Akashiseizaburou

The Great Panda City is built on a river that never freezes, even when the mountain winds cut like blades. Akashiseizaburou was sent there on a mission, bound by a solemn duty to Giri, a life as cold and isolating as the swamp their master called home. The mask was their uniform; silence their language. To maintain cover, they would spend hours by the river with a simple fishing rod, a perfect picture of stoic patience. It was there they met another, someone who didn't ask about the mask, the mission, or the past. They simply shared the space, the quiet, and eventually, the warmth from a shared flask of tea. The duty to Giri began to feel worlds away. Akashiseizaburou never sent another report. They still fish by the river, but their purpose is no longer a mission.