My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 647

"Wow, this is difficult, isn't it? What if you end up with a really weird haircut? It's not something that can be solved with just an apology."

"Let me be blunt, you sometimes come to school with your hair sticking up in all sorts of wild shapes, right?"

"……ah--"

"I think it's weird that someone would care about having a weird hairstyle. (Period)"

"...Hmm, maybe...You're right."

I thought for a moment about how to answer, but I was speechless. (I was) refuted.

"What kind of repair are you referring to?"

"It depends on how you want it to look, but I can only trim it a little with scissors at most."

"What if I accidentally get a mohawk haircut?"

"How could that be?! Or rather, how could I possibly cut it?! A Mohawk requires a razor, right? No way, no way, no way!"

The risk wasn't as great as I imagined. If it's just a trim, even if it's badly cut, I can just go back to the barbershop for a redo.

"...Could I...do you need my help?"

"Sure. I'm fine with nothing to do later, no problem at all."

"Well... I'll leave it to you. This new hairstyle seems to have changed the way people perceive me."

"Hmm. There's a park nearby, how about we get our hair cut there?"

I was a little worried about getting arrested by the police for doing this in the park, but just being with Yui would greatly reduce the suspicion people would have of me. It would also save me from all the hassle of getting a haircut, and since there was no risk, my enthusiasm instantly increased.

And... thinking about it calmly... this is having a girl cut your hair. Isn't that great?

"I'm counting on you for everything."

"Huh? Why do I suddenly feel a chill... That's strange... It's been so warm today..."

Girls are so sensitive to physical aversions...

Inage's park is a place that directly embodies the image of a simple park. There's a pine forest nearby, and I think there's also the Inage Asama Shrine nearby. So you can vaguely feel a solemn atmosphere here... but no, it's just an ordinary park.

There weren't as many people as I'd imagined; it seems many families don't want to spend a weekend afternoon in a simple park. Phew, at least no one will call the police because "there's a young man in the park."

"All done!"

Yuihama just told me to sit in an inconspicuous place, and then she disappeared somewhere.

"What did you buy?"

"There was a 100-yen store nearby, so I went there and bought some things."

She bought a pair of scissors that were too small and a plastic comb.

"Cut the paper bag open... and put this around your neck."

She made something like a simple apron out of wrapping paper. She did it quite nimbly.

"This is a DIY haircut tutorial from a magazine. It's a simple cape used to catch the cut hair. I'm actually very interested in it, but cutting my own hair is scary, so I've never dared to try it."

"I mean I am an experimental subject."

"Don't worry! I'll be very gentle!"

Ah, this girl probably didn't realize she said anything suggestive. I won't tell her.

Yuihama stood behind me, holding scissors and a comb in both hands, grinning.

"Hey buddy, are you still a student?"

"...I used to be a student, but I dropped out and now I'm a shut-in for three years."

"Don't interrupt the conversation! You'll ruin it!"

"Sorry, it's just my habit, I didn't mean to."

"So this is how you usually are..."

"Some good salons don't need to be so restrictive, and they won't waste time talking nonsense while cutting hair."

Incidentally, beauty salons that are good at reading people will immediately tell if a customer doesn't want to chat. Conversely, shops that don't understand this will bombard you with questions, trying to force a conversation. I'll never set foot in those kinds of shops again.

"It's really fun chatting with the designer. He talks to you about a lot of things!"

"Ah—no need. I'm not interested anyway."

"This student is difficult to deal with. What kind of haircut do you want today?"

"casual."

"You're such a difficult guy, being autistic!"

She immediately gave up on playing the designer and sighed.

"Uh, I can't give you such detailed requirements. Unlike you guys, you study fashion more diligently than you study your books."

"But being random can be troublesome...after all, you don't know what kind of landmines you have, right?"

"No stylist would just randomly cut a mohawk for you, right? Just cut a similar length based on my body type, is that so hard?"

"Um--"

It seems difficult. As someone on the fringes, I think this is also the difficulty in communicating with designers.

"From your perspective, what's strange about my current hairstyle?"

"Let me think... Overall, it's too long, so the whole silhouette has changed... Ah."

Yuihama seems to have discovered something.

"What's wrong?"

"I know! It's because your bangs cover your eyes, which completely changes the impression you give off."

"How will this transformation proceed?"

"Your eyes are quite distinctive, in a negative sense. Most of the time, people notice your gaze when they look at you..."

Yeah, because I have a fierce look in my eyes.

"If you cover your eyes, well... hmm..."

Yuihama looked embarrassed and stammered.

"It's alright, go ahead and say it, you amazing designer."

"...Hmm, hmm. Well then I'll say it... You, who can't see your eyes, have a very strong 'street person' vibe."

