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. - Chapter 21: One day the misunderstanding was cleared up.

One day the misunderstanding was cleared up.

It was 8 o’clock in the morning, a few days after. They were doing the outside cleaning before the opening hours.

“Uwaaaaa, I’m so sleepy…”

“Did you not get enough sleep?”

Nonoka, rubbing her large orange-colored eyes, endured the sleepiness.

“Yeah… I was watching cut and color tutorial videos at home, and time just flew by.”

“Haha, you have to be careful. Taking care of your health is important.”

“You act like a senior even though you’re younger.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“Haha, true, true.”

Since she learned the reason for the change in attitude, the distance between the two had significantly shortened.

“Huhh… I really need to learn from you, Shuuto-kun.”

“Learn…?”

“Yeah.”

She smiled, swaying her ponytail with soft curls.

“I’ve always thought about this, but Shuuto-kun, you never show a tired face or complain about anything, you know? I’m aware of that, too, but sometimes I can’t help it.”

“When it’s business hours, you become quite sharp, Nonoka-san. You’re not causing trouble for anyone, so I think it’s okay as it is.”

“Do you think so?”

“Yes. Having you here improves the atmosphere at work, and I personally think it’s best if you just be yourself without pretending too much, Nonoka-san.”

He had sensed that she was one of the mood makers from the first day on the job. The gap between her during work and before work was also an endearing aspect.

“You really know how to give good support, Shuuto-kun.”

“It’s not like that.”

“No, it’s definitely true. You’re really competent.”

Her facial expressions changed rapidly. She moved her well-shaped eyebrows while squinting, creating a half-closed eye look. Referring to her senior in this way might be disrespectful, but this might be what people mean when they talk about a “dog-like” girl.

“That’s why even the model, Rikka-san, requested you, right?”

“Well, that’s just a coincidence.”

“But the information came through, you know? That you exchanged contact information after the serive. It might have been a coincidence, but there’s no denying that you had the power to be liked.”

“To be honest, it feels like I’m being liked as a toy…”

“Well, Shuuto-kun, you seem to enjoy it as well.”

“Haha. I can’t deny that.”

Shuuto, who originally liked customer service and conversations, was not reluctantly involved.

“But Shuuto-kun, maybe that suits you better? It’s like being led rather than leading. It might be more accurate to say that someone who is less reserved is better.”

“Well, that’s true. What about you, Nonoka-san?”

“I prefer someone older, so I guess I’d like to take the lead.”

“Prefer someone older… is that so?”

“Yeah. Hey, what’s with that subtle expression? It’s like you’re saying ‘impossible, impossible,’ but I can feel it.”

Nonoka, with a furrowed brow, tilted her head and delivered a sharp retort.

Her soft atmosphere and tone, gentle features, and personality—all filled with a fluffy charm—perhaps revealed a rather demanding desire…

“Well, well… starting from finding significant others, huh?”

“Huh, ‘each other’ implies Shuuto-kun, you  aren’t in the picture either? Any significant other for you?”

“Nope, I’m single. Still looking, you know.”

“Oh, really? Well then, count me in.”

“Oh, great, I appreciate it.”

“…”

As Nonoka caught on to the joking tone and shot back with a quip of her own, she paused mid-cleaning, slowly turning to look at me.

“Aah-ahh…, so that’s your type, Shuuto-kun?”

“Huh?”

Expected to brush off the comment with a joke, she hadn’t anticipated a positive response. The affirmative side of the joke hadn’t crossed her mind.

It’s understandable for her to be flustered.

“U-uh, yeah… Anyway, I’ll have to consult the manager. ‘Shuuto-kun’s trying to woo me, what should I do?’ ‘As the caretaker, should I take care of this too?'”

“Huh!? No, I didn’t mean it like that… Wait, Nonoka-san, you do understand, right!?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Um, I-I really didn’t mean it like that…”

The manager and the owner, who happens to be her father, have a close relationship. If such a rumor were to spread, it would be… I’d rather not even think about the situation.

In contrast to the flustered Shuuto, Nonoka launched a verbal attack with ease.

In this situation, she, who held the upper hand, smiled as if she had found the starting point for a counterattack.

“Well, it’s sudden, but… if you grant me one request, I’ll keep quiet.”

“W-What is it? What’s the request?”

“Well, it’s more of an invitation than a request. Shuuto-kun, it’s been almost a month since you started coming to this branch, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. It’ll be a month in one more week.”

“Meaning, I’ll graduate from being your caretaker in just seven days, and you’ll become a full-fledged member of this branch… So, I was thinking, maybe we could celebrate it personally.”

“Huh!?”

Unexpectedly, instead of the expected request, it was an invitation for his own sake. Shuuto couldn’t help but widen his eyes.

“Both you and I are busy with work, so we’ll have to coordinate, but is that okay with you?”

“Y-Yes! Please, I’d be honored.”

No one would refuse such an attractive invitation. It was a grateful opportunity, even though only one promise was made.

“Fufu~~, the feeling is mutual. I’m thinking of going to an izakaya, is that okay?”

“I love it.”

“All right then. Let’s discuss the details later.”

“Understood. Thank you very much.”

With just one promise, it felt like the distance between them had narrowed even further. As they both smiled and resumed cleaning, an unexpected voice from a third party suddenly interjected.

“I thought it was noisy… a date promise before work, huh?”

“ “MM-manager!?” “

Peeking his head out from the wall, the manager smirked at the two.

“Well… I’ll cut you some slack this time and expect you both to take it seriously. I have high hopes for you two.”

“ “Y-Yes!” “

“They’re quite in sync…”

After harmonizing their voices again, Shuuto and Nonoka hastily continued with their cleaning. The manager, satisfied, returned to the interior of the saloon.

Now that the watchful eyes were gone, both of them were adults. They wouldn’t do anything that would warrant the same kind of attention.

Switching back to a serious expression immediately, only Shuuto, the son of the owner, did that.

Nonoka, still moving her hands, muttered while occasionally glancing at the side.

“Mmm… I wish I could have invited him more naturally…”

She was concerned. She had created a flow that forced the invitation.

“I-I hope he’s not bothered by it…”

Folding her hands together and then unfolding them, she once again glanced subtly at him.