Mokotaro
Eats a Meal
Time to gather ingredients!
Everyone, good morning, moko!
Nodoka Eggs
Asaoka Poultry Farm Shop
Egg Shop
Nodoka Ranch - Egg Shop
At this ranch, which opened in 20XX, they raise free-range chickens, a rarity in Japan. The chickens wander freely through a large space, which makes them physically stronger, healthier, and more resistant to disease. Word has spread far and wide of the eggs they lay being so rich and jelly-like inside that they can be picked up with chopsticks.
Today, we're at the Nodoka Ranch egg shop in Hokkaido, moko!
I'm going to use these fresh eggs to make my original spin on raw eggs on rice:
no-cook omelet rice, moko!
Just look at these eggs, moko!
Nodoka Ranch
Nodoka Eggs
If you can pick up the yolk with chopsticks, that's the sign of a good egg, moko!
First you beat the eggs,
then you add seasoning,
Worcestershire Sauce
and then you add the rice and mix it all together, moko!
Last, you add some ketchup on top,
Special
No-Cook Omelet Rice
and you have no-cook omelet rice, moko!
Now I think I'll have a taste, moko!
It's so delici-moko!
It tastes like omelet rice, but the texture is like raw eggs on rice,
Ow!
so it feels totally new, moko!
And you can change up the flavor by changing up the seasonin—
Using the Pick-up-able Eggs Everyone's Talking About to Make No-Cook Omelet Rice
Mokotaro Channel
Is that the time already?
I guess I'll make dinner.
Worcestershire Sauce
It smells so good!
Nodoka Ranch
Nodoka Eggs
Now all that's left is the eggs!
Time to eat.
So this is no-cook omelet rice.
Yup, it's delicious!
I'm just gonna...
shovel it all in at once!
This is pure bliss.
Episode 1 "Welcome to the Food Culture Research Club"
My name is Mako Kawai.
This year, I've started living on my own as a first-year university student.
Personality-wise, I'm very meek.
Every day, I do my very best to live quietly
so as not to cause trouble for anyone around me.
But there are a few things even I get excited about...
Mikawa Tonkatsu
Tonkatsu Set 1,050 yen
Mince Katsu Set 850 yen
like cooking and food!
I've never eaten out alone before, though.
Welcome!
Massage Spa
When I lived at home, I only ever went out with my parents,
and now I cook for myself every day.
I don't have any friends to go out with, either.
I'm a little nervous about eating out alone,
but it's good to experience this kind of stuff, right?
Lend my timid self your strength,
O Mokotaro who lives within my heart!
Open
This place is hard to walk into alone. I'll try somewhere else.
Party of two, this way, please!
Not this place. Too many people.
The sauced katsudon looks delicious!
The food was great!
Thank you for coming!
Oh, I'm so sorry. We've sold out of the sauced katsudon for today.
N-No, I'm not ordering! I was just looking! That's all!
I-I'll leave now.
O-Oh...
In the end, I couldn't manage it.
And after I called on the power of Mokotaro, too!
The Mokotaro inside me is just too weak.
I know that all I have to do is go into a shop like normal, but...
When did I become this way?
In elementary school, I had lots of friends,
and every day was one new experience after another.
But as I grew older, I got scared of trying new things and failing at them.
I didn't build any strong relationships.
I just lived quietly, trying to preserve the way things were.
Well, it's not as if I dislike uneventful days.
That concludes today's lecture.
Everyone, make sure you review this section.
I have a free period before my next lecture.
Where should I go to kill time?
I've told you before, you need four members to form a club.
Student Affairs Office Window 1 * Requests for facilities or equipment * Extracurricular activities * Visitor forms, bicycle permit stickers * Lost and Found (items other than Student IDs) * Student research disaster and accident insurance
This club you want to create... The Food Culture Research Club, was it?
I already rejected your application once because you only have three.
But we just can't find anyone else! Why can't three be enough?
Because that's the rule.
But we're really good friends!
That's not relevant.
Well, it's not as though we came without a plan B.
Hey, Tsutsuji! Give the clerk the you-know-what!
Roger that.
This is for you.
Please accept it.
What is it?
Bribe
What?
Well, I figured actually giving you money wouldn't go down well,
so we put gold-colored origami paper inside.
We hope you'll accept it.
No way.
What? Could it be that you prefer the holographic type?
That's not the problem here.
Now, hurry up and go away.
