"Subs by yuizaki_libra Special thanks to furransu and nomanymore" "Here you go!" "Today's special buriteri!" "Got it!" "Here!" "Your 30 yen change." "Thank you very much." "Sorry, Ryu-chan." "Although you have to get prepared for Lapin..." "Not at all." "Even Mihashi-san told me to help out over here." " Thanks for waiting!" " He's of great help." "This person here can't play tennis at all, even though she's only at this age." "I used to be called Madame Butterfly of Hachiouji, you know." "That's like how many decades ago already~" "You people too." "Stop dawdling!" "Eat faster and go to work!" "Come on!" "Okay, Ryu-chan." "Half pork, chicken and egg!" "Yes~!" "A feature about Kase Goro?" "That's right." "He will be making a big comeback at a party hosted by the French Embassy." "Do it well ok." "Having the chief bartender of Ratskeller Hotel come to Japan is a rare occasion." "Why did you come back from France?" "You got fired or something?" "That cannot be..!" "Ryu gained more attention in France." "As a young man with potentials." "If so, why did he come back to Japan?" "Because he was fired." "The person who fired Sasakura-san..." "Thank you for waiting." "Sasakura-san, you may already know about this..." "What?" " You know, today..." " Yeah..." " Hm?" " Never mind, nothing." "What is it?" "I'm curious now." "Sasakura-kun, Vodka Iceberg and Gin Tonic for the table seats." "Is something wrong?" "No." "Nothing." "I understood." " Excuse me!" " Yes." ""Unknown ID"" "Who is this person?" "Yes." "Yes." "I understand." "What's wrong?" "Ojii-chan collapsed." "Eh..?" "Ojii-chan?" "!" "Hey, Miwa." "Do you know this duo?" "They are funny." "Um..." "How is your condition?" "Oh, I just felt a bit giddy and they made such a fuss." "No need to worry!" "I'll be discharged tomorrow." "Miwa, what's wrong?" "Of course I'm worried." "If you keep shouting that loud, my heart will stop next time." "Don't joke about that!" "But it's all good now." "Since there's nothing serious." "Yes, come in." "Excuse me." "I caused Kase-kun such a great trouble." "We were eating together when I collapsed." "Then he brought me here." "This is Miwa, my granddaughter." "Nice to meet you." "I'm Kase." "I should be the one to say that." "Thank you for taking care of my grandfather." "When I heard Kase-kun would be coming to Japan to work for the embassy," "I asked him to be the special adviser for our French Fair." "That's why I'm having him stay at Cardinal Hotel." "Um..." "I'm a reporter." "I will be covering the event next week." " Please be kind to me." " Please be kind to me." "Oh, and then, he is..." "Ah, that's right." "There is no need for me to introduce him." "It's been a long time." "Aren't you doing pretty well?" "Kase-san." " I'm working as a bartender again in Jap..." " There is no need to say anything." "But..." "Because we're not master and student or anything any more." "Then, I'm going." "Thank you for waiting." "Your order is?" "Vodka Iceberg." "Gin Tonic for me." "Certainly." "Here is your Vodka Iceberg." "Here is your Gin Tonic." "Are you really Ryu Sasakura, the one who won the Europe Cocktail Competition?" "Yes, I am." "I have been thinking a lot about it, but there wasn't anything wrong with my Gin Tonic just now." "What a fool." "Why didn't you try to ace the customers more seriously?" "Ryu." "You're fired." "Um..." "Why so?" "Kase-san...!" "Ojii-chan~" "Sorry." "Were you having a discussion?" "Nah it's fine." "We're done soon anyway." "Sit there and wait for me." "Let's see..." "Um..." "Right, right." "Regarding the matter of the chief bartender," "I got it." "Well, I'm terribly sorry for rushing, but we cannot delay the opening of the main bar any longer." " Please do something by April." " Sure." "I will decide with the next three weeks." "And then, regarding the matter with Chef Yamanouchi," "I will be in charge of that." "Thank you very much." " Then, I'm counting on you, Kanbayashi-kun." " Yes, later then." " Oh, Nishi-kun, good work." " Thank you very much." "Azeki-kun and Nekoya-kun too." "Thank you." " Excuse me." "Yeah." "Are you really going to decide the chief bartender?" "Yeah." "I cannot delay that anymore." "More importantly, the problem is the matter regarding Chef Yamanouchi." "What's the matter regarding Chef Yamanouchi?" "I told you beforehand that I want you to gather all ingredients that are the same as those in Paris, didn't I?" "Um..." "Due to time restraints and costs, it's hard for us to