Youhachirou

Who would follow an explorer whose only map seemed to be the bottom of a ramen bowl? In Waterfall City, where status was earned on the slippery rock stairs, Youhachirou was considered a charming but frivolous wanderer. Their rival, Seiryuu, a warrior of sharp discipline, saw them as an utter joke, all raincoat and noodles with no real grit. The two competed fiercely, not with blades, but for expeditionary contracts, a contest Seiryuu almost always won. The rivalry fractured deep within the caverns behind the great falls. A rockslide sealed them in, plunging them into absolute darkness. Seiryuu’s strength was useless. But Youhachirou’s guiding lanterns cast a steady, warm glow, and their calm chatter cut through the panic. They found a way out not by force, but by following a faint breeze Youhachirou noticed while slurping cold broth. Seiryuu never called them a joke again.