[Creative Fiction x Recipe] Virtual Izakaya 'Sakana-roku' Episode 60: Morioka Reimen and Beer

Content Introduction

Today's dish is 'Morioka Reimen,' a refreshing yet satisfying meal with a firm, chewy noodle texture.
Enjoy a story of beer and heart-easing moments unfolding in a virtual izakaya, along with recipes and ingredient introductions.

Main Story

Sayo Kurihara was listening to the sound of the air conditioner in the hospital administrative office just before closing time. It was so quiet that the humidity felt even more stifling.
She was thinking back to the woman who had come to the hospital that morning. The way she had gently moved a chair in the waiting room so the air conditioning wouldn't hit her mother directly, and the way she had draped a jacket over her mother's shoulders. She had seen her name only once on the medical questionnaire—Maki Hayakawa—the woman who moved more silently and attentively than anyone else.

She had accompanied her mother several times, but she possessed a demeanor that guarded the boundaries of her personal space so effectively that it left no room for anyone to strike up a conversation. Sayo didn't dislike that sense of distance.

Suddenly, she remembered her father's hardware store. The shop, located in an old shopping district a little way from Morioka Station, had officially taken down its sign this spring. After seeing her mother through her final days and finishing the paperwork to close the shop, her heart had remained left behind in the Tohoku region even after she returned to Tokyo.

She wanted to eat something cold tonight. Something to cool not just her body, but the heat of her memories. Sayo took off her lab coat and walked home, taking a slightly longer route to the station. Even though the height of summer had passed, the asphalt still held the heat of the day.

When she turned onto an unfamiliar side street, a small noren curtain swayed in the wind. It was plain, unbleached fabric. Yet, it had a convincing pull that felt instantly recognizable. When she pulled the door open, the cool sound of a wind chime rang out.

"Welcome."

Mashiro Ikkon, standing behind the counter, said only that before turning back to the kitchen. There were no other customers in the shop. Without even being asked for her order, a glass of water was placed before her.

A few minutes later, a dish served in a black bowl was set down. It was Morioka Reimen. Thinly sliced chashu pork, vibrant green cucumber, spicy kimchi, and glossy noodles. When she put her chopsticks in, the noodles loosened smoothly. The moment she slurped them, a sense of nostalgia seeped into the back of her throat.

Back in high school, it was the cold noodle shop her mother used to take her to on the way home when she was exhausted from studying for entrance exams. She could even remember the temperature of the soup and the weight of the glass bowl from back then.

"—It's cold, yet it has a core. That's the kind of dish this is."

As Sayo murmured this, a bottle of beer was placed in front of her. The red star on the label held a certain sense of wanderlust.

"It's a Classic Lager."

Mashiro said only that and handed her a bottle opener. Feeling a bit amused by the self-service style, she opened the bottle. With a 'pssh' sound, a little foam overflowed.

She poured it into a glass and washed down the cold noodles. The bitterness seemed to add depth to the coolness.

As she set the glass down, Mashiro asked quietly,

"You work in orthopedics, don't you?"

My heart skipped a beat.

'My mother is in your care.'

Ah, I knew it. Sayo smiled softly.

'She says she's increasing her visits to twice a week starting this month. She seems to be doing well.'

Mashiro nodded slightly. Sayo realized once again that a chef's work continues in ways that support someone's daily life.

'—I closed my father's shop.'

Sayo continued as the words welled up.

'The shovels and long-handled brooms left on the shelves... I polished each one before sending them off. It didn't matter if they would sell or not; perhaps I just wanted to find closure for myself that way.'

Mashiro said nothing. But Sayo knew that his silence was the best way to listen.

She poured the rest of the bottled beer and took a bite of kimchi. The sharp spiciness on her tongue was followed by the onset of intoxication.

'May I come again?'

When she asked, Mashiro looked up just once from behind the steam.

'Whenever you like.'

That was all he said, but it was enough.

Sayo passed through the noren curtain once more. The second time, she wore a core that cooled the temperature of her memories.
Watching Sayo's back as she left, Mashiro Ikkon returned to the kitchen. Tonight, another dish and drink had been recorded.

Return to Episode 1
Return to Episode 59
Continue to Episode 61...
Magazine: Virtual Izakaya 'Shuko-roku'

Bonus Recipe

1. Prepare store-bought Morioka Reimen according to the instructions.

2. Rub the cucumber with salt before slicing. Soak the salted pork in water for a while to remove the salt, drain well, and sear the surface. Use your favorite kimchi.

Ingredient Introduction

1. Pork belly block: Curing it makes it last longer. It's convenient to have on hand to use in dishes little by little.

2. Kirin Classic Lager: With Morioka Reimen.

Click here for recipes by alcoholic beverage