[Warning 15+]
Part Six
―With the Same Energy as Before, Wearin' a Smile
Chapter 224
Center of Attention
―With the Same Energy as Before, Wearin' a Smile
Chapter 224
Center of Attention
Arrivin' at the classroom, both Hayato and Haruki instinctively exchanged glances at the unexpected scene unfoldin' before them.
"Mori-kun, which hair salon did you go to for that!?"
"Did you request a specific stylist!? Someone famous!?"
"Ema, what on Earth happened to your boy!?"
"I can't quite put it into words, but his whole vibe is totally different. That's definitely the stylist's skills at work!"
"E-Eh, Kazuki just brought me along, so as for the details..."
Unusually enough, Iori was surrounded and grilled by the girls, lookin' completely overwhelmed.
A short distance away, Ema was surrounded by girls too, occasionally turnin' toward Iori together with them and lettin' out high-pitched squeals of """Kya!"""
Apparently, the fashion-conscious girls in class were dyin' of curiosity over Iori's sudden makeover.
And it wasn't hard to imagine their attention shiftin' straight to Hayato, who had gotten his hair cut at the exact same place.
The very instant Hayato tried to slip out of the classroom as if wantin' no part of the commotion, a sharp-eyed Iori spotted him and waved his hand wildly while callin' out, clearly refusin' to let him escape.
"Yo, Hayato!"
"O-Oh, Iori."
"Oh yeah, Hayato got his haircut at the exact same place as me yesterday, too."
"H-Hey!"
"""—!?"""
Iori announced it as if explainin' things to everyone around him.
In an instant, all their eyes snapped from Iori over to Hayato, and Hayato was swiftly surrounded.
"Whoa, Kirishima-kun's whole vibe is totally different too!"
"It's not just that it looks neat and clean, it's like your whole atmosphere changed compared to before!"
"Right, right! The style seems kinda similar to how it used to be, yet totally different!"
"Wait, how did you ask them to cut it when you ordered!?"
"E-Eh, I asked for somethin' like a reliable Big Brot..."
"""—!"""
The girls paused for a split second and nodded in agreement with one another.
Even though he had only blurted it out after being overwhelmed by their intensity, Hayato suddenly wondered if what he'd just said sounded kinda cringe, his face turnin' red out of embarrassment.
However, their reaction was a little different from what Hayato had imagined.
"Yeah, yeah, now that you mention it, that's totally it."
"I see, it definitely feels like he went from a Mother Hen to a Big Bro."
"Wait, same goes for Mori-kun, but isn't that stylist's skill insane? Was it expensive?"
"A 5,000-yen bill (Higuchi-san) definitely wasn't enough to cover it—"
And beyond the price, they fired off a rapid succession of other questions at Hayato.
Though stammerin' through his answers, Hayato told them whatever he could—the salon's name and location, the vibe of the interior, and how Kazuki had booked the appointment for them in advance.
Hayato's answers were nothin' out of the ordinary, yet the girls got all hyped up, though, leavin' him completely overwhelmed.
Just then, one of the girls let out an "Oh" as if she'd suddenly realized somethin', and flashed a slightly mischievous smirk as she spoke to Haruki.
"Hey, hey, Nikaidō-san. Lookin' at him like this, Kirishima-kun is actually pretty hot, isn't he?"
"—!? W-Well, um, I do think Hayato-kun's gotten a lot more polished-lookin'."
"Lookin' like this, don't you think some girls aren't gonna leave Kirishima-kun alone anymore?"
"E-Eh..."
"I mean, personally, I'd totally be down for Kirishima-kun."
"Huh... ...Mya!?"
"Ahaha! And there we have it, folks—Nikaidō-san's 'Mya'!"
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Haruki let out a shrill, startled squeak.
Even Hayato furrowed his brow at such blatant teasin'.
Findin' Haruki's reaction hilarious, though, the other girls crowded around her with mischievous grins on their faces too.
"Y'know, kids from other classes actually ask me about Kirishima-kun every now and then."
"Me too! Especially since Cultural Festival prep started—it's been happening a lot~"
"Right, right! Apparently, Kirishima-kun casually helps them carry heavy stuff, and if they rip or stain the hem of their shirt, he'll even mend it for them."
"Huh? Heh... ...Hayato-kun?"
With the corner of her mouth twitchin', Haruki pressed closer to Hayato as if demandin' to know what that was all about.
However, Hayato put on an exasperated face and replied.
"I mean, even if it's a boy, if someone's staggerin' around carryin' heavy stuff, you help 'em out, just as a decent human bein'."
"Boys?"
"Obviously, right?"
Hayato certainly remembered doin' the things they were talkin' about. Every single one of those people, however, had been a boy.
Naturally, Hayato didn't have the guts to strike up a convo with random girls outside his own class.
Haruki shot Hayato an indescribable, deadpan half-lidded glare.
Amidst all that, one of the girls crossed her arms and nodded with a sly smirk.
"Yeah, yeah, but stuff like that actually scores major points with girls."
"Come to think of it, the Cultural Festival is also a great chance to get close with people from other classes, right?"
"Totally~, you can really see how hardworkin' and kind someone is, and people like that make anyone's heart skip a beat, boys and girls alike!"
Perkin' her ears right up at their words, Haruki narrowed her eyes softly and shot Hayato a reproachful glare.
"I see, so Hayato-kun figured he'd use this chance to get friendly with girls from other classes, and that's why he suddenly woke up to fashion."
"How'd you even reach that conclusion?!"
"Well, you're at that age, aren't you? It wouldn't be weird at all if you had a girl or two on your mind, right?"
"—! I-It's not like that..."
A girl on Hayato's mind.
At those words, Saki briefly flashed through Hayato's mind.
True to bein' his childhood buddy, Haruki saw right through that slight shift and fluster in Hayato.
Haruki grew visibly moodier by the second, then huffed and turned her face away.
"Hmm?"
"H-Hey, Haruki!"
"It's nothin'~? Who Hayato decides to date has nothin' to do with me (boku), though~?"
"I'm tellin' you, that's not it!"
"You acted super suspicious just now, though."
"Oh, c'mon!"
Hayato hurried after Haruki, only for it to be completely pointless.
Right next to the teasin' girl chirpin', "We got a 'Boku' out of Nikaidō-san too!", another one muttered, "Look how desperate he is—Kirishima-kun's actin' just like a husband caught cheatin'," sendin' stifled giggles ripplin' across the classroom. Hayato choked out a muffled, "Urk."
Then the girls crowded around Haruki, whisperin' all sorts of things—"Come on, boys just—.", "Havin' their eyes wander to different girls is—.", "Honestly though, Kirishima-kun's actually pretty top-tier—.", "Kirishima-kun's definitely a total catch—." —gettin' all hyped up around Haruki as her expression shifted every which way.
As Hayato watched the group of girls with a sour look on his face, Iori walked over, patted Hayato on the shoulder, and said teasin'ly.
"Well, you can't be thinkin' about Miko-chan at a time like that, man."
"Shut up!"
"Wait, I actually hit the nail on the head—ow!?"
Startled as if his mind had been completely read, Hayato pinched Iori's side in retaliation.
Author's Notes:
Meow~.