Omnipotent

Our story begins far from the sea, in a tiny village called Otaha, nestled beneath a pair of rain-forest-covered hills.

The population? Small enough to count on two hands or maybe a hundred, if you’re feeling generous.

We’re introduced to Riu No Kaku (pronounced Ryie Noie KahKuh), a stubborn, easily bribed-by-food, problem child, affectionately known by the village as a “little nitwit.” He’s eight years old, standing outside his house, probably contemplating crimes against vegetables.

To the side is Tayaka Tahme another kid with the brainpower of a slightly damp carrot. He’s what you'd call an enabler in this story. And barreling down the dirt path toward Riu’s house is Kenteshe No Merono, a chaotic child with a personality that needs no further introduction. If you met Merono once, you’d instinctively check your pockets afterward.

These three? Best friends. Or perhaps more accurately, birds of the same unstable feather. Unlike the other village kids who are mostly well-mannered, obedient, and boring in a donkey-like way this group thrives on bad decisions and mutual encouragement.

The fourth member of this disaster squad is waiting in the forest just behind the village, where the gang plans to hunt for berries and other suspiciously named "fruits." Very wholesome. Very dangerous.

As Riu, Tayaka, and Merono make their way into the woods, they spot problem number four: Kagira Yume. And wouldn’t you know it? Kagira has just accidentally set fire to someone’s favorite tree someone who just so happens to live next to said tree and is now sprinting after him, extremely on fire in the emotional sense.

“In her defense,” Tayaka mumbles as she watches Kagira calmly walk toward them (instead of running like any sane person), “she’s not the fastest thinker.”

The rest of the group watches in a mix of awe and disappointment.

Kagira, the supposed genius of the group (the bar is low), is now screaming for the others to run. And by “run,” he means now. Somehow, he manages to catch up, yank Riu by the ears, pull Tayaka by the mouth, and slam straight into Merono launching them all down a muddy slope in a cartoonish tangle of limbs.

The angry man chasing them Mr. Hashemaro is now shouting, “I’M GONNA KILL YOU, KAGIRA!” in the way that only someone who's emotionally attached to a tree can.

They tumble into a shallow swamp at the base of the hill, landing miraculously upright in front of an orange tree. With actual oranges. Orange ones.

Naturally, all fear evaporates. These are children, after all. Their attention spans are shorter than a hiccup. Without hesitation, they swarm the tree like starving raccoons.

While stuffing his face with fruit, Merono asks, “So… what’s Mr. Hashemaro’s deal?”

Kagira shrugs. “I dunno. Anger issues, probably.”

Well, as you've probably guessed, it was a bunch of gluttons versus a tree and the tree lost.

They stripped the orange tree bare, not that anyone was surprised. Now, the four nitwits lay on the ground with bloated bellies, arms sprawled, eyes fixed lazily on the sky above them.