At Mina’s urging, I started selling the many hues of Shiny Nails. Each shade proved popular with women of all ages seeking a bit of beauty in their lives, and Shiny Nails eventually became a must-have. It was a bestseller with male customers too, since they saw it as an easy present to give a lady.
The new product also had additional effects. As everyone focused on beautifying their nails, they realized that a manicure could also enhance your face and body. Thus, the same customers who purchased Sun Friend started buying Shiny Nails as well.
On top of Shiny Nails, Peel still bought Sun Friend regularly. “I stand out in the brigade thanks to you, Master.”
“Just because you have a tan?”
“Mm-hmm.” It wasn’t the previously weak shoemaker’s son standing in front of me. Instead, it was a confident, tan macho man.
I handed Peel the Sun Friend Mina grabbed for me. “Thanks as always,” I said.
“No, thank you. This stuff is a huge help!” Peel nodded, paid, and went home.
Mina was still in gyaru mode, but she hadn’t reapplied Sun Friend since she first used it. Her tan was gradually starting to fade. After a month, however, she was still speaking like an excitable teenager. I wondered whether she got too used to the lingo to stop using it. That certainly seemed possible.
And for the record, people had grown fond of this new Mina too. Before all this happened, some customers found her unapproachable because she was so polite with everyone. But now, she addressed people warmly, and they found her impressively easy to talk to.
I also got used to new Mina, personally. As time went on, I found myself consciously missing the old one less and less. I think that was partly because her new personality really hadn’t harmed anything or anyone at all.
When Noela and I were alone in the drugstore, I asked, “Do you still prefer the old Mina?”
“Groo… Don’t know.”
I had a hunch that Noela felt the same as I did. Compared to when Mina first transformed, the awkwardness between her and Noela had largely faded.
Noela opened a bottle of Shiny Nails and sniffed it. She looked it over from all angles. The stuff definitely interested her. That particular bottle was Mina’s. Whenever Noela was working in the drugstore and had time to kill, Mina sat near the counter, painting and blowing on her nails.
“Want to try it, Noela?” I asked.
“Werewolf. Look after nails.”
Would using Shiny Nails mean she wasn’t looking after them? Maybe she was just reluctant to try the stuff because she already told me she wouldn’t.
I left the store and hid. From my spot, I watched Noela glance around and move toward a shelf that was just out of eyeshot. She looked like she was trying to be sneaky. Curiously, Mina’s bottle of Shiny Nails that had been on the counter was now gone. Noela obviously planned to do her own nails just out of sight.
“Arroo…roooo… Groo?”
I heard Noela’s conflicted growls. She was probably having trouble using the product. While Noela was athletic—she could do pretty much anything in that regard—I didn’t think of her as good with her hands.
“Groo! Rooroorrroooo! Yeah.”
Sounds like she managed to pull it off on her own.
Noela contentedly returned to the counter after that. Like I suspected, her nails were painted now, but not especially well. There was Shiny Nails all over her fingertips.
Is she really happy with that level of manicure?
Noela cheerfully wagged her tail regardless. Well, if she was pleased, it wasn’t my place to offer criticism.
As Noela gazed down at her nails though, she slowly tilted her head. “Nails…different?”
Ah. She finally realized she hadn’t painted them as skillfully as Mina or Ririka.
“Groo! Try again!” Noela began to repaint her nails at the counter. It seemed relocating again was apparently too much hassle. “Arroo… Not quite.” She was really struggling.
“’Sup, Mr. Reiji?”
“Oh, hey, Mina.”
“Lunch is ready and all. Get Noelly for me?”
“Wait.” I waved Mina over, preventing her from returning to the kitchen. “Got a sec?”
“Groo?!” Noela exclaimed from the store. “Wrong again!”
“So, uh, Noela’s using your Shiny Nails,” I explained to Mina. “She’s trying her best, but it’s not going great…”
I let Mina watch Noela struggle for a while. “But, like… Noelly totally said she didn’t want me to paint her nails… Yeah?”
Mina took that personally, huh? “When I asked her if she wanted to try Shiny Nails, she didn’t take me up on it either. She turned us down with that excuse she made up about werewolves ‘taking care of their nails,’ that’s all. She’s actually interested, though.”
“Gotcha.” Mina looked relieved.
“Would you paint her nails? If we leave it to her, she’ll use up our entire stock.”
“Well… Yeah, okay, I guess I could.” Mina nodded. Face stiffening, she stepped into the drugstore.
Noela quietly tried to hide the Shiny Nails. She already told Mina that she wouldn’t paint her nails, so she would probably be embarrassed to be caught paint-handed.
“Want me to do your nails for you, Noelly?”
“W-werewolf must take care nails…”
“Shiny Nails totally makes your nails tougher though, yeah?”
Wait, it does? I never actually used the stuff myself, so it was entirely possible that Mina was lying to give Noela a way out of her anti-Shiny Nails stance.
Buckling, Noela presented her hands to Mina. “Please paint…”
“’Kay!” Mina giggled, then peered at Noela’s nails. “You used too much, Noelly.”
“Hard.”
I couldn’t see from where I was, but Mina made it sound as though Noela’s nails looked more like a painter’s palette. After removing the lacquer from Noela’s fingers, she carefully painted her favorite light blue hue on the werewolf’s nails.
“Mina…”
“Yes, Noela?”
Hey… She’s speaking normally again.
“Sorry. Other Mina…also Mina.”
“Don’t worry your cute little head,” Mina said gently. “I didn’t think you’d react the way you did, and, well, it made me quite sad.”
“Groo.” Noela looked down apologetically.
“It’s fun being like that, you know,” Mina continued. “But if things will be awkward between us, I’m happy to go back to normal.”
“Don’t have to! Don’t worry. Noela adjust.” The werewolf girl said while shaking her head. “Noela selfish. Mina fine!”
“It’s fine, Noela. I’ve had my fun.” Mina sounded even sweeter than usual.
“Groo.”
“Finished! Your nails look wonderful, Noela.”
“Groo! Pretty! Mina amazing!”
“Tee hee hee!” Mina giggled bashfully.
“Show Master now!” Noela hopped off her chair and dashed away to find me. When she opened the door and found me standing outside, she had a suspicious look for a moment, but she got over it quickly and showed me her hands. “Master! Look! Mina did!”
“Aw, those look wonderful. Good for you.” I patted the happy Noela’s head.
“Groo!”
Mina was still in the drugstore, and she watched with relief as Noela praised her manicure for a while. Thanks to their earlier heart-to-heart, the awkwardness between the girls faded until they were interacting as usual.
At the same time, Mina’s tan faded completely, and her usual personality returned.
“Which do you prefer, Mr. Reiji?” Mina asked when we finished breakfast. “My regular personality or the other version?”
“Do I have to choose one?”
Mina giggled, grinning. “I guess you took a shine to the bubbly me?”
“Yeah. I was wary at first, but then I got completely used to it.”
“Is it all right if I do that occasionally, then? I had a lot of fun.”
“I don’t see anything wrong with that.” Especially so if Noela had stopped avoiding her.
Suddenly, the door opened, and Noela popped in. “Hurry, Master! Few potions! Make more quick!” She hadn’t gotten her morning potion yet, so she was in a rush.
“Busy as always, Mr. Reiji,” Mina laughed.
“You know it.” I smiled and got up, following Noela as she rushed to the lab.