Chapter 5

My dish today is Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki!

Wow! Compared to the previous two, this actually feels like a proper dish!

Yes, it's a meal in itself with its mix of meat and vegetables. Plus, it's delicious.

Well said, Captain Komamura! You took the words right out of my mouth!

I must say, it's more flavorful than the ones you made before. You've sharpened not only your blade in battle, but on the chopping board, too?

I, uh...

Tetsuzaemon, could you please tell us in more detail about the recipe for this dish?

Uh, you want details? Let's see... First, you need the perfect ratio of flour and water. And also vegetables. Oh, and some lemon juice for the sauce.

Then cook it for about three minutes over medium heat with this thing from the world of the living called a frying pan. But, if you have an iron gri...

I think he knows a little TOO much about this. This calls for an investigation.

An investigation?!

What are you going to do?

I'll need some help from someone who's good at this stuff.

So, that's why you need me here?

Yeah. I'd like you to help me find out if there's anything out there that's the same as this recipe.

Oh, easy.

No, wait, !

It looks like there's a restaurant in the world of the living that serves a dish made with this exact same recipe.

The exact same recipe?!

Explain yourself, Tetsuzaemon!

I'm so sorry!!!

I thought I could make the ultimate manly meal if I added a little something to my favorite dish from the world of the living.

But, it's already so perfect that I couldn't think of anything to add to it.

So, you just served it as is.

The world of the living certainly offers many dishes of high caliber. I have no doubt this would be well-received in the Seireitei, too.

But, this is kind of...

Yeah. If you don't change anything about it, then that's plagiarism.

And, if word gets out, the Men's Soul Reaper Association could end up worse off.

Since there were no good recipes this time, I'm going to call the food column off.

Why not give it some more thought first? It's a shame things ended this way, but it began as a project to revitalize the Association.

I mentioned this earlier, but Tetsuzaemon did make okonomiyaki before, and that was undoubtedly his. Why not use that recipe?

N-No, we shouldn't! It doesn't change the fact that I tried to pass off some restaurant's recipe as my own.

I won't forgive myself if my entry is accepted!

I swear... I swear that one day, I will make my own unique recipe and rightfully take my place in the column!

Tetsuzaemon... I look forward to trying your new recipe.