Ch.8585. Vines and Citrine (6)

After changing into newly purchased clothes to replace our soaked ones, we left the department store.

She says we’re going to a nearby hair salon to get rid of the salt still in my hair.

Fortunately, the salon Hyewon usually visits is close enough to walk to, which makes it a bit better. Still, personally, I find it rather bothersome.

Well, but since this is a day with Hyewon, I can’t really object when she suggests going somewhere.

By the way, this necklace is hindering my ability to gather magical power more thoroughly than I expected.

Basically, it works by interfering with the concentration of magical power while naturally inducing its release.

Additionally, it prevents circulation, acting like a dam to block the flow.

Despite that, I managed to release a little of what I’d barely accumulated from the incoming magical power.

While I can’t concentrate it enough for attacks, it seems I might be able to form a weak barrier with some clever tricks.

It’s definitely inconvenient.

…One month.

Once this time passes, I’ll remove this necklace.

It’s a bit concerning that I have to spend this month with magical girls, but it’s just one month.

During this time, I need to follow their instructions, if only to avoid suspicion.

…Yes, to avoid suspicion.

“Bine, it’s here. I’m friends with the stylist here. Hmm… we’ll have to undo your hair disguise. It’ll wash away anyway. That’s okay, right?”

“Well, I’ve been discovered anyway, so I don’t particularly mind…”

Even though my black hair isn’t that noticeable, it still gives off a faint purple glow due to magical power. I thought Ellie’s disguise would block that purple glow too, so I wouldn’t be discovered.

Next time, maybe I should try wearing glasses or something…

So I was dragged along and placed in the stylist’s chair.

The salon chair I hadn’t sat in for a long time had a cushion for child customers.

After sitting on the cushion with my feet on the footrest for a moment, the stylist asked me:

“So, do you have any design in mind? Um… first, we should probably shampoo. The salt…”

“That’s right, unnie. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Oh? Hyewon? It’s been so long! You said you’d help my sales, so why haven’t you been coming?”

“I’ve been busy lately. Do you know how much the Association President has been making me suffer? And at this age, I still have to go out when there’s a dispatch! Sigh… it’s really tough.”

“Ah… but what’s your relationship with this customer? Sibling? Cousin?”

“She’s an enemy, actually.”

“Enemy? Are you talking about a villain? I don’t know much about that stuff. My house isn’t in an affected area, so I haven’t paid much attention.”

“Yes. She’s a villain. A terrifying villain. She was quite famous. With such a cute face, don’t you remember her?”

“Is that so? Hmm… Oh, that Eden something. That cute kid who was there? Really? I saw it on the news.”

“That’s right. The cute kid you’re talking about. Well… it was a few years ago, so you might not remember. Plus, these days there are many more individual villains running wild… monsters are even more famous now.”

“Right. I know a few monsters too. Wow… yes, I remember now. This customer is that terrifying villain? Sigh… Customer, I’ll do my best to make you the prettiest in the world, so please don’t destroy the shop, okay? If the shop gets destroyed, our manager might cry.”

“No… I’m currently powerless and can’t do anything…”

“Eh…? Ah, that’s right. Blanc…”

“That’s a painful memory. I’d prefer if you didn’t remember such things…”

“Oh, is that so? Yes, yes. So, do you have any hairstyle in mind, cute villain?”

“Umm… I don’t really have anything specific in mind. It might be better to ask Hyewon… though I don’t want a bob cut.”

“Oh, is that so? Hyewon, what do you think?”

Hearing the stylist’s question, Hyewon showed a photo.

I couldn’t see the girl in the phone clearly, but she was definitely a small child like me.

I thought Hyewon would make me look cute, but it seems she wants to transform me into something even cuter than I expected.

No, I don’t particularly want to be cute.

Being a villain, no one’s going to like me just because I’m cute.

There’s no point in being cute.

Besides, having lived as a male for years, I want to look cool, not cute.

“…Hyewon, please go easy.”

“Why? I was going to style you in a cute way that suits my taste.”

“Ma’am, could you please stop Hyewon…”

“Hyewon has chosen a design that will really suit you. It will truly complement our cute villain customer. Why not trust us once?”

“I’m not particularly cute…”

“Then, shall we proceed with this style? It will look really pretty, so don’t worry.”

“Sigh. Fine then…”

“Great. Let’s start with a shampoo, shall we?”

“Yes.”

After following the stylist for a shampoo, I was seated with a cape draped around me, and she began cutting my hair.

Under the stylist’s touch, as she combs through my hair, I start feeling drowsy.

Well, I’ve been moving around too much today.

