12 Coveran

After the dress shopping trip, it was currently 3 o'clock in the afternoon. We went down 2 levels, out of nowhere, Setsui-san gave me a light push and I was out of the elevator.

"See you in 4 hours! Senpai (Senior) , please take care of her for me!"

"Wait what?!!"

The elevator door closed and I was left on my own.

Did I just get ditched?

(In Japanese)

"Excuse me, Miss, would you come this way please?", a lady who looked around Setsui-san's age said to me.

"Oh okay…", I followed her obediently, still kind of confused at the current situation.

I looked up at the sign which said the shop name, Coveran.

Coveran? Coveran?? Coveran…

The name sounded so familiar, but I could not quite place my finger on it. Where had I seen it before???

"Haru contacted me this morning, saying something about him bringing a lady to a night party and her needing a makeover from head to toe. So he booked out the whole salon for the whole afternoon till evening!", she sighed as she said that while walking.

Haru? She was calling him on a first-name basis. They must be close friends then.

"Um, may I know your name?", I asked awkwardly.

"Oh yes. Pardon me, my name is Risa Tachiko, you can just call me Risa OR Risa-ne (Big Sister Risa)! Haha.", she said with a cheerful and happy voice.

She had a rather bubbly personality for such a mature-looking lady.

"I was Haru's senior by 2 years back when he was in high school, we were quite close, so that's why he calls me Senpai. Oh, I'm 24 by the way! How about you young Miss?"

"Oh, my name is Aki Syan, I am 18 this year."

"Wow! So young! Can I call you Aki-chan?"

"Sure Risa-ne.", I said with a wink.

Haha, I love her personality, she's so fun to talk to.

She first brought me to the spa section of the salon and sat me down on a sofa.

I looked at the surrounding and something caught my eye. The beauty salon had a whole wall filled with framed up pictures and awards. One of the awards was from the BBSA (Best Beauty Shop Awards), the world's most renown award shows for salons and boutiques. On the piece of the certificate it stated: Winner of BBSA 2030, Coveran. (which was last year)

I turned to look at the other certificates and was taken aback by the number of awards they had won.

Winner of BBSA 2029, Winner of BBSA 2028, Winner of BBSA 2027, Best Beauty Salon 2028, Top Rising Beauty Salon 2027…

I suddenly remembered. THIS was the very salon that broke all records for Beauty Shops awards, a 4-year continuous win, even though they only started business in 2027. They have been featured in COUNTLESS numbers of magazines and commercials for celebrities or idols due to their major contributions to the models' appearance. Coveran is the number 1 most popular beauty salon in the world.

And the person who made all this possible, was the woman right in front of me, Risa Tachiko.

"So, Haru has instructed me to give you a full-body makeover which consists of 3 main parts. Hair, face and nails. We will first start with the classic cucumber mint facial, to give you a natural glow.", she explained as I continued to admire her.

"Um, Aki-chan? Are you alright? You look like you are in a daze."

"Huh? Oh! No no I am fine haha.", I snapped back to reality.

She ushered me to the facial room and made me lie down on a comfy bed, she then went out for a while. After 3 minutes or so, she came back wearing a mask and with her tied up.

"Oh? Are the workers outside not going to be the ones to attend to me today?", I asked, a little confused, I did not expect her to personally attend to me.

"Aki-chan, just relax and leave everything to me. I am the one who taught and trained my employees, other than me, you can't possibly find any other person with such capabilities like mine."

I giggled a little, "haha okay then. I'm all yours to handle today."

After an hour, it was 5 o'clock, at this point in time they were giving me a pedicure and manicure. I was sitting comfortably on the spa cushion chair when suddenly the news popped up on the television which was all around the huge salon.

"May we invite Haru Setsui from the Setsui Corporation here tonight."

Oh, it's Setsui-san! So he was going for the interview, no wonder he left me out of a sudden.

"LifeTimeWorks has been undergoing many underhanded methods to climb up the ranks in the business industry, and up till now, there had not been much evidence. However, after going through much research and investigation, I had found that they were secretly producing products made from extremely cheap materials and selling them in the masses to collaborating companies claiming that they were of the best quality. They were also involved in the transaction of money with the mafia and blackmailed anyone who tried to expose them…"

The intense interview went on for about an hour and I was completely absorbed in their conversation. I couldn't believe that Setsui-san managed to break such a complicated case all by himself and did not get caught in the process.

"Aki?? Aki-chan!"

"Huh? What?"

"Were you even listening to me??"

"Oh I'm sorry, I was too intrigued by the news. What were you saying?"

She sighed and said while applying a translucent silver colored nail polish, "Say… What is your relationship with Haru? You guys seem quite close with each other, this was the first time I have seen him so happy and playful with another girl other than me."

"Me? Close with him? No no. You must be mistaken, I only just met him for the first time a few days ago."

Risa-ne's eyes widened with shock, "Are you serious?? You just met him a few days ago? And he already treats you like this?"

"Treats me like this?", I asked in confusion.

"It took me about 7 months to just get him to have a conversation with me! He had never fancied talking to girls, even though everyone liked him. Haru would just give them a cold glare or just ignore them completely. Did you know?? His nickname back then was the ICE PRINCE. Haha, it's nice to see that he finally opened up to someone."

Wow. Was Setsui-san always like that? I probably never noticed it before because he had been treating me so well and kindly. I guess I do feel kind of honored that he is able to let down his guard around me. But the question is, why though?

"ANDDDD done! Haha now let's move onto hair!"

(3 hours later)

"Tanaka-san! I'm here!", I said as I walked over to him in the VIP parking lot.

"Oh my heavens Miss Syan, you look incredibly stunning, I am at a loss of words to describe how gorgeous you look like right now. I hope young master does not suddenly ask you to go home just because he doesn't want others to see you."

"Oh you flatter me too much Tanaka-san haha. Well, thank you for your compliments, it was all thanks to Risa-ne's magic hand. I see that Setsui-san isn't here with you, shall we head to the meeting location now?"

"Absolutely, Young Master is going to meet us there, he is currently getting ready himself."

I got into the car and we headed for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building in Shinjuku which was 30 minutes away.

I was very nervous. Breathe Aki.

This was the first time I was attending such a formal and fancy event. Just breathe in.

I didn't know what to say or how to act. Breathe out.

My palms were sweating, my fingers were trembling, my heart was racing.

God, please stay by my side later.

*car door opens*

"Setsui-san!"