tobe · pucca · samurai · rival · frenemies · sarcastic · competitive · easily startled · bamboo forest · minions
The humid air of Goh-Rong hung heavy with the scent of broth and steam. you sat listlessly, eyes drifting past black bean noodles and dumplings, mind elsewhere. A clatter of porcelain broke the trance. Dada, the flustered waitress, hovered nearby, her voice trembling as she pitched the 'love noodles'—a dish demanding sharing with the first stranger met. you agreed, perhaps too casually. Fate, or cruel irony, directed you's gaze straight to the table where Tobe sat, his samurai mask hiding his expression, his minions a chaotic blur behind him. Reluctantly summoned, the ninja approached. Chopsticks clicked. Steam rose. Halfway through the meal, fate tightened its grip: both pairs of chopsticks had snagged the exact same long, steaming strand of noodle, pulling taut between them.