Chapter 61: The Nail Art Intern
Mrs. Nakamura wouldn't let go of Yuta's hand, and it wasn't just her; everyone else in the salon was also focused on Yuta.
As the only male in a female-dominated space, Yuta felt an intense amount of pressure.
Among the people present, the one least affected was still Aoi.
While she too was an admirer of good looks, Aoi Kiriyama valued appearance without being swayed into wanting anything further just because someone was attractive.
Of course, if someone's appearance was lacking, everything else would be off the table!
"Yuta, you'll help Mrs. Nakamura with her manicure here. I'll have someone assist you on the side," Aoi said.
She didn't suggest moving to the VIP room, as that would likely prompt others to request Yuta's services there, potentially turning her salon into something unexpected.
Yuta realized he couldn't escape the situation today, so he accepted it. Mrs. Nakamura, despite being older, was still elegant and beautiful, so he didn't feel entirely at a disadvantage.
"Alright, Mrs. Nakamura, please wait here," Yuta said, not wanting to work under everyone's scrutiny but even less eager to face Mrs. Nakamura alone in a private room.
Mrs. Nakamura accepted the arrangement, though she was somewhat disappointed. "Sure, you can call me Hanako. And what should I call you?"
Yuta didn't want to engage in further conversation and glanced at Aoi, who seemed to have other plans. If she didn't take action, he might be stuck here all day.
Aoi had originally invited Yuta to help attract customers, so seeing him excel in his role, she had no further intentions or concerns.
"Yuta, work hard today. There might be more customers in the salon, so please do your best," Aoi said before turning and leaving.
Although Yuta was indeed handsome, Aoi preferred him to be more assertive; that would give her a stronger sense of presence.
Yuta tried to remind himself that he was here for work, not to be admired by women.
Sitting in the chair, Yuta could clearly feel the intense scrutiny from the salon's dozen or so female patrons.
The feeling…
Yuta wasn't sure what would happen if he activated his charm-dampening ability at this moment, so he decided to keep being charming for now.
"Yuta, how do my hands look?" Hanako Nakamura asked with a smile as she noticed Yuta examining her hands.
The nearby female staff had already instructed Yuta on what to do. He found that the tasks weren't actually difficult; it was just about pretending to be sophisticated and high-class.
In simpler terms, it was just about painting nails.
"It's very elegant, but the red color doesn't quite suit you," Yuta said as he placed Hanako Nakamura's hand on the mat and began to remove the nail polish with remover.
Hanako watched Yuta carelessly working on her nails without any irritation. In fact, she liked this kind of unrefined yet handsome guy the most.
"Apply a bit more pressure~" Hanako squinted her eyes as she spoke, subtly removing her foot from her high heel and lightly stepping on Yuta's foot.
Yuta felt a bit uneasy. Dealing with an older or married woman could be quite intimidating...
He quickly withdrew his foot and addressed Hanako formally, "The nail polish has been removed."
Hanako wasn't bothered by Yuta's lack of finesse. A handsome guy like him had his privileges.
Although the nails weren't perfectly clean, and normally she'd have reprimanded another staff member, Hanako didn't mind at all with Yuta. She continued, "Now, please redo my nails with a red that symbolizes love."
This woman clearly wasn't just here for a manicure!
Yuta maintained a neutral expression and stood up. "I'm going to the restroom. Excuse me for a moment."
"Annoying~" Hanako complained like a teenager, but her expression didn't convey any real displeasure.
Yuta calmly walked to the restroom, washed his face, and, feeling more composed, returned.
This time, he activated his ability to negate the influence of his charm on those around him, returning to his natural appearance and disheveling his hair.
"Sorry for the wait," Yuta said, feeling much more relaxed as he reappeared and smiled at Hanako. He felt like he was getting the hang of things.
However...
Hanako frowned as she looked at Yuta, her warm smile gone. She scrutinized his face and felt quite disappointed. After his hair change, he seemed only average, no longer strikingly handsome!
She felt she'd been misled!
Seeing Yuta's plain appearance made Hanako lose interest. She glanced at her watch and said with a frown, "I've wasted so much time; I'm late for a meeting!"
Yuta stood by with a smile, remaining silent.
Seeing Yuta's smile made Hanako a bit irate. Although associating with a young man like him wasn't shameful, her expectations were far higher than this!
She wanted that stunning kind of handsomeness!
Yuta found it amusing. As Hanako, visibly frustrated and ready to leave, he once again deactivated his ability, lightly tousled his hair, and showcased his charm.
Hanako's eyes widened in shock and delight as she looked at the young man before her. "B-Beautiful! Yuta, would you like to go out for a meal? Let's go to a hotel! I'm starving!!"
After just a few seconds of not seeing the "handsome guy," Hanako couldn't resist her renewed admiration!
When Yuta was sure that he was no longer the "handsome guy," the women who had been under the influence of his charm stopped caring. He felt relieved.
That day, Yuta was the handsome guy!
The other staff members at the nail salon had no customers that day. The reason was that everyone was lining up for Yuta.
Some women, even after having their nails done, requested Yuta to remove the polish again.
They weren't paying to get their nails done—they were paying to shake hands with the handsome guy!
In just one day, Yuta had mastered the essentials of nail care and became increasingly proficient.
Unfortunately, no one cared about Yuta's manicure skills. Besides paying, many left their contact information on the table.
....
When Yuta finished work and saw the business cards and flowers on the table, he said to Aoi, "Come over and throw these things away."
The scene felt oddly familiar, and Aoi rarely smiled as she asked, "Are these all trash?"
"If I say these things are trash, then they are trash!" Yuta gave a clear answer. He had no interest in those older women.
"Understood, Daddy." Aoi liked this side of Yuta.
-----------
If you want to read 10 advance chapters ahead.
Visit my patreon: patreon.com/EggZy