Omi Fushimi/Fire up, Mantou Fist!

A New Dish? MANKAI Ramen!

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Izumi	Alright, we've pretty much got everything regarding the performance settled. All that's left is…
	Oh right, do you have any ideas for merchandise we can sell?
Azami	Merch huh… if we need it to be the same theme as the performance, then something like kung fu goods right.
Sakyo	If we want to go with the standard, then some Chinese-style key holders or stickers will indeed do the trick.
Juza	The title is Manto Fist, so how about manto?
Banri	Huh? We still have stocks of those super sweet manto a sane person can’t even eat. We can't sell this many.
Sakyo	In the first place we can't make much profit with manto. Rejected.
Taichi	But since it’s a chance, I want to make something different from usual you know~!
Omi	Something different from usual…
	I know, how about we sell ramen?
Sakyo	Ramen?
Izumi	It's true that in the performance we have not only Manto Fist, but also Ramen Fist but…
Taichi	Sounds good! Ramen is the hottest thing in the Company right now and all! And it caused us to choose this theme too!
Azami	But that's just impossible. They can't carry it home with them.
Banri	And we can't make a ramen stall.
Juza	If it's instant ramen they can take it right.
Omi	Right. If it's instant ramen we can also make it homemade.
Taichi	For real!?
Izumi	I see… it's refreshing and fun. Sakyo-san, what do you think?
Sakyo	…well, we can go with strange things like that from time to time.
	However, I'll make sure to strictly check the quality, profit and the food hygiene.
Omi	Alright then, I'll try to make some sample dishes for you to test.
Taichi	We'll name it "MANKAI Ramen" right! I can't wait~!
Banri	An original ramen huh. What you gonna do about the broth?
Izumi	Soy sauce, salt, miso, pork… hmm, it's hard to give up on any of them.
Omi	For starts I'll make a few types. Are there any ingredients you want to request?
Azami	If we're talking about ramen, you gotta include menma and naruto right.
Sakyo	And then there're roasted pork and vegetables… seafood might be nice too.
Juza	Cup ramen sometimes have corn and eggs too.
Banri	Wouldn't it be fun to add unusual stuff too?
Omi	Hmhm…. I see now.
	Alright, I have something in mind, so looks like I can make something. It would be nice if you can give me a few days.
Sakyo	Sure.
Izumi	Good luck, Omi-kun!
Omi	Okay then, I'll go to get the ingredients.
Taichi	I'll come with you too!
Azami	If you're gonna be making a few types, you need to buy lots of ingredients right. I'll come too.
Omi	Thanks you two, it's a huge help.
Izumi	(They look like Chan and Yun that adore Han, this sight is making me all warm inside).

Izumi	(It's been a few days since Omi-kun started to work on the ramen…)
	Omi-kun, are you okay on your own? Do you need help with anything?
Omi	No, everything is fine, thank you.
	And also I feel that just by making ramen, I'm getting more into character.
Izumi	Ahaha, your role this time, Han, opens a ramen restaurant after all.
Omi	Ramen is really deep. As I was making it, I really got absorbed.
	Like getting picky about the width of the noodles, or trying to cook the chicken bones a few days in order to get the dashi.
Izumi	I see…!
Omi	The ingredients too, I wanted to get the best there is, so I went around looking for them.
	Here, even this egg, it's said to be the tastiest in this area.
Izumi	Heh, this is amazing…
Omi	I also want to give more focus to the naruto. Maybe I'll try to gather some information around the shopping district…
Izumi	(Yeah, it is amazing but…)
	(He's being too fixated on it, I'm starting to worry about him having time to participate in the performance…)
Sakyo	Seems like you completed the samples.
Omi	Yes. I have a few types ready. I would like to hear your thoughts.
Izumi	It smells great.
Omi	This one is flour soy sauce broth, and this one is a simple salt broth. This one is rich pork broth, and this one is a strong –flavored miso broth.
	I changed the width of the noodles according to the taste.
Azami	No way. You've really thought too much about it.
Taichi	Ohh~! All of them look super good!
	Then I'll have some!
Juza	….'s good.
Izumi	Yup, it's really delicious…!
Banri	You wouldn't think it's instant. It's seriously good.
Omi	Really? I'm happy.
Sakyo	Salt broth is said to be more popular, but the soy sauce one isn’t bad either.
Azami	I liked the pork broth.
Juza	Miso broth is good too.
Taichi	Hmm, all of them are tasty choosing just one is too hard~!
Banri	But Omi, except for practices, you've pretty much been confined in the kitchen right.
Omi	Yeah, I guess.
	I just got more and more into it, that recently no matter what I do I think about ramen, haha.
Sakyo	….Oi, Fushimi. How many hours did it take to make one of those?
Omi	Right, usually about three days.
Juza	Three days…
Sakyo	Listen you… if you spend this much time making it, you won't be able to perform.
Omi	Ah….
Izumi	Spending too much time making the goods and not being able to perform, that's just getting our priorities backwards…
Banri	Welp, it's impossible to make those our merch.
Sakyo	Yeah.
Omi	Ahaha… I guess I got too absorbed in it. I'm sorry…

Hoshiko