Sujitarou

The most mysterious noodle vendor in The Great Panda City is a chimp who speaks only in gestures and has never been seen without their mask. Sujitarou was once a covert messenger, moving through shadows until a botched delivery sent them plunging into the icy river below the mountain. They were sinking, the mission failed, when a powerful figure pulled them from the water's grip. It was Kaito. Sujitarou was too stunned, too shy to offer thanks before the hero departed. They abandoned their old life that day, trading secrecy for the simple warmth of a ramen stall. The mask remains, a shield for the blush that still rises at the memory. Every night, one bowl is left on the counter, steam rising into the cold air—a silent offering to the sea's chosen.