe she's just that excited about the birth of a true shadow hero? I could tell because I'm somewhat excited as well.
Anyways, I am very much on board with this idea of blending in with the crowds. A hidden strong character huh, I like that concept.
And so, we'll start my training tomorrow which also marks the start of our summer break.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And so, tomorrow came as well as our summer break.
Yesterday, we decided to transform my out of the ordinary get up to a normal looking one, in order to blend in with the crowds.
Right now we're in the shopping district for my side characterification.
Ayaka dragged me all the way here and the first place we went to was the salon.
We plan to get my hair cut done in order for me to not stand out. This is necessary because even myself is aware that my bangs were too long and messy to be considered normal.
We entered the salon and fortunately, we were the first one there and are the only customers at the moment.
I took a seat on one of the fancy looking chairs the barber was supposed to cut your hair, you know, those big spinning chairs that can change the height that's in front of this huge long mirror on the wall.
Sitting down on the chair, I put my right leg on top of the other in an arrogant manner. I couldn't help it for the seat looks and feels so much like a throne, with its intricate design and crimson color leather. It was designed in a very thronely appearance.
"Hehehehe..." Laughs menacingly*
'This chair looks nice.... I wonder if I should get one?' I thought to myself, thought I knew I wouldn't because I expected it to be hella expensive.
I was thinking how nice the chair was, playing around with it, searching for the perfect height. I was trying to make it as tall as possible to get that perfect high ground feeling from the last boss. I was having fun with it until...
A tall man with huge bulging muscles came out in one of presumably office rooms of the salon. I behaved myself from that point, seeing him ominously walking towards us as if in a bad mood.
"Ah, little Ayaka. What brings you here today?" The muscular man inquired to Ayaka, his atmosphere seemed to change to a softer and welcoming one.
"Boss owner, can you please give my brother a haircut that will definitely, definitely suit him."
As it turns out, he seemed to be the one who was going to cut my hair. And it seems like he was also this salon's owner.
"Of course, this salon is the best in town after all, with a 100% satisfied customer streak. I'm sure your brother will soon be one of them as well fufufu."
"Alright then, I'll leave my brother in your care. Please make my brother look the best as much as possible." Ayaka told Mr. Boss Owner, with her arms crossed with pride as if to challenge.
"Leave it to me. Not to brag but out of all the people who work here, I am debatably the best."
"Hey now, what do you mean... you're the only one who works here." Ayaka said jokingly with a cheeky face.
"Yeah, and that automatically makes me the best."
"Win by default, I see... Welp, can't argue with that."
Judging by the flow of their conversation, you could say they seemed close. It looks like Ayaka was already well acquainted with the muscular hairdresser owner-san, so she probably already came here more than once.
Also, judging from Ayaka's hair that looks pretty and nice, you could tell that he's good at doing his job, so I probably have nothing to be worried about ...I'm still overwhelmed with the muscle though.
"Now then," he wakes towards me, from the back, placing his hands on my shoulders which shaken me for a second because of the weight, I can feel his strength just by his touch. "Let's see what we have to work with."
While I stayed rock solid in position, the muscular hairdresser first tried to check my appearance, in order to match a haircut that would suit.
When he lifted my bangs, he said this strange thing...
"Oh my... Now I see what you mean!"
When the hair dresser lifted my bangs, he walked towards Ayaka and whispered something to her ear.
"Little Ayaka, now I see why you brought him here. He's definitely a looker."
"Oh, so you have acknowledged my big brother's charms."
Ayaka smiled and nodded, as if prideful of it.
"It's a shame to have those thick bangs covering his face all the time. He would definitely be a lady killer if he showed his face more."
"I Agree. I also thought the same."
Ayaka nodded her head with crossed arms more, meaning she's with complete agreement with the salon owner with his statement.
"Little Ayaka, I have an offer"
*Whisper...*
*Whisper...*
*Whisper...*
"I see."
As they whisper to each other, I just sat there not able to hear what they were talking about.
'What could they be talking about...?' When the barber lifted my bangs it looked like he was surprised for a short moment for some reason... 'Wait, could it be that I was that ugly he needed to confront Ayaka about it?! ...It couldn't be, right?'
The muscular hair dresser came back.
"Your name is Yukiya-kun, right?" Mr. Muscular Owner inquired.
"Ah, y-yes..? That's right"
I was surprised, it has been a while since a person tried asking for my name. Also, he kind of scares me a bit because of his bulging muscles looking like those of a giant gladiator. He's also tall so gladiator perfectly describe his build.
"How would you like to be in our photo shoot later this afternoon. I'll make your haircut free if you would, and we'll also pay you handsomely based on how well you performed."
He put his hand together, tilting his head like people trying to make themselves approachable and less intimidating. It worked, it wasn't that much intimidating at all even with all those huge muscles he have. Now he's like a gladiator buying cotton candy from the store.
He gave me an offer to be included in their photo shooting that will happen later this afternoon.
"Actually, I'm also looking for a model right now. The guy that we were supposed to take photo's of cancelled at the last moment. It would really be a big help if we have someone like you as his replacement. You have the same body size as the guy who cancelled just now so the clothes you'll wear won't be a problem anymore."
'So I wasn't ugly..? I wasn't that ugly after all huh. Well that's a relief... Wait don't get too ahead of yourself Yukiya.'
It was a relief that I didn't turn out to be ugly from that momentary pause he made earlier.[Referring to the oh my when raising his bangs]
'He said that the other guy cancelled at the last moment so that was probably what we were hearing in the other room before Boss Owner came out from the office. They just probably picked me because I was the closest option they have and coincidentally have the same body composition to fit the clothes they prepared, so it was just convenient for them to have me as a quick option.'
Actually before we entered the salon, there were noice coming out of the said room that seems to be the office. It sounded like someone talking on a phone call so maybe that was the phone call Mr. Owner was having earlier.
Before deciding what to reply, I glanced at Ayaka for confirmation, because, as of now, she is my mentor on how to become the perfect side character that can blend in with the crowds.
Noticing my glare, Ayaka gave me a thumbs up and smiled, meaning to go for it.
"O, Okay."
Is this supposed to be posing practice? Or maybe it's training for my lack of fashion. Ayaka did say that I needed new clothes.
All the clothes I have back home are mostly cool long coats. Sure, it's leaning a little on the edgy side but I prefer it that way. However, I acknowledge that I lack normal people's aesthetic sense.
When I was thinking this was for honing either my posing skills or my fashion sense, however, Ayaka was thinking differently.
'This will help brother's exposure of not being a loser... Prepare yourselves...' Ayaka thought as she silently laughed menacingly in the corner.
"Hwa ha ha ha..."
Ayaka was really passionate about this bending in with the crowds thing, her determination can almost be seen in the form of a flaming aura.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone