Hikage

The fishers of Waterfall City say Hikage arrived with nothing but an adventure sword and a squint that could curdle milk. For months, they watched a local potter from afar, convinced the steady kindness was a ruse. The potter simply worked, leaving a bowl of ramen on the workshop ledge each evening. Hikage never took it. One day, the potter left an empty bowl and a warm smile before returning to the clay. That was the first time Hikage spoke. These days, they teach the traditions of Sensei by the falls, but their most important lessons are unspoken. The fox beanie stays on, a habit of caution. The sword stays on the wall, a memory. And the squinting always stops when they share a meal from a familiar, handmade bowl.