Arthur Kirkland was in the dilemma of the century.
He would even have liked to call Parliament into session and ask for their input on the matter.
He thought his previous trial was difficult. But this… this was just too much.
He stared intently at the bowl placed in front of him.
He liked rice. He really did. And he liked the miso soup next to it. A bit salty, but edible. And he also liked fish- so the fish placed in front of him was not a problem either.
But as much as he liked rice, he stared at it in horror at the moment. White, fluffy, and obviously just out of the rice cooker, it was emitting steam and warmth.
But the signature aroma that comes from newly prepared rice was missing.
It was missing because it was being violently snuffed out but the… objects on top of it.
Arthur looked up wearily at the man sitting across from him.
"K-kiku," he stammered, trying not to grimace from the…aroma. "W-what is this? I-it smells…strong…"
"Those are fermented soybeans, Arthur san," the other replied, smiling. "It's very good for your digestive system and hair."
Why Kiku mentioned hair was beyond Arthur. He better not have been talking about his eyebrows. Because there was nothing wrong with his eyebrows.
The putrid smell pierced the air and made the back of his nose hurt. And it was brown and decomposing, and you could see the strings forming between the beans, which apparently used to be soybeans. He liked soy sauce. Soy sauce is good.
He had just gone through one trial the other day, when Kiku ordered macha ice cream and offered him a bite. It was GREEN. GREEN. And so bitter. What's the point of ice cream if it's bitter and not sweet?
Was this really food? This couldn't possibly be food. Arthur's head was swimming, staring at the "thing" in front of him.
"This has got to look and smell worse than things I make," he thought to himself. And then promptly went to kick himself mentally. There was nothing wrong with his cooking!
He felt like he would throw up if he got any closer to it.
But Kiku was sitting there, right across the table from him, smiling expectantly. There was no way he could not eat it.
Arthur picked up his chopstick, hand slightly shaking. He picked up the bowl of rice in front of him, and closed his eyes.
"Amen," he said in his head, as he took a scoop of the rice and the…brown stuff and shoved it in his mouth.
Kiku looked on in confusion as his guest ran to the bathroom at full speed.
"It's supposed to be good for your stomach," he mused, picking up his own chopsticks and rice bowl. "Foreigners really need to acquire this taste… nattou is so delicious…"
