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Shuichi and Kiyo sat in the former’s room, lounging on her soft bed. As they laid down, Kiyo ran her long bony fingers through Shuichi’s navy blue hair. “It’s so long and silky, you take such good care if it” she complimented, her eyes locked onto her hair. “Well, that is if you don’t could the split ends” she commented. Her matter of fact tone caused Shuichi to the out a laugh.
As she played with her hair, Shuichi looked over at Kiyo’s hair. Her hair was a dark green shade and it was cut up into a very short boyish haircut. It made Shuichi think- “Is something the matter, Shuichi?” Kiyo asked, stopping with the hair stroking.
“Oh no, it’s nothing!” she answered. “Please, tell me what it is your thinking” she insisted. Shuichi gazed at Kiyo’s hair, quietly thinking over her words.
“Your hair is so short, Kiyo. Why do you always cut it so short?” she asked. It was an innocent question, just out of curiosity but Kiyo went quiet. Very, very quiet. Her expression looked like she was remembering something that she regret. Something that hurt to look back on.
“I’m sorry for being nosy, Kiyo. You don’t have to answer” she reassured, putting a hand on her shoulder as she pulled her closer. Shuichi wrapped her arms around her securing her into a hug. They sat quietly for a second. “Are you ok?” she asked. “You don’t need to worry so much about me, Shuichi. I’m quiet alright” she reassured.
Kiyo looked up at the mirror Shuichi had on her wall, staring at her reflection as she ran her fingers through her shirt hair. “Have I really never told you why my hair is like this?” she asked. Shuichi shook her head slowly. “I cut it like this in memory of my older brother” she explained.
Shuichi knew about Kiyo’s late brother. She knew what type of person he was and the things he put his sister through and it hurt her to know that even after everything she had been doing to work through her past, it was like she was still haunted by him.
“I cut it like this for so long, I just can’t bring myself to grow it out. I know that he’s long gone and that what we had wasn’t right but ... it feels like it would be a betrayal” she murmured. Shuichi watched as a salty tear began to form in Kiyo’s eye before she quickly wiped it away. Shuichi though over her words silently for a second. “Kiyo...” She was really struggling to find something to say.
“I think you’d look gorgeous with long hair, Kiyo” she told her. Kiyo smiled at her. “Thank you, Shuichi” she said. She wrapped her arms around Shuichi and hugged her tightly.