幸腹グラフィティ

Rice that just crumbles apart in your mouth...

The juicy sweetness of the frying oil...

It's the taste of pure bliss.

Gourmet Girl Graffiti

Episode One Warm, Juicy.

Bevel the edge of the daikon, one cut at a time,

taking care to keep the shape even.

Blanch the salted yellowtail to eliminate odors.

Then carefully, carefully...

The more care and emotion you invest,

Machiko Ryou

the tastier the meal.

It just doesn't taste good!

It smells so wonderful, so why does it taste so bad?

Grandma, ever since I started living alone, I've lost all my talent for cooking.

Listen, Ryou.

If you learn to cook, you'll grow up to be a wonderful wife.

I'm sorry, Grandma, but at this rate...

I'll end up being a terrible wife!

Hello, this is Machiko—

Hey, hey, Ryou! How've you been?

Akira-san!

Sorry about New Year's.

I'm buried under a huge pile of work.

It's all right. I know you have to work really hard.

But it was awful of me to leave an eighth grade girl all by herself!

I'm your aunt, so I should be there for you.

Machiko Akira

Really, I'm fine.

Just a moment ago, I resolved myself to a life of solitude.

If I'm going to be a horrible wife...

Wait, what?

Er, nothing.

Oh, yeah, I have a little favor to ask.

Yellowtail with daikon...

Uchiki Yuki

My second cousin's going to the same prep school as me?

Yup! Apparently she wants to go to the same art school as you.

She's in the weekly Sunday class,

so could you let her stay at your place on Saturdays?

She wants to go to the same art school, too?

But I've got to study for exams,

and I can't even cook a proper meal...

Don't sweat it!

Just wear nothing but an apron, and you're covered!

No way!

In the end, I agreed.

Lucky...

Spending chilly days like this in a warm room with someone special,

cooking a warm meal and enjoying the warmth of each other...

Wh-Whoa! Who's there?! I can't breathe!

Machiko Ryou-san, right?

Hi, I'm Morino Kirin.

Morino Kirin

You're my second cousin?

Yup, that's me!

We're the same age?

N-Nothing! Anyway...

Those bags look heavy. Did you carry all that yourself?

Yup! I'm strong, if nothing else!

Oh, this is for you!

Napa cabbage?

I swiped a bunch from home before I left!

Swiped... You took them without telling anyone?

Actually, I had a big fight with my parents about coming to Tokyo...

There!

Eat up!

Eat up? But it's veggie stir-fry again...

I mean, it's good, but some meat now and then would be nice.

There's meat in here, see?

I even added sukiyaki seasoning.

Delicious, honey.

Umm...

Sukiyaki

Huh? Art school in Tokyo?

You want to move to Tokyo?!

Yeah.

These aren't like normal exams! You'll have to go to cram school, right?

Now, honey...

Yeah. I already applied to one in Tokyo.

They have weekly sessions on Sunday...

You can't just do that!

Honey, please—

It won't cost you any money!

I got a scholarship that'll cover tuition—

That's not the issue!

I won't allow it.

The exam is bad enough,

but Tokyo's much too far. You can't go to a school out there!

W-Well...

I'm gonna stay with some nice person in Tokyo who makes really great food!

What?!

I guess I'm partially to blame for never bringing it up before.

But they're letting you stay at my house once a week, right?

Yeah, but either way, I can't attend the full course—

Catching a cold?

You're dressed pretty light for such cold weather.

I'm going to school in Tokyo now!

None of the Tokyo girls in the magazines wear coats!

Really?

I'm going to school here no matter what it takes.

Even if my mom's against it.

Um...

Are you hungry?

So...

I wonder if this is what eating competitions look like...

It's so good, I forgot to say grace!

Thank you for the meal.

Anyway, it's delicious!

Really? Thank goodness.

I figured a hot pot stew was a good choice to fight a cold.

Yeah, it's great!

Other than veggie stir-fry, I haven't had a meal with a real name in forever!

A name?

My mom just makes whatever, but Ryou-san, you're a great cook!

I think it's just because you were hungry, Kirin-san.

Like they say, an empty stomach is the best spice.

Lately, my cooking hasn't been going too well...

No way!

I've never eaten hot pot this good before!

It may be the best hot pot I'll ever eat!

Taste it yourself!

C'mon, say, "Aah!"

Huh?

I'm telling you, it's good!

I-I can feed myself.

"Aah!" Hurry, before it gets cold.

Huh? Er... B-But, but...

Okay, I'll eat it! I'll eat it!

Really?

Say, "Aah!"

Aah.

It's good...

The way you eat is...

kinda sexy.

Oh, no, don't stare! I can't eat like this!

Ryou-san, you're amazing.

We're the same age, but you're so grown-up. And you can cook...

Hot pot dishes are simple.

I'm sure you could cook them, too.

You think so?

Yes!

I wonder if I could live on my own, then...

I mean, I came to Tokyo alone, so if I could cook my own hot pot...

Maybe if you can eat everything, including the carrots.

B-But carrots smell weird!

Finish your carrots, and then take some medicine.

I'm so happy she ate the whole bowl.

I actually made a good hot pot tonight.

Huh? I wonder why it tasted good this time...

It's a simple dish. The fresh napa cabbage must have done the trick.

Maybe I can use the cores for something.

Coming!

How's Kirin-chan, Ryou?

She's taking a bath.

That's good.

When she contacted me out of the blue, I was really shocked.

Kirin-san called you directly, Akira-san?

Yeah, she wrote a letter.

...Akira-sama. Hello. This is Morino Kirin. I have made the decision to attend the same prep school in Tokyo as my cousin...

Greetings, Machiko Akira-sama. Hello. This is... I have... ...to attend...

That's surprisingly formal.

I don't think Kirin-chan's mother is really opposed to the idea.

She's probably just going to miss her.

Miss her?

I wonder if I could live on my own...

She has a cold, but she's taking such a long bath!

In Call

Huh?

37.2°C... That's a bit high.

And on my first day of class...

You should dress warmer from now on.

You can borrow my coat.

E-Er...

Don't worry if it's a little big on you.

I don't want the Tokyo kids thinking I'm a little midget bumpkin from the countryside.

The coat has nothing to do with that...

Art Room 1

My class is in here.

Kirin-san, yours is on the second floor.

Morning, Machiko-san!

Good morning.

Is this your little sister?