The way the metal of the fork felt against my teeth in that new place, it was a tiny jolt, like a reminder that even the most basic things are new here. And then I remembered that bit about "sometimes the air in my mouth feels too big," and it was like, yeah, that's what this is, this overwhelming expanse of unfamiliarity. But instead of shrinking from it, I just… leaned into the weirdness, almost laughing at the ghost of the old me, the one who would have spiraled at the thought of eating alone in a city where Mochi is my only real friend.