Hikaru let his head slump back against the hard, unforgiving chair, its rough fabric digging into his skin.
He felt slender fingers weaving through his hair forcefully, and he let out an exasperated sigh, the sound echoing his frustration.
Restlessly, he began to kick at the wall, each thud reverberating in the quiet room, a futile attempt to release the tension coiling within him at having to sit still for so long.
"Cut it out, will you? I'm gonna rip out your hair at this point!"
Alena's patience wore thin as she meticulously worked another round of bleach through the man's hair, her fingers deftly maneuvering the harsh chemicals with practiced precision.
Kasai's snicker could be heard from the other side of the room, and it was obvious that he was mockingly peering above his phone at the two.
The pungent scent of the bleach filled the air, contrasting the soft sounds that were filling the air around them from Alexei cursing out his game.
As the creamy substance glided through the strands, Hikaru envisioned the transformation—a vibrant sky blue that would bring life to the otherwise drab appearance of his hair.
The hope was that the third application would lift the dark color just enough to capture the shimmering hue Hikaru had in mind.
Hikaru quickly stilled his fidgeting legs, puffing out his cheeks in an effort to suppress the retort threatening to slip from his lips.
He reminded himself to temper his irritation; after all, he should be grateful for the free hair dye treatment, and he certainly didn't want to hurt her feelings with an ungrateful comment.
The process of repeatedly bleaching his hair and rinsing it had left him slightly weary, yet the anticipation surged through him like a current as the rinsing came to an end.
Finally, it was time for the vibrant dye, glimmering with a captivating richness in the bowl.
The formula shimmered with an infusion of mana, promising not only an unforgettable color, but also longevity far beyond anything offered in historical times.
Hikaru felt a thrill of excitement bubble within him, butterflies dancing in his stomach as he envisioned the transformation ahead.
After all, he had always wanted to dye his hair.
"How long will it need to sit in my hair?" Hikaru inquired, his eyes sparkling with anticipation as Alena painstakingly worked the liquid through his tousled locks, making his strands shimmer under the soft light.
His enthusiasm radiated from him, an infectious energy that lit up the room.
"Great! You look like a cone of cotton candy already," Kasai's voice rang out sharply across the room before Alena could reply, laced with a scoff that echoed off the walls, his finger jabbing toward Hikaru.
"Just what we needed. Instead of being useful and kicking some Underworlder ass, we're sitting around and playing dress-up." The disdainful sarcasm in his tone was palpable, drawing the attention of the fuming Alexei away from his game as a flicker of challenge ignited in his gaze.
"Oh come on, man! Let the poor guy have some fun. There's nothing wrong with kicking Underworlder ass in style,"
Alexei interjected with a warm smile that was obviously faked to hide his gamer rage before Hikaru could reply to Kasai's taunts, his voice smooth and inviting, as he attempted to ease the tension that hung in the air like a thick fog.
His friendly demeanor radiated a sense of calm, aiming to transform the charged atmosphere into one of camaraderie.
Kasai clicked his tongue in irritation, his expression annoyed as he turned his attention back to his phone, the screen's glow reflecting in his heterochromic eyes.
Hikaru felt a surge of frustration bubbling up inside him as he gritted his teeth, battling the urge to snap back with a harsh remark.
He crossed his arms tightly, trying to block out the tension in the air and instead concentrate on the tingling sensation of the dye working its way through his hair.
"Ugh, this is why I hate boys like you two. You never let me reply to a thing I'm asked. Hikaru is far sweeter! Now, as I was going to say—it should be left in for around an hour," Alena took a step back, her eyes narrowing as irritation flickered across her face.
Her posture was tense, exuding an unmistakable edge, and it seemed as though she was teetering on the brink of losing her temper and lashing out at one of the men around her.
She stormed off in a whirlwind of frustration, her footsteps echoing down the dimly lit corridor, leaving Hikaru to sit in silence.
He slowly lifted himself up, wincing as he rubbed the tender muscles of his neck, a soft sigh escaping his lips like a whisper of defeat.
Nearby, a floating pink hologram hovered with a gentle glow, its vibrant color contrasting sharply against the sterile backdrop.
It flickered slightly, displaying a countdown timer set for 55 minutes, the numbers ticking down like a heartbeat in the quiet space around him.
Once the sharp beep of the timer filled the air, Hikaru dashed into the bathroom with urgency.
The cool tiles beneath his feet chilled him momentarily as he let his shirt drop to the floor, but a surge of annoyance quickly followed as he heard a heavy thumping on the door.
Kasai's voice pierced through the small space, laced with impatience, echoing his frustration, "Aye!"
Hikaru paused for a moment, his chest rising and falling with a deep, steadying breath.
