Mochi Pro [Weekly Short-Short Note] Secret Theme

He stepped onto the stage, slowly took a mochi out of his bag, and placed it on a wire mesh heated by a gas stove.

The venue was packed with people watching the scene unfold.

When the smell of it toasting began to drift, as if timing something, he pursed his lips and gently flipped the mochi over with his chopsticks.

He tapped the crispy charred surface with his chopsticks, as if checking its firmness.

Then, he poked it to create a few holes.

He put sugar on a small flat plate and drizzled soy sauce over it.

He scooped up a little of the sugar-soy sauce mixture with his chopsticks and spread it onto the charred parts of the mochi.

Then, the gaps in the char began to widen, and the mochi started to puff up.

Watching it expand, the audience exclaimed in admiration, 'So this is what it means to be a "Mochi Pro."'

He traced the surface of the puffing mochi with his chopsticks to apply more sugar-soy sauce.

The mochi continued to expand further, and once fully inflated, it looked just like a balloon.

Applause erupted from the crowd.

My own dreams and hopes swelled, wishing I could become a 'Mochi Pro' like him.

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I participated in the project by Tarahakani (Tahara Nika).

*The first day of the three-day weekend. I was working.

*This article is participating in the following project.