Gongorou

Without fail, the day began with the rhythmic chop of a cleaver. Gongorou's student, Kayouko, was struggling with a tough, fibrous root from the Underworld's marshlands, their knuckles white with frustration. Gongorou watched them for a long moment, their eyes calm above their mask. They didn't speak, simply reached for the cleaver. For an instant, the chimp in the food apron was gone. The stance shifted, weight balanced on the balls of their feet, a predator's poise. Three movements, too fast to follow, and the root lay in perfectly uniform slices. Gongorou placed the blade back in Kayouko's stunned grip and returned to their bubbling pot. The lesson was never just about food.