Page 1
Haruyo cooks in the kitchen beneath the title.
Positive Cooking
Page 2
Panel 1:
A purple rectangle.
Voice: Honesty is the best policy.
Panel 2:
A closeup of a tasty dish sitting on a table.
Voice: Well, how does it look?
Voice: I used baked ginger as usual, but changed things up a bit.
Panel 3:
The Hara family sitting around the dinner table.
Shinichi: Oh, you don’t say.
Gramps: It’s delicious Haruyo.
Haruyo: Really!? Thank goodness.
Panel 4:
A closeup of Haruyo looking happy.
Narration: My wife had started taking cooking classes.
Haruyo: I tried to make an ethnic dish.
But they haven’t taught us how yet.
Page 3
Panel 1:
Shinichi looking unenthusiastic.
Shinichi: Oh, you don’t say?
Narration: Honestly I really did like this baked ginger dish-
Panel 2:
A gray rectangle.
Narration: For five years my wife took care of my bedridden mother.
Panel 3:
A family shrine to Shinichi's mother.
Narration: Last year Mom passed away,
Panel 4:
Haruyo holding a platter at the table as she talks to her family.
Narration: We just passed the anniversary of her death, actually.
Haruyo: What should I do?
Haruyo: My friends invited me to join a cooking class with them.
Panel4:
Shinichi watches baseball with his father, not paying any attention to his wife.
Shinichi: You don’t say. Go, I guess.
Haruyo: But what about the money?
Panel 5:
Grandfather looks to Haruyo.
Gramps: Haruyo, you don’t need to learn to cook, you’re already great at it.
Haruyo: Really, father -in-law?
That makes me happy to hear.
Page 4
Panel 1:
Haruyo blushes and touches her cheek.
Haruyo: It’s just when I was taking care of your mother for so long,
My cooking skills have suffered and I’m a bit out of practice.
Panel 2:
Grandfather excitedly makes his offer to his daughter-in-law.
Gramps: Oh, I can pay the tuition fees then.
You took such good care of her after all.
Haruyo: Oh please, I simply couldn’t…
Panel 3:
Various dishes and bowls on the table.
Narration: One thing lead to another-
Haruyo: I made three different sauces.
That’s what I learned.
Panel 4:
Shinichi is still in a daze as he and his father sample Haruyo's new dishes.
Shinichi: Oh, you don’t say.
Gramps: It’s delicious Haruyo.
Narration: I don’t mean that she didn’t make a significant improvement,
Panel 5:
A blue rectangle.
Narration: But it became a way for my wife to relax,
And it made Dad happy.
Page 5
Panel 1:
A shot of the rooftops in the neighborhood.
Narration: As for my wife’s cooking abilities,
I honestly didn’t care.
Panel 2:
Haruyo screams with excitement.
Narration: Until that day-
Haruyo: Kyaaaaa!
Panel 3:
Shinichi opens the bathroom door, grumpy from hearing his wife scream.
Shinichi: Wh-what is it?!
Haruyo: Oh, I don’t believe it.
It’s written right here.
Panel4:
Shinichi looks over his wife's shoulder to see what she is reading.
Shinichi: What!?
Haruyo: Here.
Panel 5:
Shinichi takes the magazine from his wife and begins to read.
Shinichi: Hm?
A recipe idea contest?
Page 6
Panel 1:
A recipe card.
Haruyo: Remember this?
Beside Crown: Easiness Prize
Negitoro Wonton
Ingredients
pack of negitoro
Beefsteak plant, minced and boiled bamboo shoots.
A suitable amount of soy sauce
Wonton shell (store bought)
Sauces made from vinegar.
BelowPicture:
Comments: Leaving out the meat makes for a healthy alternative.
Panel 2:
Shinichi stares absentmindedly at his wife.
Shinichi: Wha-?
Haruyo: I made it before. Around when your mother passed away.
Panel 3:
Shinichi looking bored and uninterested.
Shinichi: Is that so?
Haruyo: C’mon, you don’t remember!?
Panel 4:
Shinichi walks away in a daze as Haruyo stares at the ringing phone on the table.
