'Kaido! Wake up, breakfast is ready!'
Kaido did not need to be reminded twice of his favourite time of the day. He brushes his teeth and showers simultaneously. He barges into the kitchen and reaches for the loaf of bread.
His mother slaps the back of his hand, but Kaido quickly retreats before she can land the blow.
'Kaido! Have you washed your hands? Only one slice, remember?' Kaido reluctantly turns on the tap. He is not satisfied with the underwhelming portion, but he nibbles on it anyway.
Today is Sunday, and Kaido and his family head to the town hall. Normally, they would be heading to church instead. But today was different. There has been no rain for the past month, and the farmers have brought less to the markets. Kaido spots Gendo's family and waves. They stare at him and turn around.
Inside, angry voices bombard Kaido from all sides.
'My family is on the brink of starvation! This cannot go on!'
'This must be divine punishment from Demetra! It has to be!'
'Please, calm down, everyone! I am sure if we all just endure a little longer, a plentiful harvest shall be upon us!' Mayor Nogan stands behind the podium. He looks smaller than usual; his face is no longer round and plump.
'Oh, gimme a break! You probably stole all the crops for yourself, didn't you, Nogan?' The angry mob rejects Nogan's consolations,
'Yeah! Why don't you cut back on the steak and eggs and chew on some bread like the rest of us?'
Nogan's face grew pale, and his eyes flickered as he scanned the room. His eyes met Kaido's, and then Nogan grinned.
'Everyone! I have found the culprit to blame for our misery!' Nogan points at Kaido, 'The reason why this drought curses us is none other than the glutinous sinners that lurk within us. Feast your eyes upon that swine who hungers constantly! He is insatiable, and so long as he remains, we are doomed to be punished for the crimes of indulgence that he alone has committed.'
Kaido felt the crowd's gaze upon him. At first, everyone remained silent, contemplating. But then someone rallied round, and then more and more of them chanted along.
'Butch the pig!' they screamed as they cornered Kaido and his family.
Kaido could barely remember how his family managed to escape; He vaguely remembered running through barren fields holding on to his mother's hand dearly. They kept on running and running through the endless patches of arid fields until they reached the mountains.
Kaido will always remember that night. It was cold and dark in the cave. Father kept on mumbling something and even lashed out at mother. This was the first time Kaido saw this side of him.
'We should just abandon him, Glinda. We won't make it to the border with him gnawing our supplies!'
'How could you say that, Pete! He is our son!'
'Well for all I know he might as well be the son of the devil! We lost everything because of him, but we can still go back with Steve.'
Steve whimpered as the brothers tugged each other tighter. Kaido forced himself to hold back, but ultimately failed to resist.
Kaido remembered being cold and hungry as he slowly dozed off. He had a dream of his family, they had a big meal together, and everyone was smiling and happy.
Mother patted him on the head and caressed him. She spoke softly as he lay in her lap:
''Don't feel ashamed of being special, my son, you will always be precious to me. And someday soon, you will meet people who will appreciate and love you like me.'
By the time he woke up, the sun was out again, but his family was gone.
All that was left were a few packs of chocolate and a loaf of bread.
'Why am I like this?' Kaido allowed himself to embrace the guilt and shame that accompanied him.
Somehow, Kaido managed to find the strength to push himself up again. He wandered down the mountains, just walking in the opposite direction from the one he remembered coming from.
Kaido could not tell how long his trek had been; every time he felt he could not go any further, he would spot an object in the distance and think how much it looked like food. He had passed the caramel sundae bowl, a dozen French fries with parmesan, meatballs and spaghetti, a chocolate-dipped doughnut and finally this massive human-shaped raisin. He caved in to his fantasies and took a bite at the raisin.
'Yeowww! Motherfucker!'
One good blast of pepper spray pulled Kaido out of his delirious state. The burning pain that scorched his eyes, nose and mouth kick-started his soprano career as the dancing flames took him higher.
'Yo kid, where's your parents?'
