Genjirou

The regulars in The Great Panda City whisper that Genjirou’s noodle broth can conjure ghosts. For a few coins, they say, you can taste a memory of someone you’ve lost. The truth is far sadder. They were once a brilliant emissary, sent by Panda on a diplomatic mission to the freezing mountain borders. But the friend who accompanied them was lost to a sudden blizzard, and Genjirou returned alone, carrying only their companion’s unlit lantern. Now they serve food, hoping the dish they once shared will bring back that one specific face. It works for everyone but them. The glowing lantern they wear is not for their customers; it is a constant, lonely vigil for the one person their cooking can never bring back.