This Isn't It
Tasty food? And you're paying, Captain?
Mm, let's go get something good!
Tanya has shown incredible progress through our daily training sessions.
I praised her plenty with words, but since today is a rare day off, I wanted to reward her properly.
Is there anything you want to eat? Anything's fine!
Anything...?
Even something expensive? I don't have money.
Captain, do you have a lot?
I'm not short on money.
Really? In that case...
It smells so savory... and fragrant.
They use good oil here.
Are you sure you're okay with fried food?
Mm. I love fried food.
And fried food is expensive. If I ask for it, Marcille's hands start trembling.
But you've got money, right, Captain? So I can eat a lot?
...Of course!
My hand trembled as I reached for my wallet.
Welcome! Table for two?
Mm. Two.
Please wait just a moment. Your food will be ready shortly!
...Mm?
Wait.
Yes?
Aren't you taking our order?
Ah... It's your first time here, I take it?
We don't take orders here. We prepare dishes using the freshest ingredients available that day.
Any ingredients you dislike or want to avoid?
...No, it's fine.
I'll leave it to you.
...Hmm.
Mm? You're asking if something's wrong?
No, it's nothing. It doesn't matter how you fry food as long as it tastes good.
But... this sound...
The oil's crying...
It's... crying?
Here you go! Fried sirloin from free-range cattle on the Martan Plains. Please enjoy!
As soon as I bit into it, oil and juice burst out.
Delicious!
Haha, hearing that warms a chef's heart!
And you, miss? Did it suit your taste?
...No.
Huh?
Hmm...?
..Ha, haha! Perhaps you were hoping for a different kind of fried food?
Just let us know what you'd prefer and—
...It's crying.
...Crying?
The ingredient is crying.
It could've been better. It wanted to be reborn as perfect fried food.
It's asking if it really lived its life just to become this. That's why it's crying...
...Excuse me?!
Tanya?! I-I'm so sorry!
Captain. I didn't say anything wrong. No need to apologize.
The ingredient is crying. Mm.
*Sigh* Miss?
I've been working in front of that fryer for ten years now...!
And now you say what...? The ingredient's crying?! Oh, please!
What do you even know about fried food?!
I could make it better than this.
What...?!
I'll show you.
Tanya stood up and headed toward the kitchen.
The batter's wrong.
It's too thick. You overmixed it. The gluten formed.
And the oil's too hot.
A true fry master knows just by the sound. Can you hear the taste?
Tanya, wait a second...!
...Oh come on! Stop pretending you know anything!
Fine! Let's see it, then! Let's see if your food makes the ingredients cry or laugh!
If it's just average, I'll report you for interfering with business! Got it?!
Tanya?! It's not too late to—
Captain. Wait.
I'll make delicious fried food. For you and for the shop owner too.
A little later, Tanya came out holding a plate of freshly fried food.
Taste it.
Hmph! It's obvious what a newbie with a big mouth using premium ingredients will make—
...Huh?
The moment the owner took a bite, he froze.
Tanya, what...?
Captain, you too. Try it.
Here, I'll feed you. Open wide.
After just one bite of Tanya's fried food...
Huh?
Where am I?
A vast field stretched out before my eyes. For some reason, I felt certain it was the Martan Plains.
As I looked around, confused as to why I was here...
You're here.
You're...?
I'm Kevin. Premium breed of cattle born in the Martan Plains.
I'm the cow used in the fried food you just ate.
Mind walking with me for a bit?
So long as they speak your name, you shall never die.
You know what I mean, right?
As for me... I wanted to leave behind something moving. I wanted to bring joy with the finest flavors imaginable.
So when I ended up here, I cried.
I knew I could've tasted better. Could've left a bigger impression.
But the thought of becoming just another average fried dish that everyone would forget... it made me cry.
Oh, Kevin, you poor thing!
...But it's all right now.
Because I met her. She helped me become what I was meant to be.
Kevin?! Your body's disappearing...!
Guess my time's up. I have to go.
...Hey, before I go, can I ask one thing?
What did you think of me?
Well... of course—!
Of course you were amazing, Keeeviiiin!
I'll never forget you! You mooooooved me to tears!
I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I nearly ruined your noble sacrifice with my clumsy cooking!
Compared to you... I'm... I'm nothing...! *Sob*
Don't cry.
...Huh?
It's true. You lack skill. So practice.
But there's something more important than skill.
It's your mindset.
I saw your ingredients in the kitchen. They were well-kept.
I could feel your passion to make delicious fried food.
You can become a great fried food master.
I'll teach you. Mm.
Aaaah... Aaaaah...!!
Masteeeer!!
Don't cry. There, there.
Afterward, we were treated to all the premium fried food we could eat.
...But seriously, how did it end up like this?