Returned from Another World, Earth Turned Out to Be Quite the Fantasy Too. Also, Losing Heroines, Stop Looking This Way. - V5 Chapter 33: “Tonkatsu Just Needs White Rice, Right?”

Chapter 33: “Tonkatsu Just Needs White Rice, Right?”

“U-Uh, Senju-san… I think we’ve got a problem. This tonkatsu… the meat’s still pink! Isn’t it, like, not cooked all the way!?”

Holding up a piece with his chopsticks, Natsuki stared in disbelief at the perfectly pink center.

He turned to Senju, who was sitting beside him, and whispered in a hushed panic.

“…It’s just low-temperature cooking or whatever. Looks rare, but it’s fine. And keep your voice down! What if the server hears you!?”

“O-Oh, gotcha. You really know your stuff, Senju-san. So grown-up~.”

“Please. I’ve never even had rare steak before. I just saw it on TV once.”

“…………”

“What’s with that face? Huh? Huh!?”

Natsuki had been genuinely impressed for a second…

Until he realized it was just secondhand TV knowledge.

Which earned him a solid face grab from Senju.

“Still, Koume-chan I get, but even Yusuke-kun’s eating it without hesitation, huh…”

“Sado’s from a good family. Bet he’s used to eating fancy stuff.”

“…Oh yeah. I just remembered—his house had one of those roofs that’s super fun to climb.”

“What kinda review is that!?”

Yusuke’s house really was huge.

But when it came to Yusuke’s family?

That was about all Natsuki knew.

They hadn’t known each other that long yet,

But someday… he figured they’d talk about that stuff too.

“Anyway, we’re here, so let’s dig in.”

“Yeah—munch.”

The moment Natsuki followed Senju’s lead and took a bite of the tonkatsu…

Pure bliss hit him like a truck.

The crisp crunch of the coating echoed in his ears—

Followed by a juicy burst of flavor that exploded across his entire mouth.

He hadn’t even dipped it in any sauce.

Just plain tonkatsu.

And yet, the flavor of the meat was so rich, it could’ve carried a solo concert all by itself.

Before he knew it, Natsuki was shoveling white rice into his mouth like his life depended on it.

Next round—

He added just a pinch of salt before taking another bite.

The savory kick from the salt somehow made the meat taste… sweet?

Like salt and umami were performing a flawless duet on his tastebuds.

Then came the final boss—

A piece dipped in their house-made special sauce.

Crunchy coating.

Fruity, tangy sauce.

Then boom—meat juices bursting like fireworks.

Three layers of flavor swirling together in perfect harmony.

It wasn’t just tasty.

It was bliss.

Honestly, if you asked him right now?

He’d say forget the oni.

He could happily head back to Mukaijima City with zero regrets.

(Nooo… after tasting tonkatsu this good… I’ll never be able to eat regular tonkatsu agaaaaaain!!)

“…I think that’s the first time I’ve seen someone make an ahegao over fried pork cutlets.”

Koume, the only one casually sipping beer in broad daylight, gave Natsuki a deadpan look.

But despite the sass, she’d already wiped her plate clean—

Tonkatsu, rice, cabbage, miso soup—

Not a single crumb left behind.

“No, I totally get it. When I had this tonkatsu for the first time, I did the full-on ahegao double peace.”

“Who asked for that mental image of an old man doing an ahegao double peace!?”

“Ahh, Senju-san’s making the face too.”

“Creepyyyy~.”

Koume and Yusuke were used to gourmet meals.

Shuten Doji had eaten here a few times before.

But for first-timers like Natsuki and Senju?

This tonkatsu was pure bliss on a plate—so good, it left them totally dazed and drooling with joy.

“Welp, now that everyone’s enjoyed their meal… How about we finally get to the part where you came to kill me?”

“You’re wild, man! Trying to have a serious talk right after watching people go full-on ahegao over pork cutlets!? No wonder you’re the infamous Shuten Doji—I respect the nerve!”

“…Honestly, I kinda wish people wouldn’t respect me for that.”

With Natsuki and Senju still floating in spiritual tonkatsu heaven,

Shuten Doji let out a small, weary sigh.

～～Afterword～～

Tonkatsu-san: “Heh… you fools still have much to learn.”