Make Over

The shrill ring of an alarm jolted Kai awake, signaling yet another day. Instinctively, he turned his head to the side. Natasha was still there, sleeping peacefully, her nightgown barely visible beneath the soft covers. Her breathing was slow and steady, undisturbed by the noise. Careful not to wake her, Kai slipped out of bed, grabbed a towel, and headed toward the bathroom—just as he did every morning.

Another day, same routine.

But just as he reached the door, a soft chime echoed through the room. His tablet screen lit up with a notification.

[All classes for today have been canceled.]

Kai frowned. No reason was given. Just a simple statement.

That's… strange.

He stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do. His entire life here revolved around routine—wake up, train, study, swim, sleep, repeat. A break from that schedule felt almost unnatural. Still, he decided to shower first. He could figure out what to do with his unexpected free time afterward.

After showering, Kai walked back into the bedroom to find Natasha stirring awake. She blinked a few times before stretching lazily under the blanket, her nightgown slipping slightly off her shoulder. Then, with a playful smirk, she looked at him.

"Hey, Handsome… Aww, you've already showered? I could've joined you," she teased, her voice still laced with sleep.

Kai ignored the comment and instead said, "Classes were canceled today. No explanation. I have no idea what to do."

Natasha raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "Oh? How convenient." She paused for a moment, then sat up, her smirk widening. "Since you're free, I have a surprise for you. Just wait here, okay? I'm going to take a shower first—no peeking~" She winked before disappearing into the bathroom.

Kai exhaled, running a hand through his damp hair. She was up to something. The way she barely reacted to the cancellation, as if she had expected it, made him suspicious. Had she planned this all along? Was that why she had come over last night? He shook his head. He was just going along with her pace again.

The sound of the shower running faded, and soon, Natasha emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a plush robe, her damp hair cascading over her shoulders. She walked over to him, standing on her toes to press a soft kiss on his forehead. He stiffened slightly, caught off guard, but before he could say anything, she stepped away and disappeared into the changing room.

A few minutes later, she stepped out dressed in a deep red blouse with exposed shoulders and delicate straps, paired with form-fitting blue jeans. A crystal pendant rested against her collarbone, catching the light as she moved. The outfit accentuated her curves effortlessly.

"So?" She twirled slightly, letting him take in the look. "What do you think?"

Kai simply nodded, not sure what to say.

Natasha chuckled, clearly amused by his confusion. "You're hopeless," she teased, shaking her head. Then, with a playful smirk, she grabbed her bag. "Come on, Handsome. We've got a long day ahead of us."

Kai hesitated for a moment but ultimately followed her. He had no idea where she was taking him, but with classes canceled, he had nothing else planned.

As they stepped out of the apartment and into the parking lot, Natasha led him to a sleek, futuristic sedan. Its polished exterior gleamed under the artificial lights, reflecting the city skyline. But what caught Kai's attention the most was the lack of tires.

A flying car.

Though he had ridden in one before, the experience still felt surreal. The idea of cars hovering above the ground, gliding through the air like aircraft, was something that would take him a while to fully grasp.

Natasha slid into the driver's seat effortlessly. It was her car, after all. With a nod, she gestured toward the passenger side. "Come on, Handsome. Get in."

Kai opened the door and sat beside her. The moment he settled in, the car responded, automatically securing their seat belts with a smooth, mechanical click.

He exhaled, glancing at Natasha. "So… where exactly are we going?"

She only grinned. "You'll see." Then, the car flew off to wherever she headed.

Meanwhile...

A dimly lit room. The air was heavy with tension.

Coach Armstrong, Professor Madya, and Coach Leo stood rigidly behind General Hackett, their uniforms crisp, their expressions serious. In front of them, three towering holographic figures loomed, their translucent forms flickering with authority.

A deep, commanding voice was the first to break the silence.

"Instructors, are the reports you provided true?"

There was skepticism in his tone, understandable given the nature of the reports.

Professor Madya adjusted her glasses before responding. "Yes, sir. Every detail in the report is accurate. We wrote them ourselves."

A feminine voice followed, her doubt evident. "Are you telling us that the subject accomplished all this without the assistance of AI or robotic augmentation? That's impossible."

Coach Leo stepped forward slightly, his tone firm yet respectful. "We have personally observed and trained the subject, madam. Everything stated in the reports, we witnessed with our own eyes. If you require further proof, we have recorded footage."

The holograms exchanged glances before nodding.

With a tap on his wrist device, Coach Leo projected the recordings. One by one, they played:

—He blocked Coach Armstrong's devastating blows, something no recruit had ever done.

—He flawlessly answers Professor Madya's most challenging questions, his intellect sharp.

—He endured extreme underwater conditions, surpassing expectations.

