The Severing Crime Edge (Japanese: 断裁分離のクライムエッジ, Hepburn: Dansai Bunri no Kuraimu Ejji) is a Japanese manga series, written and illustrated by Tatsuhiko Hikagi. KADOKAWA began releasing the digital English volumes on BookWalker on December 10, 2014.^[2] An anime television series adaptation by Studio Gokumi premiered on Tokyo MX and other networks on April 4, 2013.

Kiri Haimura is a seemingly ordinary boy with one slight problem: he is obsessed with cutting other people's hair. One day, he meets Iwai Mushanokōji, the "Hair Queen" (髪の女王, Kami no Joō) who cannot cut her hair because of an inherited curse. Kiri finds out that his scissors, "The Severing Crime Edge" is the only thing that can cut them. The scissors were a killing tool that belonged to his ancestor, Norma Grayland, the most infamous serial killer in history. But little did Kiri know that his meeting with Iwai sparked the start of an old murder game to kill the "Hair Queen" using the cursed killing tools, the "Killing Goods" (殺害遺品, Kiringu Guzzu). It is said whoever assassinates the Hair Queen will have a wish granted. Can Kiri protect Iwai from the Killing Goods Owners, known as 'Authors', associates of the illegitimate Gossip organization? Let the game begin!

Kiri Haimura (灰村 切, Haimura Kiri)

Voiced by: Natsuki Hanae

Kiri is the current owner and Author of the Killing Good, "The Cutting and Severing Crime Edge", a pair of scissors. Subsequently, he is usually annoyed by his neighborhood since childhood because of his habit of cutting hair. His scissors, which can cut through human flesh, belonged to his ancestor, the infamous serial killer known as Norma Grayland (ノーマ・グレイランド, 'Nōma Gureirando), who, in the 1860s fled from Europe to Japan and claimed to have killed 200 people with them. After Kiri meets Iwai by accident, he becomes fascinated with her beautiful hair, becoming friends with her after realizing that her hair can only be cut by his scissors. Upon learning that Iwai is targeted by other Authors, he vows to protect her, making use of the enhanced reflexes he gains when fighting with his scissors. Iwai acts as an "Instead" to Kiri, with the act of cutting her hair every day relieving him from the homicidal tendencies that usually befall an Author when possessed by a Killing Good. Should Iwai die, the loss of his Instead would eventually have him overcome with this desire, turning him into a murderer. He later unlocks the true power of the "Crime Edge", using the ability of pain augmentation, causing excruciating pain on whoever he hurts with them, creating hallucinations of their body being severed. Kiri contracts Grayland for self-control power and follows Zewulfa's delusion to collect hair to lift the curse and rescue Iwai. Zewulfa's manifestation summons a guillotine and all past Author against Violet and Iwai, however, Kiri gathers the courage to use his non-killing tool to execute Zewulfa, marking her Kiri's first and last victim. With the curse gone, the Crime Edge is put away as a memento of Kiri and Iwai's curse adventures.

The truth is Grayland received the scissors from a blacksmith who later suffered an unknown plague. Grayland desperately search a cure for the pandemic in every village claiming himself amateur doctor. However, the villagers soon suspected Grayland and caught him dissecting flesh corpses for autopsies, considered an act of vandalism and cast him away. Regardless of the mistrust, Grayland continued his research carrying the scissors, his only tool, which eventually driven him irate cursing the scissors, labeling him the most notorious murderer. His remaining colleagues developed the remedy for the disease that was unveil a type of moss and created modern antibiotics.

Iwai Mushanokouji (武者小路 祝, Mushanokōji Iwai)

Voiced by: Kotori Koiwai

The main heroine and the current "Hair Queen". With a long black hair that goes down all the way to her feet that can't be cut or damaged with ordinary tools, she is a reclusive person unable to leave her home until meeting Kiri. Thanks to Kiri being able to cut her hair, she finally manages to go to school and talk normally with others. However, every day at midnight, her hair grows back to the original size, thus Kiri must cut it every day, which is not a nuisance to him at all as he never gets bored of doing it. Iwai is very kind to where she's willingly forgive those that harmed her. According to legend, Zewulfa (髪の女王, Zablefahr), the original Hair Queen, left a curse to her descendants - including Iwai - which gives them uncuttable hair, and she is the origin of the Killing Goods. It is said that as the Hair Queen, she can only be harmed with Killing Goods, explaining why Iwai's hair can be cut with the "Crime Edge" and whoever manages to kill her can have a wish granted, even if it means destroying the world's natural laws, thus she is usually targeted by other Authors. Iwai and Kiri develop a romantic relationship, and become a couple.

