Pink Scissors and Purple Eyes

Yuki adjusted her pink dress as she walked through Nakaibito village. Her scissor-shaped hairpins caught the morning light, and her matching earrings jingled softly with each step. The familiar weight of her scissors necklace reminded her of another busy day ahead at the salon.

"Morning, Yuki!" called Mrs. Tanaka from her flower shop. "Ready for another day of magic?"

Yuki smiled and waved her pink nails. "Always ready!"

She spotted movement in the alley between two houses. A boy with messy, shoulder-length black hair peeked around the corner, his brown eyes wide with curiosity. When he noticed her scissor hairpins, instead of running away like most boys did, he stepped closer.

"Those are pretty," he whispered, pointing at her hair accessories.

"Thank you! I'm Yuki. What's your name?"

"Ren," he said quietly, still staring at the tiny silver scissors in her pink curls.

The Unexpected Visitor

Before Yuki could ask more about why Ren wasn't afraid of scissors like other boys, footsteps echoed from the main street. A woman with short brown hair hurried toward them, her eyes scanning the alley.

"There you are!" she called to Ren. "Your mother sent me to find you. She's worried sick."

Ren's face went pale. He stepped behind Yuki, gripping her pink dress sleeve.

"I don't want to go home," he whispered. "They'll make me cut my hair."

The woman noticed Yuki's scissor accessories and frowned. "Oh no, not another hairdresser. Ren, your hair is getting ridiculous. People think you're a girl!"

"I like it long," Ren said quietly, touching his messy black locks.

Yuki felt her heart squeeze. She'd never seen a boy so scared. "Maybe we could talk about this?"

"There's nothing to discuss," the woman said firmly. "His parents are furious. Four other boys in the village have the same problem. They all refuse haircuts and hide whenever they see scissors."

Yuki's purple eyes widened. Five boys afraid of haircuts? This was bigger than she'd thought.