Pink Scissors and Morning Mist

Yuki adjusted her scissor hairpins and stepped out of her tiny salon in Nakaibito village. The morning air felt crisp against her fair skin as she locked the pink door behind her.

"Another quiet day," she murmured, twirling a pink curl around her finger.

Her purple eyes caught sight of something unusual down the street. Five boys huddled together near the old cherry tree, their hair so long and tangled it hung past their shoulders like curtains. People walking by kept glancing at them with confused expressions.

"Are those girls or boys?" whispered an elderly woman to her friend.

One of the boys, a skinny kid with dark hair covering half his face, pulled his hood up higher. Another boy with messy brown locks kicked at the dirt, looking miserable.

Yuki's scissors earrings jingled as she tilted her head. Something about their posture told her they weren't happy about their appearance. Her pink nails drummed against her dress as she watched them whisper anxiously to each other.

The Sparrow's Warning

Yuki stepped closer to the cherry tree, her pink heels clicking on the stone path. The boys looked up as she approached, their eyes wide with alarm.

"Hi there," she said gently, adjusting her scissors necklace. "I'm Yuki. I run the salon down the street."

The skinny boy with dark hair pulled his hood lower. "We're not interested," he mumbled.

"Yeah, leave us alone," said the brown-haired boy, crossing his arms.

A small sparrow landed on a branch above them and chirped loudly. It fluttered down and perched on Yuki's shoulder, whispering something in her ear that made her purple eyes widen.

"Oh my," she gasped. "The sparrow says three older boys are heading this way. They have giant scissors and they're looking for someone to... trim."

The five boys scrambled to their feet in panic. Through the gap between houses, Yuki could see three figures marching toward them. The leader had spiky hair and carried something shiny.

"Quick!" Yuki grabbed the nearest boy's hand. "My salon has a back door!"

The boys hesitated, torn between their fear of haircuts and whatever was coming their way.