My experiments earlier had been worth it. The fugu, sardines, and unagi were all incredibly tasty. Unagi stood out the most, and though I had the urge to only gorge on the unagi pieces, the fugu and sardines weren’t half bad. They added a nice touch to the pizza, making it more flavorful and addicting. The three types of fish also had completely different textures, and that turned out to be a genius combination. And I mustn’t forget the fresh summer vegetables that added even more variation and a small break between the richer ingredients. The pizza was so good that it made me smile without realizing it.
I wolfed down my food as if I hadn’t eaten for a century, and the other two followed my example, as if this was a contest. Somehow, I managed to snatch three slices from the last pizza despite the fierce competition.
Techi seemed to have eaten her fill. “I have to say, this pizza is gorgeous. I never knew pizza could be this good.”
Kon was next. “I thought the fish was nice even if you don’t make pizza with them, but it’s even better as pizza toppings!”
The fish and umeboshi pulp pizza was a huge success. It had a unique flavor that was also a bit different from Japanese-style pizza, such as teriyaki chicken pizza. It’s plum style—no, maybe fusion Japanese-style?
Kon’s excited eyes suddenly caught my eye. They were even more brilliant than usual, twinkling like stars. “I never knew plums and umeboshi could be this yummy! I already liked them, but I love them now! Mikura, you’re still going to make lots of different food with plums, right?”
I stared back into his eyes and nodded firmly. “Of course. We are only at the first stage of plum work. It’s going to last all the way until plum season ends. There are a lot of preserves and cuisine you can make with plums, so look forward to it.”
Pure elation took over his face, and Kon gave me his usual close-eyed smile. This time, however, his eyes were squeezed even harder than usual. Then, with both hands, he stuffed the rest of his pizza into his mouth, chewed fiercely, and savored his food in utter bliss.