Chapter 16 is now live, Here's some author's notes:

-Thanksgiving is coming up, there's lots of planning going into the meal and other things coming to head

For those, who follow American Football, Thanksgiving day is well known for being a day of football games. Wonder how that will affect the plot? 😛

-The two foods I noted are both street foods of Japan and South Africa, both are deep fried items and would fit in the theme of comfort food, including Fried Cajun Turducken.

amagwinya- Xhosa name for a South African fried dough cake with curry and vegetables, which Paki would be familiar with

korokke- Japanese interpretation of the french Croquette, breaded and filled with mash potatoes and ground meat.

-Here's some Japanese words:

keiretsu - They're horizontally integrated groups of companies that are linked through joint share-ownership between one another, making them basically an oligopoly. Post WWII American Occupation period, they dominated Japanese industry and society by centralizing economic power and means. They also had extensive influence in politics and local connections. Think of them as a better organized version of OPEC, where finance and banking is also controlled by the group's holding.

ninkyō dantai.- "The Chivalrous Way" is the nicer name for Yakuza, which their members and allies in society would use. Essentially, it's the other side of the coin of organized crime, which protects the local businesses and industries from the encroachment of the elites, portraying members as Knights errant fighting off corrupt officials and business leaders.

Kaizen - "Improving", it's a philosophical concept that many business leaders, politicians, and reform minded people in Japan and those who study Japanese philosophy hold. Continuous development to a common goal through understanding every dimension and  perspective within a system to reach a better outcome. It can be applied to various fields.

-Here's a Xhosa South African proverb:

Umona wasemlungwini ubandeza icitywa ungaliqabi- "They prevent us from getting red clay from the pit, and they do not use it", it's a proverb ascribed original to white Europeans, who hoarded resources in South Africa. Nowadays, it's a saying that is used to denounce those who hoard resources and opportunities from others.

Yes, I am making a point about income inequality in other countries, too.

-Brad's plan for dealing with Gary Gaston's influence, and the entire shipping industry in general, is actually quite interesting. If someone steals my idea and runs with it, just remember to give me 1% of the fees being charged The number of cars and the statistics of cargo capacity in the trunk is from 2019. There's excess cargo capacity in our cars, it would make sense to utilize them and cut out old fashioned shipping companies, who are now charging astronomic prices. Add a gasoline discount incentive, it seems like a great deal for consumers and producers to kill the servicers.

-Yes, Beau has never had that kind of kissing before. To be honest, most gay guys skip to the sex and kissing/foreplay aren't even considered. Really intimate kissing with a partner actually providing suction and pressure with their breathing can generate lightheadedness and cause sexual arousal, even orgasm under the right conditions without ever requiring touch.