Shinichi: Oh well.
Panel 5:
Haruyo answers the phone.
Haruyo: Oh, hello there.
Oh!? You saw the book!?
Panel 6:
Haruyo scoots onto a pillow on the floor as she talks on the phone.
Haruyo: Yes well, there’s only a few applications inside,
And I think eventually I’d lke to pass the Chef’s exam.
Yeah, that’s my plan.
Page 7
Panel 1:
Haruyo looking extremely happy.
Haruyo: It was around the time that I was helping take care of my mother-in-law.
You think that makes sense? Oh, I’m so happy.
Narration: They egged her on and my wife got caught up in the excitement.
Panel 2:
A flashback to a hospital room as Shinihi and his father watch on as Haruyo helps Shinichi's mother who is in bed.
So while she was taking care of Mom-
Shinichi: You’re doing such a great job Haruyo.
Gramps: You’re such a great help Haruyo.
Haruyo: Oh?
Panel 3: Several days later.
The front of the Hara house at night.
Shinichi: I’m home.
Panel 4
Haruyo and two cute, younger friends of hers.
Haruyo: Oh, you’re home early.
Friend 1: Sorry, I hope we’re not disturbing you.
Panel 5:
Shinichi entering the kitchen as he undoes his tie.
Shinichi: Your friends?
Haruyo: We met in our cooking class. They’re young, hm?
Page 8
Panel 1:
Haruyo talking outside her house with her two friends.
Friend 1: Thanks, Ms. Hara.
Friend 2: You were a lot of help.
Haruyo: Oh, don’t mention it.
Panel 2:
Haruyo and Shinichi sitting at the kitchen table.
Shinichi: You’re teaching them to cook? You?
Haruyo: Yeah.
Just making sure they don’t leave out any steps and follow the recipes.
Panel 3:
Haruyo holding up her finger making a point.
Haruyo: They’re both newlyweds,
So they aren’t very good cooks.
They said cooking at the classroom is too difficult because of all the equipment.
Panel 4:
Haruyo and Shinichi at the kitchen table.
Haruyo: So would it be okay if I invited them over from time to time?
Panel 5:
Shinichi looking bored again.
Shinichi: Well… yeah, I guess so.
Narration: And so-
Panel 6:
Haruyo's friends arriving.
Narration: Almost every week-
Friend 1: Good afternoon.
Page 9
Panel 1:
Shinichi getting home from work as Haruyo and her friends are busy in the kitchen.
Shinichi: Again.
Haruyo: C’mon in.
Friend 2: Oh, sorry.
Friend 1: Time for us to go.
Panel 2:
Annoyed, Shinichi goes to his father's room to eat.
Shinichi: Geez, in my own home.
Gramps: Shinichi, you’ re eating in here too?
Panel 3:
Shinichi looks back into the kitchen over his shoulder.
Shinichi: Figured I’d better be careful.
Gramps: …
Panel 4:
Grandfather smoking.
Gramps: Well…
You don’t say?
Panel 5:
Shinichi leans in to talk to his father.
Shinichi: But it’s so annoying.
It’s making you uncomfortable too, Pop.
Gramps: Naah.
As long as it makes Haruyo happy…
Page 10
Panel1:
Shinichi frowning, getting angry.
Shinichi: Why’s he being so modest?
I’m going to have to lay down the law.
Panel 2:
Shinichi sits on his bed later that night, as Haruyo puts her hair in curlers, getting ready for bed.
|
Shinichi: Time to be strict.
Um, your friends, don’t you think they, uh, have been coming by a lot?
Haruyo: Huh?
Panel 3:
Haruyo's face is hidden from view as Shinichi speaks.
Shinichi: It’s just they’re always in our kitchen…
I mean, you’re teaching them for free right?
…
Panel 4:
Haruyo turns around to reveal a very happy expression.
Haruyo: Should I start charging them!?
You think so too!
Shinichi: Wha!?
Page 11
Panel 1:
Stars sparkle around Haruyo as she begins to get more and more excited. Shinichi is far from excited however.
Haruyo: That’s it!
