And so, Sunday ended, and the next morning arrived.
I woke up Miu, who had been sleeping soundly, made her hold a piece of toast, and after facing the mirror for a bit, I left the house.
Another typical Monday begins.
The station platform was as crowded as ever with students and office workers, but with April, the month of new encounters, coming to an end, the voices of students who had started to get used to their new schools and classes were slightly more lively than before.
I board the train that arrives shortly and ponder a bit as I cross the station.
Naturally, it’s about yesterday.
About Satou’s potential and Maaya-san.
I thought I understood before, but the potential that Satou Ayane possesses is truly astounding. Yesterday’s outing made me realize this again with great intensity.
Her initially plain appearance has dramatically improved in less than a week since she started paying attention to her grooming and posture.
Beautiful hair, just the right amount of perfume, care for her hands and fingers, and straightening her back, all these improvements in her appearance happened quickly and accurately, as if a compressed spring had returned to its natural length, transforming her into a beautiful girl.
Today at school, those results will surely become evident.
A beautiful girl has appeared in the class.
And it’s not some super cute transfer student from abroad, but the same plain girl who had been with us since the entrance ceremony, who was even called “jimiko” and had a weak presence.
If such a girl suddenly undergoes a transformation that could make her be called a “flower on a high peak”, it’s easy to imagine how those around her will react.
How far will the rumors spread in one day…
Perhaps even upperclassmen might come to catch a glimpse of Satou… Is my estimation of my friends too high?
…No, it’s probably the opposite.
If Miu, who can objectively judge girls, rated Satou that highly, it wouldn’t be surprising if she gets some weird title like “angel” or “goddess” by the end of the day.
「What…?」
The train arrives at the station and comes to a stop with the sound of brakes.
That’s not a problem in itself, but the issue is outside.
There’s clearly a crowd forming.
Normally, there’s no uneven distribution of people on the station platform because everyone tries to board the least crowded car, resulting in an even distribution of people.
Yet, the population on the platform I saw during deceleration was abnormally concentrated only in the queue for the car I was in.
Others notice this too, and as the chatter spreads, the doors open.
「G-Good morning, Hinata-kun…」
Satou, looking slightly intimidated by the crowd, finds me and raises her hand timidly. My brain instantly recognizes her as a beautiful girl, but I don’t put it into words.
「Morning. Quite a crowd, isn’t it?」
「Y-Yes… for some reason…」
While claiming not to know the reason, she moves closer as if to hide near me, so I position Satou towards the wall.
As the train starts moving again and Satou hidden in my shadow becomes invisible from outside, the surrounding gazes disperse as if giving up.
「What about the glasses?」
Remembering she said she’d wear red ones yesterday, and seeing Satou’s bare face, which was undoubtedly the cause of the crowd, I ask.
「Um… after thinking about it in my own way, I decided to wear them only at school and when I’m alone with Hinata-kun…」
「I see.」
Satou smiled apologetically, but when I held her hand to reassure her, her eyes softened.
Being too cute is a bit of a problem too.
I think I understand a little why Maaya-san said to stay by her side.
「Also, Satou, did you cut your bangs?」
I touch on what I noticed, also as a way to change the topic.
「Wa… u-um… can you tell?」
「Not just that they’re shorter, but they’re not pinned to the side like usual.」
Her bangs, which were initially long enough to cover her eyes, are now trimmed just above her eyelids, and the usual hairpins are purely used as accessories to hold her side hair.
「Last night, after Hinata-kun saw me off, Onee-chan cut them for me. …H-How is it?」
「It suits you. You’re really cute.」
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「…Ehehe, thank you.」
Satou smiles shyly as her hair sways with the train’s movement.
Saying she’s gotten used to being complimented might not be correct, but at least she’s gotten comfortable enough not to feel awkward about it.
As her main conversation partner, I’m naturally happy about that too.
「I had my bangs cut… b-but actually, I’m still a bit unsure about the overall length of my hair.」
She shifts her gaze to her hair, then back to me.
The hand holding mine squeezes slightly tighter.
「…So, um…」
Amidst the sound of the train.
A small, high-pitched voice reaches my ear.
「H-How long do you like, Hinata-kun…?」
「Me?」
「Y-Yes.」
「For me, well…」
I open my mouth after seriously considering.
「If saying “any hairstyle that suits the person” is an answer, then that’s my top choice.」
「If it suits, then anything…」
It might be an inappropriate answer to the question, but I actually think that’s the truth.
「Ah, but.」
「…But?」
「If I had to say, I might prefer longer hair. When I occasionally brush Miu’s hair, it feels pretty nice to the touch.」
I answer honestly while recalling the sensation.
Then…
「…Fu… fufu…」
「Satou?」
「…S-Sorry! It’s not a weird laugh or anything… fufu.」
I frown at Satou who suddenly starts smiling crookedly, and she denies it while still smiling with relaxed muscles.
「Just to clarify, I only like the feel when I touch it, I’m not a pervert or anything, okay?」
I don’t want to eat it or anything, the hair.
「I-I know. It’s just that, well, I’m a bit happy…」
Gotsun, Satou buries her face in my chest.
「You’re still planning to laugh, aren’t you?」
「N-No, I’m not.」
「Really?」
「Really.」
「……」
「……」
「…Satou.」
「…Fu, fufu, yes?」
「…Oi.」
I thought about stroking her beautiful hair in retaliation, but she squeezes my hands tightly (by Satou’s standards) to preempt me.
「N-Not now, please.」
「…If you can read my mind, it’d help if you said so earlier.」
「E-Even without reading it, I can understand this much.」
Satou said that with a somewhat proud smile, and she kept smiling until we reached school.