“Yo, you’re here.”
To Watanabe Yu’s surprise, when Kiriyama Kazuma led him into the barbershop, the first person to greet them was not Kiriyama Kazuma, but the barber sitting on the leather sofa, a cigarette dangling from his mouth.
“Yeah.” Kiriyama Kazuma responded smoothly, then moved aside to introduce Watanabe Yu beside him, “This is…”
“I know, he’s the ‘Wata’ you always talk about, Wata…”
The barber cut in, raising his eyebrows, looking at Kiriyama Kazuma and Watanabe Yu with an expression that was half-laughing, half-crying.
But the next second, his voice suddenly hitched, like a stuck machine.
He stubbed out the cigarette, scrutinized Watanabe Yu’s face several times, and then fell silent abruptly.
Before, he had always thought his nephew’s comment—‘so handsome he could debut right now as the male protagonist of a morning drama’—was a joke.
Now, seeing the person in reality, he realized his nephew’s description wasn't exaggerated; it was factual.
Watanabe Yu’s features were indeed excessively well-defined.
No wonder that kid kept saying Watanabe Yu was incredibly popular.
With a face like that, what girl wouldn't be smitten?
“Didn’t I tell you about him, Uncle? Why do you still look like you’ve never seen the world?” Kiriyama Kazuma chided Tomiyama Yosuke, then smiled, placing a hand on Watanabe Yu’s shoulder, and said with pride, “Watanabe Yu, my friend!”
Then, he turned to Watanabe Yu and introduced him, “This is my Uncle, Tomiyama Yosuke.”
“Kazuma, seeing them side-by-side, the contrast is much stronger. The gap is truly too big.” Tomiyama Yosuke teased Kiriyama Kazuma, then turned his line of sight and greeted Watanabe Yu politely, “Hello, Watanabe-san.”
This was his first meeting with Watanabe Yu, but he was already quite familiar with the latter.
After all, at least fifty percent of his chat logs with Kiriyama Kazuma each week were related to the keyword ‘Watanabe.’
How could anyone stand having someone constantly mentioned in their ear every day?
“Hello, Uncle Tomiyama.”
Watanabe Yu responded politely, but he was thinking to himself.
I have to say, they look alike, they really look alike!
Tomiyama Yosuke looked too much like that barber who made a guest appearance in *I Am GTO*.
Their features were about eighty percent similar, the same pompadour, and an identical air of decadence. The only difference was perhaps the casualness and lack of seriousness that was openly displayed.
“Don’t be nervous, just sit down casually. I’ll cut this brat’s hair first.”
Tomiyama Yosuke didn't notice the microexpression on Watanabe Yu’s face. After gesturing to him, he turned to Kiriyama Kazuma and gave him a look that clearly meant, *Hurry up and sit properly.*
Watanabe Yu nodded and relaxed into the leather sofa, watching Kiriyama Kazuma with interest. The latter didn't waste time and sat down obediently in the barber chair.
“Tell me, what hairstyle are you planning to get this time?”
Tomiyama Yosuke placed both hands on Kiriyama Kazuma’s shoulders, looking at his nephew in the mirror. He dropped the slightly frivolous, even slovenly demeanor from before, his expression becoming a bit more serious.
“Short, choppy hair.”
Kiriyama Kazuma stated his request without hesitation.
“Oh?” Tomiyama Yosuke raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Are you finally giving up on that long hair that doesn’t suit you at all?”
“What do you mean it doesn’t suit me at all?”
Kiriyama Kazuma pouted and retorted.
“It’s not me trying to put you down, but with your face shape, having long hair—let me put it this way…”
Tomiyama Yosuke removed his hands from Kiriyama Kazuma’s shoulders, stepped to the left of the chair, leaned forward, and took a disposable barber cape from the tool box to put on him. “It’s like having no pork cutlet in your pork cutlet rice. Do you understand what it means to not deliver what’s advertised?”
“What about short, choppy hair?”
This time, Kiriyama Kazuma didn't argue back but sought the opinion of Tomiyama Yosuke, the professional barber.
