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The person staring back from the mirror isn't someone Teru recognizes. Uneven locks of golden hair frame her face, frayed strips that touch her collar clashing with the jagged edges that stick up in every direction in the back. Cold swells in her chest and the urge to smash the mirror is near unbearable. Teru cant possibly go to school tomorrow looking like this.
Outside, a bird calls and another answers. Teru should have been in bed an hour ago. A lock of hair brushes her cheek and she feels nauseous. She finds the scissors in the top drawer in the bathroom. The metal feels heavy and cold in her hand and Teru feels hollow as she lifts them to her hair.
“You have such lovely hair, Teru-chan.” her mother says with a soft smile. Her hands are gentle as she runs a comb through long locks of golden hair. “Promise me you'll take good care of it, okay?”
Looking up through her bangs, Teru smiles warmly. “I will, mama.”
The first snip is loud as thunder. Hair flutters, feather light, to lay in the sink. It is quickly joined by more, a bed of fine gold. Teru's eyes burn as she snips away. Resentment swells up in her chest, oil black.
If only she'd been smarter. Been faster.
If only she hadn't needed to go out on nightly hunts.
Shame burned up her throat and Teru swallowed down her bitter thoughts. When she's finished, her hair is chopped to her earlobes. Butchered, she thinks, and hates herself for caring. This had been a long time coming, after all. Her father had warned her so many times. Wasn't her life worth more than a handful of hair?
-
“Teru-neechan, your hair...!”
The spoon stops halfway between the bowl and her mouth. Standing in the doorway of the kitchen, Kou watches her with wide blue eyes. Her wild cornflower hair is tied into a pony tail today, instead of the usual pigtails.
Offering her sister a tired smile, Teru says, “Does it look that bad?”
Kou shakes her head hastily. “No, but... What happened?”
“I cut it.” she says, in lieu of explaining just how close she'd come to losing more than her hair the night before. “Its a bit of a pain to fight with long hair.”
Her sister watches her for a long moment, brows furrowing. “But... you loved your hair.” Kou comes to join her at the table. “Did something happen?”
Teru shakes her head. “Nope~!” she smiles and ruffles the younger girl's already messy hair. “I just wanted a change.”
Kou grouches to herself as she attempts to duck away from her sister's hand. At twelve years old, the only thing that should be on her mind is school and magical girl anime. Teru fully intends to keep it that way. Pouring herself a bowl of cereal, Kou goes quiet. Crisp autumn morning light pours in from the kitchen window and warms the floorboards. Upstairs, the sound of their baby sister's laughter fills the air. Its a beautiful day and Teru wonders just how many looks her new haircut will get.
-
“Whats with that haircut...?”
“Is she trying to look like a – ?”
If home is where the heart is, school is where Teru goes to die. She's more than happy to leave for the day and happier still when the shape of her house comes into view. Tonight, there is only a meeting with the head priest and Teru is looking forward to sleeping more than a handful of hours.
Opening the front door with a wobbly smile, she calls out, “I'm home!”
A clatter sounds from the upstairs bathroom and Teru wonders what her sister is up to. Sitting, she tugs off her shoes and lines them up neatly. Heavy footsteps echo through the hall and Teru looks up to find her sister beaming from the doorway. Wild locks of cornflower hair stand in all directions, stopping just short of her chin.
“Neechan, look!” Kou's hands are on her hips, chest puffed proudly. “Now we match!”
Teru stares at her sister, mouth agape. “Your hair...”
Lifting a hand, the younger girl itches her unevenly trimmed head with a pleased grin. “I thought it'd be a good idea to cut mine to!” when her sister's expression remains blank, she hurries to add, “Y'know, since I'm an exorcist! I gotta be prepared!”
At once, a wave of bitter gall sours the sweetness of the gesture. Teru feels oil black begin to fill her veins and she struggles to find the words. “Kou, you shouldn't have...” she breathes.
“I wanted to!” her sister's smile turns small and sheepish. “Besides, this way you wont be alone.”
She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs and shake Kou senseless. Tell her that she was so stupid to throw away her beautiful long hair, when she'd never see combat. That this would only increase the bullying that Kou already struggled with, that this was wasted kindness on someone who couldn't even keep their own thoughts towards her chaste.
Instead, Teru offered her a tired smile. “You're much too sweet, Kou.”
Kou lit up, eyes shining with delight. “Its nothing!”
Her grin was wide and blinding. Teru felt small in the face of it. “Let me clean up the back for you, alright?”
She stood with a soft 'oof' and followed as Kou skipped ahead with a pleased, “Alright!”
Teru envied her sister's energy. More so, her kindness.