What is this?! What is this?!
You mean you're fine with us not experiencing a fun club life?!
Yes.
You're telling us to just attend our classes and study properly? Is that it?
You should do that, yes.
In that case, please just let us create a three-person club to give ourselves a breather!
I told you, I can't.
If I could have one wish...
If I could have one wish, it'd be that when I opened my eyes,
I'd find myself in a world where the clerk before me had a generous heart!
Peek.
I already told you, no.
It didn't work.
I think she just needed one more push.
No, she was nowhere near giving in.
Well, let's set the club thing aside for now. It's almost time for lunch.
Let's go eat our bento.
Yes, let's do that.
I woke up early to make myself this soboro bento.
Time to eat.
So what are we going to do about the club?
Good question.
We asked everyone we know already, and they all turned us down.
Maybe we should start passing out flyers.
This dashimaki omelet turned out well, too!
Gold star, gold star...
That girl over there...
is totally glaring in my direction!
What? What is it? Did I do something wrong?
My clothes... aren't particularly unusual.
Is it the dashimaki omelet?
No, she can't possibly be looking at me.
I'm just being overly self-conscious.
Wait, she's not just looking... She's coming closer?!
What?! What is it?!
Could you be Makocchi?
What? H-How did you acquire my personal information?
Who are you?
Shinon, do you know her?
Yeah! I'm certain I know her!
More people I don't know!
Come on! It's me! We were in elementary school together.
Elementary school?
Oshinko, let's play!
Okay, Makocchi!
Could it be...
You remember me?
That's right! We were together in elementary school! I'm Ogawa—
Oshinko!
Huh?
Oshinko?
Shinon, was that your nickname in elementary school?
What? No, it's—
Shinon Ogawa! It really is you, Oshinko!
It's been so long, Oshinko!
You have it all wrong! Okay, you don't, but please stop!
Don't call me by my old nickname! No one knows it anymore!
So we go to the same university. I was really surprised!
Me, too!
What've you been up to lately, Makocchi?
Lately? Nothing, really.
What about you, Oshin—
Shinon-chan?
Actually, the three of us just went to submit an application
to create the Food Culture Research Club.
It got denied, though.
Hello, I'm Tsutsuji Higa. Pleased to make your acquaintance.
R-Right.
I'm Kurea Furutachi. We haven't met before.
H-Hello.
Um... I'm Mako Kawai.
Nice to meet you.
That's it! The Food Culture Research Club I mentioned before
will be approved if we can find one more person!
Makocchi, will you join?
We'll have a club room to use however we like! It'll be fun!
U-Um, well...
I wasn't really thinking about joining any clubs, so, um...
Oh, sorry! That came out of nowhere, right?
I just got so excited over seeing you again after so long.
We should head to our classroom. We're cutting it close on time.
Okay!
What's your next class, Makocchi?
I don't have a class next period.
Oh, okay.
See you later!
I'm back.
Not that there's anyone here to reply.
I never imagined Oshin—
Shinon-chan would be at the same university as me.
She seemed just as energetic as she was back then.
I was surprised at first, but I didn't act suspiciously or anything, right?
I was in such a panic, I might have said something weird.
What have I done?
I called her by her elementary school nickname without even thinking.
She invited me to join her club,
and I turned her down really clumsily.
There must have been a better way, but my fear of new things
messed everything up.
She totally hates me now!
I want to apologize, but I forgot to ask for her contact info...
And now I have to go to my part-time job while I'm down in the dumps...
Oinari-san 100 yen
Small Oinari-san 80 yen
Good work, Mako-chan. You can wrap up for the day.
Okay.
Okay
Working tired me out. I'll buy food and go home.
That sauced katsudon really does look delicious.
Good!
Huh? Is that you, Kawai-san?
U-Um, you're...
Furutachi.
Furutachi-san. U-Um, why are you here?
Why? Because my mom runs this place.
What? Really?
I'm helping out by working part-time.
We ran out of seasonings, so I just came back from the supermarket.
Our place has yummy food. You should come eat some!
No, I, um...
Yeah?
This is bad! My fear of new things is kicking in again.
She's being nice and inviting me in!
But I'm scared of messing things up.
I-I'll come in and eat!
Welcome!
Sit wherever you like.
O-Okay.
Oh! Are you a friend of Kurea's?
Yeah. She's from university.
Thank you for looking out for Kurea.
Oh, no, um... She looks out for me.