"A generic, unremarkable smell...?"

I was instantly shocked, but also able to accept it. So that's how it is. Is that dead-fish-like gaze my most distinctive feature?

"And not just any ordinary passerby... but the most ordinary passerby of all? They've transcended the level of 'common people,' they're someone who blends in naturally wherever they are... a background? A stage prop? An aura of theirs..."

Indeed, even Komachi almost didn't notice me; Yuihama's description is probably accurate. What? My only charm point is my dead fish eyes? Nothing else? You mean, that's not even a charm point. It's a weakness. A weakness, huh? So everyone's been identifying me based on my weaknesses all this time?

"Eh, eh...does that mean my life is almost beyond saving?"

"Huh? Why?"

"People often say I have a fierce look in my eyes. I know it's a flaw. If I could change that flaw in the future... wouldn't no one remember me then?"

This means that one cannot overcome one's shortcomings, nor can one fail to overcome them.

"Don't worry, autistic guy! I'll figure something out!"

Seeing my unease, Yuihama seemed to have mustered up her energy.

"Specifically, how do we do it?"

"Since it's a hairstyle issue, a haircut will solve the problem."

"But you'll only be cutting a little bit, right? Will that even be useful...?"

"Hmph."

Yuihama was full of confidence.

"Even just a small cut can make a big difference in the impression you give off."

"Whoa whoa……"

Yuihama is usually anything but assertive, but now she's unusually confident. It's so unlike her usual self, it makes her seem so reliable. If it were this child, I'd give my life to her…

"Trim your bangs shorter and show your eyes. That alone will make a dramatic difference."

Dramatic change... a catastrophic change? A gigantic anomaly? This thought startled me. It's alright, Yuihama will be fine today. I believe in Yuihama. I want to rely on you. (Note 14)

"I've wanted to play with boys' hair for ages!"

What? You're satisfied with just playing with my hair? I wouldn't mind playing with any part of me... I closed my eyes, ready to give her my whole body. The next moment.

click.

"ah."

Oh, that sounds pretty bold. You must have cut quite a bit, right? You asked if I was worried? No, not at all. Although it's very unlike me, I want to trust Yui today. She's as serious about fashion magazines as she is about to take a test, so she's worthy of my trust. So, what did that "ah" mean?

"Sorry, introverted guy! I accidentally cut my hair into straight bangs!"

"W-What?"

I stared wide-eyed. However, this was just an ordinary park, not a barbershop; there were no mirrors, so I couldn't check my appearance.

"Wow, I can see so clearly now. It looks much cleaner... But what's this fringe? Is it from the stratosphere?"

"No, no, I meant the straight bangs..."

Okay, I know. It just means getting your bangs cut straight. Lots of anime characters have that hairstyle. Wait, wait, does that mean I got that haircut? I've become a cute character? And I've been gender-swapped? Ugh, that's too early for me…

"Mirror, mirror... give me a mirror!"

"I advise you not to watch!"

"But how can we judge without looking... Don't worry, I've been used to facing harsh reality since I was a child. I can handle it..."

"Are you living this hellish life? Hmm, wait a minute... maybe there's still a way. The left and right sides are different lengths, let's cut them to be the same length first..."

click.

"Ouch."

"Yuigahama-san⁉ What's that 'woo' sound like? Is it a mambo?"

"It's not quite at the level of a Mambo... it's just a waltz... Calm down. There's still a chance to save it. Probably. Yes, yes. I have some stolen techniques..."

These words were less directed at me and more like encouragement to myself...

"I...I believe you."

"It looks like the front was cut too short..."

Thanks to Yuigahama's wise decision, both sides of my hair were chopped off. Why do you always cut off so much hair in one go? Isn't hair supposed to be cut little by little? How can you just chop it off like that? To a layman, it should be kept at a "snip..." level, right? This grand series of snips is a bit like a 1000 yen machine haircut.

"In that case... I guess I'll have to cut it into two sections, right? But can the scissors even cut that out...?"

"Hey, hey, please don't take any risks... I do have a feeling of being a reincarnated person today, but you're not an adventurer..."

"Reincarnation? But if I don't take the risk, this situation... no, there's one last resort... shave my head."

"Huh? What did you say?!"

I heard "shaving off"?

"N-nothing... Anyway, we can't give up, we have to keep going until the very end!"

Yuihama picked up the scissors.

Click, snap.

That sound was a deadly omen.

"...Uh..."

That sound also symbolized a fatal omen. There's definitely no hope.

"I'm sorry, autistic guy, I have some very sad news to tell you..."

Ah, I completely understand what Yuihama was trying to say.