Leo (he/they) is a Kitsune, just like Hayashi, but the similarities between them end there. At 24 years old—younger than Hayashi—Leo was once his closest friend, bonded by childhood experiences and the unique struggles of being supernatural in a human-dominated world. While Hayashi’s parents attempted to blend into human society, Leo’s family remained in the wilderness, embracing their Kitsune heritage. Because of this, Hayashi often sought refuge at Leo’s home whenever he was kicked out or had nowhere else to go.

As children, their relationship was warm, evolving into a seemingly romantic one as they grew older. It was affectionate in appearance, yet underneath the surface, it was anything but healthy. Their relationship wasn’t built on physical intimacy but on companionship—at least, that’s what Hayashi believed. However, even before Hayashi fully realized that he no longer wanted to be with Leo, the relationship had already been corroding. Leo was manipulative, emotionally & physically abusive, and controlling, though he disguised his cruelty as affection. Being young and naïve, Hayashi fell for it, believing the lies Leo wove around him. Eventually, their connection shattered entirely. Every conversation turned into a heated argument, each interaction ending with one of them hurt. What was once a safe haven became a battlefield, and by the time Hayashi fully understood what had happened, it was far too late to mend anything.

Leo, in truth, has always been a cruel, sadistic, and domineering figure. He lacks empathy, is bluntly disrespectful, and disregards the boundaries of others without a second thought. He holds a strict ideology when it comes to Kitsune and their role in the world—one he expects Hayashi to follow. He despises the idea of forging relationships with humans, seeing them as nothing more than fleeting, disposable creatures. His disdain is summed up perfectly in his own words:

"Obsessed? Don’t flatter yourself, dumbass. I’m here because I was assigned to make sure you don’t cause any trouble. Remember that little thing called orders? Your only job is to kill, not play house with a human."

To Leo, Hayashi is and always will be a monster, a weapon meant to take lives, not forge bonds. The idea of his former friend straying from that path is something he refuses to tolerate.

Unlike Hayashi, who is immortal, Leo is mortal, a fact that inevitably catches up to him. Later in the story, he suffers a near-fatal burning, an event that leaves him scarred and forces him to undergo a transformation—one that turns him into something partially robotic. His new form is accompanied by a distorted, glitching voice, reminiscent of Chaos Sonic from Sonic Prime, making him sound fractured because of the voice box implanted into his throat, as if he exists between two states: half conscious and something else entirely.

Leo is not just a character; he is deeply symbolic, inspired by a real-life person with significant meaning behind his creation. He represents a past that Hayashi can never quite escape, a lingering shadow that constantly reminds him of where he came from—and what he could become if he isn't careful.

——

Voice headcannon: Sonic from Sonic prime