He closed his eyes briefly, attempting to regain his composure as frustration swirled within him like a storm.
The weight of his exasperation pressed down, making him feel entirely weary of the situation at hand.
"What do you want this time?" Hikaru muttered as he finally opened his eyes to respond.
A heavy silence stretched between the two men, creating a barrier that couldn't quite be penetrated.
Hikaru furrowed his brow in confusion, his thoughts racing as he prepared to speak again.
Just as the words were on the verge of escaping his lips, a flurry of sharp clicks echoed through the air, cutting through the air.
In that instant, the door swung open with a sudden force, narrowly missing him and causing him to yelp in surprise, his heart racing. "H-hey! What the hell was that about, man? I'm not even fully dressed!" Hikaru exclaimed, his cheeks flushing a deep crimson as he swiftly dashed behind the billowing shower curtain, seeking refuge from the unexpected moment.
The cool fabric clung to his skin as he crouched low, heart racing and a mix of embarrassment and adrenaline coursing through him.
"You forgot these, moron. You're lucky I know how to pick locks," With a casual flick of his wrist, Kasai hurled the towels into the air, their fabric soaring like a flurry of soft-projectiles.
Hikaru, caught off guard, instinctively recoiled as the towels grazed the edge of the curtain, narrowly missing his face.
The sudden rustle of cloth against the curtain's fabric only heightened the moment's unexpected urgency, leaving him momentarily stunned. "And you couldn't wait until I opened the damn door? Hey—How are you so nonchalant about this!?" Hikaru let out a squeak of indignation, his eyes narrowed in a fierce glare directed at the other man.
In contrast, Kasai regarded him with an air of indifferent calm, his expression devoid of any visible emotion.
He casually shrugged, a subtle movement that further emphasized his relaxed posture as he crossed his arms and leaned against the counter, exuding an aura of cool detachment. "We're both men. What's the issue?"
Hikaru fixed his gaze intently on Kasai, a whirlwind of thoughts swirling in his mind, as he slowly parted his lips to voice his thoughts.
A moment of silence hung between them, but before the words could fully form, Hikaru felt an undeniable truth resonate within him.
He had to admit, the guy was right.
They were.
So what was the issue, really?
"Still…privacy," Hikaru let out an exasperated sigh, his eyes swirling with frustration as he dramatically rolled them.
With a subtle shake of his head, he turned away, a clear signal of his impatience with the situation. "Now get out. I'm trying to wash my hair. Pretty sure you don't want to see what's under the rest of the fabric, and my scalp is starting to feel itchy, so hurry! Go!"
A playful smirk danced across Kasai's lips, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes as he peeled himself away from the edge of the counter.
He tilted his head ever so slightly, a gesture that spoke volumes of his amusement. "Yeah, yeah," he replied, dismissing any concern with a casual flick of his wrist.
As he sauntered out of the bathroom, the heavy door swung shut with a satisfying click, locking securely behind him and sealing away the moment.
Hikaru finally exhaled deeply, a feeling of relief washing over him as he pressed his palm against his forehead.
With a decisive movement, he straightened his back and cast aside the remaining fabric, allowing the soothing warmth of the water to cascade over him.
He tipped his head back, feeling the water seep through his hair, its gentle embrace a contrast to the vivid hues of his dye.
As he meticulously scrubbed his scalp, he watched the water transform, swirling in a dance of crystalline purity intermingled with delicate strands of sky blue that trickled down, gradually revealing swirls of dye within the cascade.
As he reached the end of his task, a wave of relief washed over him.
The dye nestled in his hair earlier had started to itch persistently.
Finally granted time alone, he savored the calm—a brief escape from the usual clamor of the day.
With a sigh, he hesitantly grabbed one of the plush towels Kasai had laid out for him.
The fabric felt soft against his skin as he began to scrub his hair aggressively, his fingers working through the bundles of fabric.
Hikaru wrapped the other towel snugly around his waist, securing it as he stepped closer to the mirror, his fingers combing through his damp hair.
A slow smile began to spread across his face as he caught sight of his reflection; the vivid blue dye seemed to harmonize beautifully with his features.
Leaning in, he tilted his head from side to side, captivated by the way the vibrant color highlighted the frosty sheen of his eyes, creating a striking contrast that made him feel almost otherworldly.
The moment felt electric, as if the blue had breathed new life into his appearance.
At last, he felt a deep sense of belonging to his elemental power, as if every part of him resonated with the chill of ice and the soar of the ocean.
With a radiant grin stretching across his face, he deftly conjured shimmering icicles into the air, each glimmering shard reflecting the dim light of the bathroom like diamonds as they danced upward, carving through the atmosphere with elegance and grace.