Barber Simulator

Mitarai Aoi is a famous cow-pattern cat game streamer. That is, he has a neurotic cow-pattern cat for a master.

What his viewers don't know is that the cow-pattern cat is his true form.

One day, he opened an obscure VR game he'd dug up on a gaming platform, called Barber Simulator. Its customers are generated at random and never repeat, and it comes with built-in AI voice chat.

His barbering skills are completely random, sometimes good, sometimes bad. His viewers think he's doing it for the memes, but they have no idea his bloodline is at work.

As more customers came in, his basement barbershop expanded. He had to recruit assistants and apprentices, and soon the shop was filled with a mullet-haired bandage-wrapped weirdo, a black-and-white ombre princess-cut lop-eared rabbit, and a white tiger cub with a bowl cut.

"Streamer, streamer, your cuts are definitely bold, but they rely way too much on skill. Can you recommend a strong barber who's easy to play?"

"Sure thing, bro. I've got nine more barbers just like that."

*

One day, Mori Ougai suddenly realized that a small barbershop had appeared right under his nose, next to the clinic in the Slab Town. Ever wary and suspicious, he decided to investigate.

He took Elise by the hand and pushed open the door. The shop held only one stylist, a boy named Mitarai Aoi with trendy black-and-white ombre hair.

Mori Ougai sighed. "I haven't had my hair done in ages. Just trim it a little, Mitarai-kun."

Mitarai Aoi looked at Mori Ougai with innocent eyes. "Okay!"

An hour later, Mori Ougai stared at his Dora haircut in the mirror, unable to smile anymore. "..."

1. A ridiculous comedy.

2. Blurb written on April 18, 2025, and will be revised further.

3. His true form is a cow-pattern cat, with a black-and-white split-dye punk hairstyle.

Theme: Break with convention.