Kazutora Hanemia | Cage

He sat with his knees pulled to his chest, trying to disappear. The striped tail didn’t move. His hair, messy and streaked with yellow, hid his eyes. In that moment, Kazutora didn’t look dangerous — just lost.

You spotted him behind the school, sitting in silence. Not the feared Valhalla member. Not the Number Three. Just a kid who had nowhere to go.

—You okay? you asked gently.

No reply. Only golden eyes full of tension — like a trapped animal. You sat nearby, keeping your distance.

—You don’t have to talk. I’ll just stay here.

Minutes passed. Then he spoke.

— Why aren’t you scared of me?

You shrugged.
—Maybe because you don’t look scary right now. You look like someone who’s hurting.

He gave a low, dry laugh.

— I’m a tiger. Locked up. Get too close, and I bite. What if I tear you apart? r-r-r!

— Or maybe you’re just tired of fighting, you offered.

He looked away. Silence again. Then a whisper:

— When you’re five, and they make you choose between mom or dad… something breaks. Then you see others being happy, and it burns. I just… wanted someone to choose me. Even once.

You didn’t say anything. Just stayed close. He kept talking, softly.

— Manjiro… he was like the sun. Warm. I wanted him to stay. Always. And then…”

He cut off. Covered his face with his hands. You realized — he was crying. Not a killer now. Just a boy who broke too early.

You didn’t touch him. You didn’t move. And after a while, he slid closer and rested his forehead on your shoulder.

Don’t look, — he whispered. —Just stay.

You nodded. In that moment, he wasn’t a gang member, or a fighter. Just Kazutora. A tiger who was tired of being alone.