To Make Dango...

Rice flour, powdered sugar, and water. The three main ingredients to make one of Lio’s favourite treats—dango. It didn’t have to be flavoured or coloured with food colouring. He craved it so often that he finally thought to learn to make it, and who better to teach him than the man himself, Dan?

He looked on as Lio weighed and mixed the dough. Once mixed, he separated it into three bowls. A little match in one and a few drops of pink colour in another, leaving one plain. Once that was done, he began moulding.

“The pink one is too small,” Dan said.

Lio nodded and tried again.

“Better.”

Lio’s tail swished behind him as he worked, and after he had enough round balls, it was time to boil them. He placed each colour dango in a separate pot to boil, and then they waited.

Dan said nothing, but Lio didn’t mind. He diligently watched the dango until it floated, and then he waited some more. A couple more minutes passed, and Lio used a slotted spoon to transfer the dango to a bowl of ice water. Dan then placed a plate of pre-soaked dango skewers onto the counter.

Lio knew what to do then. There was no instruction needed. Green—white—pink.

“Would you like to add toppings?” Dan asked as he inspected the skewered dango.

“Sure!” He must’ve been a little too enthusiastic because Dan’s frown grew a little wider. Dan retrieved a few sauce bottles and placed them on the counter next to the plate of fresh dango. Lio picked up the sweet soy glaze and drizzled it over the treats. “How’s this?” He asked when he was finished.

Dan picked up one of the treats and closely inspected it. He squeezed the dango balls, tested their hold on the stick, and then took a bite. Lio waited with bated breath. Dan was a strict teacher, and while most saw him as a grouch, Lio saw him as more reserved and solitary.

“You did well,” Dan said when he finished eating all three dangos. “I would call this a success. Congratulations, Lio.”

Lio beamed. “Thanks,” he replied. “I’m happy they turned out so well. I tried making them before, but I can only guess I didn’t boil them long enough.”

“You must wait at least two minutes after they begin to float to remove them from the water,” Dan said. “If the consistency is wrong, you may have to add more flour to the mix. A good policy to keep is to weigh everything and then weigh them again.”

“Right,” Lio nodded. “I can’t thank you enough, Dan.”

Dan simply nodded as he worked on cleaning up the area. “Will you be returning to learn how to make mochi next?”

Lio perked up in excitement. “Mochi?” He couldn’t believe it. Had his dango been that impressive? “Absolutely. When would you like me to come back?”

“Come back in a few weeks. I’ll have things ready then. Make sure you wear clothes you can move in… and work on your arm strength.”

“Got it,” Lio said.

Dan nodded again and handed Lio a box with his freshly made dango in it. “See you next time.”

Lio waved as he left the workshop, a pleased smile on his face and a box full of one of his favourite treats; what made it better was the fact that he’d made it himself. He was certainly excited to be able to make such tasty treats for his friends when he got home. He was sure they’d love them. If they didn’t… he’d just eat them all himself.