Pink Scissors and Purple Dreams

Yuki adjusted her scissor-shaped hairpins as she swept the last bits of hair from the salon floor. Her pink dress sparkled under the morning sunlight streaming through the windows of Scissors & Magic Hair Salon.

"Another busy day ahead," she said to her reflection in the mirror, checking her elaborate pink curls.

Maki burst through the front door, her blue hair bouncing with each step. "Yuki! Did you hear what happened at the school?"

"What now?" Yuki turned, her purple eyes curious.

"Five boys got dragged here by their parents this morning. They're hiding behind the building right now, refusing to come in!"

Yuko appeared from the back room, shaking her head. "Their hair is so long people mistake them for girls. The parents are furious."

Outside, muffled voices grew louder. Yuki peered through the window and saw tangled, greasy hair poking out from behind the corner.

"They look terrified," she whispered.

The Corner Confrontation

Yuki stepped outside and spotted the boys immediately. Five heads of tangled hair peeked around the building's corner like scared animals.

"We're not going in there!" shouted the tallest boy, his voice cracking.

Maki crossed her arms. "Your parents are waiting inside. They're getting angrier by the minute."

"I don't care!" another boy yelled. "Last time someone cut my hair, they made me look like a poodle!"

Yuko giggled. "A poodle? Really?"

"It's not funny!" The boy's face turned red. "Everyone laughed at me for weeks!"

Suddenly, four older boys appeared from behind the school building. The biggest one had spiky hair and a mean grin.

"Look what we found," he sneered. "Five girls playing dress-up with their long hair."

"We're not girls!" protested one of the younger boys.

"Then prove it," the bully laughed. "Get a haircut, or we'll give you one ourselves." He pulled out a pair of rusty scissors from his backpack.

The five boys screamed and ran toward the salon door, suddenly preferring the magical girls over the bullies.