The Golden Pear [YA - Featured]

♫~Notes 33~♫

 After another bite, Aiyoku talked. "As of late, I hated my long hair, and how much time went into its maintenance. I questioned why I needed it."

"I remember Father saying you have to be beautiful, and everybody around us always praised your hair."

"True, so I kept it growing. And as you know, I help at this farm,"—he glanced at their friend, who nodded—"with Freya-chan. Mrs. Sato-san, who owns that place with her husband, adjusts my hair, so it doesn't get in the way, but it still wasn't enough."

With his growling stomach prompting him to eat more and talk less, he took a few pieces. "We ended up talking about shortening it, and later, I have gotten a number for a hair specialist at Locks of Love."

Rigaku nodded, following the story.

"It's an organization making wigs or prosthesis, as they call it, from real hair."

His oldest brother smiled, seeing where this was going.

"There, they prepared my hair in the best way possible, and not just that. They also provided service like any other hairdresser saloon, so I got to pick a style I wanted." He awkwardly giggled. "Or the one that didn't make me feel stupid."

"You look awesome. It may take time to get used to it, but it's okay."

"Thanks. I had a problem to walk. I felt like I landed on the Moon. Would you imagine I had over five kilos of hair?" The blonde Kamini pointed at himself. "I'm so ditching my diet."

Freya spurted with laughter, doing her best to not cause another coughing fit. When she calmed, Aiyoku already placed for her a cup of tea, and she gladly accepted.

"The owner told me he had never seen better hair. They can make three or more wigs from it." He shivered. "I get excited just from imagining how many children may smile again." With his palm, he wiped the escaping tears. "I decided, I'll donate my hair regularly once they are long enough."

Rigaku nodded, happy for his brother. "What hairstyle is it?"

"It's called low cut with a tattoo of a sort." He turned his head, showing them a big star with smaller ones inside it on the upper-right side, where the hair was extra short. It really looked like a tattoo.

This time it was Freya's turn to shed a few tears.

Before Rigaku could say anything more, a shriek resonated around them.

"My Aiyoku-sama!" Ueno roared from the entrance as the rumor of their precious Greek God being ruined reached to her.

The said god's expression darkened, awaiting a very annoying conversation as she stomped his way.

"My Aiyoku-sama!" Her horrified eyes glanced at him from toes to the top of his head. "Who did this horrible thing to you?" Ueno's head snapped Freya's direction. "You! It's your fault!" She raised her hand.

The ginger student expected a slap landing on her cheek, but Aiyoku blocked it. "This was my decision, so leave her out of it!" His voice lacked the gentles he always used.

The headmistress' daughter shivered. Till now, it seemed she had him wrapped around her finger, moving him like a puppet. But he dared to bark at her.

"But... But you were so gorgeous! Why?"

He sighed. "I got sick of them, so I've donated them."

"What?" she shrieked, her voice getting aggravating by a second.

"It'll turn into the prosthesis for children who lost their hair." He hoped explaining to her his reasoning could calm her down and start a civil discussion. However, he wouldn't be more wrong.

A deadly silence spread in the hall. All students watched Ueno. The atmosphere turned so thick; they knew something big was coming.

And then, the tsunami struck the school. "For brats?" Ueno's voice vibrated within the building, reaching outside and even alerting people a floor above.

And if the heatwave from her expression transformed the canteen into purgatory, Aiyoku's tone did the opposite.

"They aren't brats."

Ueno stepped back, her body drenched with sweat. The once charming Greek God of Love turned into Hell King, numbing her every thought and movement.

Freya watched Aiyoku in awe, unable to understand this sudden transformation. On the other side of the table, Rigaku pushed his glasses up with a smirk.

"I don't want to believe you are a rotten human." Aiyoku's voice lost the freezing tone, but gone was the gentleness as well. "Please, think about yourself. Inside you is definitely a kind person." He offered her his hand, but she slapped it, dashing away with her gang close behind her.

From this moment, Aoi Ueno would never have the same impact on others.

"And they say I have a deadly stare. You make me jealous, dear brother," Rigaku noted with an amused grin.

"Don't mention that. It's already enough embarrassing." He sat down, looking around, and many heads turned away, whispering. "Actually, where is Ka?"

Freya softly sighed.

"He had... a panic attack."

"What? Is he okay?" Aiyoku bristled as worries about his younger triplet filled his mind.

"Well, how to explain it..." Rigaku told him the morning's events.

The blonde brother crossed his arms with a frown above his eyes. "That's like him. He sometimes speaks before thinking, and that can lead to awkward situations. He meant well."

Freya waved it off, not minding it at all.

A bell's ring came from above them, announcing the lunch break was nearing its end.

"I haven't finished eating!" Aiyoku grabbed his chopsticks, stuffing his mouth.

His friend did the same, since she still had enough on her plate. Rigaku joined, fearing they would leave not even a grain of rice for him. In a few minutes, his prediction came to fruition as they returned empty plates.

Before the end of the school, girls showed up, checking on Aiyoku's new hairstyle. Some found him sexier, others mourned his long hair, and a little number of them stayed indifferent, liking him the same as before.

However, it had one positive effect. A fewer fangirls swarmed around him, giving him much needed breathing space.

"So much better!" Aiyoku stretched his limbs, closing his personal locker. Unlike the normal ones, this one had a finger-print lock. It was at least thrice as big and provided enough capacity for two sets of clothes, shoes, and shelves for books and other small objects. "I feel so free! And still kinda strange."

"You'll get used to it." Rigaku's smile turned flat as he saw his youngest brother's locker. He hadn't arrived, neither answered his calls.