Eight hours later.

Phone alarm screaming at him, the chimera rubbed his eyes. Did he really want to do this? Should he really trust some random stranger on the internet? His mother would be angry with him if she knew he had contacted some random person from who knows where. Shrugging, he clicked on the onigiri hairpins and earrings on. He was going to be twenty five next year, he can think for himself. Surely, this random anonymous stranger wasn't out to kill him.

Messenger bag slung over his shoulder, the food enthusiast gazed at the location once more. Why did this person want him to go to an alleyway for? Tiptoeing through the hallway, the chimera closed his door from behind him. Please, don't let Strix be awake at this hour and see him leave. Television in the living room quietly blaring with a silly soap opera, the college graduate grit his teeth. Oh, no, he was spotted.

"Huh, Siorc, where you going this early?" Strix asked, yawning. "You going on a date or something?"

Question coming his way, the hyena's tail stuck upward. Ah, no, there it was, the inquiry. What should he say? Should he say he's going to the park for a walk? Ah, no, it's not open at this hour. Maybe he should say he's going to investigate the paranormal food phenomenon somewhere. Surely, that would be believable, right?

[I'm meeting with someone from the Paranormal Food Investigation Team.] Slow scrolling text across his tablet said.

"I see. Please, be careful. I dunno why you're meeting strangers from the internet, you probably shouldn't," Strix said, yawning. "But, you're an adult. I'm not going to stop you. I'll let Pira and the others you went out." He let out another yawn as he said such. "See you later."

[Don't tell Pira about this, please. Just tell him I'm out with friends.] Slow scrolling text across his tablet said.

"Alright, don't know why you're being so sneaky," Strix responded. "See ya."

Plugging the walking instructions into his phone, the chimera turned on his flashlight. Finding himself in a cramped alleyway, a terrifying blue vortex waited for him. What in the world is this thing, and how did it get here? Letter on the ground waiting for him, he read it for a moment. Instructions coming his way to count background from twenty in his head, the paranormal food investigator closed his eyes. Twenty, nineteen, eighteen, seventeen, sixteen, fifteen, fourteen, thirteen, twelve, eleven, ten, nine, eight, seven, six.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

Poof.

Intense blue light engulfing him, the hyena screeched as a strange space opened up in front of him. Vortex pushing him forward, he grit his teeth. What is this? Dragged towards the light, he closed his eyes. Whatever this thing is, it's unreal. Someone pinch him, he has to be dreaming! Opening his eyes once more, a rural Japanese town awaited him. Phone buzzing, one unread message awaited him.

{Anonymous}

{If you received this message, that means you have made it to Japan. You should be in a little rural town known as Yoshino, Japan. It is almost noon by the time you arrive here. Head to a house with a red roof, a group of rabbit chimeras will be expecting you. Engage with hotpot with them until the monster appears. The eldest brother will provide you a katana as instructed.}

Reading the message, the hyena broke into a sweat. Wait a second, how did this person get his phone number? This person sure dug deep into his personal information! Maybe he shouldn't have joined this team after all. Finding a house with a red roof, he slowly knocked on the door. This was the right home, wasn't it? Little farm on the outside, he gulped. He didn't ruin their soil did they? Door opening, a serious look awaited him.

"Hi there, are you Siorc?" the person in the doorframe asked. "You are here to help with the hotpot ghost, right?" Their ears dropped beside them as they said such. "My English is okay, right? You're from Italy? Sorry, I don't speak Italian."

Standing by the entrance had been a tall adult masculine appearing rabbit chimera with light pink hair pulled into two high buns. Pink eyes to match, the stranger adorned karate gi. Seeing such, he could not help but wonder, were they a karate sensei? Had he come at a bad time? He sure hoped not. It would be quite terrible if they had to run somewhere. Tablet out in front of him, he turned on the auto translate to Japanese button as he scribbled away.

[That's me. I'm here to help you with the hotpot ghost problem.] Slow scrolling text across his tablet said. He then scribbled some more. [And, your English is fine, please don't worry about it.]

"Oh, that's good, I'm glad," the stranger said. "I am Nousagi. Everyone else is waiting for you. Come in."

