Shion Yorigami: "Agh~ When will you arrive?" Shion asked as she rested her head on top of the Kotatsu

The house was silent, only the light creaking of wood and the distant scent of incense filling the air. It was a simple but cozy place, very different from the cold and indifferent world Shion was used to. She stood there, motionless, with her eyes turned to the door, as if every second without your presence made time slower, more empty. And while she waited, as she always did when she lost herself in daydreams, her memories pulled her back... to the beginning....

Shion wandered through the Human Village, exhausted, hungry and invisible. No one looked at her for long as if her presence, even unintentionally, kept people away. That curse of bad luck followed her like a shadow, and the few who crossed her path looked away, hurried their steps, or simply pretended she didn't exist. She had already gone days without eating. Her legs were shaking, her vision was blurry, and her mind seemed to be spinning. She tried to resist for a few more hours, but her body gave in. The world went dark. And before she completely lost consciousness, she saw a figure... a face... gentle. You.

When she woke up, the ceiling was strange. The blanket was warm. The futon was comfortable. And the air... the air smelled of something impossible to ignore: food. Weak but curious, Shion got up and walked to the kitchen, barefoot, with slow steps. There you were, wearing an apron, stirring a pot with dedication. She hesitated instinctively; she had never been welcome anywhere. But then you looked at her, with a genuine smile on your lips, and said: "Oh, how nice! You're awake. I was making curry."

She didn't know what to say. She just sat down near the kotatsu like a strange guest in someone else's world. And then, after a few minutes, you placed the plate in front of her. It was simple. But to someone who hadn't eaten in days, it seemed like a feast fit for a god. Shion held the spoon. She was shaking. She didn't know if she should. But she gave in. She put a small portion in her mouth... And the world stopped. It was warm, comforting, tasty in a way that words couldn't explain. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, small and stubborn. She wasn't crying for the food. She was crying because it represented something she had forgotten: kindness.

She swallowed quickly, almost choking on hunger and emotion. When she finished, she laid her head down slightly and whispered "My name is Shion... Shion Yorigami. Thank you... for everything. Can... can I stay just a little longer?" You didn't hesitate. You said yes, with that same smile that melted the barriers of the world. And that "just a little longer" turned into two years....