I’ll teach my simple recipes to all the ladies in the neighborhood and become famous!
Everybody will love it!
Shinichi: Positive.
Panel 2:
Haruyo turns to Shinichi.
Haruyo: I could open the classroom again, right?
Shinichi: Aiyiyi.
Panel 3:
Shinichi looking helpless.
Shinichi: Is that right?
Look, do you really think that everyone is really going to want to learn these recipes?
Panel 4:
Shinichi shakes his head looking nervous.
Shinichi: In other words, do you think anyone has even thought this through?
I mean, there will be tuition to pay and all that.
Panel 5:
Shinichi turns to see that Haruyo is already in bed and going to sleep.
Shinichi: You’re not listening.
Page 12
Panel 1:
A recipe card.
Narration: Then it happened again, my wife got another recipe in a magazine.
Best Use Prize
Potherb Mustard Pasta and Tofu Steak
Pasta (thin type)
A) quality potherb mustard, fan-shaped kinoku
bacon, pine nuts
1/2 clove of garlic
Add to B at the end.
B) a suitable amount of butter and olive oil
a suitable amount of soy sauce and white wine
tofu streak
1/2 cup of cotton tofu
BelowPicture:
Comments: Whatever is left in the pot can be saved for later use.
It’s good with meat or fish!
Panel 2:
Outside the Hara's house.
Narration: That’s when my wife really got carried away.
Shinichi: I’m home.
Panel 3:
Shinichi enters the kitchen to find his father and son alone at the dinner table.
Shinichi: Hm? Where’s Mama?
Grandpa: Cooking class.
Kid: She moved into the upper level class.
Panel 4:
Shinichi loosens his tie and looks around.
Shinichi: But at this time of night…
Grandpa: Well… it can’t be helped.
Page 13
Panel 1:
Shinichi sits angrily at the foot of his bed as Haruyo puts curlers in her hair.
Shinichi: Look, I’m glad you like cooking, but c’mon.
Haruyo: Mm-hmm, I’m really getting motivated.
Panel 2:
Shinichi is getting angrier but Haruyo is not paying attention to him.
Shinichi: You weren’t even here tonight…
Haruyo: Mm-hmm, mm- hmm.
Panel 3:
Haruyo turns around, oblivous to her husband's mood.
Haruyo: Do you think I should get a part-time job?
Maybe at the neighborhood deli.
Panel 4:
Shinichi is stunned.
Shinichi: Huh?
Haruyo: I’ve already made up my mind.
Panel 5:
Shinichi explodes with anger as Haruyo puts on facial cream.
Shinichi: Wha-!?
Haruyo: Don’t worry, I can still do the cooking class too.
Panel 5
Shinichi yelling.
Shinichi: And what about us?
It’s just all about you!
Page 14
Panel 1:
Shinichi continues to yell at Haruyo.
Shinichi yelling.
Shinichi: Lately, where have your easy-to- do
Recipes been at our dinner table!?
You make more meals outta the house than in it…
Panel 2:
Haruyo stares her husband down with sweet yet intense eyes.
Haruyo: Oh,
Don’t worry about that.
Panel 3:
Shinichi sits in stunned silence as Haruyo goes back to her nightly routine.
Page 15
Panel 1
Shinichi sweats nervously as Haruyo begins blow drying her hair, no longer listening to him.
Shinichi: Wh-what are you saying?
I-I’m not some idiot y’know.
I-I-It’s not that simple.
Haruyo: It’s no big deal.
Panel 2:
A dark rectangle.
Shinichi: She didn’t get it.
Then one night my wife was out somewhere.
Panel 5
A book laying on a table.
Chef Examination Questions and Answers
Panel 4:
Shinichi comes home from work and notices the book.
Shinichi: Hmm?
Chef Examination…?
Panel 5:
Shinichi flips through the book.
Shinichi: She’s planning on getting her license?
Hmm?
Page 16
Panel 1:
A closeup of a page of the book.
Shinichi: Examinee qualifications…?
Must have two years or more of business related cooking experience?
Panel 2:
A flashback of Haruyo, her hair in curlers looking back at her husband.
Haruyo: Do you think I should get a part-time job?
