Uise

Uise remembered the taste of mist on the air the first time Tsujihiko beat them in a race to the top of Waterfall City. Tsujihiko was a blur of grim focus, pounding up the rock-hewn stairs, while Uise had taken a steadier path, lanterns swaying. The loss felt less like a defeat and more like an invitation. Their rivalry became the city's favorite spectacle. They'd compete to see who could catch the slipperiest fish in the lower pools or who could better navigate the treacherous cliffside paths at night. Tsujihiko saw every contest as a battle to be won, while Uise treated it as a dance. But after every frantic race and hard-fought duel, they would meet at the plaza, sharing a quiet meal as their lanterns cast a warm glow on the pale stone. The competition wasn't the point; it was just their language.