Pink Ribbons and Morning Light

Yuki adjusted her scissor hairpins as she swept the last bits of hair from the salon floor. Her pink dress swished with each movement, scissors earrings catching the afternoon light streaming through the windows of the Nakaibito Hair Studio.

"Another successful day!" called Maki from behind the reception desk, her bright smile matching her cheerful yellow apron.

Yuko nodded from her styling station, carefully cleaning her professional shears. "The Tanaka family loved their new looks."

The three magical hairdressers had been friends since childhood, each blessed with special abilities that made them exceptional stylists. Their little salon had become the heart of the village, where everyone came not just for haircuts but for the warmth and laughter that filled the space.

A loud commotion erupted outside. Through the window, Yuki spotted five boys running past, their long, unkempt hair flying behind them like banners. They moved with panic, constantly looking over their shoulders.

"Those poor boys," Maki whispered, watching them disappear around the corner. "They look terrified."

Something was definitely wrong in their peaceful village.

The Chase Through the Market

Minutes later, the three friends found themselves running through Nakaibito's bustling afternoon market. Yuki's scissors earrings jingled with each step as she dodged between fruit vendors and flower stalls.

"There!" Maki pointed ahead.

The same five boys from earlier huddled behind the elderly shoemaker's stall, their long hair covering most of their faces. But they weren't alone. Three older boys surrounded them, holding enormous gardening shears that glinted menacingly in the sunlight.

"Cut it off, Ren!" shouted the tallest bully, his black hair slicked back. "You look like a girl!"

"No!" Ren clutched his greasy locks protectively. "Stay away from us, Ryusei!"

The other bullies, Daiki and Sato, laughed cruelly as they snapped their giant scissors in the air. The trapped boys—Ren, Riku, Haruto, Kenji, and Hiroto—pressed closer together, trembling.

Yuki's purple eyes flashed with anger. Nobody should terrorize children like this, especially not with scissors. Those were tools for creating beauty, not fear.

"We have to help them," she whispered to her friends.

But as they stepped forward, Ryusei spotted them. His nasty grin widened as he raised his shears higher.