[bad word] Are you ready, Makoto?
Makoto：Yeah. I’m ready for anything, [bad word]  [bad word] Then… let’s begin.
Makoto：Ah, wait! I forgot to put on an apron! [scrambles] I’m really sorry about this, [bad word]  I’ve never even attempted to cook anything before now. [bad word] It’s fine. But why the sudden request to teach you how to cook? Are you making food for someone?
Makoto：Yeah. [bad word] …Who?
Makoto：[laughs] Ran and Ren. Tomorrow is my parents’ marriage anniversary, so they’re going to spend the day at the hot springs. I have to watch over Ran and Ren while they’re away, and I can’t feed them takeout pizza for both lunch and dinner. [bad word] Then mackerel cooked in miso would be perfect for you. It’s so easy that even a beginner can do it.
Makoto：I put myself under your tutelage, [bad word]  [bad word] Sure. Then let’s begin. Do it the way I tell you to. First, we have to prep the fish. Put the mackerel fillets on top of the bamboo drainer.
Makoto：Like this? [bad word] Then put a paper towel on top. We’re going to douse them in hot water. The hot water is in the kettle.
Makoto：[takes kettle and pours] Like this? [bad word] Yeah. By simmering them in hot water first, it removes their fishy smell and prevents them from breaking apart while they’re cooking.
Makoto：Wow… this is all so professional! [bad word] It’s normal to know this much.
Makoto：[laughs] This reminds me of what we all talked about that one time, about who we’d choose for a boyfriend. You’d make a good husband when you get married, [bad word]  [bad word] I’m not interested in getting married.
Makoto：Yeah, if you got married, you won’t be able to say “I only swim freestyle” anymore. [bad word] Leave me alone. Quit talking and keep moving with the preparations. Next is the ginger root. Cut it in thin slices.
Makoto：Uhm… ginger root, ginger root… Like this? [starts cutting] Wah! [bad word] No, be careful! When you’re using the cutting knife, you’re supposed to curl your fingers on your support hand, remember?
Makoto：…? [bad word] …We took home-ec classes in school together, don’t you remember learning that? You’re supposed to curl your finger like this…
Makoto：Oh! Right! [bad word] Makoto… Don’t tell me you’ve never touched a knife since then.
Makoto：Eh? Uhm… well… I guess…? [bad word] [sighs] Try cutting it the way I just showed you. Go as slow as you need to.
Makoto：Okay. [slicing] [bad word] Yeah, that’s it.
Makoto：…I did it! [bad word] Okay then. Next, put soy sauce, mirin, cooking sake, sugar, and water in the frying pan, and bring it to a boil.
Makoto：Wait, hang on! Let’s see now… soy sauce, mirin… sake… sugar… and… [turns on the stove] Ack! It’s hot! [bad word] No, dummy! You’re too close to the flames!
Makoto：Sorry! [bad word] You didn’t burn yourself, did you?
Makoto：Yeah, I’m okay. Thanks. [bad word] Then next, line up the mackerel fillets without overlapping them in the frying pan so they cook evenly.
Makoto：Like this? [bad word] Yeah. That’s the only thing you did well.
Makoto：Be quiet. [bad word] Put the ginger root you sliced earlier into the frying pan too, and cover the pan with the lid. We’ll let it simmer for 5-10 minutes on medium heat.
Makoto：If this were a cooking show, they’d bring out [bad word] dish they’d made beforehand at this point. [bad word] Why is it you know that, and yet you don’t know how to use a cutting knife?
Makoto：Oh, be quiet. [bad word] Let’s move on. Once it’s done simmering, ladle some of the broth with miso, then distribute that around the mackerel back into the frying pan. This is when I also add in this as my secret ingredient.
Makoto：Mayonnaise?! [bad word] Putting in a tiny amount of it helps to bring out the flavor. You can use cheese or yogurt too, but I always use this.
Makoto：Wow… that part about you is really amazing. I never would have thought up something like that. [bad word] …If you cooked, you would…

x x x
 [bad word] Okay, it’s all done.
Makoto：Smells great! I hope it turned out well. [bad word] Makoto, open your mouth.
Makoto：Eh? [bad word] feeds Makoto] [bad word] Is it good?
Makoto：…!!? [bad word] What’s wrong? [bad word]  it’s kind of salty! [bad word] Eh? Could it be…? Where did you get the sugar from?
Makoto：Eh, from this container with the blue lid. [bad word] That’s salt.
Makoto：Eh?! [bad word] [sighs]
Makoto：What now? We can’t eat this… I guess we’ll have to throw it out… [bad word] No. This mackerel isn’t dead yet.
Makoto：Eh? What are you going to do, [bad word]  [bad word] First, break up the mackerel fillet into small pieces. Then we’ll fry them with eggs in the frying pan. Makoto, take out the eggs.
Makoto：O–Okay! [bad word] whisks the eggs] [bad word] After that, we’ll add in a serving of cold cooked rice and stir-fry it altogether.
Makoto：Such skilled movements… [bad word] No need for any more seasonings. With this, you now have mackerel-miso fried rice.
Makoto：Wow! Can I have a bite? [bad word] Sure.
Makoto：…It’s so good! It’s really good, [bad word]  [bad word] That’s great.
Makoto：This is going to make them so happy! [bad word] Only if you manage to pull it off properly tomorrow.
Makoto：That’s [bad word]  [bad word]  [bad word] Hm?
Makoto：Thanks. [bad word] …Y–Yeah.
Makoto：Hey, the frying pan! The food’s burning! [bad word] The crispy parts of the rice still taste good.
Makoto：But it’s turning black! Ah! Now the fried rice is on fire! [bad word] Calm down. You can use mayonnaise to extinguish the flames.
Makoto：You can’t do that, [bad word]  Just use the lid! The lid! Put the lid on the frying pan– [Makoto's cell phone goes off] Who’s calling me at a time like this?! Hello? Rei? What? Tomorrow’s training menu? Sorry, now’s not the time– No, I don’t mean that, the fried rice–