'Don't bother, Bruno, kid can't even hear you over his own screaming. Just bring him over to the rest and they'll probably get him.'
The two men dragged Kaido onto a vehicle. By the time the burning wore off, Kaido had found himself amongst a sea of people in a large, unventilated room, completely sealed off from the outside world.
There were all sorts of people standing next to him, most of them adults. They wore patched, dirty clothing just like Kaido. A lot of them had half-opened wounds and scars covering their bodies, their expressions grim, mixed with anger and confusion.
In front of them was a stage, a podium and a row of seats. A squad of policemen entered the hall, armed and in linear formation. Leading the march was one of the two cops whom Kaido bumped into. Able to take a closer look this time, Kaido noticed his missing left eyebrow and, more hauntingly, his Glasgow smile. The man took the podium while the others stood before the seats.
'Good afternoon, I'm Galen Gibbs, head of the immigration and border control department.'
'I presume you're all here today to cross the border. We are well aware of the terrible famine that is going on.' Galen snaps his fingers, and several uniformed men emerge, pushing bar trolleys into the hall. They had brought out mysterious servings concealed by dome lids.
'Unfortunately for you lot, Vanheim is no charity. We have limited quotas for refugees, and we expect you to earn your place here.'
Galen picks up one of the serving plates and reveals its contents. On the dish was a bowl of something; the pungent odour spread quickly across the hall. Many started gagging and covering their mouths. Galen tilted the bowl to show the grey, gelatinous substance it contained. It did not seem mouldy, but the fact that it bore no other merit made it less appealing than anything that mould would consume.
'Most of you bear no special skill or talent that our country lacks, and will be a liability more than an asset.' Galen said.
'There is, however, one thing we Vanheimians love about you lot…' Galen tosses the bowl towards the crowd, and it shatters upon impact.
At first, no one dared to touch the filth; its rotten scent infused the air, a jarring warning for those crazy enough to consume it.
'Don't do it, Bo...'
'I haven't eaten for a week … it cannot be worse than starving.'
Desperation drives Insanity. Kaido felt ants crawling up his skin as he watched the man chug the mixture down his throat.
'It's the fact that you lot are so insatiable.' Galen smiles as he finishes his sentence.
'Our harvests are abundant with plenty in excess, and we're happy to share this fortune with those who can entertain us.'
The man who ate the stew looked pale. He barely managed to swallow the substance as he collapsed onto the floor. Two guards held him by the arm and escorted him out of the hall. On the stage, two officers rolled out a whiteboard, and Galen picked up a pen and drew a line.
'So listen up! For the first hundred of you to finish that stew, we will guarantee you access to Vanheim and a fruitful career in Hedon's Garden. Those of you who are left can scram, there is no place for you here, not until you can properly satisfy us!'
A stampede broke out, and the bowls of slop flew off the shelves.
Screams, fights and stealing. Kaido froze in place as the rampant crowd fought over the dreadful stew they avoided mere minutes ago.
Bang!
The gunshots tranquilised the crowd. They started lining up and quietly sat down to slurp on their portions. Kaido hurried towards the line, curiously peeking his head towards the front and back. He noticed there was someone else doing the same, the only figure that matched his height:
'A girl!' Kaido thought. The girl looked frail, despite the weariness of her complexion; she could not be much older than Kaido. She brushed aside her messy brown fringes to reveal dilated pupils. Kaido's cheeks felt warm; he shifted his gaze back to the front to find himself almost at the front.
The stew did not look any better up front. Its intense smell suggested an acidic taste that would erode Kaido's palette. Nonetheless, Kaido cautiously took a sip.
His body jerked as the stimulant triggered a gagging response. Kaido had never disliked eating, but now he was repelled by the mere thought of taking another bite. He looked around helplessly as if someone else would take the bullet for him.
But not a single person had finished the stew. Some had chugged too rapidly and spewed out more than they had drunk, and some endured quietly as they took longer and longer to recover from each subsequent slurp.