“That, well…” Tomiyama Yosuke took out a white barber cloth to drape over Kiriyama Kazuma, but the latter seemed itchy and squirmed a few times. “Stop moving!”
“Okay…”
Kiriyama Kazuma settled down.
“Short, choppy hair does suit you. Compared to the completely mismatched long hair, it should be at least two grades better.” After securing the cloth, Tomiyama Yosuke picked up the water spray bottle and asked as a routine, “Did you wash your hair before coming?”
“Do you have to hit me twice in a row?”
Kiriyama Kazuma rolled his eyes at Tomiyama Yosuke in the mirror. Their personalities were quite similar, and since the latter was quite young at heart, their relationship was more like friends than typical relatives. “Also, no, I didn’t wash my hair.”
“Just tell me if I advised you or not?” Tomiyama Yosuke pressed the sprayer a few times, lightly sprinkling water on Kiriyama Kazuma’s hair. “Didn’t I earnestly tell you how good it was to keep your previous short hairstyle, a crisp and clean handsome guy?”
“But you insisted on no, arguing that current aesthetics were like that, and wouldn't listen to advice.”
“And what was the result?”
Bringing this up made him feel like laughing and crying.
He remembered clearly that Kiriyama Kazuma’s attitude at the time was extremely firm and stubborn, acting as if everyone else was wrong and only he was right.
“Everyone makes mistakes, as if you, Uncle, have never made one.”
Kiriyama Kazuma mumbled.
“That’s true.” Tomiyama Yosuke nodded. Young people are often foolish; that’s just how it is. “The hair will be like usual. I’m too lazy to wash it for you; I’ll just manage it quickly.”
“Tsk, that perfunctory?”
“What else? You’re not paying.”
Tomiyama Yosuke picked up the clippers. Since he was cutting it short, the bothersome long hair could go.
“…What if I pay?”
Kiriyama Kazuma asked somewhat unconvinced.
He could certainly afford the small fee for a haircut.
“Heh heh, I’ll be just as perfunctory then.”
Tomiyama Yosuke smiled and started buzzing Kiriyama Kazuma’s hair with the sound of the clippers.
“Awesome.”
After a long silence, Kiriyama Kazuma managed to squeeze out a single word.
Strand by strand, the black hair fell, and the long hair gradually transformed into a short style.
“But speaking of which, why the sudden decision to cut your hair? You were completely unwilling to cut it before, weren't you?”
Putting down the clippers, Tomiyama Yosuke picked up the scissors and comb, his gaze becoming serious.
“School requirement.”
Kiriyama Kazuma stated those four words with some helplessness.
“No wonder.” Tomiyama Yosuke continued asking while snipping Kiriyama Kazuma’s hair, “Then what about that girl you had a crush on before?”
“It didn’t work out.”
Bringing that up made Kiriyama Kazuma feel a bit ashamed.
He had made strong declarations before, but the result was that people always grow through failure.
“Alright, but why did you give up so decisively?” Tomiyama Yosuke paused his work. “When you told me about it back then, you weren't like this at all; you seemed completely devoted and unwavering.”
He truly didn't know how to describe Kiriyama Kazuma during that period; it was just a bit too much.
He hadn't seen someone who engaged in self-PUA and self-aggrandizement like that in a long time.
If the girl he was pursuing had any scheming nature, it was inevitable that his nephew would fall deeply for her and start giving endlessly without limits.
“Because I listened to advice.”
Kiriyama Kazuma sighed. He suddenly felt like his shorts had been yanked off.
In the future, he would be qualified to answer that question.
—What is the experience like when an elder teases you about your black history in front of your friends?
“Who… oh, it was Watanabe-san who advised you, wasn’t it?”
Tomiyama Yosuke was about to ask, but he realized it instantly.
Given the frequency Kiriyama Kazuma mentioned Watanabe Yu to him, only the latter could persuade him.
“Yes.”
Kiriyama Kazuma nodded frankly.
Right now, he just hoped this topic would pass quickly and stop being dragged out here.
“Not many people are willing to be frank and outspoken.”
Tomiyama Yosuke’s voice carried a hint of emotion.