As Violet rubs a saint coin that awakens Zewulfa's spirit in Iwai's body; she obliges to her guilt of injustice. Long ago, Zewulfa unintentionally defiled a fortuneteller's beauty hair (Violet's ancestor) becoming obsessed in gaining knowledge and status through the work of mercenaries and assassins; creating the rules of using other people "Insteads" to relief the pity of losing loved ones, and cursing the Queen's descendants in a cycle of wish-granting out of death. However, Kiri exposes Zewulfa had been deceiving Iwai, and Zewulfa was really a malicious Queen who took extreme pride of her silky black hair, going to lengths in stealing other corpses' black hair, refusing to share to anybody even her own descendants. In the last chapters, Iwai did serious thinking on how to rid the remnants of Zewulfa in her dreams due not wanting lose her uncuttable hair afraid that Kiri might leave her. Reaching the decision, Kiri lends Iwai his Crime Edge and slices Zewulfa for good. Living with normal hair, Kiri keeps his vow to stay by Iwai's side forever and kisses her.

Yamane Byouinzaka (病院坂 病子, Byōinzaka Yamane)

Voiced by: Kaori Fukuhara

The younger sister of Houko Byouinzaka and Author of the Killing Good called "The Injection of Eternal Sleep" a syringe that can kill people either by being injected or being nicked. The original owner of her Killing Good was a medical professional, Florence Nightingale, who is known to have infected people with her poisonous vaccinations. Yamane goes to the same school and class as Kiri. She's often very unpredictable and constantly on edge when her lust for blood is not satisfied, which is why she is very much dependant on Houko. Yamane's first victims were her parents, a crime for which Houko took the blame so as to keep Yamane from being incriminated. Yamane gradually warms up to her classmates thanks to Iwai's efforts. Afraid of Houko abandoning her if the curse was lifted, Houko confirms her unwavering support for Yamane.

Houko Byouinzaka (病院坂 法子, Byōinzaka Hōko)

Voiced by: Yumi Uchiyama

The elder sister of Yamane Byouinzaka and the professor's assistant, she's initially cold and heartless towards Iwai, but eventually treats her kindly. Houko allowed herself to be Yamane's "Instead" as a way to relieve her from the blood lust due to the pressure of Killing Goods that she possesses by allowing Yamane to inject her with a saline solution as a way to act out the latter's murderous intent. It is hinted that she has gotten so used to it, that she develops a kind of masochistic arousal. After the custom-made Authors' defeat, Houko now shares Nightingale with Yamane. Yamane implies Houko secretly has feelings for Kanae.

Kanae Sumeragi (皇 鼎, Sumeragi Kanae)

Voiced by: Kōji Yusa

He is a college professor that observes the Gossip organization, and is Iwai's legal guardian. He is also the Byouinzaka sisters' foster parent, mainly out of self-interest. Houko describes him a Lolicon. Kanae mutters that Kiri will suffer a fate similar to his past. Revealing Kanae once had a girl in his childhood stumble upon a dress "the Cocktail Dress of Gorgeous Seduction" originally owned by an aristocratic woman who after dancing with men out of self-interest and later kidnaps to "saddle" them in overwhelming seduction till their hearts passes out, and she developed the urge to intercourse Kanae every night as an "Instead", until by early teens he resisted her for saying unpleasant things then the girl committed suicide. Since then, Kanae reflected his guilt and observe children for their safety.

Emily Redhands (エミリー・レッドハンズ, Emirī Reddohanzu)

Voiced by: Rina Hidaka

A professional foreign killer and the adopted daughter of Iwai's father, making her Iwai's little sister. Her Killing Goods is "The Opener of Bloody Dissection", a collections of knives that inflicts the wounded victims with endless bleeding unless treated with a special cure. Originally made into a Killing Goods owner by Iwai's father so that Iwai's hair can be cut. Following his death, Emily's intention changed to killing Iwai so she could wish for her father's revival, mostly out of jealousy of Iwai. However, after experiencing excruciating pain and defeat from Kiri's Crime Edge, she bonds with Iwai. Emily appears to be acquaintances with Violet until she learns her ordeals. Emily is revealed to be rather excited in sexual affairs. She is one of the only three successful "custom-made" Killing Goods owners: Owners who are not descendants of the original users of the Killing Goods they own.

Carl Kimlinger of Anime News Network published a positive review covering the first half of the anime series.^[20] While expressing criticism towards its "messy" transitions into different genres, Kimlinger praised it for its direction in atmosphere and action, funny humor and viewing the perverse Author/Instead relationships in a "redemptive" light. Kimlinger wrote that the subject matter of the first half will not be to everyone's liking.^[20] Richard Eisenbeis of Kotaku talked about the complete anime series, expressing interest in the world and its cast of diverse characters but felt that it was bogged down by its constant genre jumping and unsatisfying ending.^[21] Aiden Foote, writing for THEM Anime Reviews, gave praise to the show's two main leads and supporting cast for their quirks and aesthetics being "interesting and varied" but found it overall to be "a limp Future Diary clone" with poor pacing and an unfinished plot. While not giving it a recommendation, Foote said that: "It remains perfectly watchable - don't get me wrong - but never anything more than that."^[22]