Somehow, Kaido managed to endure the torturous meal. He looked at the whiteboard, no strokes. Kaido approached the guards slowly, but then he saw the girl again.
The girl was holding the bowl of stew, barely eaten. She was crying.
His chest felt heavy. Kaido instinctively stepped forward but avoided eye contact. Despite the clear strain her body suffered, her fair complexion continued to radiate an embracing warmth.
'Are you ok?' Kaido said after a few seconds.
The girl looked at him, she sniffed.
'I'm Ffion… what's your name?' She smiled meakly, her eyes still red.
'Ke… Kaido,' his sight flashed over her eyes and quickly returning to the ground.
'Good luck with the stew?' Kaido regretted his words the second they left his mouth. What was he saying?
Ffion stared at him, as if remembering something, a flicker of hope emerged from her pupils.
'I don't know how to ask this… it's not fair for you, but I really need your help.' Ffion held out the stew,
'Please Kaido… you're my only hope. I tried… I really did try to eat it! But my body just can't take it the way yours can. I have nowhere else to go if they turn me away, I'll do anything I can to pay you back after this!'
Kaido took over the stew even before Ffion asked. He took a deep breath and proceeded to slurp down the fluid in one clean motion.
As he slurped, Kaido caught a glimpse of Ffion's expression changing. The delicate girl beamed as he turned over the empty bowl. He felt terrific, he was her knight in shining armour being embraced by her admiration.
'Thank you! Thank you so much!' Ffion embraced him passionately. Flustered, Kaido stood there like a fool, laughing gingerly.
'Let's find the guards!' Ffion said.
But before they could take another step, they were blocked by two bulky men.
'We saw what you did there boy, you're quite the glutton aren't you?' One man chuckled.
'He is indeed! Even my pigs wouldn't eat that dogcrap they fed us. How on earth did you manage to eat two!?'
Kaido instinctively stepped back, placing one hand on his belly, pushing it ever so subtly.
The pair sprang into action, one grabbing Ffioin by the arm and the other Kaido's. The man's grip was strong, squeezing him tightly.
'Now, why not be a darling and help a friend out son?' The man smiled menacingly, his bowl already touching Kaido's lips.
'This is hell,' Kaido thought.
'I want to go home.'
But what was there at home?
Butch the Pig!
Glutinous Swine!
Insatiable!
Kaido wept silently, a surge of sadness and anger fueling his appetite. Suddenly, he found the desire to eat again.
'Insatiable,' Kaido picked up the bowl,
'I am INSATIABLE!!!' Kaido roared.
His battle cry broke the silence looming across the hall. Heads turned, and gasps emerged as Kaido swigged the bowl clean. Breaking free from his captor, Kaido reaches for the other man's bowl, spilling half on the floor and the rest down his throat.
It took a good second before anyone reacted. But once someone figured there was an opportunity to exploit, a movement started. For every bowl Kaido consumed, an ungrateful recipient was there to collect it. Like jolly taverngoers, the crowd cheered him on as he emptied one bowl after the other.
'Chug! Chug! Chug!'
'Atta boy! Go on!'
'Miracle boy! Drink that stew!'
Resentment was no longer the only force that was pushing Kaido. The irritation was growing increasingly numb as sweet adrenaline diluted the pain. Perhaps mother was right, a big appetite was not something to be ashamed of; Here, his gluttony was his asset.
But even on cloud nine, one eventually reaches a limit. Twenty dozen people delivered their empty bowls to the guards, knowing well that they had no right to do so. The guards accepted it regardless, and with each bowl collected, a stroke was added to the whiteboard. So far, 57 marks have been made.
Kaido could feel his stomach walls expanding at an exorbitant rate. It was about time he joined the 57 lucky survivors. He reached for the spare bowl he had placed behind him.
Except, there was no bowl.
