@KochengOren
I'm not exactly sure, but i believe eggplants have some kinda symbolic meaning in Japan, even Hatsuyume (first dream in the new year featuring Mt.Fuji, haw and eggplant) aside. Like, they've got all sort of proverbs related to it, so there's probably something more to it.
@broadsword80 this is one of the rare times I'd support a rival character, but with the way things are going I'm afraid the author has a room temperature IQ