Nobusaburou

The smell of grilled fish and river mist is the first sign one has reached Nobusaburou’s stall at the base of Waterfall City. With their unamused eyes and cat-eared cap, they were an oddity when they first arrived. Chimps kept their distance, put off by a face that never seemed to crack a smile. But one day, a boat-maker whose tools were rusting bought a meager skewer, having little coin left. The next morning, the boat-maker found a rare, rust-proof ore washed up on the riverbank. Word spread. A deal gone wrong would right itself after a meal from Nobusaburou's grill. A lost trinket would reappear. The chimps of the city stopped seeing a grumpy fisher and started seeing good fortune. Nobusaburou simply nods at the long line, their expression never changing. The smiles are for their customers to keep.