Most people think about following their friends’ line of thought and offering emotional support, but regarding specific actions, they won't judge right or wrong, only respect.
Of course, that isn't bad, but sometimes, one or two friends need to step up and slap the obsessed person hard across the face to wake them up.
“I think so too.”
Kiriyama Kazuma agreed quite readily.
“It’s good that you know.”
Tomiyama Yosuke sped up his movements slightly.
Ten minutes later, after checking himself several times in the mirror, he put away the scissors, untied the barber cape from Kiriyama Kazuma, and picked up the hairdryer to blow-dry his hair.
“OK, done. See if you’re satisfied.”
He was quite satisfied with his performance this time.
Compared to long hair, his skill in managing short hair was clearly a level higher.
“Whoa, I definitely look much more handsome.”
Looking at himself in the mirror, Kiriyama Kazuma nodded in satisfaction.
With the short, choppy hair, the advantages of his face shape were fully utilized. Compared to his previous long hair, he looked undeniably much better now.
On a scale of ten, he would give himself a 7.5.
“If you were willing to keep your mouth shut, you might look even more handsome.”
Tomiyama Yosuke struck him without mercy.
But saying that, Kiriyama Kazuma did look much cleaner and more handsome now, probably upgraded from ‘that guy’ to ‘oh, he’s a handsome guy.’
“What do you mean?”
Kiriyama Kazuma said this verbally, but his body was very honest as he got off the seat.
“Go squeeze some shampoo on the hair on your body and just scrub it a bit.” Tomiyama Yosuke ignored him and called out to Watanabe Yu, who had been sitting on the leather sofa for a long time. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Watanabe-san.”
“Okay.”
Watanabe Yu responded, stood up, and sat in the barber chair.
“Any requests?”
Tomiyama Yosuke took out a disposable barber cape, put it on Watanabe Yu, and then put a different barber cloth over it.
“Uh, as short as possible?”
Watanabe Yu tentatively made a request.
“Hmm… how short, roughly?”
Tomiyama Yosuke looked at the current length of Watanabe Yu’s hair and then simulated what he would look like with short hair in his mind, momentarily unsure.
With Watanabe Yu’s face shape, any hairstyle would work; there were many types of short hair that would suit him.
“*Marugari*—literally translated as circular trimming—you can think of it as a buzz cut, that level.”
Watanabe Yu thought for a moment and gave a more specific request.
Excluding a bald head, this hairstyle was the easiest to manage and offered the best ventilation.
“Girls don’t really like this hairstyle, you know,” Tomiyama Yosuke still reminded Watanabe Yu. “They think guys with hair this short aren't fashionable enough, which translates to being boring.”
Watanabe Yu’s facial features were already top-tier, so pulling off this hairstyle would be effortless, but he still felt he should inform him of the basic situation.
“Uh-huh.”
Watanabe Yu didn't really care about that.
“But why are you thinking of getting a buzz cut?”
Tomiyama Yosuke picked up the spray bottle and spritzed Watanabe Yu’s hair a few times.
“Because it’s easier to manage.”
Watanabe Yu replied.
Actually, he wanted to say that a buzz cut is the only standard for testing a handsome guy, but after hesitating, he held back.
The Goblin High Priest needed to maintain his image outside.
“Alright then.”
Tomiyama Yosuke picked up the clippers and started cutting Watanabe Yu’s hair.
Heaven knows if it was because Kiriyama Kazuma had warmed him up, or something else, but he felt exceptionally smooth cutting Watanabe Yu’s hair.
On the other side, Kiriyama Kazuma, having washed and dried his hair, casually styled it, then took a selfie in the mirror and sent it to the Class Group.
After a brief silence of a few seconds.
The Class Group immediately became lively, with several outgoing girls teasing Kiriyama Kazuma.
【 Didn't realize! This isn't just a haircut, right? It’s a face-lift!
【 You became a handsome guy!
【 Where did you get your hair cut, Kiriyama-san?
Watching the messages refresh in the Class Group, Kiriyama Kazuma smiled contentedly, then put away his mobile phone and looked toward Watanabe Yu.