The holograms watched in silence. When the final recording faded into darkness, the room remained still.

Then, another voice—calm yet intrigued—spoke. "And you're certain he has no enhancements? No exoskeleton? No artificial lungs?"

All three instructors nod their heads.

General Hackett, who had remained quiet until now, finally spoke, his voice resolute.

"I believe we've found the first superhuman without the help of technology, sir, madam."

A statement that changed everything.

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Kai and Natasha stood in front of a sleek, modern salon, its neon sign glowing softly against the city backdrop.

"...Why are we here?" Kai asked, brows furrowed in confusion.

Natasha rolled her eyes playfully. "To cut your hair, of course. Take a look at yourself, Handsome. You look like a homeless man with all that messy hair and beard. Those don't sit right with your handsome face."

Kai instinctively touched his hair and beard. It wasn't that bad… right?

Before he could argue, Natasha grabbed his wrist and led him inside. Within moments, she had him seated in a plush salon chair, her hands resting confidently on his shoulders.

She turned to the stylist, discussing something in hushed tones a few meters away. Kai could only make out murmurs, but whatever they were saying, he had a feeling he wasn't going to like it.

Glancing around, he realized all the workers and customers were women. He was the only man in the entire salon. An odd sense of awkwardness settled over him. Then, Natasha and the stylist returned, holding an array of unfamiliar tools—some of which looked like they belonged in a high-tech laboratory rather than a hair salon.

"Good luck, Handsome~" Natasha cooed, leaning down to press a quick kiss on his cheek before stepping back with a mischievous grin.

"Wait, what—"

Before he could finish, a curtain was drawn around the chair, enclosing him in his own little transformation chamber. Natasha settled onto a nearby couch, crossing her legs and smirking as she watched the process unfold.

About an hour later…

Kai stepped out of the room, the final treatment complete.

Natasha stood up from her seat, her eyes widening in awe the moment she saw him.

He looked like a completely different person.

His freshly cut hair was now neat and sharp, no longer falling into his eyes. The dark circles beneath his eyes had vanished, making him look well-rested for the first time in weeks. His once rough, battle-worn face was now smooth and clean, free of the beard that had begun to take over. Even the smallest details—his neatly groomed eyebrows, the clean edges of his ears, and the absence of stray nose hairs—made a striking difference.

Then, as he stepped closer, she caught his scent. A deep, masculine fragrance—subtle yet intoxicating. The kind that could make women turn their heads without even realizing why.

And under that shirt? Natasha knew firsthand that the unruly hair on his body had been completely waxed away. She had heard the process while she waited, the occasional grunt or sharp breath escaping from behind the curtain. Painful? Absolutely. But worth it?

A slow, playful smile crept onto her lips as her eyes trailed over him.

"Oh my..." she whispered, placing a hand over her heart dramatically. "I think you just stole my heart all over again, Handsome..."

Then, she smirked, leaning in slightly. Placing her hand on Kai's chest. "Be careful now. If other girls see you like this, you might end up stealing their hearts too." Despite her teasing tone, she could feel her own heart pounding faster than she'd like to admit. 

The stylist stepped out after Kai, a proud smile lighting up her face. Clearly, she was immensely satisfied with her work.

Natasha thanked her before settling the bill, then eagerly took Kai's hand, leading him outside.

What Kai didn't notice, however, was the reaction he left behind. Several women in the salon had gone quiet, their cheeks tinged with pink as they watched him leave.

"Lucky woman..." they murmured amongst themselves, their eyes shifting to Natasha with a mix of admiration and envy.

Back outside, Natasha turned to Kai with renewed excitement.

"Come on, Handsome, next stop—shopping!" she declared, already heading toward her car. "We need to get you new clothes, shoes, accessories, the whole package!"

Kai frowned slightly and hesitated. "Wait… but I already have some clothes. Hana and Jack took me shopping when they showed me around the city."

That made Natasha stop in her tracks. She turned back to him slowly, a smirk creeping onto her lips as she walked toward him.

"Oh, Handsome… Hana is a kid," she teased, shaking her head.

"She's 18," Kai corrected.

"Exactly," Natasha said as if that proved her point. "She doesn't know anything about men's fashion. And besides, that was a month ago. New look, new wardrobe. Let this lady show you how to become a real heart-stealer, Handsome."

Before he could protest further, she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the car. Moments later, they were airborne, heading straight for the best men's fashion store in the city.

Once there, Natasha wasted no time picking out everything he needed—stylish shirts, hoodies, tailored suits, sweaters, jackets, vests, and more. Every type of shoe and pair of pants she could think of to perfectly match his new look.

Kai barely had a say in it. And despite the fact that he could afford it, Natasha insisted on paying for everything. Because in her mind, this wasn't just shopping.

This was a transformation.