A small change

In the private beauty salon of the Minamoto building, the chaos was more than evident.

“ Honey, please, just a second! If you move, I'll leave you with one eyebrow higher than the other! ” said one of the makeup artists

 “ Sorry, it tickles! ” Mio complained, trying not to squirm.

It had been a difficult start for the girls. Mio, not used to having a team of six people touching her face and hair at the same time, was fidgeting too much. She was a nervous wreck, apologizing every thirty seconds and causing problems for the stylists, who were trying to maintain professional patience.

" Oh no! I've ruined it! They're going to hate me! I'm the worst model ever, and I haven't even made my debut! They're going to fire me! "

“ And... done. ” announced the head stylist, stepping back with a triumphant look on her face. “ We're finished. ” Kaguya, who had been watching everything from an armchair with an amused smile, stood up. “ Open your eyes, Mio"

Mio obeyed fearfully.

Kaguya turned the professional chair so that it faced the full-length mirror. The girl Mio saw in that mirror didn't look like her. It couldn't be. This girl was... unrecognizable. Her pink hair didn't look messy and weird; it was cut in soft layers that framed a face that looked sculpted. Her skin glowed, her eyes looked twice as big, and her lips were a healthy color. “ Who...? ” whispered Mio, thinking it was an inspiration”} photo. She leaned toward the mirror. The girl in the mirror leaned toward her as well. Mio touched her cheek. The girl in the mirror touched her cheek.

Recognition and shock hit me at the same time. " AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!! "

The scream was so piercing that it caused a stylist to almost fall over. Mio, in his existential panic, leaned back. The problem was that he was sitting in a wheeled chair, which caused the chair to slide, and he lost his balance, falling to the floor with a thud and in a very unglamorous manner.

There was a moment of complete silence. Then Miss Kaguya burst out laughing—a fine, soft, genuinely amused laugh. Tanaka, sitting next to her, couldn't help but let out a chuckle. Soon, all the professionals in the room were trying to maintain their composure.

Mio remained on the floor, her face completely red with embarrassment, while her mind screamed: " WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME?! I fell down! In front of the most powerful woman in Japan! " But as she covered her face, a new thought crept in. "...But... was that really me? ...I think... I looked... good? No, more than good! I looked beautiful!"

For the first time in a long time, her inner self flattered herself. 

Kaguya approached and extended her hand elegantly. “ Get up, dear. Although that's not exactly the reaction we were looking for, it's the most honest I've seen." Mio took her hand and stood up, apologizing. Kaguya didn't let go. Instead, with a tenderness that embarrassed her, Kaguya gently caressed Mio's cheek. “ You have a beautiful face.” she said, her voice soft. “ A face the world deserves to see. Be proud. ” Mio could only blush. “ I... I have no words for this. ”

After finishing enhancing their facial beauty and hair, they got back into the elevator. Their new destination was a few floors below. This time, the doors opened to a room that seemed endless. It was a gigantic warehouse filled with designer clothes, shoes, handbags, and jewelry. Once again, several girls were waiting for them, but this time, they were carrying outfits in their hands. These were suggestions for Mio's new wardrobe.

Mio was impressed, but this time she wasn't afraid. She felt excited. She had never seen so many clothes at her disposal. She approached a silk dress, amazed. " So many clothes! And they don't smell like secondhand! "

She was so busy looking at the outfits that she didn't notice Miss Kaguya approaching her from behind with a mischievous smile. “ No time to browse, dear! Let's try them on! ” Before Mio could react, Kaguya practically dragged her into a huge fitting room where several girls were waiting to help her change. “ No, no! Wait, Miss Kaguya! ” Mio shouted. “ I can do it myself! I'm embarrassed to show my body in front of other people! ” Her cries of agony were completely ignored by all the girls, who pushed her into the fitting room amid laughter.

A few minutes later, the curtain opened. Mio came out wearing the clothes they had put on her. It was a beautiful, elegant dress that hugged her figure in a way she never imagined. Kaguya and Tanaka couldn't believe their eyes. The makeup had been the sketch; now with the dress, she was a complete beauty.

Mio, despite everything, was red with embarrassment and muttered things that only she understood. “ Why doesn't this have sleeves? ”, “You can see everything! ”, “ What if I fall in these shoes? ” But she looked beautiful in the eyes of the other girls.

Kaguya looked at Mio analytically. “ Good. You're ready. Physically. ” Mio looked at her, confused. “ You have the beauty, the clothes, and the aesthetics. But we're missing one last step. ” Kaguya smiled. “ And for you, Mio... it might be the hardest. ”

 “ The... the hardest? ” Mio said with a confused look.

Mio watched as the president took a thick book from a bookshelf. “ A book? ” 

Kaguya placed it on her head.  “Walk. ” Mio looked at her as if she were crazy. She took a step. The book fell to the floor. Kaguya sighed, but her eyes sparkled with amusement. “ No. This won't be easy. ”