Shousuke

Shousuke vaulted over a fishmonger’s cart, their cat companion clinging to their shoulders with a delighted squeak. Far below, near the docks where the mist from the great falls never settles, their rival Inuki was already climbing the first of the endless stone stairs. Their races were a daily spectacle. This one ended differently. A sudden tremor shook the city, dislodging a stone from the temple perched above. It plummeted towards Inuki. Shousuke didn’t hesitate. They leaped, pushing off the slick plaza wall, and a wave of absolute cold erupted from them, encasing the falling rock in a lattice of ice that shattered harmlessly. The power surge left them breathless, their icy kimono glowing. Inuki stared up, shock turning into a grin. The race was forgotten. The rivalry, however, had just truly begun.