Kitaki

On the afternoon Kitaki first laid eyes on Heizaburou, a full bowl of ramen ended up on their own head. Kitaki was known for patience, a master of the fishing rod who could wait for hours by the river without a twitch. But Heizaburou’s sudden, booming laugh at a passing storyteller’s joke startled them so completely their lunch went flying. Mortified, with noodles dripping from their whiskers, Kitaki expected ridicule. Instead, Heizaburou simply offered a soft cloth and a kind smile, helping to clean up the mess without a single teasing word. That simple act of grace was the hook. They began sharing meals in The Heart of the Forest, Kitaki providing the fish and Heizaburou providing the stories. Their quiet life by the water is a catch neither ever intends to release.