ZENJIN

Zenjin Chapter 3 : Kurai Neza

We Now Begin An Third Protagonist In The Country Outskirts Of Aether.

The Beginning Of Kurai Neza

Kurai Neza was different from the day she was born. With vibrant green hair and piercing green eyes, she stood out among the other children at the orphanage. But it wasn’t just her appearance that set her apart—it was the way she was, how she saw the world without the emotions that others seemed to feel so naturally. From as far back as she could remember, the other kids avoided her, whispering behind her back, mocking her indifference. They found her strange, and her abnormal strength only added to the fear they had of her. No one wanted to play with Kurai, and the sadness and loneliness she felt grew with each passing day.

Ma'am Lang, the caretaker of the orphanage, was the only one who saw beyond Kurai's differences. She would often find Kurai sitting alone, staring out the window with a distant look in her eyes. Ma'am Lang would sit beside her, offering gentle words of comfort, and though Kurai's face remained emotionless, inside, those moments brought her a small flicker of happiness.

As the years went by, Ma'am Lang is about to retire as a caretaker. The children of the orphanage all found homes, one by one, until only Kurai was left. Ma'am Lang, seeing the loneliness in Kurai's eyes, made a decision that changed both of their lives forever. She adopted Kurai, taking her in as her own daughter. For the first time in her life, Kurai felt a sense of belonging, and the joy she experienced in being loved by Ma'am Lang filled the emptiness inside her.
As she cried in Ma'am Lang's arms, she spoke with gentle joy. "Thank you, thank you so much." Ma'am Lang smiled, knowing that she would nurture her with love.

Zenjin and Kurai Friendly Rivals

The rivalry between Kurai Neza and Zenjin began in the most unexpected way—a chance meeting on a bus headed to a martial arts summer camp when they were just six years old. Both were eager to prove themselves, not only to their peers but to each other, and neither knew that this summer would mark the beginning of a lifelong bond.

Zenjin, full of quiet excitement, had been preparing for the camp all year. As the day finally arrived, he stood with Bravely, Bravely's parents, and his mother at the bus stop, his mother embracing him tightly. “Be brave out there, Zenjin,” she said, her voice filled with pride. “We’ll be there to watch you in the tournament in two weeks.”

With a final wave, Zenjin boarded the bus, scanning for a seat. Almost every spot was taken except for one next to a girl with striking emerald-green hair. He approached her cautiously. “Is this seat taken?” he asked politely.

Kurai, who was lost in thought, snapped out of her reverie and quickly responded, “No, no, no you don’t—” But before she could finish, Zenjin sat down, oblivious to her initial hesitation.

He turned to her, his eyes wide with surprise and admiration. “Wow, you look really, really awesome,” he said with a calm demeanor that caught Kurai off guard.

Kurai, used to being avoided because of her unusual appearance, was surprised by his response. “You don’t find me weird?” she asked cautiously.

Zenjin shook his head, a smile spreading across his face. “No way. I think you could be a really cool person to be around. I just have this feeling that you’re special.”

Kurai blushed, a rare occurrence for her. “Thank you,” she murmured, then introduced herself. “I’m Kurai.”

“I’m Zenjin,” he replied, and just like that, the two became fast friends.

On the way to the camp, they talked about everything under the sun, but the one topic that excited them both the most was fighting. They discovered a shared passion for martial arts and a mutual love for the thrill of combat. Fighting, they agreed, was fun as hell.