Ro-Ro and my-my

The sun hung high over Cow Island—not because it was noon, but because the island itself was shaped like a cow, and that was just how things worked here.
It was 6 in the morning when the alarm clock blared its daily chant:
"It's six in the morning, six in the morning, six in the morning, six in the morning~"
Ro-Ro groaned, eyes half-lidded as he blindly swatted at the clock. His hand finally found its mark, slamming down on the device with enough force to make it bounce on the nightstand.
"Damn clock... I swear, one of these days, I'm gonna break you." He stretched his arms over his head, popping his shoulders before lazily rolling out of bed.
Ro-Ro was twelve, with brown skin and striking warm, golden-brown eyes that held a glimmer of mischief even when he was half-asleep. His face was soft and round, radiating curiosity and warmth, but it was his massive afro that made him stand out. Thick and fluffy, it added an extra inch or two to his already confident presence.
He dressed for comfort—today, it was a loose short-sleeved button-up with a few subtle stripes, paired with worn-out shorts that had seen better days. His hoodie, slung over the back of his chair, would come into play later if the morning air got too cold.
Yawning, he cracked his knuckles and made his way downstairs, where his twin sister, My-My, was already up and moving.
She was in front of the TV, working out to Tim Boar's Hardcore Fitness Hour, punching the air in time with the buff, overly enthusiastic instructor.
My-My was a whirlwind of energy, dressed in a sporty red zip-up jacket with white accents, a snug white tank top, and dark blue short shorts. Long white knee-high socks covered the bottom of her legs, with a single red kneepad strapped to her left knee and right knee, a habit from her rigorous training. Her sneakers—green and black—looked worn but well-loved.
Her dark brown hair cascaded down her back, just past her shoulders, slightly messy but effortlessly cool. A silver hairpin held back a few loose strands on the right side, keeping them out of her piercing, determined eyes. She was always moving, always bouncing on her heels, like a coiled spring ready to explode into action.
"1! 2! 3! 4! Come on, push harder! Feel the burn!" Tim Boar shouted from the TV.
"Yeah! Push harder! Feel the burn!" My-My echoed enthusiastically, punching the air like she was in a fight for her life.
Ro-Ro shook his head. "You really out here talking to the TV again?"
My-My grinned, not missing a beat. "What? Tim says if you engage with the workout, it works better!"
Ro-Ro rolled his eyes, walking to the kitchen cabinet. He grabbed the box of cornflakes, only to find it suspiciously light. He shook it. Nothing. He turned it upside down. A single crumb fell out.
"Oh, for the love of—My-My, did you eat all the cereal?"
"Yep," she said, still mid-punch.
Ro-Ro's eyebrow twitched. "Why?!"
"Because I need food to work out, duh." My-My finally paused, resting her hands on her hips. "And besides, all the candy and sweets are gone too."
Ro-Ro folded his arms, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Wow, I wonder who ate all of those."
My-My put a finger to her chin, feigning deep thought. "Hmmm… yeah, that is a mystery…"
Ro-Ro's patience wore thin. He was no saint—short-tempered, impulsive, and quick to snap—but his bark was often worse than his bite. He had the aura of a street-tough delinquent, the kind that talked big and wasn't afraid to intimidate people who were too scared to push back. But at his core, he had a strong sense of justice. He wouldn't pick on the weak—only those who deserved it. And right now, his sister deserved at least a little verbal smackdown.
"My-My, I swear, if I go to the fridge and see nothing but disappointment, I'm putting you in a headlock."
"Oh, please," My-My scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. "Like you could."
"Bet."
They locked eyes, tension thick in the air. Then—
BZZT!
The alarm on My-My's watch buzzed. Her eyes widened. "Oh crap! I'm late for swim practice!"
She bolted upstairs in a blur, leaving Ro-Ro standing in the kitchen, still hungry, still holding the empty cereal box. He exhaled sharply, shaking his head.
"…Man, I need a new family."
Ro-Ro stepped outside, hands in his pockets, and fished out a slightly crumpled cigarette. He tucked it between his lips, lighting it with a stolen lighter, and took a slow drag. Smoke curled into the morning air as he exhaled, eyes scanning the sleepy town.
"Man, oh man… what a boring day."
Cow Island was small—too small. Just a speck in the vast ocean, where everyone knew everyone, and nothing ever really changed. The island's landscape was a strange mix of rolling green hills and rugged cliffs, with a few dense forests scattered across the terrain. The town itself was simple: a marketplace, some scattered homes, and a few run-down buildings that passed for businesses.
The islanders were tough, used to making do with what little they had. While some worked honest jobs—fishing, farming, trading—others, like Ro-Ro, had to get creative. He and My-My had no parents, no safety net, no one to rely on but each other. So he did what he had to do to survive. Pickpocketing, mugging, swiping goods from careless travelers.
Did he hate it? No.Did he feel bad about it? Not really.Was he ashamed? Not even a little.
It was just the way things were.
