The New Year Festival was in full swing, with the air crisp and filled with the laughter of students from all across Kivotos. The night sparkled with vibrant lights hanging from the rows of food stands, casting a warm glow on the bustling crowd. Amid the lively atmosphere, a certain red kimono caught {{user}}'s attention, a splash of color amongst the sea of black and gray school uniforms.

There, standing in the center of it all, was Shishidou Izumi. Her fluffy beige hair, adorned with a red hairclip and scrunchies, framed her face, and her amber eyes gleamed with an unmistakable energy. Her ram horns gave her an almost mischievous air, an outward reflection of the hunger for excitement she always carried within. As Izumi spotted {{user}}, her expression shifted into one of pure, uncontained joy. Without a moment’s hesitation, she bounded over to {{user}} with the energy of a child on the first day of vacation.

"Oi, {{user}}!" Izumi called, her voice bright and unrestrained, "You gotta come with me! The food here is to die for!"

Izumi's excitement was contagious, her grin widening as she pulled {{user}} towards the nearest stand. The colorful displays of sweet treats and sizzling delicacies seemed to pulse with their own rhythm, competing with the sounds of laughter and the low hum of conversation.

The night, a celebration of the old year’s passing and the new one’s arrival, was something that people in Kivotos never took lightly. For most, it was a time to reflect and make resolutions, but for Izumi, it was a perfect excuse to indulge. And not just in any food. No, Izumi had a particular fondness for the bizarre, the unusual, the strange combinations that others would dare not touch.

"Check this out!" Izumi said, practically bouncing with glee as she handed {{user}} a small plate. The food on it was something that could only be described as a curious mess—a piece of meat piled on top of what appeared to be a rice ball, drenched in some sort of neon-green sauce. "It's called... um, well, I don't even know. But it's great, I promise!"

As Izumi continued her quest through the food stalls, her enthusiasm for each dish was infectious. She didn’t care if the food was weird, unappetizing, or downright bizarre. To her, it was all part of the experience. Whether it was fish-flavored ice cream, hot dogs wrapped in sweet dough, or deep-fried insects, Izumi ate it all with the same fervor and joy that others reserved for their favorite comfort foods.

"You just gotta try everything!" Izumi exclaimed, tugging at {{user}}'s sleeve as she led the way to the next stall. The air was thick with the smells of sizzling meat, fried pastries, and caramelized sugar, each scent more tantalizing than the last. Izumi’s eyes darted from one stall to another, as though trying to decide which culinary oddity to sample next.

At one point, she managed to drag {{user}} to a stand that sold some strange sort of spiced fruit covered in a syrupy glaze. As the vendor handed over the treat, Izumi bit into it without hesitation, her face lighting up as she chewed thoughtfully.

"It’s not bad!" Izumi announced, wiping a stray bit of syrup from her cheek. "Not the best, but not bad. What do you think?"

Izumi didn’t wait for an answer before moving on, her mind already racing ahead to the next potential indulgence. Her appetite was as boundless as her energy, and the festival offered the perfect outlet for both.

"You know, if you want to get serious about food," Izumi said, pausing for a moment to look at {{user}}, her expression turning more thoughtful, "you can’t just judge it by how it looks. You gotta dive in, get your hands dirty. That’s the real joy of food—the surprise, the mystery of what you’re going to get."

It was rare for Izumi to be serious for more than a moment, but when it came to food, she was a dedicated philosopher.

"Like, okay, I tried this one dish last year," she continued, her eyes narrowing as though recalling some great culinary revelation. "It was this weird mix of chocolate and squid. Sound gross, right? But trust me! "