I Started a Lover-for-Hire Service, And For Some Reason, Only Beautiful Girls Are Requesting Me - Chapter 46: Himeno is Embarrassed

After chatting for nearly an hour, the outside grew dim. As Ryoma began to prepare to leave while standing, Himeno suddenly said something with a serious expression.

“I’ll go home with Shiba.”

“Together!?”

“Why are you surprised?”

“Well, of course I’m surprised…”

“Is it that bad to go home with me?”

“It’s not that… It’s just, I’m not blaming you, but… the other day, didn’t you make a mistake? You said something in a way that made it sound like you had a boyfriend while you were in your classroom.”

“Ah, sorry…”

Yes, Himeno had messed up. She had made a mistake before.

When it looked like her friend Ami was about to find out she didn’t have a boyfriend, Himeno desperately tried to hide it, which led to Ryoma saying something he shouldn’t have.

“I’m not really bothered by that anymore… but the others are probably still misunderstanding, right? Himeno is popular at university, and if we go home together, it’s obvious there will be some gossip. It’s like walking into a minefield on purpose.”

“But… I want to go home with Shiba…”

“I really appreciate the sentiment, but… I can’t let this one go.”

“No…”

Himeno grabbed the hem of Ryoma’s clothes, trying not to let him go.

But the strength in her hand was too weak for Ryoma. It would be easy to shake her off, and he could remain firm and resolute if he chose to.

—However, Himeno looked so young. Even though Ryoma knew she was a university student, he couldn’t help but feel a bit like he’d be bullying someone weaker, and he couldn’t bring himself to be too forceful.

“I’ll give you money.”

“I can’t take money unless it’s during a job. I told you that before.”

“I’ll give you cookies…”

“It’s not about that.”

Himeno didn’t back down; she presented her own conditions as if there was some reason she couldn’t compromise.

“Why do you want to go home with me so badly? When Himeno gets stubborn, it usually means there’s a good reason. Tell me the reason.”

“…Because I’ve caused Shiba so much trouble…”

“That’s not true.”

“It’s true. Shiba is even making a call for me…”

Himeno felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude toward Ryoma.

She knew, as a successful manga artist, what it meant to try and get a publisher or editor to listen to you. The courage it took, the fear of not knowing what kind of response you’d get from above.

Even so, Ryoma followed through. He wasn’t doing it for himself, and without fearing the bad impression from the company, without any hesitation or making a sour face, he acted without hesitation.

How would one feel after being treated this way? — Of course, it would make you want to repay the favor, even if just a little.

“Then, Himeno will be Shiba’s conversation partner. You can even say bad things if you want…”

The usually quiet Himeno now thought hard about what she could do… and found it.

She figured that if there was someone to listen to Ryoma’s worries and complaints, it might make him feel a bit better.

“Himeno, you’re being too considerate.”

“That’s not true…”

“You’re too kind. For someone like me…”

Ryoma didn’t think of it as a nuisance. He was grateful that she had thought about him like this.

“That’s not it. Himeno is just being selfish… Shiba is the one who’s kind…”

“You don’t have to be modest. Thank you, Himeno.”

Because of the big height difference, their gazes intertwined—Himeno looking up at Ryoma, who was smiling happily. 

At that moment— 

“Ugh, no…”

Himeno looked down at her feet, trying to avoid Ryoma’s gaze.

She shook her head as if to deny the black lace-up shoes she was wearing. Her silver hair swayed, and from under it, her small, pale ears turned as red as ripe apples.

“Is something wrong?”

“N-nothing… nothing at all…”

At that, Himeno tightened her grip on the hem of Ryoma’s clothes. It was as if she was refusing to let go of him.

“Well, if that’s the case… then let’s go home together.”

“Is that okay…?”

“Of course.”

Himeno’s face, blushing with hesitation, was what Ryoma saw. He couldn’t waste such goodwill. To build a good relationship going forward, he had to respect it.

“Ah, but could you give me a little time? I’ll take off my glasses and fix my hair. I think I won’t be recognized like this.”

“Even if you take off your glasses, will you be able to see?”

“I’ve got contacts with me. And wax, too.”

Ryoma had a plan when he decided to go home with her. By changing his appearance in private, he could avoid drawing attention to himself as Ryoma while still being with her.

He always carried wax and contacts with him, since after university, he would head straight to his part-time job at the bookstore.

“Is it really okay…?”

“I keep telling you, it’s not a problem. You’re going to go home with me, right?”

“Yeah, I’ll go home…”

“Thanks.”

“Mm… No, Himeno is the one who’s thankful…”

Finally, the conversation was settled. Now, all that was left was for Ryoma to prepare.

“Himeno…? I can’t get ready if you’re still holding onto my sleeve…”

“Sorry.”

“Haha, you don’t have to apologize so formally.”

“Uh, yeah…”

Himeno quickly let go of his sleeve, her eyes darting nervously towards Ryoma.

“Sh-Shiba, do you want to use my hand mirror…?”

“That would be really helpful!”

Ryoma didn’t use his contacts or wax every day, and he couldn’t do it properly without a mirror.

“Here. Wait just a moment.”

Himeno opened her bag, took out a small mirror, and handed it to him. The mirror had a cute, slightly plump bat drawn on it, fitting her style perfectly.

“Thanks.”

“Sorry it’ll take a little time.”

“It’s fine… But, can I watch you change?”

“I guess that’s fine. It won’t be anything interesting, though.”

“Mm, that’s okay.”

Ryoma sat down on a chair, took out his lens case and wax from his bag, and started his transformation, using the hand mirror.

He took off his glasses first, then put in his contacts to clear his vision. Afterward, he spread the wax in his hands and worked it into his hair.

“…”

Himeno was staring at him intently, interested in what he was doing. Ryoma, being focused on the task, didn’t notice her gaze.

It took about seven minutes, but Ryoma’s hair was finally set.

“That should be good… Now, I’m going to wash my hands. They’re sticky from the wax.”

“Uh, okay.”

“Hey… Himeno, why’s your face so red? Are you okay?”

“!!!”

Ryoma leaned in to check her face. The difference in his appearance was so striking that it didn’t even seem like the same person. He looked like someone who could easily be on TV, the before and after transformation was that dramatic.

“Eh, has the redness… increased?”

“N-no, that’s not it. Go wash your hands quickly!”

“Haha, sorry, sorry. I’ll be right back then.”

“…Mm, bye-bye.”

“I’ll come back soon, okay?”

Saying that, Ryoma waved and left to wash his hands.

In the empty classroom, Himeno was left alone.

“…”

She closed the lid on Ryoma’s lens case and sealed the wax container, tidying up to make sure they could leave quickly.

Finally, she took out her personal hand mirror. As she was about to fix her hair, she happened to catch something in the corner of her eye.

“Eh…”

Was it just her imagination? She held the mirror in front of her face to check.

“!!”

Himeno reacted as if she had seen a monster and quickly shoved the mirror into her bag.

The mirror made everything appear reversed. However, the colors didn’t change.

Himeno covered her face with both of her small hands, letting out a low groan as if enduring pain.

“Ugh… it’s all Shiba’s fault… He… he changed too much…”

She was completely taken by the kind of gap often seen in manga or novels, overwhelmed by the transformation.

Ryoma’s shift from darkness to light was truly astonishing.

“To become that… handsome… is unfair…”

The monster in the mirror—it was the face of someone whose features had been stained a color so deep, like the sunset, that there was no excuse for it…