Rika and Masaru

Masaru sighed as he watched his customers eat.

"They lack the palette to truly appreciate the food," he sighed.

"Come on, you should know like a majority of the world's population aren't gourmet food critics. They just want a good bite to eat. Besides, they're gobbling up your dish with big smiles on their faces," an orange haired woman smirked.

"Rika, you know that dish is best eaten at a slower pace."

"Yeah, but people can eat how they want. Stop thinking about Makihara's words."

"But he is the center of the culinary world."

"Yeah, and you were shown that not everyone agrees with him when you lost that cook off."

"Don't remind me. It was humiliating to lose to that putrid dish you concocted."

"You know you were nicer before that ass Makihara tried to mold you into his clone."

"I'm proud to copy him."

The two chefs bickering were Masaru Ryono and Rika Komachi. They were two top tier chefs that had graduated from Japan's most elite cooking college. They had just opened up a restaurant together and were seeking to make it their first 5 star restaurant. Masaru was completely dedicated to his craft and was completely serious when it came to food and culinary matters. Rika was more playful and carefree, though still an elite chef.

Rika pouted and pressed her breasts against Masaru's arm.

"RI- RIKA WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Masaru stuttered as he became redder than a tomato.

"You were scaring the customers with your glare Masa," Rika smirked.

Masaru broke free and retreated to the kitchen as Rika smiled at the customers.

While Masaru was one of the most serious and skilled chefs, his social skills were not the greatest. Rika on the other hand was more outgoing and good with people.

Rika retreated to the kitchen to find Masaru calming himself at his work station.

"Rika, you didn't need to do that," Masaru grumbled as he intently prepared a dish.

"If the chef's scowling at the customers, no ones gonna wanna eat here no matter how good the food is," Rika teased.

"Ugh, I communicate via food. Now prepare the Asiago shrimp bisque for table 7."

"Got it."

Rika immediately got to work preparing the meal.

                                                                                 ...

"And here's your Asiago," Rika smiled as she served the dish to the customer.

"This is good," the customer said as he ate.

"Want me to add some spice to make it even better?"

"I guess. Couldn't hurt."

Rika pulled out some spice and sprinkled it into the dish.

"Just mix it around then give it a taste."

"_! THIS IS AMAZING! How did the flavor become so much better with just a little spice?"

"Well I can give you the complex science answer or just leave it at your taste buds loved the mix of spice I added to the dish," Rika smiled as she walked back to the kitchen.

                                                                             ...

Masaru began to close down the restaurant as the last few customers finished their meals and left.

"We're still open for 5 more minutes," Rika grinned.

"And you think anyone is going to come in the next 5 minutes?"

Suddenly a group of delinquents burst through the doors.

"We're hungry give us some take out!" one of them sneered.

"Whacha want boys?" Rika snickered.

"Oh we'll take YOU sexy," one of the delinquents oogled.

"Sorry, not on the menu boys," Rika smiled as she skillfully twirled a cooking knife in her hand.

"Heh heh, just remembered we don't have enough money for this place, let's scram," the leader nervously stated as he dragged his buddies away.

"And you complained about ME scaring the customers?" Masaru glared.

"Nah, that was just me showing off. After all, tomorrow I'm gonna start cooking the food live in front of people," Rika smiled.

"Please just cook. Don't do any weird acrobatics that would disgrace the meal."

"Boo! People enjoy the knife flips!"

"What about me? I'm going to be alone cooking and serving while you throw knives everywhere!"

"Seriously? Where is your mind coming up with that stuff? Heck there were plenty of folks back at Tabemono Gakuin that did performance cooking. It was even a class."

"That director Makihara rightfully deemed unnecessary and abolished."

"Wish you weren't such a gourmet elitest. But I guess it's probably cause you've been boarding at Tabemono Gakuin from their 1st grade to college. The world doesn't revolve around eating and appreciating gourmet food 24/7."

                                                                                ...

After changing into her street clothes, Rika skipped away.

"Wait Rika, you barely even cleaned. Ugh, I guess I'll lock the door and clean on my own," Masaru grumbled.

Rika skipped down the street and popped by a convenience store.

"Rika-senpai!?" the nervous clerk stuttered.

"Oh hey Matcha, how's the 5-11 gig going?" Rika asked.

"I wish I could cook again, but thanks to that damn cooking school, working in a convenience store's the closest I'll ever get to a culinary profession."

"Wanna work for us? We're short on hands."

"Like I'd work for you two. Thanks to your boyfriend and his Makihara fanatics at the school, I was expelled and black listed from the culinary world."

"They ended up losing though. Now Makihara's forced to allow those that don't agree with his gourmet ideology to pass."

"Yeah, but I was unfairly expelled long before that!"

"Hey, you lost fair and square to Masaru."

"Like it was fair having an average chef beat an elite like him just to pass a test."

"And that's why I'm saying the victor gets the spoils, so wanna work for us?"

"NO! Even if I wanted to, I can't because of the blacklist. Besides, Masaru wouldn't let me so much as window gaze. You know how he feels and treats those that get expelled, "We're unworthy of gourmet." Why do you even flirt with an ass like that?"

"He's just sheltered. I figure the restaurant will truly help him improve his social skills and ease up on his gourmet elitism. I'd love to smash that bust of Makihara he insisted on putting in the restaurant."

Matcha scowled as Rika grabbed some snacks to buy.

"Seriously, why'd you even try to date him? You were head of the rebel faction, but you still flirted with him even then."

"Hi-mi-tsu," Rika smirked.

"Whatever, just pay and leave."

                                                                          ...

As Rika walked home, she was surrounded by the 3 delinquents from before.

"Not on duty now, how bout you give us our take out," one said.

"Want me to whip something up?. Sure, I got ingredients."

"Huh?"

Rika grabbed the food she bought and turned it into a meal in minutes.

"Fish n chips, though more like nagiri on chips with a little mayo and rice."

The three tried it.

"It's... It's... AMAZING!"

"Please marry me and cook for me everyday!"

"Sorry, but pass on that. Though now we square?" Rika asked.

The leader of the group scowled as he gobbled down his portion.

"You idiots! We're supposed to kidnap her!" he growled.

"But boss, the food is too good!" a goon pleaded.

The leader then kicked the two and they got in line.

"Why so bold? I thought I spooked you three back at the restaurant," Rika snickered.

"That's cause you were twirlin around a sharp kitchen knife, now you don't have it!"

The three goons surrounded Rika.

"And I made that nice meal for you three. Well, guess we'll say it's a last supper."

"Huh?"

Before the goons could react, Rika had vanished. Suddenly, blood spewed out of their necks. The goons frantically coughed up blood before dying seconds later.

Rika didn't even look back as she shook the blood off her knife and walked away.

Rika Komachi was an elite chef. However, unbeknownst to everyone, she was also an elite assassin.

                                                                           ...

After closing up the restaurant the next day, Masaru sighed as Rika smiled.

"What? Everyone loved my performance. I think MORE people will come now," Rika smirked.

"Why does someone like you stick with me? We're complete opposites."

"And as they say, opposites attract," Rika smiled as she kissed Masaru on the cheek.

Masaru went red and freaked out as he fell to the floor.

"RI-RI-RI-RI-KISS!?"

"Yeah, one step closer to stealing your virginity," Rika smiled.

Masaru passed out from the shock.

"I love you Masaru. That's why I want you to get a better view of the world so you can be a little happier. Following that ass Makihara will only get you scorn and resentment. Don't worry, I'll stay by your side though." Rika smiled.