B's Log March 2025: Short Story

Newly-Produced Short Story Series: Chapter 5

Our First Time

Following the completion of a photoshoot, Toma and Hajun were preparing to head home.

Toma: Well, you know, I've never actually really eaten osechi^[1]~
Hajun: Surely you've had it with the other members of VISTY?
Toma: Well, yeah, but it's kind of like we're just throwing whatever we want into it, so it's not like it's been the REAL DEAL osechi.
Hajun: I see. But I've never really eaten it, either.
Toma: Huh, you haven't!? I've gotta say that's kind of surprising, Hajun-san.
Hajun: Unlike in Japan, don't really have a custom of eating osechi in Korea. But seeing as how New Year's celebrations are becoming more and more prevelant in Japan, it may be a good idea to learn how to make it...

A few days later, Toma, Hajun, and Yohei were all gathered in the kitchen of Bar 4/7.

Yohei: ... but why are you askin' me? Just go buy some premade stuff yourself.
Hajun: I recalled that we had cooked together in the past. I thought that perhaps you might be a bit more particular than that in regards to matters of food, but...
Yohei: Say whatever you want, but that ain't the same as ever having made it. Well, whatever, we can probably get most of the way just by following a recipe.
Hajun: That's amazing! I'm really looking forward to making this!
The three of them divvied up responsibilities to make osechi with the ingredients that Yohei had prepared for them to use.

Toma: Let's see, the way you make kuri kinton^[2] is... you start by peeling sweet potatoes? I thought this was a chestnut thing? Since when do I need sweet potatoes?
Yohei: S'fine, you just add in the boiled chestnuts later.
Toma: Ah, I see! Just add the chestnuts later on! ... but man, there are a lot of steps involved in this!
Hajun: Kanbayashi-san. It seems that kobumaki^[3] will also take quite a bit of time to prepare...
Yohei: The kelp and the kanpyo^[4] have already been rehydrated. I also cut up some herring already, it's in the fridge.
Hajun: How convenient. Then I suppose it's time to assemble the rolls.
While the other two were working, Yohei was having a rough time with his own task of preparing the black beans.
Yohei: Ah, dammit! The skin on the beans split again.
Toma: Is that a big problem?
Yohei: If the skin tears or gets wrinkly, it's gonna look like crap.
Toma: This must be really tough if even you're having a hard time, huh, Kanbayashi-san?
Yohei: I am not havin' a hard time!
Toma: Sorry!!
Yohei's brow was furrowed deeply as he gave his full attention to the task of parboiling the black beans.

A few hours later...

Hajun: It seems as though there is a lot of empty space in the tiered box... and it seems like we have an overabundance of sweet food. Why don't we add some kimchi so that we can enjoy something spicy as well?
Yohei: Nah, if you put that in, it's gonna make everything in the box taste like kimchi. Besides, ain't it traditional for osechi to be all sweet?
Hajun: You remain as stubborn as you ever were. You'll never innovate if you cling to tradition.
Yohei: You tryin' to start a fight?
Toma: Whoa, whoa, let's hold up!! I kinda get where Hajun is coming from! Kimchi is really tasty! So how about we just put some in in its own container!?
Hajun: I suppose there's nothing else to be done about it.
Yohei: Tch...
Toma: How on earth is the simple act of cooking getting everyone so on edge...?
Toma broke out in a cold sweat and began muttering to himself under his breath so nobody else could hear him.
Deciding he had to do something about the atmosphere in the room, Toma pointed at the cutting board that he was currently using.
Toma: So check this out, I tried cutting the kamaboko^[5] into decorative shapes! How about we use these to fill in the empty spaces?
Yohei: --! You're pretty good at that, huh?
Hajun: He certainly is.
Toma: Oh, nah, not at all! I just like putting together plastic models and stuff like that, so I like fine detail work like this.
Yohei: Color me impressed.
The tension in the atmosphere melted away, and Toma heaved a sigh of relief.
And so the preparation of the osechi continued...

Toma: And... I guess that'll do it!
Hajun and Yohei: ...
Though they had somehow managed to put the osechi together in the end, the results weren't the kind of picture-perfect full osechi you see in photographs, so Hajun and Yohei were both visibly a bit disappointed.
Yohei: Well, I guess you can't expect much better from the first time makin' it.
Hajun: It seems as though I choose my assistants poorly.
Yohei: Hah? You wanna show me where the kanpyo in your kobumaki is running off to?
Hajun: Oh my my, whyever are there so many reject black beans here?
Toma: Hey, hey, hey...! Let's just try giving it a taste test now, okay?
They took up their chopsticks and with some reluctance took a bite of the food that they had made.
Toma: Oh, yum! This osechi is getting a thumbs up from me!
Yohei: ... well, it ain't horrible.
Hajun: ... so it isn't. The flavor is acceptable.
Hajun: Next year we will be sure to make it perfect, right down to the appearance.
Yohei: You already plannin' on doing this again next year?
Toma: Sounds good to me! I wanna sharpen up my skills and show them off to the rest of VISTY!
Yohei: Well, I guess I can't just let it end like this. You're on, then; I'll get my revenge next year.

So, the three of them learned that even kobumaki with the kanpyo falling off, black bean with split skins, and kuri kinton that's a bit overdone all still taste delicious when you put a lot of effort into making them.

[1] Osechi-ryouri, or osechi, are a variety of foods that are traditionally eaten on New Year's, presented in special tiered boxes. Each item has a particular meaning, and there are lots of them.
[2] A dish made with mashed sweet potatoes and candied chestnuts.
[3] Kelp rolls filled with fish.
[4] Dried strips of gourd, traditional used as an edible way to tie wraps.
[5] Minced and pressed fish puree.