Kumishirou

Three deep breaths, two folded wings, and one promise to the oldest cherry tree in the city. Kumishirou performs this ritual every day as the sky above turns its deep plum hue. Their duty is simple: to be a silent presence, a guardian along the bamboo-lined main street. But the high-altitude wind is sharp, and their gaze always drifts upward. The locals think the mask is for the cold, but it’s really to help them focus. Without it, they get lost in the stars they can somehow see, even in daylight. Sometimes, a gust will threaten a new bamboo shoot, and Kumishirou will instinctively shift a wing to shield it. They are a guardian of small, quiet things, of moments most people are too busy to notice.