Opening prep

With the opening ceremony set to begin tonight, everyone was busy focusing on it. As such, the hotel salon was a popular destination as many sought to have their hair and makeup done in preparation for it. However, there was one major problem.

"Why are you here?" Daria glared.

"Part of the contracted deal for being the main hotel of the teams. As such, I'll be providing services as head stylist," Ai snickered.

"And if we put in a specific request?"

"MY choice, since I'm tasked with ensuring maximum beauty. I'll have you know that I embrace the Mizuse Niimi standard of peak femininity, as in NO HAIR!"

Everyone began to turn away.

"Oi, don't just leave! Look, I was only kidding. Here, I'll even sit out and have the others do all the work."

"And are they ordered to forcefully shave us?"

"If only."

A bespectacled woman with long black hair with red highlights clad in a white bathrobe and sneakers stepped forth. "No need to freak, ladies. I'll keep her nice n' chill while you all get dolled up," she grinned.

"You're willing to submit yourself to her?" Daria scowled.

"Was plannin' on gettin' a smooth do before leavin' Istanbul."

"You know her, Okaa-chan?" Mimoko asked.

"Yes. This is Muazezz Başak, a DSPCM from Türkiye."

"Just that? Maestro, please, I'm the girl that does it all. Podcasts, commentary, gaming, who hasn't heard of The Zezz?"

Iori awkwardly raised her hand. "Never heard of you. How many subs you got?"

"Somewhere round 200."

"Then its no wonder Mimoko-sama has never heard of you," Utami scoffed.

"Chill, chill, no need to scoff at the girl that'll save all your hair from the razor."

"There is no need," a blue-haired woman scowled as she walked up to Ai. "Ai, don't impede progress. We allowed you to work on the staff here, but by no means do you have any authority, nor are you permitted to shave heads on a whim."

"But if they want it?" Ai smirked.

"Then it is permitted. But enough with the rhetoric. The opening ceremony begins in a few hours, and many teams want their hair and makeup done right, so stop scaring them away. Do the job required, or you'll be spending the whole tournament locked up at HQ."

A menacing scowl appeared on Ai's face. "Fine... Anyone that wants a shave, request me. Everyone else, don't bother asking me for a makeover."

Muazzez shrugged, and trotted over to a chair, crossing her legs as she sat down. "I want the full peak femininity package. No holding back," she grinned.

Ai's mood returned to giddy as she rushed over and began stroking Muazzez's hair. "Oh, you are SO bald."

Everyone watched in horror as Ai flicked on a pair of clippers and drove them right up the middle of Muazzez's hairline, eliciting a playful scream from Muazzez. "Uh huh, we smoothin' in the name of girl power!" she cheered.

"Please move along, everyone," the blue-haired woman sighed.

The chairs were quickly filled, forcing many to sit and wait, some inside, some outside the salon until open seats were available.

"We just really need makeup, so no need to worry about hair," Daria smiled as she sat down next to Mimoko and was capped.

"You already dyed your hair prior to coming here," Mimoko noted.

"And I'm glad I did. Ai's not the kind of girl I want anywhere near my hair, though shaving my head is a bucket list thing."

Ai's ear twitched as she began encasing Muazzez's head and eyebrows in shaving cream.

"Tch, she's got good hearing, or rather good senses," Daria scowled as she returned her focus to the mirror.

Iori, meanwhile was constantly shifting over to get better views of Muazzez's makeover, much to her stylist's dismay.

"Please do keep your head straight."

"But I wanna see her go bald," Iori whined as she was forced to close her eyes as makeup was applied to her face.

"Chill, girl, The Zezz is recordin' live. No way the world would miss a beaut like her getting the greatest makeover a girl could get," Muazzez smiled as her head and brows were shaved smooth.

"But a live show- Mmph."

"No more talking. Shut up, and pucker up, bitch."

Tears streaked down Iori's face as her cheeks went red. "Ah, fuck, this is kinky. Fuck, should've been recording. Wish Oki-kun was dolling me up instead of this bitch," she thought.

Both Mimoko and Utami side-eyed Iori in disgust. As for Muazzez, her head, face, and exposed skin had all been encased in shaving cream, which paired with her robe and sneakers gave off the illusion that she was completely encased in cream.

"Mmph ngh mmph [I lookin' good]?" Muazzez cooed as she blushed and gave her breasts a jiggle.

Some of the onlookers scowled in disgust, while others frowned and shook their heads. There were, however, a small few blushing, contemplating whether they should subject themselves to the bald, yet none dared make the fact known. Save, for two...

