"Wow..."
Even the experienced hairdresser stood stunned, captivated by the young woman's skill.
Sera delivered exactly what she promised.
Mickey's long, messy hair was cut, styled, and reformed in just 25 minutes—a shockingly short time even for a pro. Not even a stylist with over 20 years of experience could pull it off this fast.
Sera handled every tool with expert precision, like someone who had practiced endlessly and mentally pre-planned every move.
Mickey's new hairstyle—short and elegant—gave him a whole new look of class.
Snip snip snip.
She clicked the scissors shut to finish the job, setting them back on the table. Wiping her hands clean of the green hair and product with a damp towel.
"... Hmm..."
"Heh heh."
She felt triumphant. Not only had she nailed it, but she even finished earlier than the time she promised.
Outside the salon.
Vwooop—
"You didn't come all this way just to cut my hair, did you?"
"Ah~ Look who's catching on. That's right. I gave you a new look, and now it's time for you to pay me back."
"You forced that haircut on me… No one asked—"
"Ah-ah-ah-ah! I don't know! I don't care!"
"..."
"..."
"Such a brat—"
"Ahhh~ blah blah blah!"
"..."
"Whatever. Fine."
"Hey! Wait up—"
Mickey got his arm yanked back.
"What do you want then? Spit it out."
He was getting suspicious now.
"You're getting a little flustered, Mannix. What's up, hmm?"
Smack!
"Ow—!?"
She smacked his butt again, catching him off guard.
"Hehehe~ Or are you just pissed I figured out your weak spot?"
Mickey just shook his head and walked off toward the elevator.
"Hey! Mickey—! Take me sightseeing, come on! You're my only hope here!"
"There are other people."
"They're all resting! I don't want to bother them!"
"You think I don't want to rest?"
"Why would you need to?"
"Talking to you's dropped my IQ to 90. I'm done."
"I'll slap that mouth."
Sera raised a hand threateningly—90 IQ? Was he calling her stupid?
"Where are we going then?"
"Shut your mouth and follow me."
Sera dragged Mickey off. He figured, why not—he might as well.
He took her all around the dome floor, showing off every cool thing until she was satisfied.
Though really, he was more like her walking entry pass.
They ended up at the chess dome, just as Sera had wanted.
It was basically a chess club inside—dozens of tables, people standing, watching, and playing with fierce intensity, like something out of The Queen's Gambit.
"Let's play a round, Mannix."
"But I don't know how to play…"
He clearly said it too late—he and Sera were already seated across the board.
She spun a king between her fingers confidently.
"I'll teach you."
She grinned smugly.
Mickey lost five games in a row.
But you couldn't see a trace of frustration on his face.
Because he really didn't know how to play.
"How many times do I have to tell you?! The knight moves in an L. And the queen moves like a star! Mannix, you only ever use your king and ignore the queen—how do you expect to win like that!?"
"... Are you teaching or beating me? You just keep smacking me and yelling. Maybe try actually teaching?"
"Learn from your mistakes!"
"This isn't fun at all… Why do I have to stress over something so dumb…"
"You're just bad at it! Complain like that and you'll never understand the magic of chess!"
"... I want to quit…"
Mickey sighed sincerely. Sera felt a bit guilty—yeah, she really had just been smacking him the whole time.
"Fine, fine! You're so damn whiny!"
They returned their chairs and left the area.
Hah~ Finally got to smack him back. That felt amazing.
Sera thought to herself.
"Smile… smile."
"Covers mouth Huh?!"
"Kidding."
"....."
Mickey's lips curved slightly. He looked at Sera with a gaze she couldn't quite read.
But if she had to guess, it was the look of someone who just watched an adult get hyped over beating a kindergartener in math.
That bastard…
She licked her black lipstick, glanced down at his butt, raised her hand, and swung—
WHAP!
But before she could connect, Mickey spun and caught her wrist midair with ease.
"Eh!?"
His hand gripped her wrist easily, then lifted it above her head.
"Whoa!?"
Sera lost her balance from the sudden motion.
"Hey! You damn Mannix!"
She struggled to pull her arm down—even with both hands, she couldn't beat the strength in his wrist.
"..."
"I warned you."
Mickey smirked like a hawk eyeing trapped prey.
But Sera noticed something strange. Mickey was talking to her, sure, but his eyes weren't on her face—they were on her underarm.
More specifically, her armpit—because she was wearing a sleeveless top. Again.
She suddenly felt self-conscious. Her heart pounded out of rhythm.
"... Hey... Mannix!"
"Heh."
He finally let go.
Sera crossed her arms, sealing herself up. Then something clicked in her head.
Back in the gym… he'd stared too.
This guy… could it be…?
"... Mannix. Do you have a thing for armpits or something? You keep staring at mine."
"... You found out. Damn."
Gasp.
"!!"
He admitted it?!
Goosebumps ran down her arms. She started to feel more threatened than playful. But she also remembered a few things she'd read online...
"... Is this like... a fetish?"
"... Yeah."
It wasn't wrong to have preferences. Fetishes could be feet, necks, hands—even armpits. And worse—some people liked pee or worse.
She'd heard of it, but now that it was her in the spotlight...
"Gulp..."
Sera swallowed hard.
Her mind imagined all the terrible, unpredictable things Mickey Mannix might do to her poor armpit…
They were about the same age, and she was used to dressing boldly. Mickey was drop-dead gorgeous and also insane.
"... L-Look… No judgment… but couldn't you just, like, not tell me that? I feel so unsafe now..."
She struggled. Was this harassment?
Mickey only stared a moment, then said,
"I've never slapped anyone's butt."
"...!"
"What if we reversed it? If I slapped your fat ass—would that make me the creep?"
"...!? "
He leaned in and whispered near her ear.
"Who's the real perv here?"
His husky laugh sent chills down her spine as he pressed the elevator button.
"I-It's not the same! You're a guy!"
"Oh? I thought you wanted equality?"
He opened Instagram and showed a photo of her at a gender equality march in London.
It was checkmate.
Sera froze.
"... See? One post and you're done."
Mickey tucked his phone away.
"Say whatever you want. Just understand what you're actually saying. Otherwise, people will just call you dumb."
"Urgh…"
Sera was stunned. She'd been schooled. No… she'd been schooled by someone who had lived through real discrimination.
Vwooop…
They entered the elevator.
"You should train your critical thinking skills, Sera. They're rare these days."
That bastard… Just rub it in, why don't you?
She clenched her jaw in frustration.
"I'm not rubbing it in."
"... Are you reading my mind?! Do you have a psychic power?!"
"No. You're just that easy to read. It's all on your face."
"Agh—"
"Don't feel embarrassed. Be glad your thinking is evolving. There's no shame in that… with me, there's no winning or losing."
Hmph…
"... But with someone like Sid? You'd be toast by now."
"... Yeah... I believe that..."