Maybe at the neighborhood deli.
Panel 3:
Shinichi's face looks dark as his father appears in the doorway behind him.
Gramps: Shinichi, maybe you…
Should throw that away.
Page 17
Panel 1:
Shinichi is caught off guard by his father's sudden appearance.
Wh,
What is it Pop, this is a little sudden.
Gramps: It’s not sudden.
Panel 2:
Grandfather in profile.
Gramps: Haruyo… her face looks so happy but,
You have some misgivings, don’t you?
Panel 3:
Angry Shinichi.
Shinichi: Misgivings…
Lately she’s just doing as she pleases, right?
Panel 4:
Grandfather and Shinichi having a discussion.
Gramps: But what about before that.
When she was taking care of your mother…
Shinichi: Mom?
Panel 5:
Grandfather looking down sadly.
Gramps: We really depended on Haruyo.
Shinichi:That’s…
Panel 6:
Shinichi realizes he can't convince his father of his point of view.
Gramps: So I want to see her happy.
Shinichi: You too, huh.
Panel7:
Grandfather looking sad.
Gramps: So… maybe we shouldn’t grumble about this stuff.
So…
Page 18
Panel 1:
Shinichi takes off his coat and walks away from his father.
Gramps: She loves cooking, and wants to make this work for her…
Shinichi: Psh, yeah right.
You’re over thinking this.
Panel 2:
Grandfather nervously tries to continue the conversation with his son.
Gramps: How could y-you…
She’s so relaxed but,
You’re going to drive her to divorce…
Panel 3:
Grandfather gets into a begging position on the floor, tears flowing from his eyes as his soon looks down on him in disbelief.
Gramps: Who will take care of me when I get too sick to go on!?
Shinichi: Wha… so that’s what he’s so worried about.
Panel 4:
A dark rectangle.
Shinichi: My wife had completely abandoned us it seemed and was always out of the house.
Panel 5:
Shinichi shakes his head from side to side.
Shinichi: But even if she gets her license,
We’ll still be eating amateur cooking at best…
Page 19
Panel 1:
Grandfather and Shinichi both freak out as they turn to see Haruyo in the doorway.
Haruyo: I’m home.
Panel 2:
Shinichi sweating and looking cross.
Shinichi: H-how long have you been there!?
Panel 3:
Haruyo looking pleasant.
Haruyo: I just got here.
What were you talking about?
Panel 4:
Father and son sweating nervously, but relieved.
Gramps: Oh… nothing.
Shinichi: Did she hear us?
Panel 5:
Haruyo's face is turned, her expression is a mystery.
Haruyo: Oh, okay.
Panel 6:
She turns around with a nervous smile on her face.
|
Haruyo: Guess what? I’m…
Going to be onTV!
Page 20
Panel 1:
Shinichi and his father stand in shocked disbelief.
Shinichi: Huh!?
Great! Now what!?
Panel 2:
A television screen with lots of young women wearing aprons.
Host: We’re the Easy Cooking Expedition Group.
Today we’re visiting the Setagayaku cooking school.
Panel 3:
Haruyo and Shinichi watch TV as she explains the situation to him.
Narration: It was a segment on a variety show,
Haruyo: See.
They’re going to come to our class.
They’re going to tape a segment and everything.
Narration: She came to their attention through the simple recipes for housewives she had made.
Panel 4:
Haruyo turns away from the TV to her husband, who is frowning.
Shinichi: So… you’re going to make something on there?
Haruyo: That’s what they said, the teacher is going to choose one of my recipes.
Don’t you think that’s amazing?
Page 21
Panel 1:
Haruyo in profile.
Haruyo: Wow, TV. TV!
Think what this could do to my reputation,
Panel 2:
Haruyo getting carried away as sparkles fill the air.
Haruyo: I could become the Charismatic Housewife.
Narration: There was a certain feeling in the air.
Panel 3:
Shinichi looking confused.
Shinichi: Huh? Charismatic “Housewife”?
Panel 4
Shinichi stares at his wife.
Shinichi: … she hasn’t been much of a “housewife” lately.