compromise..." "If you don't gather those ingredients, I can't make anything." "A Japanese chef who uses nothing else but French ingredients?" "Yeah." "The main feature for the French Fair starting next week is Chef Yamanouchi's dishes." "Ojiichan is really worried." "An diehard gaullist huh...?" "Gaullist?" "A man following the principles of De Gaulle." "That is the name people use to call a French national who thinks that everything French is the best in the world and denies that France should be under the influence of America or other superpowers." "But Chef Yamanouchi is a Japanese." "Selling one's soul to France is a disgrace to us Japanese." "Ryu-chan." "Eat your meal." "Uwah, buriteri!" "Looks yummy!" "I love Oji-san's buriteri." "I'm digging in." "For buriteri, mirin is its soul." "(note: mirin = a kind of rice wine similar to sake, but with a lower alcohol content)" "The heart of its flavor is this." "He is very particular about mirin and only uses a good brand." "This mirin has been fermented for 10 years." "One of the finest quality." "10 years?" "Of course it must be delicious." "Well, for a chef to fuss over ingredients, that goligolist guy is quite..." " Oji-san!" "Oji-san!" " Oji-san!" " Hm?" "Gaullist." "Right?" "You aiming at this?" "No way!" "Um..." "I have a favor to ask." "Hm?" "Wait a minute!" "No matter how many times you ask, "no" is "no"." "You are the only one I can think of who can persuade an uncle like Chef Yamanouchi." "Just get to know him more." "You just have to entertain him at Lapin." "As I said, this time is..." "You refuse because Kase-san will be coming, right?" "I have thought about it." "Why Sasakura-san isn't interested in becoming a bartender for the hotel's Main Bar." "You're still bothered by the fact that Kase-san fired you?" "Shouldn't you just take this chance to talk to him?" "If you don't show Kase-san the present Sasakura Ryu, you won't be able to move forward." "You don't even know anything." "Can you not say whatever you please?" "I just want Sasakura-san to stand at the Main Bar." "Stop imposing your way of thinking on me like that." "I understand that you're trying your hardest for Kaichou." "But... this is the matter between me and Kase-san." "Kaichou." "Looking at the results of your inspection, as I thought, you must get hospitalized." "You're so persistent too." "However, if you keep pushing yourself more than this..." "You know..." "I want to be the one who will decide my own limit." "Don't you think that too?" "Hm?" " You got it?" " Yes." "Got it." "Then, our appointment as scheduled is over." "Sorry about this." "I don't have much time." "Not at all." "Thank you for taking care of my grandfather the other day." "No problem." "This time, in our dinner together with Chef Yamanouchi, there will be a surprise from Miwa-san, right?" " I will be looking forward to it." " Yes." "Then, please excuse me." "Um..!" "Kase-san!" "What is it?" "What do you think about Sasakura Ryu-san?" "I'm sorry for being nosy." "Our teacher-student relationship is something of the past." "I think for Sasakura-san, it's not something of the past." "Why did you make him quit?" "Even now, Sasakura-san is still hurt by it." "He doesn't say it, but I know." "Vodka Iceberg and Gin Tonic." "Those are the last cocktails that he made while he was still under me." "Sasakura-kun, Vodka Iceberg and Gin Tonic for the table seats." "Welcome to the bar." "Good evening." "How unusual." "For Miwa-san to come here alone." "My grandfather asked me to deliver flowers to you." "Thank you very much." "Miwa-san didn't come today." "Maybe she's busy." "But usually she will always come within two days..." "If you don't show Kase-san the present Sasakura Ryu, you won't be able to move forward." "Yes." "This is Bar Lapin." "Eh?" "Please hold on for a moment." "Sasakura." "It's from Bar K." "Eh?" "This way, please." "Miwa-san?" " Miwa-san..." " I cannot contact Kaichou to tell him about this." "Sorry about that." "Miwa-san, are you alright?" "Hey, Miwa-san." "Wake up." " Miwa-san." " Hmm..." "Even though Miwa-san is quite good at drinking..." "Miwa-san." "Because she drank nothing but Vodka Iceberg and Gin Tonic." "She even asked me how to make them." "It seems to have something to do with you." "It seems that Kaichou is going to decide the one whom he will entrust Cardinal's Main Bar to in the next three weeks." "Miwa-san, wake up." "Let's go back." "Sorry, but..." "I don't think I will lose to someone