Pink Scissors and Morning Light

Yuki adjusted her scissor-shaped hairpins and checked her reflection in the salon mirror. Her pink curls bounced as she turned her head, and her purple eyes sparkled with excitement. Today felt special.

"Ready for another day?" Maki called from behind the reception desk. Her green hair was tied in a neat bun, and she wore a matching green dress with small comb earrings.

"Always!" Yuki replied, smoothing down her pink dress. The scissors necklace around her neck caught the morning sunlight streaming through the window.

Yuko emerged from the back room, her blue pigtails swinging. She carried a basket of freshly washed towels. "The appointment book is completely empty today," she announced with a frown.

"That's strange," Maki said, tapping her finger against the counter. "Usually we're busy by now."

Yuki walked to the window and peered outside at Nakaibito village. The streets looked unusually quiet. A few parents hurried past, whispering to each other and glancing toward the salon nervously.

"Something's definitely wrong," Yuki murmured, her scissors earrings tinkling softly as she shook her head.

The Desperate Mother

The salon door chimed as Mrs. Tanaka burst inside, her face flushed and desperate.

"Please, you have to help!" she gasped, clutching her purse. "It's my son Ren and his friends. They haven't cut their hair in months!"

Yuki exchanged worried glances with Maki and Yuko. Mrs. Tanaka's eyes were red from crying.

"They refuse to come anywhere near scissors," Mrs. Tanaka continued. "People keep mistaking them for girls! The other parents are furious. We tried dragging them here yesterday, but they screamed so loudly that half the village came running."

"Where are they now?" Maki asked gently.

"Hiding in the old music festival pavilion by the pond," Mrs. Tanaka said. "Their hair is so long and greasy that you can barely see their faces. Ren, Riku, Haruto, Kenji, and Hiroto - they're all terrified of getting hurt again."

Yuki felt her heart sink. Bad haircut experiences could scar children for years.

"We had a terrible barber visit the village last month," Mrs. Tanaka explained. "He was rough and careless. Cut Ren's ear with rusty clippers. Now none of the boys will trust anyone with scissors."

"We'll help," Yuki said firmly.