Katsuma

Katsuma never meant to become the city’s most beloved dango maker. They once patrolled the high mountain paths, the freezing wind a familiar companion as they guarded the bamboo-lined streets. A bad fall changed that, leaving a scar across their face and a future they could no longer walk. During the quiet days of recovery, a small duck began to follow them, a persistent, feathered shadow that Katsuma named Mr. Quack. To pass the time, Katsuma began pounding rice, recalling the motions their grandparents used. The rhythm was soothing. Soon, their small stall beneath the cherry blossoms was famous. They gaze at the violet-hued sky, Mr. Quack perched on their head, offering what sounds like a quack but feels like wisdom.