Morning Reflections

Yuki adjusted her scissor-shaped hairpins as she gazed at her reflection in the salon mirror. Her pink curls caught the morning sunlight streaming through the windows of Nakaibito's premier hair salon.

"Another beautiful day to help people feel their best," she said to herself, touching her scissors necklace. The purple in her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Maki burst through the front door, her own styling tools jingling on her belt. "Yuki! Did you hear about the Tanaka parents?"

"What about them?" Yuki turned from the mirror.

"They're bringing their five boys here today. Apparently, they've been refusing haircuts for months." Maki shook her head. "The parents are at their wit's end."

Yuko appeared from the back room, carrying an armful of soft plushies. "I overheard Mrs. Tanaka talking to my mother yesterday. Those poor boys have been mistaken for girls because their hair is so long and messy."

Yuki's heart sank. She could already imagine how scared the children must be.

The Unexpected Visitor

The salon door burst open with such force that Yuki's scissors necklace jingled.

"No! We're not going in there!" a boy's voice shrieked from outside.

Mrs. Tanaka appeared first, her face red with frustration. Behind her, five boys with impossibly long, tangled hair were being dragged forward by a determined man who must have been Mr. Tanaka.

"Ren, Riku, Haruto, Kenji, Hiroto—enough!" Mrs. Tanaka snapped. "Your hair is down to your shoulders!"

The smallest boy, who looked about eight, started crying. "Please, mama! No scissors!"

Yuki stepped forward, but before she could speak, something extraordinary happened. A small brown otter waddled through the open door, shaking water droplets from its whiskers. It had followed the family from the village pond.

"An otter!" gasped the crying boy, momentarily forgetting his fear.

The otter looked directly at Yuki, chittered softly, then curled up in a sunny spot near the window.

"Boys," Mr. Tanaka said firmly, "you're getting haircuts today whether you like it or not."

All five brothers huddled together, their long hair covering their faces like curtains. Yuki could see their hands trembling.