Ryo Katsuo
Ryō huddled in the darkness of his cramped closet, his body trembling with fear. Tears streamed down his face, mingling with the salty sweat on his skin. The noise outside grew to an overwhelming crescendo, reaching a fever pitch, yet it felt distant and muffled, almost as if it originated from another realm. The suffocating silence enveloped him until the sudden, thunderous bang on the front entrance shattered it. With a creak and a groan, the door hinges gave way to the force, and the door collapsed onto the floor with a crash.
Through the shattered entrance, a figure emerged, their movements accompanied by pained grunts.
"My head hurts. I wonder where Aki is," the lady groaned, her hand scratching her disheveled hair. She staggered towards the bed, collapsing onto it, seemingly asleep. Ryo watched, his breath caught in his throat, waiting for a sign of safety. Slowly, he crept out of the closet, each step measured. But as his foot touched the floor, the sound echoed in his ears, deafeningly loud. The slightest noise always seemed amplified when you least wanted it to be.
Heart pounding, Ryo approached the door, his senses on high alert. Suddenly, a voice pierced the air, freezing him in his tracks. Sweat dripped down his forehead, mingling with his fear.
"I know you're there, kid," the voice said calmly, sending shivers down his spine.
"There's no need to be scared. I want to emphasize that I would never be detrimental to a child. I'm not that heartless." A smile crept up on her face, adding an eerie touch to the air.
"You got anything to drink?" the lady asked, her voice filled with weariness. Fear washed over Ryo, paralyzing him. The sound of her sluggish movements echoed in the room, each step accompanied by the creaking of the worn-out bed. As she stretched her body, joints popped, their sound mingling with the scent of age and musk. Ryo turned his gaze towards her, feeling a sense of awe at the sight before him.
"You're a hero?" he exclaimed, relief flooding through him.
"Mmm... well, yes I am," she replied, the room falling into a momentary silence.
"You know, you remind me of my little brother," she said, gently wiping away the dust that had accumulated on her equipment. Curiosity filled her as she asked,
"Where are your parents and stuff?"
"My parents left to go and protect our small town," Ryo replied, his voice filled with a sense of loss.
"And my sister... she was a hero, her name is Aki Yo…" he continued, his sentence trailing off. The mention of his sister, Aki Yoshie, caused his spirit to dwindle, and tears welled up in his eyes, uncontrollable and raw.
The woman's face transformed, a mixture of shock and self-directed anger. Biting her lip in frustration, she realized that her role in this world had led to the suffering of others. Seeing the Young boy, Ryo Katsuo, fall to the ground. She suspected exhaustion had taken its toll on him. How long had he been in that desolate place?
Driven by a newfound determination, she scoured her surroundings and managed to find some tea for herself. With a tender heart, she gently lifted Ryo from the ground and decided to take him with her. The weight of responsibility settled upon her shoulders as she vowed to find answers about Aki Yoshie, and perhaps, in doing so, bring solace to Ryo's shattered world.