Chapter 154: Quintessential A (9)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 154: Quintessential A (9)
“You’re here?”
Sometimes playful, sometimes affectionate. Yura’s greetings, which called out to me in various tones, always carried a sense of love.
But even though her tone was the same as usual, was it because of the scissors in her hand? Today, her greeting felt different, and the moment I saw her take a step toward me, I instinctively took a step back.
My back hit the door that had just closed, and Yura continued to approach.
“W-wait! Let’s, let’s just talk first!”
Could Yura be much angrier than I thought? Was she planning to carve me up with those scissors?
My voice rose in panic. Seeing my reaction, Yura tilted her head in confusion.
“What’s wrong?”
“Could you, uh, put the scissors down before we talk? It’s a bit terrifying.”
Yura looked at the scissors in her hand, then back at me. She repeated this back-and-forth twice more.
Realizing why I was reacting this way, a smirk played on her lips. She began snipping the air as she closed the distance between us.
“Stay still. I’m going to cut that cumbersome thing off right now.”
“I’m sorry! Please, forgive me just this once!”
It was too late to run. Yura was already within arm's reach, and even if I tried to overpower her, there was no way I could win against her strength.
Just as the thought that I was about to lose my precious part crossed my mind, Yura reached out.
I squeezed my eyes shut. I heard the sound of blades clipping, and when I opened my eyes, the scissors were right in front of my nose.
“Huh?”
The scissors had trimmed the ends of my bangs, which had grown shaggy due to the effects of the Cell Activation Device.
“What are you so scared of? Did you think I was actually going to castrate you?”
I slumped to the floor, and Yura laughed at the sight of me. She leaned over to meet my eyes. After a brief glance at her large, swaying breasts, I shifted my gaze upward to meet her stare.
“If you were going to cut my hair, you could have just said so.”
“Most people don't assume they're getting castrated just because someone is holding scissors.”
I had overreacted because of my guilty conscience. Fortunately, Yura didn't seem to have any intention of snipping my manhood.
“Seeing your reaction, I did consider actually doing it, though.”
As she straightened her back, her words sounded less like a joke and more like the truth. When I looked up, Yura was still smiling at me.
“I’d be the one losing out the most if I cut it off, anyway.”
I’ve spent a lot of time with Yura, but never before—and likely never again—would I be so grateful for her lewdness.
After that, I followed her lead into the bathroom. A blue plastic chair, the kind used at street stalls, was placed inside. I sat down obediently when she told me to.
“How do you want it cut?”
“I didn't really think about it before coming here, so I’m not sure.”
I knew I needed a haircut because it had grown too long, but I hadn't expected to do it the moment I arrived at Yura’s place. I couldn't answer her question immediately. In the mirror, I saw Yura snipping the air.
That snipping seemed to say, ‘If you don’t answer quickly, it won’t be hair these scissors are cutting.’ I felt a cold sweat run down my back.
“The usual, please.”
“Got it.”
She wrapped a towel around my neck, then brought over a piece of newspaper with a hole cut in it and draped it over my shoulders.
She lightly dampened my hair with a spray bottle. I had nothing to do but stare at her through the mirror as she contemplated how to proceed.
Then, it suddenly occurred to me that Yura’s original dream had been to go to beauty school for hair design.
“Is this your first time cutting someone’s hair?”
“Yeah.”
Hearing that, instead of worrying about her messing up, I felt honored to be Yura’s first client.
I had no doubt about Yura’s dexterity, and even if she did mess up a bit, hair grows back.
“Wouldn't it be boring to do it exactly the same as before?”
Yura toyed with my hair, seemingly wanting to try a different style.
“I’ve had short hair before, but for now, I’d just like you to tidy it up, Yura.”
Even if it was just returning to my old style, the fact that it was by Yura’s hands gave it meaning. A smile spread across her face.
“You certainly have a way with words.”
Yura ruffled my hair, expressing her delight, then picked up the scissors and carefully trimmed my neat bangs.
“Are you nervous?”
“I shouldn't mess this up.”
“It’s fine. How could anything you do be a mess?”
As I said before, if it went a little wrong, I could just grow it out. I had asked for my old style, but honestly, no matter how it turned out, just having Yura do something for me felt good.
Soon, my hair began to take shape under Yura’s touch. Her initial nervousness gradually faded, and she began to cut with a lighter, more confident hand.
“How’s the cafe lately?”
Since I had spent more time working at the cafe than having private time with Yura, I was curious about how things had been running during the month I was gone. Yura’s hand paused for a moment at my question before she resumed cutting.
“Busy. It’s hard to find new staff.”
It was only natural to be fired after not showing up for a month without a word. Since she said they couldn't find anyone, Yura was likely handling all the kitchen work that the two of us used to share.
Of course, even before I started, they had trouble finding kitchen staff, so Yura did most of the work alone, but I secretly hoped my absence made at least some difference.
“Does the Boss ever mention me?”
“No. I told her you couldn't come anymore because of personal circumstances. She just said okay.”
Fortunately, it seemed Yura had handled it well, and the Boss hadn't asked much. She must have been confused herself, having seen me right after my identity was revealed, so I was proud and grateful that she spoke up for me.
“She said you should come by and help out sometimes when you have the chance.”
“I will. Once things settle down a bit, I’ll drop by.”
As I sat still, feeling the rhythm of her scissors and answering her, Yura suddenly flicked the back of my head with her finger.
“!!”
Startled, I turned my head. Yura was staring intensely at me.
