“... Maybe I should dye my hair…”

  “... Huh?”

  Hearing Aisha say that was surprising… I mean, I was painting her nails during recess while she was staring at me. There was no prior context that could’ve made her say that!

  “Why did you have that idea?”

  “I thought you could get bored of my appearance.”

  “Why would I get bored of that?”

  “Because you like variety.”

  “... I should study your head some time.”

  My first thought was to tell her that I wasn't bothered by her usual appearance, but I must admit, I was curious to know what she would do to change it, so I decided to continue the conversation.

  “There’s some color you prefer?”

  “I like the smell of the red nail polish, so I thought I could use that color.”

  “What kind of red?”

  “Blood Red.”

  It was definitely a good color, but I didn't like the idea of ??seeing Aisha with completely red hair. It was… excessive.

  “Hmm… If you wanna dye your hair, you should try something simple. For example, a line.”

  “Like that guy?”

  Aisha pointed to a guy with a green line on his hair, so I nodded.

  “Yeah, or you could even try something besides dyeing it.”

  “Like what?”

  “Well… You could let it grow.”

  “Grow?”

  “Yes.”

  She might have some trouble with long hair, but I know that with the right care she could look lovely.

  "I don't know... The care and aesthetics would complicate everything..."

  "I'll guide you through everything so you look your best."

  “I don't have any products for long hair…”

  “I could help you buy some of those and show you how to take care of it by yourself.”

  “Maybe…”

  “At least, do you remember what's the longest your hair has ever been?”

  “I don't remember the exact length, but I know it was when I was seven.”

  That was longer than I thought. But the point is, somehow, she knows how it feels... Although I doubt she has any memory from that long ago...

  “Then you already know how it feels.”

  "Well... it wasn't exactly comfortable.”

  “For the care?”

  “No. Do you know those dogs with too much hair covering their eyes?

  “... Huh?”

  “That’s how I looked.”

  I know it would be very rude to laugh at that, but the idea of ??Aisha covering her eyes like a dog seemed very funny to me.

  “...”

  “I know you’re trying to not laugh…”

  “Sorry.”

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “It’s fine, my dad also finds it funny.”

  I must admit she would look very different without visible eyes. But I can't imagine her in any serious way.

  “Now I wanna see you with the tonge out like that.”

  “I can do it now…”

  “It wouldn't be the same...”

  “The point is, I don’t look good with long hair..."

  “Hmm… In that case.”

  I took a bunch of hair accessories out of my bag and put them on the desk. If Aisha can't let her hair grow, I'll make her current hairstyle look nice.

  “Let’s do an experiment. Choose one.”

  “Why do you have so many hair accessories with you?”

  “In case of an emergency, like this.”

  “Well…”

  Aisha moved her index finger like she was stirring tea, so I grabbed it. Her intentions were very obvious.

  “Please don’t choose randomly…”

  “... Okay.”

  Now that I had ruined her plans, she tried to decide carefully, opting for a circular accessory.

  “Interesting.”

  “I thought it would match with my earrings…”

  “Your clocks?”

  “Both are circles.”

  “I can get your logic.”

  That accessory was going to be tricky. It was designed mainly for people with long hair, so they could slip it through, but Aisha's hair was too short for that.

  “Well, stay quiet.”

  “Okay.”

  She flipped her chair and I started my work.

  Her hair wasn’t tangled, so it was easy to work with it. In general, her hair was good, so I think she would look good letting it grow… If we ignore the dog look.

  “If you feel pain please say it.”

  “Will you do something about it?”

  “No, but I will know it.”

  To not damage Aisha, I used some of my tiny hair accessories to keep the main one hooked. I didn’t like how it looked, so I put a ribbon above everything, the problem was that I couldn’t attach it properly, so I removed a few of the accessories that made it difficult, but that made the main one end up too lose, so I tried moving it down and try to attach it to the ribbon. The final result felt unnatural, so I tried to put a second ribbon…

  The process was longer than I’m describing, but I think everyone can understand how it was.

