Uh oh

Mimoko proudly hummed as she warped over to the Kawaguchi chess center with Hagemi and sat down next to her.

"You really do enjoy being bald, don't ya?" Hagemi chuckled.

"I mean... yeah. It's still a bit embarrassing, but when I feel that cool breeze, and that smooth silky feel, it just puts me in a giddy state," Mimoko nervously smiled.

"Hey, no shame. You're braver than me for embracing bald so enthusiastically."

"Well, I actually was told by the theater company that we weren't supposed to shave our heads on our own, but since I have stuff that'll regrow my hair, and I really wanted to get a bald makeover, tee hee."

"That's why ya went to punk maiden. Rebellion's their brand, and their title."

"You have a history of rebelling too, don't you?"

Hagemi nodded and stared up at the sky. "Yeah, I had lousy folks, and then a lousy lover... two I guess."

"I didn't mean to-"

"No, no, I'm the one that trailed off about my love life. Don't worry about it."

Mimoko frowned and nodded. "Say, can I ask you something that might... upset you a bit?"

"Aren't many things that upset me, nor could I think of anything you would say that would really piss me off. Go ahead."

"Alright. Then let me ask... why are you so nice with me and the others, but not Yuusuke-kun?"

Hagemi's grin faded as she began twitching her lip, as if thinking of how to properly respond. "Complicated. If I want to explain why I have such a contentious relationship with him, I'd have to divulge stuff about my first lover. But while I respect you, you're exactly the type that would try to help Yuusuke out by telling him some of the stuff I'd tell you."

"I can keep a secret."

"Still, this information is something I'm only going to tell Yuusuke if he can actually get an official title."

"Why are you making things so difficult for him? He might not be able to peak above 2000, yet you're essentially demanding he get 2200 for an official title, assuming national master won't cut it."

"Because 2200-level prowess would be the bare minimum he'd need to stand a remote chance against that man."

"What do you-"

"What I mean is that if I tell him everything, he'll want to go after him. I can't have that... He'd probably die if that happened."

Mimoko went quiet and somberly stared down at the counter.

"Your mother knows some of the details, but we both know she won't tell you unless I give the OK."

"Still, why are you always so harsh with him?"

"Because he's my son. All parents have different philosophies for how they raise their children. Tough love is mine. But... maybe it's just the fact that he's not up to par, and it frustrates me."

"But that only worsens Yuusuke-kun's psych. He knows he's living in your shadow, and that he shares his birthday with one of chess' greats, Howard Steinitz, but the constant antagonism towards him is only going to make him feel less confident. He wants to be good, he wants to make you proud, but with little support, he feels isolated."

"He tell you all this?"

"Shortly after he made that declaration against you. The incident with Kuon and that Desperado scientist have really effected him. Right now, he needs support rather than-"

"No, if he's truly pissed with me and wants to show me up, I can't just start acting all nice. That'll just mess up his mentality, maybe even worsen it. To be frank, I doubt he's gonna do well in All-Japan, at best maybe break even with his rating or increase it slightly, but I doubt he'll break 2000 even if you tutor him."

"That won't be an issue. Yuusuke-kun told me for this tournament he didn't want any pointers outside of general ones I give to all at the chess club."

"He really thinks he can pull it off. What an idiot. He finally resigned from club vice president, yet he's trying to rely solely on his own prowess. Even the best of the best have seconds to help them improve."

"I don't have a second..."

"No, your mom counts as one, Okisato too."

"Ugh, okaa-chan makes sense, but not Tanabe-kun. When I sit down with him, it's usually to berate him for something stupid he did deliberately."

A smirk formed on Hagemi's face. "Hmm? Say, doesn't Okisato have a thing for bald girls? Is that why you were so eager-"

"No," Mimoko glared as her cheeks went red.

"OK, tsundere."

"I'm not- Ugh, I don't view Tanabe-kun in a romantic light at all."

"Sure, sure. Well time to head on home," Hagemi smiled as she patted Mimoko's head.

...

Mimoko pouted as she was greeted by a grinning Daria at the front door.

"Look at you. I heard you were naughty and shaved all your hair off in the name of rebellion," Daria mischievously grinned.

"It's peak femininity," Mimoko mumbled.

"Yes, yes. Here's your punishment, my bald baby girl," Daria snickered as she shoved Mimoko's face into her breasts.

"MMPH [OKAA-CHAN]!"

"Don't worry, I know you probably did this with the intent of regrowing your hair, but I just had to greet you before you did. So, care if I do the honors, assuming that's what you want?"

"Fine."

Daria summoned a bottle of the hair regrowth formula and gently applied it on Mimoko's head. However, not a single hair, eyebrow, or eyelash regrew.

"Uh, Mimoko, did they by chance treat you with grade omega depilatory cream and laser?" Daria nervously asked.

"I don't know about the cream, but they did use a laser."

"You went to punk maiden... Well, this stuff says on the bottle it can't regrow your hair if you underwent such a hair removal regiment. Mimoko, I'm sorry, but your stuck being bald like this."

Color instantly vanished from Mimoko's face as sweat began to flood down her face. "But... they said not to shave before... and I don't like going to school bald..."

"There might be one way, but it's not a guarantee."

"TELL ME!"

"You'd need to find a Desperado-"

And just like that, Mimoko warped back to the chess center.

"How may I service you?" the robot on hand asked.

"DESPER key. I want to buy a DESPER key, and if possible, information on any nearby Desperados," Mimoko trembled as a deranged look dominated her eyes.