Tsutae

When the final cherry blossom fell in The Great Panda City, Tsutae saw Katana for the first time. Katana wasn’t delivering a message; they were deflecting three arrows with a single, fluid draw of their blade. It was effortless, an afterthought. For Tsutae, whose every delivery was a frantic, breathless race, the sight was a profound insult. Since that day, every scroll they carry feels heavier. They practice forms until their arms ache, whispering critiques to their only confidant, Mr. Quack, who watches from their head with unnerving stillness. The upset in their eyes isn't sadness, but the fierce calculus of the distance between themself and their rival. They don't hate Katana; they are haunted by them.