Model Idol Combi: Hair

[jitensha]

[ it's rare that she can garner enough time away from a packed schedule and her own school hours to drop by Kaijou, but even if it's just a practice match, Makoto likes to faithfully attend what she can. She's always liked basketball, so growing closer to Kise had only made that fondness stronger. It's fun to watch them get into the game, and it's fun to lose herself cheering for them.

But it's warmer today than it's been all week, and with the hat crammed over her head to hide her identity (she so optimistically felt), it was doing little to cool her head off. Strands were starting to stick to her neck.

... In a sense, it's a happy realization, that her hair was growing longer by the day, but for now, it was a little bit troubling. Still, she waits until the court's cleared out, enough of Kise's squealing crowd dissipating to allow her to sweep her hat off and try to salvage her hair.

It's a shame she can't see what she's doing. ]

Comments

[ex_doubly406]

[Dramatic hand to face goes here, as he talks to himself.]
At this point I shouldn't be so surprised...

[SIGH]

If we use that, it'll hurt when you pull it off.

[jitensha]

[ are you questioning your choices yet, Kise-- ]

... [ she's about to say that she wouldn't mind that, when she's dealt with pain much worse than ripped hair, but she wisely decides not to go there. ]

Ah, then-- [ stroke of genius! ] I think I've got a ribbon. [ it was used to wrap one of four presents stuffed in her locker today, but hey, it's a ribbon!! ]

[ex_doubly406]

[N-NO! NO REGRETS...

See he even brightens up when she mentions a ribbon.]

Oh, that'd be cute! [He stretches his hand out again, obviously expecting something pink and frilly.]

[jitensha]

[ it's not quite pink and frilly, when she liberates it from her bag, but it's red and silky and surely her hair can make better use of it than that box of chocolates.

It beats a rubber band, anyway. ]

[ex_doubly406]

[Definitely does. Though he can tell the difference between a hair ribbon and a ribbon used to wrap a box of chocolates.]

This... ['is like that ribbon from the box of chocolates I got today' he's about to say, but it's probably better to be quiet about it.] ... looks like it'll work! Good going, Makocchi!

[jitensha]

[ she'll own actual hair ribbons one day!! Or at least not the kind that she can only wear for lives, and those are really just to add some flair to the sides--

Yeah, Makoto is well aware of how pathetic she is when it comes to being girly. Thankfully, she's just focusing on that little bit of praise, brightening exponentially. ]

I'm pretty good at improvising, when it comes down to it!

[ex_doubly406]

As expected of my girlfriend!

[He takes the ribbon, wrapping it around the ponytail. It'll be a bit loose but that's what clips and hair spray is for. Excuse him as he has a moment of intense concentration trying to tie it into a cute bow at the end.]

... And... there. Hold still though, I'm not done!

[jitensha]

[ it should probably strike her as strange, since in all her volumes of shoujo manga hoarded beneath her bed not once has the love interest ever done the heroine's hair or been so knowledgeable about makeup and the like.

But this is just one part of Kise that Makoto likes, and so to her, it's not weird at all. She appreciates the effort he's taking just for this, even as she fidgets a little and fights not to try and look over her shoulder, like she could see it. ]

G-got it!

[ he probably didn't mean go rigid like a highly attentive soldier, Makoto. ]

[ex_doubly406]

[Nah, not really. But it actually helps. Amateur stylist here can use it too.

He quickly grabs his hair clips, strategically sticking them below the ponytail where shorter strands have started falling out. Then it's a quick spritz of hair spray on that spot and he settles back, satisfied.]

You can turn around now, I'll arrange your fringe too.

[jitensha]

[ the most obliging (and she really is a stylist's dream come true when it comes to fussing with her appearance for photo shoots), Makoto shifts herself to turn and face him. It's a little awkward, because then she has to decidedly not stare into his eyes, but she smiles ruefully and lifts her chin to keep her head level. ]

Am I allowed to thank you yet?

[ex_doubly406]

No, I don't accept advance payment. You haven't even seen the end product!

[He said he'll work on her fringe but there's not much there to be worked on. He just combs out some strands, and he only needs to flatten out one particularly stubborn lock of hair with his straightener.]

[jitensha]

But I trust you!

[ again, she holds herself still, but when he finally draws back, he's greeted with an anxiously expectant look and a tipped head. ]

Well...?

[ex_doubly406]

[She definitely looks cute. It's his own handiwork but it's like she's transformed just by changing up her hair a little. It suits her, and even though it's a chocolate box ribbon, it's adorable.

Seriously seriously cute.

So yeah, he should really hand her that mirror huh. And he will once he snaps out of it.]

[jitensha]

[ why is he staring oh god does it look so strange that even Miracle Worker Ryota couldn't do anything about it?? But he doesn't look disgusted, just... stunned.

Maybe he needs a minute.

She gives him ten seconds before she squirms in place a bit. ]

Ryota-kun, if it's weird, you can tell me...

[ex_doubly406]

Eh? [Oh shit he was staring.] No, it looks great! Better than great!

[Grabbing that mirror and hurriedly opening it up so that she can take a look herself.]

See? I always knew you had the girlyness in you.

[jitensha]

[ her original glance is uncertain, until she gets a closer look-- and then her eyes widen, as she reaches up to touch the ribbon. He'd done some fussing, but as far as makeovers and styling went, this was extremely mild. And yet-- ]

I'm cute???

[ she sounds like she's torn between being in disbelief and being utterly delighted. ]

[ex_doubly406]

[And he ends up laughing at that.]

What're you sounding so surprised for? I tell you that all the time! Makocchi is really cute!

[What is this overwhelming ikemen atmosphere.] It's just you're extra cute today.

[jitensha]

[ ow Kise tone down the sparkles-- ]

I-I know, it's just--

[ she really doesn't know how to phrase it, and when she pauses to think it through, she has to come to the realization once again that she's really lucky to have a boyfriend like him. So rather than struggle to explain that, she just beams at him, unabashedly. ]

Thank you, Ryota-kun!

[ex_doubly406]

Welcome. [Grinning, he takes her hand.] Let's go out somewhere. It's a waste to go straight home.

[jitensha]

Are you hungry?

[ it's become second nature to ease her fingers in between his, and she braces herself on the bench to rise to her feet. Obviously, she can't wear her hat when he's taken such pains with her hair, but hopefully they can stay low-key. ]

[ex_doubly406]

Definitely! [He stands up, not letting go of her hand even as he leans down to pick up her hat for her.] What do you want to get?

[jitensha]

Okonomiyaki!

[ at least she's decisive. ]

[ex_doubly406]

I haven't had that in a while! Alright, let's go, my treat!

[At least he's enthusiastic.]

[jitensha]

Even though you're the one who won your match today?

[ex_doubly406]

I'd have to pay anyway, so at least let me pay for my extra cute girlfriend instead.