Door opening, the hyena's hands grew steamy. Here he was, in a stranger's home dealing with a paranormal food issue. Was he really ready for this? Maybe he wasn't. Door closing behind him, he knew it was too late. Guided towards a marble wooded room with an old timey feeling to it, a wave of unease flow through him. Had he gone back in time to Edo Japan, too? Spotting a smartphone tucked away in the rabbit's karategi, he shook his head. Maybe this family just abided strongly to old traditions.

"He's here," Nousagi said out loud. "Everyone, introduce yourselves."

"Thank you for coming all the way here to help us with the hotpot ghost," a nearly identical pink rabbit said, bowing her head. "My name is Kouneko."

Sitting at the edge of the table had been a tall pink rabbit chimera woman with short rosy blush hair that had been braided on the left side of her head. Adorning a low cut pink shirt with a heart on it and the text sugoi above it, she adorned a short purple skirt. Seeing such outfit, he wondered. What kind of fashion did Japan have to offer? He knew the manga he had always been reading was far from a good resource.

"Hello, I am Shunko," a black haired rabbit girl said, bowing her head.

Bowing her head in the left corner had been a young adult rabbit chimera with long black hair pulled into low braids. Light brown eyes looking rather full of wisdom, her face had been covered to the brim with freckles. Adorning an olden time pink kimono with a light yellow underlayer, the hyena did a double take. Was he in modern Japan or another era altogether? He really didn't know.

"Honestly, why did you ask for a foreigner? I highly doubt European scum like him knows anything about hotpot," a short black haired rabbit in the corner said, head turned away.

"Isamu-kun, I assure you, he's the cream of the crop," Kouneko said. "The owner of the food blog said he's culinarily licensed."

"And, you're going to just take their word for it?" Isamu asked, sighing. "You know what? Whatever. I'm Isamu. You're not going to last a minute anyway."

Speaking with low blows in the corner had been a short young adult rabbit chimera with short black hair pulled into a low bun. Adorning a white robe with a pink rabbit on the side, they adorned a black skirt beneath. Alto voice upon them, the chimera placed his hand on his chin. Kouneko used the kun suffix at the end of their name. Should he address them as a he? He supposed it didn't hurt to ask.

"Um, please don't mind Isamu, he's uh, proud of his heritage," an orange haired rabbit girl said. "My apologies. My name is Shiroka. Please, don't add anything too spicy to our hotpot."

Standing nervous in the corner had been a short young adult rabbit girl with short dark orange hair pulled into a high ponytail. Sporting light orange puffy hair accessories, she had pure white eyes that looked almost invisible. Adorning a light orange taisho style robe, the hyena couldn't make sense of the time anymore.

"Shiroka, why ya gettin' all nervous for? We didn't put out anything weird! The dude told us not to, remember?" the last rabbit said. "Oi, name's Hatsu, nice to meetchya."

Sitting at the center of the table had been a rather short young adult rabbit chimera with spiky dark orange hair pulled into two stringy pigtails. Pure white eyes like Shiroka's he adorned a pitch black open coat and plain white tee. This dude, he looked straight out of one of those delinquent manga. What was it called again, Wind Smacker? Yeah, that one. But, he shook his head at such. This wasn't an anime, stop thinking Japan was like the manga!

[Pleasure to meet you all. Let's start with the hotpot. What do we do to summon the hotpot monster?] Slow scrolling text across the tablet asked.

"We all have to take turns putting stuff in the pot, and once we put down the ingredients for hamburg steak and sprinkle in some rice, the hotpost ghost should come," Nousagi said.

"Hey, I thought I said nothing weird in the hotpot!" Shiroka cried.

"Don't worry, we're not going to put anything spicy in, calm down, alright?" Kouneko said.

"You always say that, and then you load the dish with lots of bell peppers!" Shiroka shouted. "Please don't!"

"Come on, Shiro-chan, ya gotta learn to live a little!" Hatsu cried. "This is a hotpot for crying out loud!"

"No, no, no, no bell peppers!" Shiroka cried." Onii-chan, why would you even suggest we add those?"

"Could you grow up already?" Isamu said, sighing. "So, we all take turns adding stuff to the hotpot as we cook it, right? Fine, I'll go first."

