Dagashi Kashi (だがしかし)

So, uh, listen Coconuts.

Yeah?

There's something I've been wanting to ask you

for a while now.

What's up, Saya?

You may not have noticed,

on the account that you're kinda oblivious,

but this has been bothering me.

You need to be honest here.

Why... is your shop... so... run down looking?

It's been three months since then.

Hm?

Kokonotsu! It's all up to you now!

Yippie!

Damn you, Yo!

Ugh. I feel like eating some good food.

Hm. Curry, sushi, or tonkatsu .

Jeez for a second there,

I feel like I said something that would summon Hotaru.

Summon, like a weird ritual.

Hold on a second.

Whoa. Hotaru?!

Thanks for wait...ing.

You said it... Kokonotsu!

Don't try to act cool

when you're obviously out of breath!

That's the stuff!

Ramune after a long run really hits the spot,

know what I'm talkin' about?

Why did you run all the way here?

The time has finally come...!

I've thought about making it "today's theme" so many times,

but then I'd think, "Maybe this isn't the right time,"

so I've restrained myself.

But the fateful day has arrived,

and since you used the sacred summoning ritual,

I present to you the legend among deep-fried dagashi !

It's Big Katsu!

Uh, big what now? Katsu ?

So, " tonkatsu " is the magic word to summon her?

Yeah, I've been waiting for the word " tonkatsu "

to roll off your lips forever.

Couldn't you just ask me to say it?

Anyway!

Well, as you may be aware,

combining dagashi with rice is kind of my thing.

Uh, is that supposed to be embarrassing?

Also, did you bring your own rice bowl?

So, what's the deal with Big Katsu?

Like what makes it special?

Big Katsu. Tonkatsu .

Hotaru?

So I could be wrong, but Big Katsu isn't pork. It's fish.

Duh, it's in tonkatsu style! How can you not know that?

Uh, okay. That really hurts.

I suppose.

In order for you to understand, I'll have to tell you the

top-secret origin story of Big Katsu.

The origin story?

Yes, Kokonotsu, you see,

this story all begins... with squids!

What?!

The company that created it was developing

a product, and they used squid as the main ingredient.

But they had a rough go of it

because they couldn't find suppliers.

Say what?

But they refused to give up on their idea!

Since they couldn't get squid,

they decided to go with fish instead.

They made sheets from fish and soaked them in a sauce,

that's Amatarakko, sweet dried squid style.

This is Ika Ajiten, it's deep fried and sauce-less.

Wait a minute.

They're both totally amazing and I adore them!

And yet, the developers still weren't satisfied

with their product! So they asked,

"How can we surpass the taste of real dried squids?"

Huh?

What's wrong?

Hold on, they tried to surpass the taste of dried squids

with fake dried squids?

Yes, try to keep up.

Their hardship continued.

Through wind and rain, they struggled on.

Even though they wanted to collapse from exhaustion,

they never quit.

All for the sake to aim for greater heights!

And so...

And so...?

They thought tonkatsu would be delish,

so sha-bam, that's how Big Katsu was born.

That's it?

Hold up, you didn't like the story?

No, I mean, I guess it's fine.

I just thought there would be a bit more to it.

And besides I wanted to eat tonkatsu .

Oh, wait a second,

are you saying Big Katsu can't beat tonkatsu ?

You sayin' only squids can surpass other squids?

No...

You think all of their blood, sweat and tears was--

That's not what I said at all!

That's not the point! It's not about winning or losing!

I think not being the real thing is exactly

what makes those dagashi so appealing!

Big Katsu is delicious even when you don't eat it on rice

like a weirdo!

And when you eat Ika Ajiten, you wouldn't be like,

"Man, I prefer real squid tempura," now would you?

Personally, I'm really happy that Big Katsu was born

as result of their stupid struggle! Oh...

Just as I expected.

You really are a dagashi genius.