[INTERLUDE] A Man's Hair Is Akin to His Life

Set the day after RC 381's fifth mission; turns out, having a new hairstyle is not easy.

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"Momo, do you think I don't notice you staring at me?" Kaguya said playfully to the reflection of his maid in his makeup table mirror. "Do you want your master to punish you?"

Meekly standing behind him, Momoka blushed red as an apple at his teasing. After he magically grew long hair, it became even more fascinating to watch his beauty routine, even when he was clearly in a dilemma – he switched from holding his hair behind his head in a high ponytail to holding it below his ear, all the way to grabbing them in two pigtails à la Hatsune Miku.

Kaguya had never been in such a jam over caring for his personal appearance, save for occasionally asking for his maid's counsel on accessories. Momoka knew exactly why: he had learned his beauty care from his mother; without her around, he had no one to rely on. But again, even if Mitsuki was there, she would not have much to offer; neither Kaguya nor Momoka had ever seen her with long hair. Thus, at a loss to a solution, Kaguya released his hair and sighed.

"This is what they mean when they say a woman's hair is to her akin to her life. Long hair is hard to grow and even harder to make look good; tremendous efforts are required in caring and styling. Now it's not just putting an accessory in it; it's also choosing what style to do my hair in that looks pretty and doesn't crease it into waves the next day, making sure it doesn't tangle and spending more time combing and keeping it neat. Mr Liu from RC 1774 even says he has to comb his hair a hundred times every day. Having this new hair is a blessing and a curse."

After a pause, he turned to Momoka. "How should I style it? What style do you think matches this outfit best?"

She gazed for a moment at the dark locks draping on his shoulders, then answered, "I think you look best just leaving it loose, like Heian noblewomen. It looks beautiful on its own without any styling."

"Is that so? Thank you," he replied, smiling.