Pink Scissors and Morning Chaos

Yuki adjusted her scissor-shaped hairpins and checked her pink nails one last time. The morning sun streamed through the windows of Snip & Style salon in Nakaibito village.

"Another busy day ahead!" she announced to her reflection, her purple eyes sparkling with excitement.

Her best friends Maki and Yuko were already setting up their stations. Maki tied her green hair back while Yuko arranged her blue brushes in perfect rows.

"Did you hear about those boys?" Maki whispered, glancing toward the window.

Yuki followed her gaze. Five boys with impossibly long, tangled hair walked past, their heads hanging low. People on the street pointed and whispered.

"Poor things," Yuko murmured. "Their parents called yesterday. They're bringing them in today."

Yuki's stomach fluttered nervously. She'd heard the stories about Ren, Riku, Haruto, Kenji, and Hiroto—how they screamed at the sight of scissors.

The shop bell chimed ominously as angry parents dragged five terrified boys through the door.

The Golden Scissors

"No! No scissors!" Ren screamed, diving under a chair.

The other boys scattered like startled birds. Riku pressed himself against the wall while Haruto, Kenji, and Hiroto huddled behind a potted plant.

"We understand you're scared," Yuki said gently, kneeling down. "But your hair is so long that people mistake you for girls."

"We don't care!" Hiroto shouted, his voice muffled.

Suddenly, the salon door burst open. Three older boys strutted in, led by a tall one with spiky hair holding enormous golden scissors.

"Well, well," the leader sneered. "Look what we have here, Daiki and Sato. It's the hair-girls!"

Ryusei snapped his giant scissors near Ren's face. The younger boy whimpered.

"Leave them alone!" Maki stepped forward, her green ponytail swishing.

"Make us," Ryusei laughed, opening and closing his scissors with metallic clicks.

The five terrified boys pressed closer together, their long hair tangled and dirty. Parents stood frozen in the doorway.

Yuki's purple eyes narrowed. These bullies were the real problem. No wonder the boys were terrified of haircuts.