like you at the present." "For taxi fares." "No, thanks." "Even though I said that..." "Alright!" "I should have accepted that taxi fare from him." "Hey, Miwa-san." "Don't throw up on me." " Sasakura Ryu~!" " What?" "Show me that you're getting more serious at this." "Show me that you will say "I will become the chief bartender of Hotel Cardinal."" "Miwa-san..." "I..." "Seriously..!" "For my granddaughter to get drunk and pass out in a bar before she gets married..." "I'm sorry." "If the person who carried you home was a bad guy..." "I said I know already!" "In the first place, you were the one who asked me to deliver flowers to Kuzuhara-san." "It's fine if it wasn't me right?" "Every year, I send him flowers myself." "Only you can be my substitute." "You know, Kuzuhara's fiancee... was hit by drunken driver, and passed away." "Yesterday is her death anniversary." "It happened 6 years ago." "Kuzuhara was filled with sadness, became indignant of alcohols." "That's why he resigned from being a bartender." "At first, it seemed that he really lost mind." "But then he came back." "In order to keep a promise he made with his fiancee." "Promise?" "A vow that, in the future, he will become the chief bartender of the most prominent hotel." "That's why, he... stands at the counter now because of the love for his fiancee." "Alcohol was what left Kuzuhara in despair, but it was also what made him recover." "Because" "I want you to know the truth." "Kurushima-kaichou!" " Sorry for coming before your opening time." " Not at all." "This way, please." " Welcome to the bar." " Yeah." "How's your condition?" "You are looking quite pale." "It's cold." "Can I have a drink?" "Then, how about a Bull Shot?" "Bull Shot is a cocktail made of vodka mixed in with beef consomme..." "I know." "Please pardon me." "I'll have that instead of soup." "Certainly." " Miwa must have troubled you." " No." "Oh, also, regarding Chef Yamanouchi..." "I turned her down." "Miwa-san already placed a reservation some time ago." "Um... no, I..." "I heard a little about the situation." "If Sasakura-kun doesn't want to stand at the counter on the actualy day," " Sugiyama and I will be serving in his stead." " Eh?" "Ah, please count on us." "I won't stand at the counter in front of Kase-san anymore." "Hey." "Turning your back on the job that you risked your life for is equivalent to abandoning it for a lifetime." "There's no human being who doesn't fail." "There are only those who cannot stand up again after falling and those who can." "Even though you have experienced setback, you have once again come back to behind this counter and stand here today." "Sometimes I think that's just enough." "You're still bothered by the fact that Kase-san fired you?" "If you don't show Kase-san the present Sasakura Ryu, you won't be able to move forward." "Turning your back on the job that you risked your life for is equivalent to abandoning it for a lifetime." "Sometimes I think that's just enough." "What am I going to do for tomorrow's dinner..." "You're looking down." "Sasakura-san!" "Um..." "Sorry for everything." "I didn't even call to apologize." "Me too." "Sorry for speaking like that to you before." "I should be the one to say that." "I was the insensitive one... or the pushy one." "The one who drank too much, too." "I will reflect about myself." "Regarding Chef Yamanouchi," "I will help as much as possible." " Really?" " Yeah." "But, about Kase-san..." "Have you solved it?" "The riddle of Vodka Iceherg and Gin Tonic." "Eh?" "Then, I'll give you a hint." "If I use this spoon which has been mixed into this cocoa to mix your black tea, what will you do?" "I'll get mad." "Because cocoa will float in the black tea." "That was my mistake." "Vodka Iceberg is a simple cocktail made by adding Pernod into vodka chilled rocks." "The next order was Gin Tonic." "I was a cocktail that I had made hundreds of times." "I was completely unaware of it." "I mixed Gin Tonic using the spoon I had used to mix Pernod." "But the taste won't change because of that, right?" "Pernod has a strong taste, so unless you wash the spoon with water, its smell won't disappear." "I didn't even notice my own mistake." "You were fired because of only that...?" "That was just the trigger." "The underlying problem was" "I became arrogant after winning the cocktail competition." "When I returned to Japan," "I intended to never be a bartender again." "But, Kaichou said..." "A true bartender is not