Wakakozake/ Wakako Zake (ワカコ酒/ Wakako Sake)

Murasaki Wakako, 26 years old.

Born with a taste for liquor,

I wander the night yet again in search of a place to be.

A woman, drinking by myself.

1st Night "Classic Beer Food: Deep-fried Mackerel"

Pshuuu!

Pshuuu

There!

Done.

That was quick.

Yup.

I'm thinking of going to the movies today.

Lucky you.

I haven't seen anything today.

Entertainment is good for you every once in a while, you know.

Okay, I'm out.

Good work.

Good work.

Entertainment, huh?

To me, entertainment is a good drink after work.

Food and liquor — that's my kind of entertainment.

Usually I take a different route home.

Gyoza and Wine Bar

Sometimes, that's all it takes to discover something new.

Here's a good-looking place.

Yup, I'll go here.

Hokkaitei

Welcome.

For one?

Yes.

This way, please.

Here you are.

Nice, nice, it's bustling here.

Now, then.

What should I have?

Squid sashimi sounds good.

So does simmered beef and tofu.

I can't decide.

How about the deep-fried mackerel?

Deep-fried mackerel?

We deep-fry fresh, sashimi-grade mackerel.

Yum.

How is it?

Great.

Deep-fried mackerel looks good.

It's not something you get a chance to make when you're living alone.

I'll have deep-fried mackerel and draft beer, then.

Understood, coming right up.

Yup, nothing beats a cold beer to go with hot, fried food.

Thanks for waiting. Your draft beer.

Thank you.

That's the stuff.

It's the creamy head that makes a draft beer.

And it's even better after work!

Well, then, what's the deep-fried mackerel going to be like?

Sauce or soy sauce... which one should I use?

Sauce

Soy Sauce

If I want a refreshing meal, it'll have to be soy sauce.

It brings out the taste in the fish, too.

No, no.

It's deep-fried.

I should savor it with the sauce; it'll accentuate its fried coating.

I have a good idea.

I'll split into two.

First, I'll use the sauce

and enjoy it as western food, and it'll go well with the beer.

Perfect.

The crunchy parts, the sauce-soaked parts...

It's all so good.

And on the other half, I'll put soy sauce.

And I'll try it as seafood.

This is it.

Fish and soy sauce is a killer combo.

They're both so good.

Here you are, deep-fried mackerel.

Please have it with sauce or soy sauce, to your liking.

It's so big in person.

Thank you.

Tartar sauce!

That's clever.

I see, that's a valid choice.

That's a totally valid choice.

Time to eat.

Look at that.

The tartar sauce is giving the deep-fried mackerel even more dazzle.

I can feel the bouncy, crunchy texture through my chopsticks.

I can't wait.

It's so fleshy, I might moan.

Delicious.

Steamy, juicy, deep-fried mackerel wrapped in light batter.

Why does tartar sauce go so well with seafood?

Minced hard-boiled eggs and onions.

Pickles, mayonnaise.

Whoever invented it must be a genius.

Followed up by cold draft beer.

Pshuuu!

The beer's as good as ever!

Excuse me, another beer, please.

Coming right up.

Hey, Murasaki-kun.

Sorry, Murasaki-kun, do you have a minute?

Sure.

Sorry, just for a minute.

About this report you made the other day...

Would you please write it up again with a different target?

Huh?

Headquarters just made this order.

I'm really sorry.

First-half Customer Satisfaction Report

That's all right.

Our schedule's packed, though, so could you do it as soon as you can?

ASAP. ASAP.

Understood, I'll do it quickly.

Time for a re-do.

All that work yesterday for nothing.

I'll be leaving now.

See you.

Man.

This sucks.

It's not like I made a mistake, either.

But now I have to stay behind to do it all over.

First-half Customer Satisfaction Report

I'm beat.

Kuidokoro Sakaba Katsu

I guess I'll have a drink.

Welcome.

Welcome.

For one?

Yes.

Have a seat at the counter.

Excuse me.

Thank you.

Here you go.

Fruit Wines

Sashimi

I feel like having sashimi.

Today's Picks

Yamakake tuna.

That might go down well with cold sake.

Excuse me.

Yes?

Yamakake tuna and cold sake, please.

Right.

What brand for the sake?

Do you have any recommendations?

How about Matsu no Tsukasa?

It's refreshing, and it goes well with lean fish.

I'll have that, then.

Gladly.

Here's your appetizer.

Refreshing Japanese sake for crisp foods.

Rich Japanese sake for rich foods.

It's so much fun choosing delicious food and liquor.

And I can't wait for the yamakake tuna.

Yamakake is strange.

It looks less classy than tuna by itself.

Yet it adds just a little bit of happiness.

Here you are.

Yamaimo on tuna.