He walked through the dusty streets, past merchants setting up their stalls, past tired workers hauling crates, past kids playing games with sticks and marbles. Nobody questioned where Ro-Ro got his money—they either feared him or turned a blind eye.
Before long, he found himself at the edge of the island's forest. The trees here were massive, their roots twisting like veins through the earth. He stepped over a fallen log and found his usual spot—a wide, flat rock that overlooked a small stream. He plopped down, resting his arms behind his head, and stared up at the sky.
Big. Open. Endless.
He let out a long sigh.
This island? This wasn't enough. He knew there was more out there. He'd heard stories—about wild lands where people could jump over mountains, fight monsters, and uncover lost treasures. About cities built on the backs of giant turtles. About arenas where warriors battled for glory. The world beyond Cow Island was vast and unpredictable, full of danger and excitement.
And yet… he was stuck here.
That is, until My-My ruined everything.
It started with her obsession with swimming. She was always training, always pushing herself to be the best. One day, she got it into her head that she wasn't just going to compete—she was going to be the best in the world. But Cow Island was too small for that. No real competitions, no real coaches. She needed to leave.
And then she did something stupid.
She challenged one of the island's big-shot fighters—a guy she had no business messing with—to a race across the bay. If she won, he had to sponsor her trip off the island. If she lost… well, she didn't exactly think that part through.
Ro-Ro wasn't about to let her face that alone.
Ro-Ro barely had time to take another drag of his cigarette before My-My came sprinting through
"Yo, Ro! I won! I won!" she shouted, skidding to a stop in front of him, barely winded.
Ro-Ro arched an eyebrow. "Already?"
"Yeah! It was easy! I smoked that guy—I'm surprised myself!" She grinned, hands on her hips, chest puffed out with pride.
Ro-Ro took another slow drag, exhaling a thin stream of smoke before flicking the cigarette away. "Huh. Well, that's that, then. Guess we take off for a couple days, see what's out there, and then come back to live our boring-ass lives."
My-My hesitated, her excited expression faltering. "Uh… actually, I'm thinking of not coming back."
Ro-Ro's relaxed posture stiffened. His blue eyes locked onto hers, searching. "…What?"
"I mean, Ro… this island's too small for me. If I wanna be the best, I can't stay here. There's nothing left for me to learn. No real competition. No big opportunities. If I don't leave now, I never will."
Ro-Ro clicked his tongue, looking away, his jaw tightening. He'd always known My-My was restless, that she wanted more, but the idea of her actually leaving? Like, for good?
He wasn't sure if it pissed him off or made him sick.
"So what, you're just gonna bail? Leave me behind? After everything?"
"No! I mean, you could come with me."
Ro-Ro narrowed his eyes. "Tch. And do what? Swim laps with you?"
"No, dumbass! There's more out there than just swimming. There's the tournament."
That got his attention.
The Grand Proving.
Held once a year on the mainland, it was a brutal test—combat, survival, strategy, endurance—every year was different, and only a handful of people passed. But those who did? They earned something more than just a title.
My-My's eyes lit up as she leaned forward. "Ro, listen—if we pass, we get a Badge. That's proof we survived. And it's not just for bragging rights—it's our ticket to Ougo."
Ro-Ro frowned. "Ougo?"
She nodded. "Yeah. The land beyond the Giant Gate. It's where the real adventure starts. You show the badge to the Heavenly Knights, and they let you through. Once you're in, you can hunt legendary beasts, find treasure, explore ruins—whatever you want and you get a cool watch too."
Ro-Ro scratched his cheek, processing that. "…Huh. And the watch?"
"Oh! That thing's sick," My-My grinned. "It's not just a regular watch—it's got a map that updates in real time and can scan monsters to give you info on them. Weaknesses, strength level, habitat—stuff that could actually save our asses."
Ro-Ro crossed his arms. "So lemme get this straight. We bust our asses in this tournament, maybe survive, maybe win—then we get some fancy trinkets that let us through a big-ass door so we can fight monsters and chase treasure?"
"Exactly!" My-My beamed. "C'mon, Ro. Think about it—you wouldn't have to rob weak-ass merchants anymore. You'd have real fights. Real chances to prove yourself. And me? I'd finally get the competition I need."
Ro-Ro leaned back against the rock, staring at the sky. "…Tch. And what makes you think either of us could win?"
"'Cause we're us."
Ro-Ro smirked. Cocky as hell, just like him.
"…Hmph. Sounds like a scam."
"It's real, Ro! And we've got nothing to lose."
He exhaled sharply, tapping his fingers against his knee. Deep down, he knew she was right. This island wasn't enough. Never had been. But leaving for good? That was a whole different thing.
"…Alright," he finally muttered. "Fine. I'll go."
My-My grinned. "Hell yeah!"
"But," he added, standing up and cracking his neck, "if this tournament's as tough as they say, you better not slow me down."
My-My scoffed. "Me? Slow you down? Please. Try to keep up, Ro."
They locked eyes. For the first time in a long time, Ro-Ro felt something other than boredom.
Maybe—just maybe—this was exactly what they needed.