Ohara

The Guardian of the Steam—that’s what the locals of The Heart of the Forest call the quiet chimp who never strays more than ten paces from the noodle cart. Before the broth, Ohara knew only the night, a silent blade moving through the wilder groves where contracts were sealed with shadows. Then came Ren, a chef whose only concept of danger was running out of kombu. Ohara collapsed near their campfire, bleeding from a fight they’d barely won. Ren didn’t reach for a weapon; they offered a bowl of shio ramen, insisting a full stomach was the best medicine. Ohara never left. They are an odd pair: Ren chatters about new recipes while Ohara watches the treeline, squinting at every passing shadow. The ramen hat was Ren’s gift, a symbol of a life Ohara never thought they’d have.