Amaama to Inazuma

It's pretty crowded.

Tsumugi, the ocean's really pretty!

Come on out.

Carry me...

You're a big girl now, so you can get out on your own, right?

I'm a kitty right now.

So I can't do it by myself.

I see.

If you're a kitty, maybe you can't.

Tsumugi, look.

Doesn't that look fun?

I brought your swimsuit, in case you want to go in the water.

No...

Okay, let's go for a walk.

There's a beach clubhouse over there.

Let's go!

Beach Clubhouse

Summer Vacation, Kitty, and Aji

Geh?

Today

Tokyo Musashino-shi Clear Chance of Rain: 0% Humidity: 34% Wind Speed: 1 m/s

35 degrees?

Kotori...

Let's turn on the air conditioner...

We said we'd turn it on

as a reward after doing an hour of homework, right?

This is impossible!

My sweat's dripping onto my notebook!

I'm forcing myself to wait for my ice cream reward too, you know!

A phone call?

Who is it?

It's a text message...

So hot...

Sh-Shinobu.

Can you fillet a fish?

Huh?

No, of course not.

Inbox From: Inuzuka-sensei Sub: Sorry for the sudden message Sorry for the sudden message. It's Inuzuka. Can we come by right now? We just got some fresh aji as a gift, and since...

Why?

Well...

Hello.

I brought these to share.

The eyes are so pretty!

Those look delicious!

That was fast!

But are you sure we can have them?

Yes.

The two of us went to the sea today,

but it was so hot, we decided to come straight back home.

On our way back,

we happened to see a family from the neighborhood fishing.

They saw how interested Tsumugi was in the fish,

and they ended up giving us some.

Right, Tsumugi?

Uh-huh...

What's wrong, Tsumugi-chan?

You seem down.

I said I wanted to show them to you.

Daddy said it might be a bother.

N-No... I meant if we just came over without warning.

Not at all!

If you wanted to show me,

that makes me really happy.

Huh?

What's gotten into her?

Did something happen?

Well, you see...

I bet she's hot!

Should we turn up the air conditioner?

No, no. No need.

She's just being a bit of a baby lately.

I'm not a baby.

I'm a kitty.

I'm a kitty, so it's okay.

I see.

A kitty?

Meow-what?

Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow!

Meow! Meow!

They're having a conversation...

Shinobu has a big family,

so she's used to dealing with little kids.

Sorry for coming over without making arrangements first.

No, no. I like aji.

And...

I don't know exactly what's going on,

but if coming here makes Tsumugi-chan feel better,

that makes me happy.

Thank you.

Anyway, about the fish...

Yes?

I contacted my mother, and she said she won't be back until tonight.

We might have to put them in the freezer.

I'm sorry.

I thought Yagi could do it, so I called him...

Fish?

I've actually got lunch customers here for once, so no.

I'll show you some other time.

You should just fillet them yourself!

I couldn't...

I've never done it before.

And I don't know how.

Well, I mean...

I just looked it up after Kotori asked.

And nowadays... Look.

The Simple Way to Fillet A Fish

These days, there are all kinds of videos like this.

This is your chance to practice!

No, I just brought them over to share.

I don't know if I should use the kitchen without permission.

Um, actually, I got permission

for you to cook here if you want to.

Then it's decided!

Come on!

I've never done it either, but I'll help.

No...

What?

We're all going to eat the fish together?

Sensei, isn't this the time for you to try your best?

You're right!

Fish...

Is it okay?

Can you do it?

I ca—

I will!

Daddy will do his best,

so just wait, okay?

Okay...

So, what should we make?

Aji, huh?

Aji are good for...

Since they're fresh, maybe sashimi?

Or tataki, since they're aji?

Oh, I'm sorry.

Tsumugi doesn't eat that much raw fish.

She doesn't eat sushi?

She does, but...

My favorite sushi is egg.

I see...

Egg sushi is good.

Then we should cook them, right?

What are some things we could make

Aji Recipes

with what we have on hand that Tsumugi would like?

Everyone Recommends: 404 Aji Recipes Simple and delicious... Fish cooking 37 Aji Recipes Simple and delicious recipes... Aji Recipes How To Make | Farm Recipes...

But since they're fresh, I'd really love to eat them raw...

The grown-ups can try a little to taste them.

Aji Namerou

We can turn them into namerou and have them with rice,

then cook them and turn them into sangayaki!

How about that?

Sangayaki?

It's like a fish Hamburg steak!

Hamburg steak...

I love Hamburg steak.

Then it's settled!

All right.

We'll start by taking the aji we just washed, and filleting it.

First we take off the scales on both sides that are called "zeigo."

The zeigo?

Look.

Okay.

Here?

Here, right?

Yeah.

The knife should just slide in right there.

You're really good!

Both sides, okay?

Okay.

Now we take off the rest of the scales.

Hold the knife upside-down.

Okay.

Rinse the scales off with water...

Then chop off the head.

Put the knife in diagonally under the pectoral fin,

then cut in hard, once on each side.

The bone's pretty hard, huh?

That's why we use a strong, heavy deba knife, I bet.

So cruel!

Okay.

Let's move on to the next step.

Next is the internal organs.

You don't want to get food poisoning, so make sure you get them all out.

Okay.

Um... Cut into the stomach from the head end,

and up to the anal fin...

Gruesome...

Is it okay?

Is it okay for her to see this?

I'm gonna see!

What?

Are you okay, Tsumugi?

Aren't you scared?

I'm fine!

'Cause I'm a kitty now!