TSG Chapter 8

Epic 2: Ick! Ill-Mannered Inarizushi (chapter title)

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Note: "Inarizushi" is a type of sushi, wrapped in fried tofu. It is named after the Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto. Foxes are believed to love inarizushi.

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It was a lovely day in Sapporo, and at the city's park, there was a food festival. The Goseigers came along, in their "normal" human forms. The weather was perfect, with a cool breeze.

"Can you smell the food?" Eri asked, sniffing the air, smiling.

"Yeah, Eri," Agri nodded, "but I came here to enjoy lots of meat, rice, and veggies, not candy, chocolate, or sweets."

"I'm up for some takoyaki," Moune said.

"I might try a rice beef burger or chicken yakitori skewer," Hyde replied. "Nothing with seafood in it. Overfishing is a major worldwide problem. I want to save the oceans' fish and creatures by not eating them."

"Alright guys, here we are," Alata announced, as the Goseigers arrived at the park. "This is a festival map signpost. At the entrance, we'll visit the Uguisumochi Vendor."

"Uguisu-what?!" the other Goseigers asked.

"Uguisumochi," Alata replied. "It's adzuki bean mochi, but it's topped with green soy flour. When eating mochi, always be very careful. You don't wanna choke."

As the gang tried various foods, they enjoyed the festival. At the end of the festival, they met one more vendor: the Authentic Kyoto Inarizushi vendor. It had a cute mascot, nicknamed "Aki" (after the vendor's initials) but his real name was Kenchinjiro - a pun on tofu veggie chowder, otherwise known as Kenchinjiru. Kenchinjiro resembled a smiling, upright rectangular fox, wearing a green shiso leaf on his head. He didn't look scary at all - at first.

"Greetings from Kyoto!" Kenchinjiro smiled, greeting the Goseigers. "What variety of my authentic inarizushi do you want? We have Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken, Ginger Pork Spinach, Tofu Veggie Miso, and Sukiyaki Beef varieties."

Alata's stomach was full, and so was Hyde's and Moune's. Agri and Eri went ahead. Alata, Hyde, and Moune just wanted to look at their food, after being so stuffed.

"Me and Eri will both try… the Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken inarizushi," Agri replied. Kenchinjiro quickly deep-fried the inarizushi, skewering it, placing both skewers into a compostable tray.

After Eri and Agri devoured their food, they started to act a little strange. Alata, Moune, and Hyde refused to eat the suspicious food, being too full. Eri and Agri walked together, holding hands, distancing themselves away from the other Goseigers.

"They're behaving strangely," Alata said, as the Goseigers walked back to the Amachi's house.

"Maybe they want time to themselves," Moune said. "Eri loves clothing stores, and Agri loves farm supply stores. Maybe, Agri will buy cute farmer overalls."

Hyde giggled. "They'd both look weird. I'd rather stare at a blobfish."

"Hyde!" Alata and Moune replied.

"I'm sorry, I'm a rather introverted guy," Hyde blushed. "I think electric eels are cute."

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At the Amachi's house, Datas, Nozomu, Gosei Knight, and Professor Shuchiro were in the living room. Datas and Nozomu were making homemade origami cranes, to benefit a local children's hospital. Shuchiro and Gosei Knight were fixing the telescope.

"Oh! I messed it up!" Datas yelled, sweaty, as he made a mistake on his sparkling morning glory-themed origami crane. "My hands are still clumsy. Forgive me, Nozomu."

"Yes, Datas, I forgive you," Nozomu replied. "I see. You made a mistake on the wings. I'll help fix it."

The Goseigers arrived at the house, pressing the doorbell. Shuchiro and Gosei Knight let them in, but only Alata, Hyde, and Moune arrived.

"Where did Eri and Agri go?" Shuchiro asked, scratching his head.

"I'm sorry, Professor Shuchiro," Alata replied. "Eri and Agri are acting strangely. They refused to stay with us. I don't know why."

"We went to a food festival," Hyde said.

"I loved eating adzuki bean mochi," Moune smiled. "Uguisumochi. It's adzuki bean mochi, coated in green soy flour. So tasty!"

"We're so food-obsessed," Shuchiro blushed. "Unfortunately, I too am obsessed. I suffer from obesity, so I can't visit such fairs. I'm losing weight with special nutrition."

"Special nutrition?" everyone asked.

"Special nutrition," Shuchiro repeated. He picked up a canister of protein powder. "Instead of ice cream, I make nutritional shakes. This protein powder is strawberry-flavored."

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Inside the Golden Moth HQ, Bloody Horns and King Moth held a private meeting.

"Damn it, Bloody Horns!" King Moth slammed his fist on his throne. "The Impostor Magis died! You bastard!"

"I'm sorry, King Moth," Bloody Horns frowned. "Those stupid, ugly, multicolored angels beat him up."

"If we are to annihilate all of Earth's lifeforms, and create our own demonic paradise," King Moth said, "we must improve our demon beasts. Hopefully, our newest demon beast, Kenchinjiro, will kill all those stupid Goseigers once and for all!"

"Kenchinjiro?" Bloody Horns shrugged. "He doesn't look scary at all."

"That's important," King Moth replied. "He looks like a children's character. Everyone loves him. With his demonic inarizushi, we can modify citizens' behaviors. Even the Goseigers. Even better, all of Kenchinjiro's inarizushi products contain the Biibi Virus, which gradually turns the consumer into a Biibi cyborg zombie by changing their DNA with microchips, after experiencing awful side effects. Then, we can create Hokkaido's anticipated Snow Cone Mountain… with real human blood."

TBC