"Isamu-nii-chan, don't you think we should let the guest go first?" Shunko asked.

"Why should I?" He plopped down the meat into the pot as he said such.

Corned beef slammed into the pot, the chimera broke into a sweat. So, everyone had to take turns putting stuff into the hotpot, right? Ah, man, this was nerve wrecking. Nousagi dropping down the corn next, he stared at the recipe in the corner. Someone's adding rice next? He supposed he'll add in the ingredients for hamburg steak.

Shunko dropping vegetables into the pot, the hyena could hear Shiroka in the corner cry about peppers again. Tuning such out, he tried with all his might not to sigh. Man, what did peppers ever do to her? But, he discarded such thoughts immediately. Maybe someone pranked her as a child and she had despised bell peppers ever since, who knows?

Kouneko dropping down some base foods he did not know the name of, the chimera placed his hand on his chin. So, hotpot involved mixing up a lot of foods together as a group activity, right? So, they were trying to make a hamburg steak onigiri mix? Very interesting. Would this taste good? He didn't know, he probably wouldn't get a lick.

Shiroka and Hatsu adding their portions in next, the rice had begun to snap and crackle. Seeing such, the chimera could feel an intense wave of unease flow through him. Why was it doing that? Something was wrong with this, for sure. Eyes soon turning towards him, the food enthusiast's hands shook as he prepared to drop down the steak meat. Should he really do this?

Hamburg steak meat added to the pot, the party of seven stirred together. Intense rancid scent overtaking the room, the young adult nearly gagged. Where did this stench come from? Pot growing cold, his eyes opened wide as a new visitor had soon joined everyone from beyond the grave. Fingers pointed, everyone stood up.

Large rice ball with corn falling out of it and steak meat dripping, the chimera covered his eyes. This monstrosity, it came from the hotpot. Why did this happen? Was this going on everywhere hotpots were occurring? He needed to hurry up and destroy this creature before it's too late. Monster bouncing up and down, it soon had a weapon of its own.

"Eat your peppers!" the onigiri monster shouted.

"No, never!" Shiroka cried. "I won't eat peppers!"

"Raaaaaaaaaah!" the onigiri monster screeched.

Sword becoming one with the pepper despising rabbit, the young adult nearly gagged as their torso had a brand new hole in it. Monster bouncing around, another blow decorated Shiroka's ears like a strawberry patch in the middle of spring. Siblings running out, Nousagi turned towards the hyena.

"Siorc, hurry, take this and aim for the gut!" Nousagi cried.

Katana handed to him, the chimera broke into a sweat. Aim for the gut, where was that? Juices dripping on the floor, he took a deep breath. Only way to find out is to strike! Jumping upward, the hyena let out a battle cry. Cornbeef hamburg steak onigiri, begone! Veggie bottom sliced like a fruit ninja, the creature hissed.

"How dare youuuuuuuuuuuuu, youuuuuuuu'l paaaaaaaaaaaay!" the onigiri monster shouted.

"Now, slice them in half, hurry, Shiroka's bleeding!" Nousagi cried.

Taking a deep breath, the chimera prepared himself. Right, cut down the center. Leaping upwards towards the ceiling, the food enthusiast's temporary blade did the talking. It's like using a knife in the kitchen, three, two, one, down the center! Creature screaming as it had been two halves of one monster, the juices dropped down like chocolate rain.

Room cleaned, the young adult hurried with the family to emergency services. Doctors saying they had come just in time, a small sum of money had been given to the hyena for his assistance. Bidding farewell to the rabbit family, the young adult dragged himself back to the strange blue vortex. Dragging himself home, an intense wave of fatigue flowed through him.

Slamming himself onto his bed, a wave of regret flowed through him. There were food ghosts around the world, weren't there? Maybe he should have never agreed to join this investigation team after all. Eyes closing as his head hit the pillow, another regret dragged itself down with him into the dream world.

Maybe he should have pursued a different degree as well. But, he quickly backtracked. No, this is all he ever wanted, to become the best cultural chef in the world. Closing his eyes once more, he let out a yawn as the world of tormenting dreams was ready to take him away once more.

Hopefully whatever mission he had next wouldn't be tiresome.