“Speaking of which, Watanabe-san, do you fight at school?”
Having completed the basic work satisfactorily and starting the manual modification with scissors, Tomiyama Yosuke took the initiative to open the topic.
He was quite curious about this because he was also quite handsome in high school and often got dragged into fights.
“No.”
Watanabe Yu gave a negative answer.
There wasn't a man who looked like the king of beasts at their school; even if he wanted to have a moment of passion, there was no space for him to do so.
“He only fights off-campus!”
Kiriyama Kazuma paused, then spoke animatedly, “Uncle, you didn't see it! Back then, at the subway station, he grabbed that beautiful girl from our class with one hand, and then kicked over that armed assailant who was about his height with the other foot.”
“Then, like pinching a chick, he slammed the armed assailant firmly onto the ground with a *pa* sound.”
“I thought I was watching an action movie at the time.”
This was his genuine feeling and the direct reason why he hadn't shared this incident with his uncle immediately.
—Bragging online is nothing compared to the satisfaction of bragging face-to-face.
“Huh?”
Tomiyama Yosuke’s movements paused slightly.
He looked at the polite and well-behaved Watanabe Yu sitting in the barber chair, then imagined the scene Kiriyama Kazuma described.
Do all young people nowadays specialize in contrasts?
Moreover, isn't Watanabe Yu a bit too fierce!?
An armed assailant at a subway station—just this description alone made the story incredibly valuable.
“What Kiriyama-san said was slightly exaggerated. I didn't pin the assailant firmly to the ground; he did struggle a bit.”
Watanabe Yu corrected Kiriyama Kazuma’s statement.
“True, he only struggled that one time.”
Kiriyama Kazuma rolled his eyes.
That crisp *snip* sound—just hearing it made him feel phantom pain.
“…”
“…”
“…”
As the words fell, the three fell into a brief silence.
“Oh, I see.”
Tomiyama Yosuke gave a dry laugh to smooth things over, but he didn't say anything else, instead focusing intently on the fine-tuning of Watanabe Yu’s hairstyle.
Time flowed by.
Soon, the sound of cutting stopped.
Tomiyama Yosuke put down the scissors, stepped back two paces, then raised his eyebrows and looked at Watanabe Yu in the mirror.
The buzz cut perfectly outlined Watanabe Yu’s already awesome features.
Now he looked even more three-dimensional.
Tomiyama Yosuke suddenly felt he had chosen the wrong topic earlier.
He shouldn't have asked if Watanabe Yu fought at school.
He should have asked how many girlfriends he had at school.
And then warned him to be careful in the future, not to be too much of a playboy, otherwise, the ending might be more than just three cuts and six holes.
Uh…
Maybe not?
With Watanabe Yu’s looks, if he could speak even a little better, or lie a little, perhaps those girls would actually accept it!?
Because people who look that awesome are truly rare.
“Huh?”
Kiriyama Kazuma, who had been happily scrolling through the group chat on the leather sofa, stood up when he heard the scissors stop and looked over.
He was extremely eager to see Watanabe Yu with a buzz cut.
And then…
Looking at Watanabe Yu in the mirror, he suddenly clutched his chest, his expression instantly becoming subtle.
He truly lost completely.
So, people who look awesome can easily pull off any hairstyle?
Why the heck is this guy so handsome even with a buzz cut!?
Subconsciously, Kiriyama Kazuma took out his mobile phone, snapped a photo of Watanabe Yu, and sent it to the group.
The Class Group was silent for about ten seconds.
Then, as if a delayed-detonation deep-sea torpedo had been dropped into the bottom of a surging lake, it instantly stirred up a thousand waves.
The Class Group messages suddenly went viral!
Double chapter, 4,900 words. Sorry, the overall progress was slowed down because I made some revisions, causing the update to be late.
But I still shamelessly ask for your tickets!
Thank you to 1935, 4479, Mo Xiaojun You, and Gu Gu Yu You Gu Gu for your Monthly Tickets, and to all the generous readers for your Recommendation Tickets. Your support is my motivation for writing!