Don't Distract Me, I'm Cooking.

Robin, Doi and Drake were sitting in their room. Doi was drawing some doodles with crayons, Robin was reading the yellow press newspaper. Drake was sitting in his green armchair, staring somewhere far away, having his own cockroaches in his head. As Doi finished drawing, he put crayons and paper sheets to his bed, and approached Drake. “I want to eat something,” he said. “Can you do something edible?” Drake changed his attention to his friend, “Sure. What do you want?” Doi scratched his head, thinking about what he'd like to eat. As he came up with an idea, he exclaimed, “Let's have some pancakes. With tomato paste!” Robin looked at Doi, as if he just said the dumbest thing in the world. “Doi, are you stupid?” he asked. “What normal person would have the pancakes with tomato paste?” “I think it's worth a try,” Drake said, standing up from his armchair. “To the kitchen!” The three friends made their way to the kitchen, their curiosity piqued by the unusual pancake topping suggestion. As they entered the bright and cozy kitchen, Drake pulled out all the necessary ingredients for making pancakes while Doi eagerly grabbed a can of tomato paste from the pantry. “Doi, are you sure about this?” Robin asked, a hint of skepticism in his voice. “I know it might sound strange, but I think that the most unexpected combinations turn out to be delicious,” Doi replied with a mischievous grin. Drake started preparing the pancake batter, mixing flour, eggs, milk, and a pinch of salt. As the batter reached a smooth consistency, he heated a frying pan on the stove and added a dollop of butter to grease it. Once the pan was sizzling hot, Drake poured some pancake batter onto it, forming a perfect circular shape. As the pancake cooked, filling the room with its delightful aroma, everyone's anticipation grew. Doi carefully spread a thin layer of tomato paste on the cooked side of the pancake. The vibrant red color stood out against the golden-brown surface. He placed the pancake back onto the pan, tomato paste side up, and allowed it to cook for a few more minutes. With a spatula, Drake flipped the pancake, revealing its now slightly caramelized underside. The tomato paste had melded with the pancake, forming a unique combination of flavors. “It's ready,” Drake announced, sliding the pancake onto a plate. “Come here, have a taste. I even sliced it in two halves, so both of you can have a try.” The friends gathered around the pancake, their curiosity outweighing any reservations they may have had. Robin cautiously took the first bite, unsure of what to expect. His eyes widened in surprise as he tasted the unexpected harmony of sweet and tangy flavors. “This is actually… good,” Robin said, his eyebrows raised in astonishment. “I told you!” Doi exclaimed, a triumphant smile on his face. Drake added with a little hint of excitement, “Well, if you enjoy it, I think we can make more of them.” The friends continued to indulge in their unconventional creation, savoring the surprisingly delicious combination of flavors. They experimented with different variations, adding additional toppings like cheese, herbs, and even a dollop of sour cream. “Okay, I'll have the one with tomato sauce and cheese,” Drake said as he finished frying the pancakes. As Drake was ready to slide that one pancake to his plate, Robin immediately took it and devoured it. “No, it's mine!” Robin almost shouted, eating the pancake with tomato sauce and cheese. “Red is my favorite color, after all, so I won't give ya that!” Drake laughed and shook his head, “Alright, fine. I'll make another one just for you, Robin.” As Drake prepared another pancake, the friends continued to enjoy their unique culinary experiment. They shared laughter, stories, and their newfound appreciation for stepping outside of their culinary comfort zones. In the end, they discovered that sometimes the best experiences come from trying something unexpected and embracing the joy of exploration. And in this case, it all started with a seemingly strange combination of pancakes and tomato paste.