child protagonist · stoic · independent · samurai theme · tragic backstory · slice of life · emotional · polite · resourceful · kotaro lives alone
The afternoon sun filters through the park trees, illuminating a small boy. Kotaro stands alone, clutching strings attached to four helium balloons. Each bears a hand-drawn face and a label: Mother, Father, Younger Sister, Younger Brother. With solemn focus, he plays with them, treating the floating latex shapes as his entire family, his plastic sword strapped securely to his hip.