It Was Love at First Sight

emmabritt (69)Free writerin CCC • 4 days ago

Never knew a woman eating natto can be so alluring.

This story is narrated from the pages of “Shinya Shokudo,” a heartwarming slice of life manga series by Yaro Abe where we will witness the unexpected connections that blossom under the watchful gaze of the master chef.

My day starts when the city goes to sleep. My business hours are unconventional — from midnight to 7 in the morning.

It’s the Midnight Diner

You might wonder if anyone even comes at these hours. More than you’d expect, actually.

Miso soup set meal ¥600
Beer (633ml) ¥600
Sake (360ml) ¥500
Sochu (120ml) ¥400

Alcoholic drinks are limited to 3 servings per customer.

That’s all I have on my menu.

But here’s the catch: if I have the ingredients, I’ll make anything you request.

Photo by Ramon Kagie on Unsplash

Remember the great natto shortage?

It all started after someone on TV said it was a weight-loss miracle. Luckily, it’s now back on the shelves!

Mayumi, a regular here, wasn’t fazed. When she was dieting, she ate four packs a day!

Moderation is key, I say.

Jun always ordered the “natto special,” but without the tare (natto sauce).

Most people will just add the sauce and Japanese mustard to the natto and mix it a few times before eating, but she preferred plain natto with regular soy sauce.

Yoshida couldn’t help but steal glances at Jun as she savored her natto. Intrigued by her unconventional choice, he blurted out, “No tare? I like it sweet.”

“Try it with just soy sauce next time. You might like it!” Jun winked.

Maybe it was love at first sight for Yoshida. Jun, a stunningly beautiful trans woman here, definitely caught his eye.

If I remember correctly, Jun works at the snack bar in the 2nd district.

Snack bars, known as “スナック sunakku” in Japanese, are not just about snacks but are also as social hubs. Run by proprietresses known as “Mama-san,” these bars cater to a predominantly male clientele seeking a place to unwind, chat, and enjoy drinks minus the sexual services. They are distinct from seedier establishments and offer a relaxed social environment. They emerged post-WWII, navigating legal restrictions by serving light food to operate as legitimate eateries.
Source: スナックとはどんなところ？大人の社交場スナックを徹底解説！ | いいちこスタイル (iichiko.co.jp)

One day, I heard rumors that Yoshida was a regular at Jun’s place. They were apparently crazy about each other.

Soon enough, they walked in together, both ordering the “Natto Special” without tare. Looks like Yoshida fell for both plain natto and Jun!

Jun asked Yoshida to stay over. He had a meeting in the morning, but Jun wouldn’t take no for an answer. They ended up making out right here, with the sticky natto strings stuck to their lips!

Spring came, and Yoshida returned alone.

He looked awful. Thin and drained, like he hadn’t slept in days.

Turns out, he’d been having the “special natto” every night at Jun’s place. Whatever was going on there, it had clearly taken a toll on him.

Today, he craved the regular natto with tare — the way he actually liked it.

Jun arrived, searching for him. She grabbed his arm and practically pulled him out the door.

Yoshida, his grip tightening on the doorframe for a moment, seemed hesitant. But eventually, he let himself be led away.

In the end, poor Yoshida might be the only one who actually lost weight eating natto!

As told by the master chef of Midnight Diner.

Britt’s Note:

I can’t imagine a day without it. It’s become a must-have in my fridge. It usually comes in a pack of three. I always have it with rice — a classic combo. I’m still trying out new ways to eat it though! Right now, my top pick is with Japanese chili sauce and some spring onion. They taste great in curry too.

Photo by author

The key is to mix it all up real good until it gets nice and fluffy. The sliminess is actually a good thing, the more slime, the tastier it is, some people say. Apparently, the magic number is 400 stirs, but I don’t even try to count that high. I just mix it until it gets all stringy, then it’s ready to eat!

©Britt H.

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