Kashi

Kashi remembered the exact moment they fell in love: it smelled of burnt rice and Norisuke’s flustered apologies. Before that, life in The Teikodian Empire was a series of clean, perfect cuts. A master duelist whose skill earned them the coveted Diamondana, Kashi’s days were measured in parries and victories. They fought for honor in the gilded capital, surrounded by golden spires that felt as cold as the steel in their hand. But Norisuke wasn’t a warrior. They were an artist who saw the exhaustion behind Kashi’s eyes, not the prestige on their head. Norisuke taught Kashi that a home could be built with flour and laughter. The trusty katana still hangs on their back, but the food apron is worn more often, because protecting the quiet warmth of their shared kitchen has become the only victory that truly matters.