Kaido was 15 years old when he learnt that the fear of losing something supercedes the physical pain of overconsuming. He frantically searched everywhere around him, but no empty bowl was in sight. People came over begging with their full bowls, but Kaido had reached his capacity.
The world suddenly started tilting and just a tab bit fuzzy. He could faintly hear Ffion's voice calling his name. Kaido wanted to respond, but even the slightest oral movement would probably end in a barf.
He closed his eyes, the last thing he remembered was hearing a loud thud and a lot of bickering.
Kaido woke up to find himself in bed.
It was not his bed, too soft, too warm, too big. Kaido slithered out of the cozy fortress and realised he was in someone else's room, someone rich.
Someone from Vanheim.
He exited the room to find a long carpeted hallway. Prestigious ornaments decorated the walls, the aisle submerged in this golden shimmer radiated by chandeliers.
Footsteps emerged from the distant. The door at the end of the path opened as a man wearing a tuxedo walked out, a familiar face followed behind.
'Kaido! You're awake!' the girl couldn't hide her enthusiasm. Ffion was wearing a saffron skirt with a cherry top. The fair maiden was now an elegant princess, the princess that every knight would swear to protect.
Ffion hugged him again, this time tugging him tighter. She could not reach his back, so she placed her arms on his chest instead.
'I told Mr Linston about what you did. He saved us from those terrible guards! It's all because of you that we're now safe and under the care of Mr Linston.'
Kaido turned towards the man, Mr Linston appeared as a typical gentleman that you would imagine. He dipped his head slightly and smiled, Kaido imitated.
'You did very well Kaido, I am so sorry that you had such a terrible first impression of Vanheim.' Mr Linston said.
'Ffion has told me your incredible feat, and I am extremely intrigued by your abilities, Kaido.'
Mr Linston was a nice man. He hosted a feast for them and gave them nice big rooms. It was more than any gift Kaido had ever received from his father. Kaido wondered why Mr Linston was being so kind, perhaps it had something to do with the boy in the pictures and paintings all over the mansion, or maybe it had something to do with all the golden trophies shaped like a piece of meat on a stick. Kaido was curious, but he did not dare ask.
That day was now a month ago. Kaido stared at the flyer that the old man had given him, there was a lot to like about it: Free meals, a wide range of different cuisines, a friendly community and the opportunity to earn prize money. Although Mr Linston insisted Kaido and Ffion owe him nothing and should consider him their fairy godfather, it only felt right that Kaido repaid him in some way. After all, it was the only thing he was good at, eating.
Kaido decided to break the news during dinner with Mr Linston and Ffion. Ffion was excited and very supportive of the idea. Linston, on the other hand, raised a brow when Kaido said the words 'competitive eating'. He placed down the piece of steak back on the plate, he looked at Kaido with a serious expression he had never shown before.
'Food is meant to be enjoyed, not to be toyed.' Mr Linston said.
'I will finish every plate they serve me with gratitude!' Kaido said, 'I enjoy eating, and I want to be the best at it!'
'Do you remember the day you arrived here?' Linston responded.
Kaido fell silent.
'Kaido, competitive eating is not as glamorous as you ma believe it to be. It may be the sport that entertains the nation, but it is not something I am proud of.' Mr Linston stood up, he walked towards a display cabinet and reached for one of the meat trophies, but just before touching it, he grabbed the photo next to it instead.
'I have quite the history with this sport. Humans are… insatiable. It is the ugly side of our nature that drives us to hurt each other.'
Kaido listened quietly. Insatiable – Kaido despised that word. He would overhear that word from the neighbours gossip, from the other kids in school, and from his father.
'If someone made the effort to prepare it, the least you can do is put in the same effort to finish it.'
'I don't ask for more than what I can eat, Mr Linston. But everyone around me does, and it makes me so mad when I see food left on their plate.'
Mr Linston turned to face him, he closed his eyes and opened them slowly.
'Promise me one thing' he said.
'Don't ever be like them.'
'I won't be insatiable,' Kaido said.
'I promise.'