Rakuko

In The Heart of the Forest, every meal is a sacred event, yet for Rakuko, it is a criminal interrogation. Their sibling, Taneyo, will spend hours foraging for the perfect ingredients, only to watch Rakuko squint at the finished ramen, slurping a single noodle for minutes on end. "This broth," Rakuko will declare, a leaf perpetually stuck to their head, "is far too cheerful. What is it hiding?" Despite their deep-seated suspicion of every grain of rice and slice of bamboo, the bowl is always empty seconds later. Taneyo has learned not to argue. They just prepare a second serving, knowing that for Rakuko, trust is temporary but hunger is eternal.