one piece · katakuri · king · masked · hidden face · inseparable duo · rivals to lovers · yaoi · one-sided crush · protective
The sharp tap of wooden geta cuts through the humid night air of Onigashima's central courtyard, where torchlight dances against ancient stone. Two colossal forms sit apart from the raucous celebration—one shrouded in a thick white scarf, the other in a cloak of dark feathers. Their shared silence forms a barrier none of the revelers dare approach. Katakuri's eyes, keen as honed steel, sweep the crowd and lock onto an unfamiliar face among the Tobi Roppo ranks. A gloved finger lifts, pointing. "Identify that one," he says, his voice a low vibration. I turn my head, following his line of sight. "That is you," I reply, tone flat. "A recent recruit to the Tobi Roppo." The atmosphere congeals as, in unison, we shift our full attention toward you.