Plus, I’m exhausted from using magical power that I normally don’t use.

I heard somewhere that when someone touches your hair like this… it makes you sleepy…

This is a bit… very sleepy…

* * *

She’s cute.

I should take a picture of this to keep.

I approach Bine, who has fallen asleep, with my phone.

“Unnie, is it okay to do her hair while she’s sleeping like this?”

“Yes. Her head isn’t moving at all. Actually, this customer is making it easier by staying still while sleeping.”

“Really? Then can I take some pictures? Hehe… she’s so cute.”

“Sure, I don’t mind. But what’s your relationship with this customer? When I think of a magical girl and a villain together, I can’t think of any relationship that makes sense.”

“Well, you know… she’s not a villain anymore, so we’re just hanging out together. The Association neutralized her powers. All that’s left is a small child. Yunseul brought her one day.”

“Yunseul did?”

“Yes, it just happened.”

Though it’s too significant in my life to dismiss as just “something that happened.”

I took all the pictures and sat down for a while.

Chatting about trivial things with unnie.

Time passed quickly.

And Bine’s hair was completed in no time.

“Hyewon, come here?”

“Oh, is it done?”

“Yes. I think it turned out well. We should probably do a shampoo, but she’s sleeping so soundly. It seems a shame to wake her.”

“Ah, well… that’s fine. Just a moment.”

Sleeping while drooling. It’s too cute.

I should take a few more pictures before wiping it off. She won’t mind, right?

* * *

“Bine, wake up. We need to go for a shampoo.”

“Customer, we’re done. Please wake up…”

Mmm… hmm…

Huh?

Done… she said?

What…

I, surely… ugh…

Oh.

Oh right. Ah…

Did I really fall asleep while getting my hair cut…?

“Did I… fall asleep…?”

“Yes. You were sleeping soundly. But even sitting and sleeping, you didn’t move your head at all. It was impressive.”

“Ah, ugh…”

Before I could show my embarrassment, the stylist removed the cape around me and said:

“Now, let’s go to the shampoo area. After a final shampoo, I’ll dry your hair and use a curling iron.”

“Yes… I understand…”

My face feels so hot that others must notice I’m blushing… but I need to act naturally. That might reduce this embarrassment a little.

So I followed the stylist for the shampoo, then had my hair dried, and then the curling iron…

A woman’s hair is really difficult to maintain…

I’m really fortunate to have a monster’s body. My hair doesn’t grow that fast.

And it doesn’t seem to get damaged easily either.

When I showed my completed hairstyle to Hyewon:

“Kyaa…! Wow… so cute…! I, I need to save this…”

“Hyewon, this feels different from usual…?”

“Let me see… Wow. Bine, are you free tomorrow? Let’s go somewhere with unnie.”

“No, Citrus, even you…”

I watched in the mirror, but I don’t think it looks that cute.

In front of the distracted magical girl and former magical girl, the stylist confidently boasted about her work:

“I tried to maximize the cuteness. And I added a perm based on that photo Hyewon showed earlier. Isn’t it cute?”

“Unnie… I was right to trust you. Ah… this is good.”

Click, click.

Hyewon and Citrus keep taking photos with their cameras while complimenting me.

It’s burdensome…

“Well… if you’ve taken enough pictures, what’s our next schedule?”

“Ah… I don’t have anything planned.”

“Pardon?”

“Well, I was thinking we could spend some time at the aquarium and then have dinner. Yes, but then that incident happened.”

“Well… sigh, that’s so like you, Hyewon.”

“Then, shall we go to the lake park? I’ve already made a reservation at a restaurant there. One with a view of the park.”

“The lake park, you say. Will there be… people there?”

“There will be people everywhere. Do you need to worry about that anymore?”

“At least, I think I should be concerned…”

“It’s okay. When you’re with us, you can relax a little.”

“Pardon?”

“I said it’s okay. No one can say anything to you. Not when you’re with us.”

“…Sigh.”

“Shall we go?”

“Since it’s your day, I’ll follow your lead.”

Hyewon silently left the salon.

Outside the salon, there were some people watching us.

Since it wasn’t a place like a department store, there weren’t that many people gathered.

People making way for us, like at the department store.

Occasionally, I could hear the sound of cameras.

Really, is it okay to feel safe when I’m with them?

No. I belong in the darkness… I can’t.

Because I’ve done bad things.

…Yes. But.

Just a little.

If it’s just a little.

Maybe it’s okay.

…After one month, our relationship will be restored.

The relationship we were supposed to have.

Magical girl and villain.

Returning to that relationship.

For the first time, I felt a sense of regret about it.