[ Between the whir of the hairdryer, the warm air blowing against her skin and Rinne's gentle fingers in her hair, Ai feels decidedly soothed and she lets her eyes slide shut to enjoy it all the more. She has stylists and beauticians curl and tug and tie her hair into all kinds of styles all the time before she gets pushed out on stage but Rinne's careful, attentive touch is entirely different. She could get used to this kind of pampering just a little too easily.

Rinne wouldn't mind, right? This is the sort of thing married couples are supposed to do. ... She thinks. Not that they're close to counting as one of those just yet. ]

You did promise to spoil me. So I'm just taking you up on that.

[ Teasing as her words are, her voice is warm, lazy and pleased as well. ]

Since I'm so nice, I might let you do it for me next time, too. If you really want.