Interlude: Taste-Testing Pekoshi's Drink

[Akineko]: "saw the pekoshi drink on your wishlist, so i sent some"

"Ara! Thank you ever so much～!"

And so, a set of Pekoshi drinks arrived at the doorstep of Karona's real-world self, Saya Shinohara. Eight PET bottles in a case.

"… That said, this one is… 'Grape Mitarashi-Dango Flavor'…?"

Carbonated. Mitarashi-dango. Grape. If only the mitarashi-dango hadn't been in the mix, this would be a perfectly normal carbonated grape drink, but the mitarashi-dango had gone and wedged itself into the equation.

The absolute far end of a product chasing pure novelty. "Do not mix: hazardous."

"Why would they blend these together…? A plain mitarashi-dango drink would've been fine, right? These are two completely different kinds of sweetness."

As for whether it actually tastes good… well, my gut says there's no way.

The color, too, looked like Pekoshi Cola's usual brown with a hint of grape purple swirled in, giving it a questionable hue.

"The color really does look like a Highly Acidic Bubblish Slime… which is probably the whole point."

This was the very first care-package gift she'd ever received as a B-Caster. She fully intended to treasure it and drink every last drop.

…

… Surely, at least one bottle of it, she has to give a proper food review of on stream, right?

For better or worse, Saya's headset came with a scan function, and she already had the sushi stream as a precedent.

*　*　*

"Kon-Karona～! So, today, before we head into a dungeon, I'll be trying out the Pekoshi drink that was sent in as a care package～! Akineko-san, thank you so very much for the care package～!"

[Akineko]: "oh! glad it got there safe!"

[Joabou]: "care packages… so that's an option too huh"

[Oreshi0436]: "maybe i'll send something next time. something food-related"

"Ah, please don't send me anything too weird, or I might not be able to finish it all～!? Now then. Here is the drink in question～."

She placed the "Pekoshi Cola (Grape Mitarashi-Dango Flavor)" she'd imported via the scan function onto the table.

"Seeing it in real life, the color really is a dead ringer for the Highly Acidic Bubblish Slime. Mm… well then, let's dig right in～!"

She twisted off the cap of the PET bottle and checked its aroma. Rather than sniffing it directly, she wafted the scent toward her nose with one hand… A sweet grape fragrance. Mingled within it, the sticky presence of syrup.

"… Well, as far as smells go, this one's not bad?"

"the way she's sniffing it like it's a science experiment lol"

"the how-to-check-hazardous-chemical-odors method lol so refined!"

"well, at least we know it smells sweet"

"Here goes… nn, nku… nguuu!?"

The mitarashi flavor prickled at her throat along with the carbonation. The aftertaste was grape. She nearly spit it right back out.

"… Th-this, if it weren't for the carbonation, it'd be… somewhat…"

"that's the best praise she can muster"

"it's fine to just say it's gross if it's gross yknow"

"theory: they found a slime with a cool color first, then made up the flavor afterward"

"N-no, really, the taste itself isn't… that bad, you know? I like both mitarashi and grape… It's kind of like eating a mitarashi-dango and a grape at the same time? You know how there's ichigo-daifuku? That sort of vibe?"

"oh, i see. sounds like the flavor itself isn't bad"

"it's the carbonation…"

"seriously if only the carbonation weren't in there…"

"Cough. N-now then, let's dive into a dungeon today as well～."

And with that, Karona headed into the dungeon, swaying just a little unsteadily on her feet.