Panel 5
Haruyo's face can't be seen.
Haruyo: How about that.
Panel 6
Shinichi looking nervous.
Shinichi: Huh!?
Page 22
Panel 1:
The couple go back to watching TV, but Shinichi's mind is racing.
Shinichi: What does that mean!?
Does that even make any sense!?
Panel 2:
A black rectangle.
Shinichi: I’m scared!
I’m scared to hear anymore of this!!
Panel 3:
Evening clouds.
Shinichi: Maybe she really is dissatisfied with me?
Is all of this just some elaborate plot to leave me!?
Panel 4:
A note on the refridgerator
…
Note:
I’ve gone to class. Please order something for dinner. -Mama
Panel 5:
Shinichi digs through the cabinets as his son approaches from behind.
Son: Wha-, Dad’s cooking dinner!?
Shinichi: We just ordered out the day before yesterday.
Panel 6:
A dark rectangle.
Narration: Haruyo was getting ready for her TV appearance,
And had stopped cooking for us entirely.
Page 23
Panel 1:
Shinichi pulls some oysters from the fridge.
Shinichi: Oh, we have oysters.
Box: Raw oysters
And we have bean sprouts and eggs too…
Okay.
Panel 2:
Grandfather looks nervously at his son.
Gramps: Shinichi…
Is this special training for the days ahead?
Shinichi: What? No, today’s the day.
Panel 3:
Shinichi's odd looking dish.
Shinichi: Ta-daa, my special oyster ramen.
See, even I can cook.
Panel 4
The three guys sampling the dish in silence...
Panel 5
And spit it out.
Panel6:
Grandson and Grandfather leave the kitchen as Shinichi yells at them.
Son: He can’t be serious.
Gramps: We’ll order out.
Shinichi: Oh, you’re not gonna eat it, eh!
Fine, more for me!
Page 24
Panel 1:
Shinichi begins to cobble down his nasty food in frustration.
Shinichi: It’s awful!
I’m already full too.
Narration: But I persevered through sheer willpower because of…
Her.
Panel 2:
The local hospital.
Narration: And so-
Panel 3:
Haruyo rushes into the hospital room.
Haruyo: Honey!
You collapsed at the train station…?
Panel 4:
Shinichi weakly lies in bed while the doctor offers his prognosis.
Shinichi: ...
Doctor: He’s got food poisoning.
Panel 5:
Haruyo looks concerned as she comes to the side of her husband's bed.
Haruyo:Dear…
Page 25
Panel 1:
Haruyo looks down on her husband with concern.
Haruyo:I’m sorry…
If I had just made some rice for you…
Panel 2:
Shinichi's sickly face.
Shinichi: Haruyo…
Panel 3:
Shinichi looks guilty while Haruyo looks on.
Shinichi: Uh… Haruyo…
Haruyo: Hmm?
Panel 4:
Haruyo's profile.
Shinichi: I know up until now... a lot of things have been bad…
Panel 5:
An overhead shot of Shinichi in bed.
Haruyo: What?
What do you mean?
Shinichi: Various things…
Panel 6:
Shinichi looking sick as he talks to his wife.
Shinichi: Leaving you to take care of Mom…
Haruyo: …
Panel7:
A closeup of Shinichi and Haruyo's faces.
Shinichi: And… your cooking…
Page 26
Panel 1
A profile of Shinichi in bed with Haruyo standing over him.
Shinichi: I want things like they were. To eat your food again…
Really…
Panel 2:
A flattered looking Haruyo.
Shinichi: It was so… tasty….
Panel 3:
Shinichi is exhausted as his wife beams excitedly down at him.
Haruyo: Really!? Oh honey.
I’m so happy.
Shinichi: …
Panel 4:
A white rectangle.
Narration: What, it was that easy all along?
If I had just said something nice early this would have all been over so quickly.
Panel 5:
Shinichi weakly raises his hand to his wife.
Shinichi: Haruyo, please, I beg of you. Stay with me.
Fix something just for me…
Haruyo: Ah.
Page 27
Panel 1:
Haruyo's shadowy profile.
Haruyo: Sorry.