"Zezzie's really doing it... SHAVE ME SMOOTH TOO!" a girl with long white hair clad in a yellow crop top, green jeans, and red sneakers trembled.

"What? You want me to match that girl!? B- But my beautiful hair!" a girl with long purple hair tied up in a ponytail clad in a blue long-sleeve shirt, black capri jeans, and white sneakers cried.

"Her makeover is far from over, just so you know," Ai chuckled as she leaned Muazzez back and began shaving. "After this, I cover her in wax, pluck out her lashes, unwax, depilatory cream, and laser before it's oil and beauty cream town for maximum luminous smooth."

"Mmm, can you do all that and spare the lashes?"

"No. You want peak femininity, no fucking hair AT ALL. Slap some fake eyelashes on after if you're that sentimental."

"F- Fine... Milas won't recognize me."

"Someone get on her and do what I'm doing to the lovely lady here to her!"

"C- Can I be gagged too?"

Ai smiled and walked over to the purple-haired girl, gluing her mouth shut before shoving her into a chair. The action quickly sent a chill throughout Mimoko's body as flashbacks to her time with Sorcha, who was secretly Ai all along, came to the forefront.

"Please don't turn your head," the stylist pleaded.

No sooner did she say that did muffled screams emanate from the purple-haired girl as she was shorn.

"Ma'am, please do not cause a scene," the stylist servicing her glared.

"Let her scream. She's gagged nice n' tight," Ai snickered as she began encasing Muazzez in wax.

Before Ai could finish plucking out all of Muazzez's eyelashes, team Japan finished with their makeup session, meaning that they were forced to clear out so others could get in.

"Can't we just watch?" Iori whined as she was dragged away.

"No. With all the people here, the makeup might smear, so let's head over to the venue," Daria frowned.

"Lame. They better be recording everything good," Iori grumbled as she took one last glance into the salon, spotting the two women that had volunteered to be shaved, now having their heads and faces lathered in shaving cream.

Making their way to the lobby, the group headed just outside where a bus was waiting. Once they got on, they were forced to wait for a bit in case any more teams came.

"The guys are already at the venue, so no need to worry about them," Daria smiled as she sat next to Mimoko.

"I still don't get why we had to paint our faces like geisha. Aren't he outfits good enough?" Mimoko asked.

"But this is the opening ceremony. Gotta go big for it. Though you're free to doll up in face paint following it. That's what I'll be doing."

"You ALWAYS paint your face when in maestro mode. Though it's weird to see you without the wig."

"Still not used to it? Well I doubt I could handle 2 weeks straight of wearing the wig everywhere I go, so I decided to dye it."

"I remember..."

...

A few days earlier...

"Mimoko! Check out my hair! I dyed it!" Daria beamed as Mimoko came downstairs for breakfast.

"Why? The blonde looked really good on you," Mimoko frowned.

"It's for the Chess Olympics. Since I'm going as "Maestro Himitsu", that means I gotta act the role the whole two weeks, and no way I'm wearing my wig for so long. So, I went with the next best thing. Don't worry, it'll look better with my new outfit. Ah, that reminds me, got some big news to share."

"What?"

Daria blushed and placed her hand on her stomach. "Your father and I did the deed last night. You're gonna have a new younger sibling."

The revelation quickly threw Mimoko for a loop. "O- Okaa-chan-"

A somber expression overtook Daria's face. "I'm sorry, Mimoko, I just can't get over what happened to Kotora. I don't want you to think I'm just trying to replace him. Becoming a mother... That was what made me human again. I want to raise more kids. I want to raise them without hiding big secrets. If I do, than maybe... Maybe they won't get targeted like Kotora was."

Mimoko frowned and shook her head. "I'm 18. I might even be off to college, so I doubt I'd be able to be there as a sister for them."

"I'm sorry. This is selfish, but, I just can't focus. I want to try and get things right."

"You're getting old too."

"I'm only 40. That's plenty young."

"I guess you're right, but why now?"

"So that they can start growing while I'm winning gold in Budapest. Might help them grow up to be even greater prodigies than you."

...

Back in the present, Mimoko stared out the window as she thought of what Daria had said. "So my new sibling is growing inside Okaa-chan now... I do hope they can grow up to surpass me. Then I wouldn't need to worry about them."

The bus then pulled up to a stadium, prompting everyone to get out.This was the Budapest Arena, the venue where the actual tournament would be held. It was also where the opening ceremony would be held. 

"And this here will be where we play over the next few days. Remember, get to the bus early. Rounds start early and they won't delay unless the official buses are running late," Daria stated.

Everyone nodded.

"Then without further ado, let's get set up for the big performance tonight."