  “I did it!”

  “... Why do I feel like I have three ribbons?”

  “Well…”

  "And what were all those taps I felt on my head?”

  “I had some difficulties, but I managed to finish.”

  “Hmm…"

  “Do you like it?”

  Aisha looked at herself in the window… and asked the only valid question…

  “Where is the accessory I selected?”

  “...”

  “...”

  “Sorry, I’m not used to short hair.”

  I felt disappointed with myself after getting this result. Aisha wasn’t bothered at all, but I know I also disappointed her.

  “It’s not that bad…”

  But it’s not what you wanted…”

  “I just wanted to look better, and I look better.”

  Her kind words weren’t enough to make me ignore the fact that I am unable to fulfill a simple request due to my inexperience with that type of hair. Aisha probably understood how I felt, because she said something that completely changed my mood.

  “... All right then, I will do it.”

  “Hmm?”

  “I will let my hair grow. That way you will be able to do things with it.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I will save money that way, so I’m okay with this.”

  “Actually, maybe you will spend more on shampoo.”

  “Still, I know that way it will be easier for you.”

  “... You are so good!”

  I rewarded Aisha's kindness with a few pats on the head. Part of me feels like I'm taking advantage of her, but the other part knows she's simply a very good person.

  “I got the jackpot friend.”

  “Is that something real?”

  “Yes, it’s like finding a stone with a heart shape or a four-leaf clover!”

  “I’m not that rare…”

  “My aunt told me that every person is somehow unique.”

  “One of our teachers didn’t tell us that there are three people in the world with our faces?”

  “That is totally different!”

  The pats on the head and the praise continued until my arms got tired. And when I stopped, Aisha started drawing.

  “What is it?”

  “Your hand.”

  “Haha, do you like head pats?”

  “My dad sometimes patted me on the head, but this is the first time it's lasted more than six seconds…”

  “You counted the seconds?”

  “Yeah…”

  “Haha.”

  Her way of thinking was incomprehensible to me, which made talking to her even more fun.

  “Well, let me see the drawing.”

  “It will take a while.”

  “It’s just a hand.”

  “I’m adding extra details.”

  “What kind of details?”

  “I’m thinking about that…”

  I observed her creative process, wondering how long she would be drawing. Suddenly, she lifted her pencil from the paper and looked at me.

  “How would you describe our relationship…?”

  “Hmm? That’s the same thing Camila asked you, right?”

  “Yeah. I’d like to know your opinion, maybe that gives me an idea about what I could add to your hand…”

  “If I say something rude you will add something ugly?”

  “Depends on what you say…”

  “Well…”

  If I describe us as besties, I wouldn’t be saying anything new, but I didn’t know any other way to describe us, so I just gave her a quick answer.

  “Friends?”

  “I already know that…”

  “Well, we are that.”

  “Something with more details…?”

  “What about ‘those friends who always hang out together and love talking about everything’?”

  “It’s a good description…”

  “Correct!”

  She accepted my description, but didn't continue drawing. I was about to ask her why, but she answered first.

  “That description seems correct, but I feel like it’s incomplete…”

  “Why?”

  “I find it a bit rude to describe how you treat me as if it were just a friendship…”

  “... Huh? What?”

  “I had friends before, but I never felt like this with them…”

  “O-Oh, you mean that.”

  “Yeah… Oh, what if I color the edges of the hand gold?”

  “Maybe it works.”

  “Let me try.”

  While Aisha continued with her drawing, I kept thinking about her words.

  I know she has trouble expressing her feelings in words, and I know what she explained to me was absolutely true. Even so, I was stunned by what she said.

  “I finished it.”

  “Let me see.”

  After that, my day with Aisha went on as usual.

  I helped her look pretty, we talked about what we like, we even made some plans for the next day.

  However, deep down… very deep down… the shock of that question was still present.