New Year Izumi Bond story episode 1
I: Happy New Year~!
S: A happy new year to you as well, Izumi.
I: A new year's come at last!
I: Speaking of which... oh yeah!
I: What comes to mind when you think of the New Year, Sensei?
S: Coming from you... I'd think of food.
I: Fu~ll points! But hang on, isn't plain old food boring for an occasion like this?
I: I'm talking about super special, once-in-a-year types of food!
You meet with Izumi
I: Sensei! Right over here~!
S: Happy New Year Izumi. You're as lively as ever.
I: Happy New Year to you too! Look look, check out my kimono!
I: To think I'd get to show it off to you like this... it's just the best!
While showing off her kimono, Izumi suddenly hugged me.
S: It really suits you. Now then, what's the occasion?
I: Ehehe... you see, I've discovered a new gourmet combination as of late.
S: Mint Chocolate and...?
I: Fufufu. This right here is...
I: My Mint Chocolate Lemon Sardine Takoyaki Special!
S: Mint Chocolate Lemon Sar- come again?
I: Mint Chocolate Lemon Sardine Takoyaki Special!
I: Sardines and Takoyaki are delicious, but their flavours are totally different right?
I: So I did some experimenting.
I: Add some lemon for a refreshing taste... drizzle in some mint chocolate...
I: I thought it'd balance the flavours out perfectly!
I: And ta-dah! It came out just fine, didn't it?
S: I guess so...?/Yeah, definitely...
I: I know right! And seeing as it came out just the way I wanted, it gets a "Yahoo!" from me.
I: But what if you combined it with takoyaki?
I: Wouldn't it make the ultimate mix of yummy things!?
S: Well it's certainly important to try new things.
I: Ahem, well I am still a gourmet after all!
I: The Gourmet Research Society is a club that explores the ways of culinary experience
I: We think of ways to make food delicious, then make them delicious via experience!
I: That's what Haruna says at least!
I: ...Well, each of us have our own ways of enjoying food too.
I: For example, Haruna doesn't just like food-
I: She likes the experience of eating it too!
I: Akari enjoys quantity over quality-
I: But the food still has to be good, she wouldn't be a gourmet otherwise.
I: With Junko-
I: Well, she gets interrupted while eating way to often, so she prioritises finding a safe environment to eat in.
I: As for me... well, I think experiencing lots of different flavours is the best!
S: I see. So you all have your own ideals of what eating and dining is.
I: Yeah! It's fun to pursue gourmet flavours. Of course, it's not like I hate regular foods or anything...
I: But it's just more fun to eat something no one's ever had before.
I: Besides, if every day was the same, it'd be boring!
I: People do say my taste buds are special... but if it lets me enjoy more flavours, who am I to complain? Isn't that also part of being a gourmet?
S: It's like your very own gourmet adventure.
I: Adventure...?
Izumi gets an idea
I: You're right! You're absolutely right! You're a genius Sensei!
I: In that case-
I: Gourmet Adventure, off we go~!
It'd be a lie to say I wasn't worried
But seeing Izumi's face light up like that, I couldn't resist.
I: Now then, with my Mint Chocolate Lemon Sardine Takoyaki Special-
I: Let's try adding this powder!
I: What is it? It's called...[salt flavoured liquorice] powder!
S: What kind of powder is that!?/Just what on earth is that going to taste like!?
I: It's not just liquorice flavoured powder y'know!
I: It's also got... ammonium? Chloride? Or whatever in it!
S: ....And you're sure that's edible?
I: Of course! They use this stuff in cough medicine!
I: It's good for your health in medicine isn't it? If that's the case, try the candy version of it!
I: Here, have a bite!
Izumi shoved a candy into my mouth!
It had an unexpected taste to it...
S: Hmm... it's surprisingly...
I: Well Sensei? Isn't it delish?
I: It's not just sweet...
I: But neither is it just salt either!
I: It's a flavour that's somewhat in between.
I: If I had to give it a name, I'd call it the "surprise!" flavour!
I: It's a flavour that comes from the perfect balance of... Chloride? and I think it was called Ammonium?
I: Now that you know how it tastes, let's try it on the takoyaki~!
I: Nom nom...
She enjoys it
I: Wow! Sensei, it tastes all weird!
S: I'm glad you're enjoying the new flavour.
After this, Izumi continued to mix various foods with her unique spices
We made a promise to continue our [Gourmet adventure] and disbanded.