New Year Izumi bond story episode 2

Momotalk

I: What do you usually have on New Year's day Sensei?
S: This time, it's hors d'oeuvres
I: I like hors d'oeuvres too!
I: So it looks like you order out more than you cook huh.
I: As for me...
I: I tried making some New Year's dishes!
I: Wanna try some of them?

You meet with Izumi.

I: You can't have New Years without osechi! And if we're going to buy some anyway, what we try a different flavour of it?
S: A new kind of osechi... a revolutionary idea!
I: Ehehe! I know right!
I: I've always felt that osechi was lacking a bit of punch in it.
I: Not that it wasn't delicious...
I: But you know how the whole point of not cooking osechi is for the sake of preserving it's simmered flavour for a long time?
I: Because of that, it always tastes the same...
I: But if we can discover a different type of osechi, it can count as a gourmet adventure!
S: Now that you mention adventure...
I: Come on, you can't let it slip your mind Sensei!
I: With leftover osechi food, you can make chirashi sushi or add it to curry...
I: It's pretty delicious even if you just copy the recipe, but...
I: That goes for all dishes in general, not just New Year ones.
I: Because of that, I made my own New Years feast from scratch!
I: I call it Izumi's New Year Special!
S: Did you make it all by yourself?

Izumi is a bit embarassed

I: Well... I can say I tried...
I: It was more difficult than expected...
I: But after a bit of research...
I: I found a store that does custom made osechi dishes!
I: So we can just go there instead!
I: There's been a lot of those types of stores~ Even Haruna's been using them.
I: Anyway, let's hurry over sensei!

She rushes off

S: The osechi isn't going to grow legs and run away y'know!?

You hurry after her
You arrive at the shop

I: The atmosphere's refreshing~!
I: Oh, this isn't just a place for osechi dishes, by the way.
I: You can order all kinds of foods here!

Waiter walks over

W: Shishidou Izumi I presume? Your order, <Izumi Special Style Osechi> is ready.
W: I'll bring it over right away, please wait a moment.

Waiter comes back with the foods

W: Well then, enjoy it to your heart's content.
S: The osechi looks wonderful.
I: They say that osechi is also enjoyed with your eyes, so I put a lot of effort into the presentation!
I: It looks so pretty! Ehehe~ itadakimasu!
I: First... the black beans!

she eats

I: Mm~ Delish!
I: They look like regular black beans don't they?
I: Actually...
I: It's actually made of 99% pure cacao and vinegar!
S: W-why 99% specifically?
I: A chocolate with a 99% cacao concentration is just black chocolate right?
I: Next, the boiled shrimp! I specifically asked for a more creative seasoning...
I: Instead of soy sauce and sugar, I had them combine it with anchovy sauce!
I: Wow, salty!
I: Do you like red and white kamaboko, Sensei?
I: Check this one out! It's kamaboko made from strawberries!
S: But why strawberries!?
I: Well, strawberries are pink right?
I: Mmm~ the flavour of the fish paste with the sweet and sourness of the strawberries- it's a whole new continent of taste!
I: Next, the candied sweet potatoes and chestnuts.
I: The ginger's getting me all riled up!
I: Ginger is yellow, so it matches the osechi's colour and keeps it organised!
I: Alright Sensei! We also have lotus root that was boiled in condensed milk! Since they both have the word [ren] (TL note: lotus root is called RENkon in JP, condensed milk is called RENnyu) in it, I thought their flavours would match!
I: And of course, the herring roe! I asked it to be mixed with salted squid and blue cheese, with cinammon as a secret ingredient... cinammon and bonito flakes look kinda the same, don't they?
S: I-i think your thoughts and feelings were pretty filling on their own! I can't really eat another bite...
I: Aww. It tasted pretty interesting too...
I: How about some dessert to cheer you up? I like fluffy desserts the best. For example, the food with the fluffiest texture in osechi is datemaki right?
I: So for my datemaki, I had the rolls stuffed with sea slug ink and ice cream!
S: I can sort of get the ice cream, but sea slug ink!?
I: Look Sensei! The purple and yellow are contrasting pretty well- huh?
I: Mmm... tastes a bit different than what I thought it would.
I: The ice cream dulls the flavour of the sea slug ink...
I: But that means it's like eating japanese sweets and drinking tea!

Afterwards, Izumi continued to happily chomp away at her food while giving a detailed explanation on each delicacy...
...She looked like she was having a good time.

I: Phew~ that was a lot! I'm full!
I: I'm glad I ordered it here!
I: Ah... whoops.
I: I was a bit too caught up in filling my stomache and left you hungry, didn't I...
S: Seeing your gastric gusto was good enough for me!/Your culinary inquisitiveness was amazing!
I: Mmm... I guess...
I: Next time I'll try making a home made meal!
I: Look forward to it, Sensei

I would be lying if I said I wasn't intimidated by the prospect...
...Well, at least Izumi was smiling.

Edit Report
Pub: 20 Mar 2025 08:08 UTC
Edit: 09 Apr 2025 16:32 UTC
Views: 16