Oh, have we met somewhere before?
I-I think you must be mistaken.
Oh, really?
Let me know when you're ready to order.
Thank you.
Ma'am, one sauced katsudon!
Coming!
We have onsen eggs and sunny-side-up eggs as toppings. Which would you like?
I'll have an onsen egg.
Sure.
I should have given her my order just now.
And Furutachi-san... went to the other side of the kitchen, I guess.
Two sauced katsudon over here, too, please!
Coming up!
One sauced katsudon for us, too.
Of course!
The sauced katsudon is really popular.
That's right. Last time, she said they'd sold out.
Since I managed to make it into the restaurant,
I really want to eat it before I go.
Here I go!
Have you decided?
Y-Yes.
Um, one s-s-s...
One sauced katsudon, please!
I'm sorry. We just ran out.
Mom, Grandpa's calling for you in the kitchen.
Did something happen?
Your friend ordered a sauced katsudon, but we just ran out.
Oh, I could make the sauced katsudon I was saving for my staff meal.
Want to have that?
Y-You don't mind?
You can choose onsen egg or sunny-side-up egg for the topping.
Th-Then I'll have an onsen egg.
Takao Diner
Kawai-san! Thanks for waiting.
Here you go.
Enjoy your meal.
Th-Thank you.
Okay.
Time to eat.
The food was delicious.
Big Eater I ate really well!
Kawai-san, if you're done eating, I'll take your plates.
Th-Thank you.
Oh, right.
After we left you today, Shinon... Or was it Oshinko?
Sh-Shinon-chan is fine.
Well, after that, Shinon just kept talking about you.
She was making a fuss because she forgot to ask for a way to contact you.
Please, just give me one more chance!
Really? I was wishing that I'd gotten her contact info, too.
Oh, want me to tell you, then?
Y-Yes, please!
What was Shinon like in elementary school?
Well...
She always seemed to be running around.
You're too slow, Makocchi!
Oh! Dragonfly!
W-Wait for me!
So she's been like that since she was a kid, huh?
Th-Thanks for today. The sauced katsudon was really good.
Really? I'm glad you liked it!
Um, I'll be going, then.
Sure. Take care.
Kawai-san!
See you on campus!
Huh?
Oh...
Right! See you there.
That really was delicious. I'm glad I went in.
Furutachi-san was nice.
And Oshinko said she wanted my contact info, too.
I thought she'd hate me. Maybe I was worrying too much.
And Furutachi-san said she'd see me on campus.
Oshinko said she was starting a Food Culture Research Club, right?
I wonder if I'd be able to eat and cook lots of different things there.
I wonder if I'd be able to encounter lots of new things,
like I used to in elementary school.
Shinon
Shinon-chan? It's Mako. Furutachi-san gave me your contact info.
Whoa! Makocchi! I wanted to see you again!
Shinon-chan? It's Mako. Furutachi-san gave me your contact info.
Whoa! Makocchi! I wanted to see you again!
I'm sorry about today.
Huh? What for? I don't really get it, but don't worry about it!
I like quiet days, but just a little change...
About the club you mentioned today... Is it okay if I join?
should be fine, right?
'Sup, Makocchi?
That scared me! It's just you, Shinon-chan.
Guess what, Makocchi?
Thanks to you, our club application was approved!
And apparently, we're already allowed to use the club room.
Would you like to come with us?
Y-You don't mind?
Of course not! You're a member, same as us.
Right, then! Everyone, to the club room!
Oh, I can see it! I can see it!
It's kinda far from the main buildings, but it's nice with all the greenery around, right?
Which part is our club room in?
First floor, left corner.
This is where the club room is?
Will we cook and eat together here?
Whatever the case, I'm going to get to eat lots of delicious food!
All right! Now we can spend our university lives lazing around the club room!
Huh?
Lazing around?
What exactly does the Food Culture Research Club do?
Huh? Didn't I tell you?
The whole Food Culture Research Club thing is just a front.
What?
I wanted a club room on campus where we could just relax, so I tried to form this club.
But when I told the truth, they wouldn't approve our application,
so I ended up randomly naming it the Food Culture Research Club.
Application to Form a Student Group Group Name: Food Culture Research Club Group Status: Approved
Then... what about food?
Well, if you get hungry, you can eat.
At any rate, Makocchi...
Welcome to the Food Culture Research Club!
Welcome!
Yay!