Ember of the Starry Sky

And she wasn't going to let a bunch of strangers scare her. Yukari straightened her shoulders and walked through the bustling streets of Shirotsume Town, determined to prove that she could handle this. She wasn't some lost little kid anymore. She had magic sort of and a chest full of jewels. She was unstoppable.

Except... she still had no idea where she was going.

Yukari paused mid-step, glancing around the crowded street. She had managed to get herself completely turned around. Her brows furrowed in frustration. How does anyone navigate this place? It's a mess!

Before she could figure out where to go next, a group of people approached her, two women and a man, all looking concerned.

"You look a little lost, dear," said one of the women, a kind smile on her face.

Yukari tensed up. Trusting strangers hadn't exactly worked out well for her in the past. What do they want? she thought, eyeing them warily. Her first instinct was to tell them to buzz off, but she was actually lost, and she didn't know when or if Hinote would come back for her. So, with a begrudging sigh, she swallowed her distrust.

"I, uh... need a haircut," Yukari mumbled, her fingers self-consciously tugging at her messy black hair.

The man smiled. "There's a nice place just down the street. I'll take you there."

Yukari hesitated, glancing at the group. They didn't seem like a threat—just regular townsfolk. Finally, she gave a quick nod. "Okay."

The group led her through the winding streets, chatting amongst themselves. Yukari kept her eyes down, still feeling awkward about the whole situation. Stop acting like they're going to throw you in a ditch, she told herself. They're just helping.

After a few minutes, they arrived at a small, cozy-looking shop with a sign that read Hana's Cuts. The man waved her toward the door. "This is the place. The lady here does wonders."

Yukari muttered a quick "thanks" before slipping into the shop. She felt a little better once she was inside, surrounded by the smell of shampoo and the sound of scissors snipping away at someone else's hair.

The hairdresser, a cheerful woman with a wild mass of curls, greeted her with an enthusiastic wave. "Welcome, welcome! You're my next client, I see!"

Yukari gave a shy nod, sliding into the chair. The hairdresser looked her up and down, her eyes softening when she saw the state of Yukari's hair.

"Sweetheart, you've been through it, haven't you?" she said with a sympathetic smile. "What can I do for you?"

"I, uh, just need a regular haircut," Yukari mumbled, feeling embarrassed under the woman's gaze. "Something that doesn't make me look like I've been living in a cave." Which I have, she added silently.

The hairdresser chuckled. "I can do that! How about something that makes those pretty purple eyes of yours stand out?"

Yukari's cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded. "That... that sounds good."

As the hairdresser started snipping away at her tangled mess of hair, Yukari relaxed a little. The steady rhythm of the scissors was oddly calming, and for a moment, she forgot about her earlier worries.

"You know what?" the hairdresser said, grinning at Yukari's reflection in the mirror. "I think I'm going to do this one on the house. You're just too cute!"

Yukari blinked in surprise. "Wait, what? You don't have to—"

"Nonsense!" the hairdresser interrupted, pinching Yukari's cheeks playfully. "You're too precious. Now sit still."

Yukari groaned but couldn't help feeling a little flattered. As annoying as the cheek pinching was, it was... nice, in a weird way. Like someone was actually treating her like a normal kid for once.

A few minutes later, the hairdresser spun Yukari's chair around so she could see her new look in the mirror. Her once wild black hair was now sleek and trimmed, framing her face in a way that made her violet eyes pop.

"Wow," Yukari muttered, her eyes wide. "I... I look normal."

The hairdresser laughed. "That's the goal, isn't it? Now get out there and show the world that pretty face!"

Yukari stepped out of the shop, feeling lighter not just from the haircut, but from the kind treatment she'd received. Maybe not everyone in the world was out to get her after all.

She wandered down the street, her mood lifted. That is, until she spotted a stall selling what looked like magical trinkets.

"Oho, you there!" called the merchant behind the stand, his voice dripping with fake charm. "Young lady! You look like someone in need of a little extra magic in your life, eh?"

Yukari narrowed her eyes, already suspicious. The stall was filled with glowing stones, crystal orbs, and other shiny knick-knacks. It looked impressive, but something about the merchant's slick grin set off alarm bells in her head.

"Come closer, come closer!" the merchant coaxed, waving her over. "I've got all sorts of rare magical items here! Special discounts today for pretty girls like you!"

Yukari crossed her arms, staring at the so-called 'magical' objects. She was no expert, but even she could tell most of this stuff was junk. One of the orbs had a visible crack, and the 'enchanted stones' looked like they were painted with glitter.

"Yeah, no thanks," she said flatly. "I'm not buying your junk."

The merchant's grin faltered for a split second before he plastered it back on. "Junk? No, no! These are priceless relics! Artifacts of immense power! Surely you wouldn't pass up—"

"Pass up a scam? Yeah, I'm good," Yukari interrupted, turning on her heel and walking away. She could practically hear the merchant's teeth grinding behind her.

As she continued down the street, the sun began to dip lower in the sky, and Yukari's stomach gave a loud, impatient growl.

"Great," she muttered to herself. "I'm starving."

She glanced around, spotting a small restaurant with outdoor seating a little further down the street. Her mouth watered at the thought of actual food real food, not the endless supply of fruit Hinote had been feeding her in the cave.

Without a second thought, Yukari made a beeline for the restaurant, sliding into a seat and grabbing the menu. The prices made her wince a little, but then she remembered the pouch of jewels in her pocket. Hinote did say to buy whatever I needed... and food is definitely a need.

When the waiter came over, Yukari ordered everything she had been craving for days meat, bread, and all the things she hadn't seen in weeks. As the plates began to arrive, she dug in with the enthusiasm of someone who hadn't eaten in days, not caring if anyone was watching.

She was halfway through her third plate of meat when she leaned back in her chair, groaning with satisfaction. Her stomach was full for the first time in what felt like forever, and she couldn't help but feel a smug sense of accomplishment.

"Take that, Hinote," she muttered to herself. "I didn't need your help for this."

 Yukari sat back and took in the peaceful atmosphere. For the first time in a long while, she felt... okay. Maybe even happy.

Sure, the town had its quirks, and people still gave her the occasional strange look, but she hadn't been treated like an outcast. No one had called her cursed or tried to run her out of town. And she had managed to handle everything on her own well, mostly.

Maybe this place isn't so bad, she thought, leaning back in her chair and closing her eyes as she savored the feeling of being full.

But then again, she still had to figure out how to explain her spending spree to Hinote...