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I used a waterproof liner to carefully draw in a natural looking eyebrow.
Since it wasn’t all gone, it wasn’t so noticeable if you weren’t looking carefully.
And besides, if you took everyone’s make-up off there were plenty of women who had plucked their eyebrows off! Compared to them I still had the ends!
Plus, my hair was long enough, so as long as I didn’t run and was careful in the wind it could be fine! Thank god for being driven to school.
After having a seaweed-based breakfast I prepared to leave for school.
*
*
When I arrived, my group was really concerned because I had suddenly skipped a day.
“You seemed healthy enough until the other day. I was so worried to hear you’d suddenly caught a cold, you know?”
“I apologise for worrying you. I felt ill when I woke up in the morning… Perhaps it was just fatigue.”
“Gosh, please don’t push yourself.”
“I know. We visited the hospital too. I am fine now.”
“Thank goodness. It’s almost winter break, and Christmas is coming up too!”
Christmas…
“What is everyone doing for Christmas?” I asked.
All sorts of answers came out, like going to a party, or going on a trip with family. Everyone’s schedules were filled.
Tsk. So it really was just me with nothing to do.
“What are your plans, Reika-sama?”
“Just a small party with some close friends…”
“My! Any party that you’d attend could only be magnificent!”
“No, it truly is nothing like that.”
It’s just a party with some imaginary friends.
I changed the topic to avoid letting something slip.
“Has anything changed while I was away?” I asked.
“No, not really.”
“No, there was, wasn’t there! Huge news too, Reika-sama!”
“Yeah! Yesterday everyone was talking about how Kaburagi-sama was going to be the next President of the Pivoine!”
Oh, that. Thanks to waking up to bald eyebrows my day was quite hectic yesterday, so I had completely forgotten about it. That tea party felt like so long ago.
“Who would have thought that Kaburagi-sama would be President!”
“Fuyuko-sama said that he volunteered himself, or something? Nobody could have imagined he’d ever do that.”
“Actually we were talking about it yesterday, but Kaburagi-sama led his classes during the athletics carnivals and school festivals, didn’t he? He’s perfect for leading the Pivoine.”
“True~ I’m so looking forward to next year!”
“But the people from the Student Council seemed pretty tense…”
“Really?” I prompted.
“The Student Council President didn’t look like he cared, but everyone else had serious expressions.”
“They all looked pretty grim when they realised they’d have Kaburagi as their opponent next year.”
“I think only the Student Council President and Takamichi Wakaba didn’t seem all that worried.”
“Takamichi-san?”
“I bet her head was empty as always. She’s always looking into space like an idiot, after all. It makes you wonder if she’s really smart enough for the scholarship. Honestly unbelievable.”
“But apparently in the Student Council she’s the best with the calculator.”
“What is that even supposed to mean. Does that have anything to do with being smart?”
“Beats me.”
Hmmm. Quite a lot happened while I was away. Naturally the news about Kaburagi was blowing up. Well, basically any news about Kaburagi blew up.
I doubt everyone would have cared so much if I had taken the seat.
Thinking about it again, though, thank god I hadn’t. I was grateful to Kaburagi for this.
Had I ended up pushed into being President both my eyebrows would have fallen off completely, no doubt.
Whoa ho! Could you please not thoughtlessly open the window, guy over there? Won’t my fringe fly about if you do that?
*
*
*
When I arrived at the salon everyone asked about my cold.
People worrying about my fake illness all day was really doing a number on my conscience…
I was sitting in my usual spot with some camomile tea when Kaburagi and Enjou arrived.
“Kisshouin-san, I heard you were done with a cold yesterday. Are you feeling better now?”
“Yes…”
I gave a weak smile to play up the ‘getting better’ thing.
“Karin fruits are good for coughing, you know. Yukino drinks a lot of karin tea when he has an attack.”
Karin fruits, also known as Chinese quinces
“I see. Thank you for letting me know.”
Of course, the truth was that I was fine besides my eyebrows. I’d prefer him telling me some medicine for hair growth instead.
“When I came back today I was surprised at how quickly the news of Kaburagi-sama had spread.”
Kaburagi had been sitting there legs crossed and enjoying some black tea. He looked up at me when he heard that.
“Pretty much…” he agreed.
“It was even crazier yesterday,” added Enjou.
“Really?” I asked.
“I mean, Masaya hates being bothered, so everyone was sure he’d never do it, right?”
“That I can understand.”
“I wonder what changed his mind,” Enjou smirked.
Kaburagi suddenly looked away.
I stared at him for a while. When he realised he looked back with a frown.
“What.”
“Oh no, nothing.”
Why on earth did you decide to do that, Kaburagi?
Enjou had left for some new tea, so it was just the two of us when he muttered,
“…There are a lot of people in the Pivoine who don’t think well of her.”
His voice was low and quiet, but I heard every word.
Hmmm… So it really was for Wakaba-chan’s sake. He really was the type to do anything for his special person.
“What do you…”
“Eh?”
“What do you think about her…?”
I felt my heart thump as I was fixed by his strong gaze.
“Nothing in particular.”
“…I see.”
Scary.
Maybe it would have been better had I emphasised that I wasn’t her enemy instead.
Maybe it’d have helped avoid any misunderstandings that would lead to my family being destroyed.
I was about to say something but Enjou returned, and Kaburagi left his seat instead.
I had missed my chance.
Oh dear, don’t tell me my left eyebrow was next…!?
The moment I returned home, I made should to apply the medicine.
*
*
We agreed that I’d be coming over during the weekend up pick up my specially made yule log.
Yaay! I was looking forward to it!
I wonder what Wakaba-chan would be doing for Christmas.