“You’re talking like I’m somewhere far away and you’ll only come to see me ‘sometimes’?”
“I’m sorry if it sounded that way.”
I felt bad that my words had been taken differently than intended. Thinking back on what I just said, it certainly could have sounded like I was talking to Yura, not the Boss.
I sat back down obediently and watched my hair fall to the floor under Yura’s scissors.
“Should I just shave it all off?”
“Please, anything but that…”
I didn't mind a little mistake, but losing chunks of hair all at once was a bit much. If it were Yura, she’d surely make it so bad that even a professional salon couldn't fix it.
“Thinking about it while cutting your hair… it really is brazen of you.”
I had a general idea of what Yura was getting at.
“Hiding the fact that you’re with Spacetro and meeting all the members at once. Normally, you wouldn't have had any right to complain even if you’d been stabbed on the spot two days ago.”
She had said this two days ago as well, and I had zero intention of denying it. While it still hadn't fully sunk in, I understood well enough that I was in the wrong.
“I’m sorry.”
“To think I’m actually cutting a Spacetro soldier’s hair.”
Despite her grumbling, Yura didn't look particularly upset in the mirror.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Why? Do you want to have sex?”
“No, not that… I was just wondering why you said you were okay with polygyny.”
The reason I suspected was that Yura wanted to claim the upper hand by being the first to declare her acceptance of it.
I never believed for a second that Yura, who was exceptionally vocal with her affection, lacked a sense of possessiveness. My current thought was that she had used her head to create the most advantageous situation for herself.
“Well, if I say it first, the others can't say anything to me when they eventually agree to it later.”
The moment I heard her answer, my suspicion turned into a certainty.
“And this is much easier and more advantageous than trying to keep you all to myself.”
I wasn't sure if she had reached that conclusion over the past month or if she had thought of it instinctively two days ago, but one thing was certain: Yura had been incredibly sharp in that moment.
“……You don’t hate me for it?”
Yubin was still angry with me, and while I hadn't dared to ask Eunha, I felt that she didn't harbor any resentment.
I wondered if Yura, who had accepted the harem so readily, was actually hurting inside. She stopped cutting and brushed away the loose hair.
“Of course I do.”
As expected, Yura had her own grievances. There probably wasn't a single person who wasn't disappointed in me. Even Eunha, who showed no sign of it, surely had her reasons to be upset.
“Why didn't you come to me first?”
“Huh?”
“Why am I second? You went to the hospital, and I heard you met Green yesterday?”
When I texted her that I was coming over today, I had answered honestly when she asked who I met yesterday, saying I met Eunha. However, there was a slight error in communication.
Yura wasn't actually second.
“……Sorry. I went to the hospital with Yubin that day, too.”
“Then I’m third?!”
Yura, who hadn't looked upset even when talking about me hiding my identity, was genuinely offended now.
“Fine. I accept the harem, and this is how you treat me? Third place?”
She opened the scissors, intentionally showing me the sharp blades.
“I’m sorry! But going to the hospital with Yubin wasn't planned—she found me first. And I went to Eunha first because I had a lot on my mind regarding her.”
Even though it was the truth, it sounded like an excuse. Yura seemed to accept that the hospital visit with Yubin wasn't intentional and understood my concern for Eunha.
“……Fine, for now.”
She resumed trimming my hair. Perhaps unable to stand even a moment of silence, she immediately changed the subject.
“So, was our little Spacetro agent A always around us?”
Just as I was about to answer her playful tone, a memory I had tucked away but never mentioned resurfaced, making me flinch.
“……Remember when we all went to the beach together?”
“Yeah. We went in the summer… You were there too?! Where?!”
“I was the referee for the match, and I met you at the foot of the mountain the next day.”
Yura stopped cutting, seemingly shocked to realize that the person she had encountered back then was me. Taking the opportunity, I lowered my voice and continued.
“You wore a swimsuit then, didn't you?”
“Uh, yeah. I did.”
“…Don't you think it was a bit too revealing?”
Style is a matter of individuality, and I can respect that. However, I could not tolerate the skimpy swimsuit Yura had worn back then.
“Huh? Didn't it look pret—!”
Yura, who had thought the swimsuit was simply pretty, stopped mid-sentence when I suddenly stood up.
I turned around to face her, my expression devoid of any humor.
“Don't wear that again.”
“I thought you’d like it if you saw it later, A…”
“Don't wear it.”
At my firm voice, Yura went silent. I drove the point home one last time.
“Don't wear it.”
I simply repeated the same words, but that was enough. Having said my piece, I sat back down and waited for her to finish my hair.
Dazed, Yura looked at me sitting there obediently again.
“……Were you jealous?”
At those words, I felt my ears turning bright red. I had never thought about it before, but if this was jealousy, then I suppose I was.
“You were jealous that other people might see me, weren't you?”
Seeing my reaction, Yura’s mood shifted instantly. A wide smile spread across her face as she leaned in and poked my cheek.
“I see~. You thought my swimsuit looked too sexy and didn't want other men looking at me?”
“……Just finish my hair.”
I tried to change the subject with a small voice, but Yura wasn't about to let me off that easily. She teased me for a good while.
I thought I had first felt the desire to monopolize someone through Eunha yesterday, but it seemed that possessiveness had been there for quite some time.
And after the haircut was finished, when I told Yura, “I guess I’m more jealous than I thought,” she replied:
“What are you talking about? It’s not ‘more than you thought’—you’re incredibly jealous.”
Since I hadn't realized it while Yura had felt it all along, I understood even better why she had called me brazen.