"So in every way to find a weapon, you start from a beauty salon shop?" Rin said, squinting at Ayato as if the whole idea smelled funny.
"Wow, your hair… it's so amazing cousin Ayato, I love it! I'm going to do that hairstyle next," Akari gasped, eyes glittering as she leaned closer, her fingers almost twitching to touch the layers.
"Thank you. MAMA made it for me," Ayato replied, puffing his chest out proudly, his hand brushing his bangs like he was posing for a poster.
"So… who is this girl?" he asked suddenly, pointing directly at Rin, his brows raised. The way he said it made it sound like she was a stranger off the street.
"Em… that is Cousin Rin," Koko explained carefully, blinking like she wasn't sure if Ayato was joking or serious.
"Heh! Sister Rin?" Ayato tilted his head, leaning forward, his expression twisting like someone staring at a ghost. "No way."
"Yes, yes, I'm your Sister Rin," Rin insisted, crossing her arms and tilting her chin. "Now answer my question—why are you looking for a weapon here?"
"You answer first," Ayato shot back instantly, not giving her the satisfaction. "What happened to you? And why is your brown hair all smoked out? Did you fight a thunderstorm or something?" He reached forward and tugged at a fried strand, grinning like a child who just found something shiny.
"It's… a long story. For another time. Just answer mine," Rin said quickly, swatting his hand away and trying to bury the memory in the back of her head.
"She tried to kiss someone's girlfriend and then got struck by lightning," Suki said flatly, her tone so casual it was like she was reading the weather forecast.
"Ehn!" Ayato's eyes went wide. "Kiss? Why in the world would you try to kiss someone's girlfriend when you already have your own?"
The girls exploded into laughter, some clutching their stomachs, others covering their mouths as if that would hide the sound.
"Ya! Don't make this worse!" Rin's face turned tomato-red as she stomped her foot. "I was just trying to prove a point, that's all!"
"Well, you could've proved it with sister-in-law instead," Ayato quipped, smirking as he leaned against the salon chair like a know-it-all.
"Sii… sister-in-law?! We're not even married yet! What makes you think she's your sister-in-law?" Rin snapped, her hands flying to her hips.
"We already agreed she's the perfect girl for you," Ayato said, not even flinching. "You're basically engaged. And don't think I didn't notice you tried to hide the fact that you cheated on sister-in-law."
"That doesn't count as cheating!" Rin fired back. "Even if it did, my heart doesn't belong to her in the first place!"
"Oh, please. Your eyes tell a different story," Ayato said, narrowing his own eyes like he was reading straight into her soul.
The tension snapped in the air as both siblings leaned closer, glaring, neither willing to back down an inch. The cousins froze, watching the scene unfold with growing anticipation, like they were courtside at some heated sports match.
"Is this how they fight?" Koko whispered to Akari, her voice low but her eyes wide.
"Honestly, I've never seen them talk like this," Akari whispered back, a grin tugging her lips.
"Why does he look familiar though… like I've seen him somewhere before," Mai muttered, chewing on her lip like she was puzzling out a riddle.
"Enough of this noise!" Hana's voice thundered through the salon, slicing through the tension like a blade. Everyone froze instantly. Rin and Ayato snapped their heads toward her, caught mid-argument like two kids in trouble with the teacher.
"You two are causing noise pollution! If you want to keep shouting at each other, then do it outside this salon!" Hana snapped, her glare sharp enough to cut glass.
"Sorry," Ayato muttered quickly, bowing his head just slightly, though a cheeky grin still tugged his lips.
"Sorry, Cousin Hana," Rin echoed, though her eyes slid sideways at Ayato, the silent message clear: this isn't over.
The girls exhaled as if they'd been holding their breath the whole time.
"Okay then. Where's my mom? We need to fix her hair," Hana asked, shaking her head like she was tired of dealing with both of them.
"MAMA isn't around. She went out for some work and will be back in the evening," Ayato replied smoothly, his voice carrying that smug calm like he'd just won the round.
"Evening!" Rin said, her eyes snapping wide open. "I have a date today."
"Date! Who are you planning on cheating on sister-in-law with?" Ayato teased, leaning forward with a grin.
"Enough with the sister-in-law word," Rin barked.
"It's the Ice Queen," Akari said casually, sipping her drink like she had just dropped a nuclear bomb without care.
"Ohhh, that's approved," Ayato said with a nod, grinning smugly. Rin shot him a glare sharp enough to stab, then quickly changed the subject before he could push her buttons again.
"Who's going to fix my hair now?" Rin asked, plopping herself into the salon chair dramatically, staring into the mirror like it was her sworn enemy.
"Well, I could help." Ayato clicked the scissors twice, the sound ringing out like a warning. He leaned forward with a predator's smile.
"No! Never!" Rin shot up, pointing at him like he was the villain of the story. "I am not going to let a day-one apprentice touch my hair." She glared, eyes narrowed, but Ayato kept snapping the scissors casually, like a swordsman flexing his blade.
"Whatever…" Ayato muttered, flipping the scissors in his hand just to show off.
"Well then, since my mom isn't around, it's up to me to fix your hair, Cousin Rin," Hana offered kindly.
But Rin had already cooked up another plan.
"Don't worry, cousins. I have an idea. Thank you for your help—will meet MAMA some other time." She stood from the chair with a quick nod, brushing invisible dust from her outfit like a queen. "Okay, Cousin Akari, let's go so I can get ready."
"What are you planning to do with your hair, little sister?" Ayato asked, narrowing his eyes, but before he could get another jab in, Rin grabbed him by the collar and yanked him closer.
"If you mention anything about kissing to Selene, you will feel my wrath, you hear me?" Rin hissed, her eyes blazing.
"Ice Queen's wrath is greater than yours," Ayato shot back smoothly, not even flinching.
"Okay, okay, cousin—leave him be. Let's go," Akari said quickly, tugging Rin toward the door before the tension snapped again. Together, they rushed out of the salon, leaving the girls behind with Ayato.
"Bye-bye, cousin!" Akari called back over her shoulder.
"Bye!" they all said back, waving awkwardly.
Ayato stood tall, turning back toward the chair with a smug grin. Clicking his scissors dramatically, he lifted his hand high. "Okay then, which one of you cousins is going to be my…" he paused, dragging the suspense, "…hair mannequin?"
The girls exchanged one long look. Then, without a word, they bolted out of the salon like startled birds.
"Tell MAMA that we came to visit!" Hana shouted as they ran.
"Wow. Nobody wants to get their hair done," Ayato muttered, shaking his head. Dropping the scissors onto the counter with a soft clink, he pulled off his apron and sighed. "What weapon am I going to use now? I'm sure Minato already got a new handfan…" He lowered his gaze, lost in thought, until something outside caught his eye.
His lips curled slowly into a grin. His entire face brightened.
"Icey!" he called out.