The secret's out

Rika took a deep breath as she stared at her phone.

"Dammit, that bitch really did leak everything she had," she groaned as she stared at Rebelle's blog.

Zuina silently stared at her phone as she watched a video of Rebelle being assimilated into the cult.

"The sound was cut off towards the end. I guess perhaps she said something too damning," Zuina glared.

"Are you upset?"

"No. She brought this all upon herself. Sadly, she seems to have left a parting gift."

"Yeah, everything she had. I imagine there's gonna be a nasty information war," Rika sighed as she glanced over at Harumi.

Harumi was furiously tapping away on her laptop as she scowled at the screen.

"A cyber attack? Damn you T. Phon, I won't let you win this war against me!" she fumed.

An army of bodyguards surrounded her table as Madoka ate her crepes. Rika then gazed up at the TV and noticed the news blurb.

"Shit, looks like they're zeroing in on our place," Rika sighed.

"Perhaps you should tell our patrons your past," Masaru suggested.

"I concur, it is probably your best move," Matcha stated.

"Might as well come clean as well," Waki sighed.

"I'll stand by your side too," Mimi chimed.

"At least Benihime is still at Tabemono for the headmaster selection. Alright, let's damage control," Itsuki nodded.

                                                                         ...

As a crowd began to form in the restaurant, Rika and all the Ryokoma staff present stepped onto the stage.

"Attention, I have an announcement to make. So I assume you all heard the news. Rebelle's leaked all her blackmail material and sadly, I and many of you were affected. I figured I'd might as well come clean about my past. I'm an ex-assassin," Rika stated.

The crowd gasped and murmured as Rika told her story. As she did so, Alice suddenly appeared and charged for her faster than the eye could see. She attempted to kill Rika on the spot but was blocked by Rika's knife.

"Knew you'd try to kill me," Rika glared.

"You are not permitted to spill secrets about the family," Alice glared.

"I take it the original agreement I made with you is off then?"

"Yes, more so now that Ookuma has vanished and her party ousted entirely from the government."

Rika then threw a knife at Alice's cybernetic eye, causing her to fly back and onto the ground.

"So my eye has been damaged. I will not last long against you, yet I am unable to flee," Alice stated.

Rika sighed and quickly broke both her arms.

"Very well, victory is impossible, and capture is undesirable," Alice sighed as she made her retreat.

                                                                                 ...

As Rika concluded, a member of the audience spoke up.

"Have you killed anyone since you left?"

"Well, aside from those poachers in that leaked video and some thugs, mostly no, though I did kill some scumbags like Takeda-"

The audience suddenly erupted in cheers.

"YOU killed that asshole? You're pardoned in my book!" one member cheered.

"We'll stand by you to the bitter end. You've done so much for us!" another cheered.

Tears began to pour out of Rika's eyes as she stared at the supportive crowd.

"This is all thanks to you. You built up such good rapport with everyone that they enthusiastically support you in your time of need," Masaru smiled.

"Heh, thanks. And thank you all. Tonight, you each get one free meal of your choice," Rika smiled.

"Perhaps that's overdoing it, *Sigh* Very well. We're in the green."

"Now that I've got all my secrets out, feel free to talk about yours if you want. Oh, and we're opening the new bay side seating."" Rika stated as she vacated the mic.

"Guess since my secret's been leaked too, I better address it. So um, I'm an ex-assassin too," Waki stated.

"More like a bounty hunter. Though I was the more talented one recruited by the government," Wakaha clarified as she quickly hopped on stage.

No one really seemed to mind. Zuina was the next to take the mic.

"I apologize greatly for the hell my sister has brought to you all. Even though she is basically dead, her parting gift has brought newfound misery to the world," she stated.

"Not you're fault," a patron called out.

The audience agreed with him.

"Thank you for understanding. I'm sorry I couldn't do more to stop her."

Suddenly, sirens blared as the police arrived at the restaurant. Himawari and an enraged Nakayama entered as the crowd grew silent.

"You here for me?" Rika glared.

"Sadly no. I would love to, but I can't build a case against you," Himawari glared.

"You monster! You murdered my mother in prison!" Matcha tearfully glared.

"She committed suicide at a wax factory did she not?"

"BECAUSE YOU CUT HER TONGUE OUT AND MICROCHIPPED HER AND PROGRAMMED HER TO DIE!"

"Do not spout outlandish conspiracies young woman!" Nakayama glared as the crowd began to boo and hiss at her and Himawari.

"I'm here to arrest Masaru Ryono for both sexual assault and possibly murder," Himawari stated.

Rika's heart began to thump faster.

"Oh no, I was afraid of this. Dammit, that bitch probably took secret footage of Masaru slapping her like I feared. And murder? Dammit, they must be trying to blame him for hiring Izuhana to kill Ookuma's sycophant. I guess they also leaked that staged photo too. Dammit!" Rika fumed in her mind.

Himawari stepped forward as Masaru glared at her.

"And what exactly are you accusing me of?" he asked.

"Video footage shows you violently slapping Rebelle Milverton Adler, while another image shows you assaulting the late Chizuru Segawa. You are now the prime suspect in ordering that hit on her and the other attendees of that rally," Himawari stated.

"The image was staged. As for the slap, I did it because she continued to maliciously slander Rika."

"Yeah, she deliberately turned the sound off so Masaru would look bad. I also heard your parents raised you two by disciplining you with slaps," Rika glared.

"So you're saying he's innocent?" Himawari glared.

"Yes. He didn't order that hit on Ookuma's bitch either-"

"HOW DARE YOU DISRESPECT COUNCILOR SEGAWA LIKE THAT! MADAM OOKUMA RESPECTED HER GREATLY!" Nakayama screeched as she pulled out her hand cuffs and leapt onto the stage.

Rika prepared to punch, but Masaru stopped her.

"No, don't attack them. Then they will arrest you," he stated.

"But they're gonna take you away," Rika pleaded.

"I actually stand with Rika on this one. Those corrupt monsters treated me horribly when they dragged me in. Lest not we forget about what they did to my mother," Matcha stated.

"Helga said she also had it rough too," Mimi added.

"And since we're on the topic, I was kidnapped and tortured by the daughters of the superintendent general!" Itsuki glared.

Audible gasps emerged from the crowd as Nakayama remained undeterred.

"I am going to replace that swine and become Superintendent general-"

"BOO! YOU'RE OOKUMA'S BITCH!" a patron jeered.

"Get out of here! I bet you made all this shit up like last time when you dragged Matcha away!" another yelled.

Himawari clicked her tongue and motioned Nakayama to leave.

"Rikuma! We are to make the arrest!" Nakayama screeched.

"We will, but not now. We won't make it out alive if we arrest him now," Himawari stated.

Nakayama begrudgingly followed Himawari out and the two left.

Everyone cheered once they were gone, except for Rika.

"So they're gonna try and arrest him again. Dammit. I guess I'll have to stay by his side," Rika thought.