A Young Male Hairdresser, Assigned To help Out At The Branch, Finds Himself Bothered By The Playful Antics Of A Lively High School Gal Model Who Seeks Attention.

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Meeting after dining out.

“Oh, there’s my sister!”

“Which one?”

“That black car over there~”

As they waited on the roadside, Rikka pointed with her index finger to indicate the location. A sports car was slowing down and approaching them.

“She’s driving a cool car…”

“I want to drive something like that in the future.”

“Isn’t it better to avoid cars that go fast? Knowing you, Rikka-san, you might end up speeding.”

“That might be true.”

“You’re not supposed to agree to that!”

“Fufuuu~.”

“Not the time to laugh.”

As they exchanged these simple remarks, the car came to a stop in front of them.

The passenger side was tinted, making it difficult to see inside. Shuuto felt a bit nervous wondering who would step out. Then, the car door opened, and a beautiful woman with wind-swept black hair emerged, holding it down with her hand.

While she resembled Rikka, her demeanor was much more composed, likely due to her profession as a nurse.

Truly befitting a model’s sister, she seemed like she could pass as a model herself…

Just as he was thinking this, she bowed politely.

“Excuse me, are you Minase Shuuto? It’s nice to meet you. My sister Rikka has told me about you.”

“Uh, yes. Nice to meet you too. Thank you for taking care of Rikka.”

Shuuto also bowed.

Although it was their first meeting, the fact that she knew his name suggested that they had talked before.

“I’m sorry for any trouble my sister may have caused you today.”

“Oh, no, it’s okay. I’m the one who kept Rikka out until this late…”

As Shuuto apologized, the sister narrowed her eyes and smiled gently.

“Oh, don’t worry about it. It’s probably just Rikka being her usual self.”

“Sister’s right!”

“Oh, come on. Can’t you act a bit more dignified?”

“It’s fine. Besides, Onii-san said he had a good time, right? Right?”

“Heh, uh, yeah…”

Though feeling a bit flustered in front of his sister-in-law, Shuuto felt relieved as Rikka intervened, easing the tension. In fact, she might have intentionally orchestrated this interaction to make the conversation flow more smoothly.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t properly introduced myself yet. I’m Rikka’s older sister, Ayaka.”

“Thank you for the introduction. I’m Shuuto.”

“I’ve heard about you from Rikka, Minase-san. You were the one who did her haircut a few days ago, right?”

“Haha, it was nothing special.”

“That’s not true at all. She kept bragging to me about how ‘cute’ it was. And she took so many selfies.”

“Huh?”

“Hey!? You don’t have to say that in front of him…! It’s embarrassing!”

Shuuto naturally didn’t know about their interactions at home.

Surprised, he turned back to Rikka, who was now twirling her hair around her index finger and looking off into the distance.

She was indeed a force to be reckoned with compared to her sister.

“Fufuuu~, besides that, I’ve heard other rumors about you, Minase-san.”

“Other rumors…?”

“Yes. Actually, I have a friend who works as a hairstylist at Charlotte. Every time we meet, she can’t stop praising you. She talks about you non-stop!”

“I-Is that so!? Well, that’s really flattering.”

Although Shuuto had been tense talking to Ayaka, the praise lifted a weight off his shoulders and he felt more at ease.

However, this newfound ease brought about a question. Who could be praising him like this…?

“By the way, could I ask for the name of this hairstylist friend of yours…?”

“Her name is Nonoka-chan. You know her, right?”

“Um…?”

It was only natural for him to ask again, despite it being their first meeting.

He couldn’t imagine someone who exuded an aura of being difficult to approach and cold to everyone else would be the one praising him.

Shuuto felt like he had been hit on the back of the head with a hammer.

“You seem quite surprised… Is something the matter?”

“Oh, no, well…”

He can’t say it. It’s not just praise; he’s been experiencing discrimination.

“Um… Have you, by any chance, never been praised before?”

“Well, that’s true. I think it’s because a certain switch turns on during work.”

The possibility is suggested because Ayaka and Nonoka know each other. It’s a considerate attempt to avoid bringing up the conversation Shuuto wouldn’t want to hear about discrimination or cold treatment.

Shuuto’s true feelings remain consistent.

‘Nonoka-san would never praise me.’

‘Surely there’s a mistake. Maybe she’s confusing me with someone else.’

If by some chance he were being praised, how happy would that make him… Shuuto accidentally lets out such a desire from the depths of his heart, and Rikka, who had been facing away, speaks up.

“Hey…–.”

“Uh, yeah?”

“I have something I want to ask. Shuuto-san, do you, um, like this Nonoka-san?”

“Huh? Why?”

“Well, your reaction was a bit strange…”

Upon being asked, Rikka turns her face away immediately. She seems somewhat sulky, but it might just be his imagination.

“Well, it’s not so much that I like her, but I have great respect for her. I’ve never seen work colleagues in that way.”

“Hmm… I see. I see.”

While nodding to herself with satisfaction, Rikka’s attention shifts when Ayaka’s phone receives a notification.

Rikka, nodding in agreement by herself, had a satisfied look on her face.

As the conversation came to a pause, a notification pinged from Ayaka’s phone.

“Oh, uh-oh.”