I’ve gotta run.
Panel 2:
Shinichi's face enters the shadows as well.
Shinichi: Huh!?
Panel 3:
Haruyo dashes out the door waving goodbye to Shinichi.
Haruyo: I have to go tape the show.
See ya.
Panel 4:
Shinichi is sucked into the vortex of deep space, wailing as his wife leaves him.
Shinichi: Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?
Page 28
Panel 1:
Shinichi sits in the darkness, hanging halfway out of his hospital bed.
Shinichi: It’s hopeless.
Panel 2:
The roof of the hospital.
Panel 3:
Haruyo turns to see her father-in-law as she leaves the hospital.
Gramps: Oh, Haruyo.
Haruyo: Ah, father-in- law.
Panel 4:
Patients milling around the hospital.
Gramps: I see… today’s the taping.
Haruyo: Uh-huh, until now they were just compiling footage.
Panel 5:
Grandfather walking beside his daughter-in-law.
Haruyo: What is it, father?
Page 29
Panel 1:
Grandfather looking sad as Haruyo speaks to him.
Gramps: Haruyo, when you become famous and all…
Haruyo: Huh!?
Panel 2:
Haruyo looking back at her father-in-law.
Gramps: You’ll get even busier and,
Have less time to be with us…
Haruyo: …
Panel 3:
Haruyo gets excited.
Haruyo: Nooo, that won’t happen.
This TV show is just a one time thing that I wanted to try.
Panel 4:
Grandfather and Haruyo continue to walk.
Gramps: Really!?
Haruyo: Mm-hmm. I’m already satisfied with it.
Panel 5:
Haruyo in profile.
Haruyo: Father-in-law, I…
Know things must have been tough on you.
It’s just so many things…
Panel 6:
Haruyo looking down as she begins to outpace her father-in-law.
Haruyo: I just wanted to take a shot at doing something I loved outside of the house.
But,
Shinichi, I made a mistake.
Page 30
Panel 1:
Haruyo looking upwards in profile.
Haruyo: When you said my cooking was delicious…
It made me so happy.
So…
Panel 2:
Grandfather looking nervously happy at Haruyo as she smiles back.
Gramps: I see…
Well, that’s good.
Haruyo: I’m sorry about everything.
Panel 3
The number and patient name outside of Shinichi's room.
Gramps: Shinichi Hara… here we go.
Haruyo: What…? He was moved to a private room…?
Panel 4
A dead body is being wheeled out of the room.
Panel 5
The doctor approaches Grandfather and Haruyo.
Doctor: Are you Shinichi Hara’s family?
Gramps: Umm.
Haruyo: Yes, but…
Page 31
Panel 1:
A close-up of the dead body. Its face covered with a blanket.
Doctor: I’m so sorry.
You weren’t in time I’m afraid.
Panel 2:
Haruyo and Grandfather looking grim.
Haruyo: Wh…
It can’t be.
Panel 3:
The pair fall to their knees in shock.
Haruyo: Th… that’s…
Panel 4:
Crawling on the floor they begin to cry.
Gramps: Sh… Shinichiiiiii.
Haruyo: Honey…
I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!!
Panel 5:
Shinichi rushes around the corner, hearing their sobbing, holding onto his IV for support.
Shinichi: Huh?
Panel 6:
A dark rectangle.
Narration: There was a patient with the same name as me.
Page 32
Panel 1:
A television set with many pretty, young girls visible on the screen, Haruyo is only half in the frame.
Host: We’re the Easy Cooking Expedition Group.
Panel 2:
Shinichi stares blankly as Haruyo frowns at the screen.
|
Shinichi: Oh, there’s those young friends of yours.
Haruyo: Mm- hmm.
Friend 1: We really can’t cook well,
Friend 2: But this is simple enough even for us.
Panel 3:
Clouds.
Narration: My wife quit going to the cooking class after that.
She also quit her job at the deli when the time came.
Panel 4:
Haruyo and Shinichi sitting at the dining room table.
Narration: Now I make sure to praise her cooking from time to time.
Shinichi: This is really good.
Haruyo: Oh, it’s just the usual.