The Villain Who Got Pinned Down Until He Ran Out Of Stamina ~ This Time I Raised The Protagonist's Affection Too Much And Everyone Fell For Me~ - Chapter 77: The Maid's Revenge

On the day of our outing.

I arrived at the fountain plaza where we were supposed to meet. Our promised time was 10 o’clock, but since I hated being late, I came 15 minutes early.

You might wonder why we decided to meet up when we lived together… well, it just felt nicer that way.

Also, Hibari seemed to have some business to take care of, so she’d left the house earlier. She’d said she would come here after finishing that.

“Man, my hair feels so breezy. Did I cut it too short?”

I couldn’t help touching my hair, though not enough to mess it up.

My hair had grown long enough to touch my ears… but I’d decided to get it cut short yesterday with an undercut. I also got the sides trimmed a bit.

It felt refreshing, but I was a little restless with this unfamiliar hairstyle.

That wasn’t the only reason I felt restless…

‘Would you go on a date with me?’

Even though we had made a verbal promise before… I was the one who’d invited her. Well, Hibari hadn’t appreciated my way of inviting her… and she’d gripped my hand really strongly, so I’d have to retire that approach.

Today I was going out with Hibari. I was strangely nervous about it…

“…Hmm.”

I kept checking my phone and looking at the clock in the fountain plaza… repeating such meaningless actions while waiting for Hibari to arrive…

“Huh, Hibari’s not coming…”

From her usual serious demeanor, I’d had the impression that Hibari would arrive early rather than be late… Well, I didn’t mind waiting patiently.

“Excuse me, young man.”

“Hm?”

Someone called out to me from behind. It was a clear, dignified voice.

When I turned around… the first thing I noticed was her short-cut hairstyle. Then her small, well-proportioned face and long, straight nose.

She wore a cool sleeveless shirt and wide pants that showed off her beautifully long legs. On her feet were comfortable flat sandals.

There was a beautiful woman whose fashion perfectly showcased her model-like figure.

Wait, but this person was…

“Good morning.”

“G-good morning.”

“I noticed your bedhead from over there, so I called out to you.”

“That is concerning… Eh, where?”

I thought I had properly looked in the mirror and styled it this morning…

“On the right side… Not there. May I fix it for you?”

“Ah, yes.”

Hibari was… oh, I’d said Hibari out loud. Well, it was fine to say it. She was the person I was meeting anyway.

“Could you bend down a little?”

“Ah. Is this about right?”

“Yes.”

When I bent down slightly, I could feel Hibari’s hand touching my hair.

“…Yes. This should be fine now.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“You’re welcome. So, what kind of food do you like?”

Oh, this was still continuing.

“Um… ginger pork, fried chicken… I like all the classic dishes. Actually, there’s nothing I dislike.”

“I see. I also like classic dishes. I’m good at making them too.”

“Thank you as always.”

“It was nothing at all.”

Hibari’s cooking was incredibly delicious.

“How was that? I tried doing something called picking up guys.”

She said this with her usual expressionless face.

So the pickup attempt was over already. I’d been bracing myself thinking there might have been a bit more to it.

Actually, rather than picking someone up, she was just a nice person who’d kindly fixed my bedhead and cooked for me daily.

“Why the pickup attempt?”

“Since it’s usually done to me, I thought I’d get revenge.”

“On me!?”

I’d never tried to pick up Hibari though!? But if it was revenge pickup (?) against me, I guess that was safer. Any other guy would have followed along easily.

“Well, I enjoyed your first-time pickup attempt.”

With my intimidating face, I probably wouldn’t get picked up in the future anyway. I was more likely to get stopped by police for questioning.

“…Did it make you want to follow me?”

“!”

Her expression was the usual straight face, but… She asked while looking up at me slightly, which made my heart skip a beat.

I needed to give her a proper answer.

“Hibari. Try holding out your hand.”

“? Yes.”

Smoothly, Hibari’s beautiful hand was extended. She had beautiful hands that knew no suntan. I placed my hand on top of hers…

“Please take care of me today.”

I bowed lightly and smiled.

“Pickup successful! Just kidding.”

“…”

“Hibari?”

“No. I was thinking my revenge failed.”

“?”

“It’s nothing. More importantly, I’m sorry for being late.”

“Ah, it’s fine, it’s fine! It’s 5 minutes before our promised time anyway. But Hibari… did you cut your hair?”

That’s what I was curious about after all. Hibari’s hair, which had been long enough for a ponytail, was now a short cut. Just having different hair completely changed her impression. I hadn’t recognize her for a moment.

“Since Yuji-sama has cut his hair, I thought I’d cut mine too.”

“I see. When you see someone cut their hair, it indeed makes you want to cut yours too.”

I’d thought the same thing when I’d seen my classmates had cut their hair.

“Was the reason you were late this morning because you went to a hair salon?”

“Yes.”

“I see. Then with both of us having fresh haircuts, we’re kind of matching!”

“…Matching, you say,” she murmured quietly, then Hibari fell silent.

“Um, if it’s different, you can tell me it’s different, you know…?”

When she went silent like this, it troubled me in its own way. I’d be happier had she retorted instead. Ah, so Hibari’s strangely powerful retorts were a reward…

“Could you let go of my hand for a moment?”

“Ah, sorry.”

I was still holding her hand. I let go with a pop.

“…”

Hibari was looking at her own hand for some reason.

I didn’t grip it that hard! I’d held it as gently as when a dog gives you its paw!

“By the way, Yuji-sama. How is this hairstyle? Is it okay?”

“Hm? Ah, it suits you. The compatibility with your clothes is perfect too!”

These were such ordinary words coming out, but somehow I felt like no other words were necessary anyway.

If I had to say more, maybe because her hairstyle had become a short cut, she looked more mature than usual. Was she wearing a little makeup too?

“Thank you. Yuji-sama’s hairstyle looks nice too. And your casual clothes. They suit you well.”

“Oh, thanks!”

Her words were probably just flattery. Even though I’d seriously chosen my casual clothes, it made me happy to be complimented, even if it was just flattery.

“Well then, shall we go? It’s supposed to get hot from now on, so let’s be careful about heat stroke too.”

“Yes. Prevention is important. Let’s do it… right?”

“You didn’t need to say that part so slowly!”

And so our outing, mine and Hibari’s, began.