an occupation." "It's a way of life." "That was when I thought I wanted to live as a bartender again." "Honestly, I have no idea if I should stand at the Cardinal's Main Bar." "But just as you said, unless I show Kase-san my current self," "I won't be able to move forward." "That's why let's think about it." "The matter regarding Chef Yamanouchi." "Even if I said that..." " Slipping in stealthily like this is a bit..." " Sheesh!" "We have prepared all the French ingredients we could manage to gather at the moment." "Their freshness is sub-par." " This is out of the question." " No, er, um..." "Well, even if you say that, this is Japan." "Will you please find a way to make use of Japanese ingredients..." "I only aim for perfection." "If you can settle for mediocre dishes, please find another chef." "No, please don't say that..." "He's much more uncompromising than I had expected." "You shouldn't put it that way..." "Then, do you have any confidence in persuading that person tomorrow's evening?" "At the moment, no." "What should I do..." "He also seems quite knowledgeable about alcohols." "We are totally no match for him." " Welcome to the shop." " Ryu-chan!" "Oba-chan!" "Oji-chan!" "Her arm is finally healed, so she wanted to come to thank you." "Thanks to you, see, it's like normal." "Welcome to the bar." "Here, this way please." "Mihashi-san, they are from Sakura snack bar." "Oh." "Thank you for always taking care of Sasakura." " I'm the owner, Mihashi." " I'm Sugiyama." "Sasakura always causes you trouble..." "Likewise." "We are the ones who have bothered everyone here." "We are already doing fine." "Thank you, Ryu-chan." "It's nothing." "Then, today, let's celebrate your recovery." "Please take it slowly." "Then, before we drink, here is our thanks to you." " No, there's no need..." " It's nothing big." "Just take it." "It's our appreciation." "Ah..." "Then, I won't resist anymore." "Thank you very much." "What is it...?" "What?" "What's wrong?" "No..." "Yes." "Please send a car to pick us up at 6 p.m in front of the hotel." "We will first eat sushi in Okabayashi in Ginza and head for Lapin after that." "Oh, will you keep it a secret from Kase-san and Yamanouchi-san that they are going to Lapin until we arrive at the bar?" "Yes, please." "Then, later." "Are you nervous?" "Rest assured." "If something happens," "Mihashi-san and I will figure something out." "Right, Mihashi-san?" "Just be your usual self." "That's enough." "Yes." "Good evening." " Welcome to the bar." " I have brought them here." "We have been waiting." " Welcome to the bar." " Thank you very much." " Here you go." " Welcome to the bar." "Here you go." "The reservation was supposed to be for 5 people..." " I said four people..." " I added another one." "He will be coming soon." " Sorry for making you wait." " No." "We were just a little early." ""Another one" is Kuzuhara-san?" "We also want to drink something made by Kuzuhara." " Will you allow me to do that, Mihashi?" " If that is what you wish." "How would that suit you?" " I'm fine by it." " Certainly." "That's an interesting idea." "Kase-san..." " I hope to learn from you." " Likewise." "Kuzuhara, even though you just came, can we quickly request a drink from you?" "Certainly." "Here you go." "This is A1." "A1...?" "It has the meaning of the first-class ship, Queen Elizabeth, the most extravagant passenger boat in the world." "Naming a cocktail "A1"... means that it is "the best" and "very high-class"." "I will have it." "Delicious..." "So this is a top-class flavor huh..?" "As I'm told by Kaichou, this is a cocktail that suits you, Chef Yamanouchi." "Wonderful." "It has great sharpness while still remaining fruity." "To match with the name A1, you did make it perfect, didn't you?" "I am grateful for your praise." "Wouldn't that overshadow Sasakura's cocktail?" "However, Kaichou, I'm not boasting or anything." "I have drunk alcohols from all over the world, so much as I have grown tired of them." "Then, the next drink, please." "Certainly." "What I would like to serve you... is this." "Firstly, Chef Yamanouchi, please have this by yourself." "By myself?" "Have you realized what this is?" "A blind item...?" "Fine with me." "Is it a wine?" "No, it has a brown color rather than red..." "The color is like that of a vintage port." "The alcohol content isn't high." "What is it?" "This faint smell of yeast..." "Its aftertaste is like that of Japanese bean paste." "Bean paste?" "I got it." "A sherry that was fermented for some 35 years." "It's Oloroso." "Well then, everyone too, please." "Here you go." "Here you go." "I wonder what this is..." "Now that you mention it, it does indeed taste like bean paste." "Then, the correct answer... is this." ""Honmirin" (note: true mirin)" "It can't be..." "Mirin?" "What a dummy... using mirin..." "This was given to me by an acquaintance." "Using carefully selected raw ingredients, this is honmirin that has been fermented for 10 years." "Huh?" "Don't tell me, that thing in buriteri from Sakura snack bar?" "Honmirin is originally a sweet alcohol that is made by mixing shochu, glutinous rice and yeast." "Its color and taste change when yeast is fermented." "Excuse me." "Making me drink mirin in a bar..." "We're sorry." "Is there anything that you want us to serve you..." "I shall make a drink to remove the bad aftertaste...." "No need." "I'm disappointed." " Chef Yamanouchi..." " As expected of the well-known Monsieur Yamanouchi." "I was surprised." "Having guessed that it's Oloroso from the faint flavor of yeast." "You have no ordinary tongue." "As everyone here is knowledgeable about alcohols, you probably know about this famous episode." "In 1995, a World Sommelier Contest was held in Tokyo." "A sommelier who was a representative from France answered umeshu for a North European spirits," "which was the blind item." "Umeshu?" "A French person did?" "Since the venue was Japan, he studied Japanese alcohols." "That prejudice unconsciously confused his tongue." "If I'm correct, that sommelier went on to win in a competition in Canada 5 years later." "That's right." "Because he has an excellent sense of taste." "For someone like that who confuses umeshu with a spirits...?" "Prejudice huh..." "Isn't your prejudice against things made in Japan making it very hard for you?" "Yeah." "Saying that unless you use French ingredients, that cannot be called a French dish..." "If you insist on making something using a traditional recipe, the taste will be different and it will be rejected the next time round." "Indeed, a Japanese dish that is made by a foreigner may be deemed as not delicious." "For a long time, you have been fighting against the kind of prejudice that a Japanese cannot make a genuine French dish." "How can you know that sort of thing?" "When I studied in a bar overseas," "I experienced the same thing times over." "But at those times, my master told me this." "Losing against a senseless prejudice will only make you stubborn." "I think what's important is not whether it's French-like or Japanese-like." "Because, the customers come to seek" "Monsieur Yamanouchi's dishes." "Isn't there a pretty cheeky bartender in this bar?" "I'm sorry." "Have you come to understand it for me?" "I will think about using Japanese ingredients." "See you." "Kase-san." "Thank you for today." "Then, I'm leaving here." "Kase-san!" "I was able to make that drink today because I had worked under you in Paris." "From now on, as a bartender..." "Monsieur Yamanouchi... may have accepted your drink... but I...will not acknowledge you as a true bartender." "Kuzuhara-san." "Thank you for today." "You..." "Do you seriously have to intention to stand at Cadinal's Main Bar?" "Kuzuhara-san, now is not the time for that..." "I don't know." "You said you don't know?" "Don't fool with me." "Why don't you aim for the top?" "Why don't you seek perfection?" "I won't allow any act of violence here in my bar." "I'm terribly sorry." "No." "Thank you for today." "For Mr. Perfect to do such a thing..." "I can understand his feelings..." "I think that person is really desperate too..." "Sorry for making you come with me yesterday." "Kaichou, you aren't kind to people." "You were aware that Miwa-san will take me to that bar, right?" "Nah..." "Is the preparation for the French Fair exhibition going on smoothly?" " Yes." "I never thought that I will hold a shaker here." "You.. between Kuzuhara and Sasakura, who do you think is closer to the Glass of God?" " This is about the Main Bar?" " Yeah." "Kuzuhara, who makes perfect drinks." "Or Sasakura, who unusually touched the heart of Chef Yamanouchi." "In whose glass will the God dwell, I wonder?" "Sasakura-san." " Miwa-san." " My thanks for yesterday." "Thank you." "Looks yummy!" "What's the matter?" "You don't seem very well." "I don't know anymore..." "Who should stand at Cardinal's Main Bar..." "Who will be able to make Ojii-chan's dream come true..."