Chapter 6:

The first heist

Spice of Life


"Ugh, we need more employees," Rika groaned as she collapsed onto the booth. 

"I will not allow an amateur into our kitchen," Masaru stated.

"No, I mean like servers. That way we can focus on cooking instead of doing both."

"Though I was able to manage just fine cooking today by myself."

"Yeah, and I only did the serving cause you baked better ice cream than me. Besides, one chef and one server won't get us to 5-star status like you want. Besides, if you want to open multiple restaurants, you're gonna need staff. You can't be in multiple places at once."

"Fair point. The problem is there are few who can meet my criteria, and those that already do have restaurants of their own to manage."

"Well, then why not just focus on servers? It would get customers in and out a little faster."

"Meals should be enjoyed. I have no problem if customers stay to slowly indulge and appreciate the meal."

"I meant so we could get them their meals faster. People don't like to be kept waiting for their food. Do I have to beat you in a cook off to convince you?"

"No. In fact, no more cook offs for this week or the following. We needed to be wary of our supplies and finances," Masaru sighed.

"Heh heh, guess we've been going overboard. In that case, how bout we start with 1 or two servers. That way, we can focus on cooking and potentially get more customers in a business day."

"Fine."

                                                                           ...

Rika left the restaurant and went to a shady apartment complex. She descended to the underground level and knocked on door B122. A girl dressed in gothic punk attire with stitches covering her body opened the door.

"Whadda you want?" she growled.

"Hey Stitch, I'm here cause I wanna hire someone for my restaurant," Rika smiled.

*Slam*

"Oi! I'm not here to recruit you dumbass," Rika glared.

"Then why are you here?" Stitch snarled.

"Cause I wanna put a down payment."

Stitch groaned and let Rika in.

Shiori "Stich" Saihou was a member of the underworld. She was a skilled physician, assassin, and master seamstress. Her most prominent features were her stitches, side shave with purple highlights, and sewing needle tattoo that eclipsed her right eye. Some believed the tattoo actually was put there to conceal a nasty scar, but Shiori denied the rumors. As for the stitches, Shirori simply had a fetish for sewing herself up. The stitches also helped turn away lustful gazes and gave her a more intimidating appearance.

"You know it's been a while since I last saw you. Have you seriously been at cooking school this whole time?" Shiori asked as she sat down in an arm chair.

"Just graduated this spring and opened the restaurant a few weeks later," Rika replied.

"I've seen it. It looks fine with the lights out."

"You can come for a bite."

"Yeah, I'd have to put on a ton of makeup, so hell no."

"But you're already wearing a ton of makeup."

"I don't like covering my stitches with makeup. Besides, I just do lipstick and eyeshadow, this is my natural complexion. Now what do you want?"

"I was wondering if you could fix up a girl in cold storage."

"Cold storage? Who is it?"

"A girl that was nearly killed almost a decade ago. I think she'd make a perfect waitress."

"Why?"

"Cause she's cute and has massive tits."

Shiori shot Rika a death glare as she clutched one of her B-cup breasts.

"You saying I couldn't be a cute waitress!? There are plenty of folks that prefer girls with small breasts over melon-tit succubi like you," Shiori glared.

"You're not suited for serving people in that way. You- MMPH!?"

"Don't insult my cup size you bitch!" Shiori glared as she wielded her thread weapon.

"I meant you wouldn't do well serving food. That and you'd probably have to spruce yourself up more than you'd want to if you don't want Masaru to panic and think I dragged in some maniac," Rika explained as she cut the threads binding her mouth.

"Oh, that guy you work with, elite chef, comes from an elite gourmet family, bit of an introvert, yeah no way I'd get a pass from a snob like him. So why this girl?"

"Well, cause I'd prefer to see the poor girl smiling rather than snoozing in a block of ice. Poor girl deserves to be happy again."

Shiori gazed oddly at Rika, but decided to just go straight to the payment.

"I take it, its something I can fix?" Shiori asked.

"Correct. And for a little more motivation..."

After placing the down payment on the table, Rika then pulled an ice cream pudding out of the lunch box she was carrying with her. Shiori looked unamused and emotionless as Rika placed it before her. However, she began moaning with impatience and then gave in and began eating the dish in a cute girly manner.

"MMMM! OISHI! I wanna eat dis all day!" Shiori smiled.

It was like she had become a completely different person. Rika was one of the few people to know that Shiori had two major insecurities. The first was her small breasts, and the other was that she didn't like people seeing her act girly.

"Looks like my little imouto loves my dessert," Rika teased.

"Urusei! I'll fix your bitch! Now go bring her here. I wanna eat my sweets!" Shiori glared as her face went bright red.

                                                                              ...

Rika left and then met up with Dastard in front of a cryogenics lab.

"To think YOU'D be the one to suggest stealing something. But what could it be? Could it be research data?" Dastard asked.

"Nah, though if you wanna snag it be my guest. I'm after someone that's been frozen here," Rika said as she put her mask on.

She was now sporting a skintight black catsuit and latex mask.

"And shall I refer to you as Dominatrix then? Or maybe whip? Neko-chan?"

"Yeah, go with whip."

"Then off we go! Remember, first we steal and secure it, then we come back for the grand reveal!"

Rika was surprised by how effortlessly Dastard was able to take out the security.

"Guess he must have more experience than I gave him credit for," Rika thought.

The two split up to each secure their targets. Rika quietly walked down the corridor filled with cryogenicly frozen people until she reached the one she was searching for.

"Hey, sorry about all that happened back then. I was just a dumb little brat. Sorry I got you hurt so badly. Well, to make it up, I'm taking you to a place where you can smile again."

She then freed the girl and tied her pod to her back as she made a dash for it. 

"Glad this thing is slim and not too heavy. Plus it should be able to last until I get to Stitch," Rika thought.

She met up with Dastard at the exit point.

"Hoh? You stole a person? Well I have the research documents. I think I'll keep them, but sell pictures of them on the black market," Dastard laughed.

"It's someone I know, she took a hit for me, but we couldn't heal her so we froze her. Luckily now, there's someone who can fix her with ease, but I gotta hurry before she completely thaws"

Dastard was unable to get a good look at the girl inside, but allowed Rika to go as he left to bring the documents to his hideout.

                                                                            ...

"Giving me a frozen treat and asking me to fix up a girl that was frozen?" Shiori sighed.

"Will she be done when I get back?" Rika asked.

"Yeah, can't believe those idiots back then couldn't fix some simple gashes."

"Simple? Nearly all her internal organs were crudely sliced!"

"Yeah, and that shit's nothing for me. Though, she won't be moving around for a few weeks at least, so no working until she's healed."

                                                                        ...

At the cryogenic research facility, police swarmed the exterior of the building in the early morning.

"What is the meaning of this!? Why are there police here at this private establishment!?" the head researcher huffed as he straitened his coat and walked over to the lead officer.

"We received a report that there was a bombshell here," the officer stated.

"Preposterous! We are a legitimate and respected private research facility!"

"Why good early morning ladies and gentlemen!" Dastard shouted from atop the building.

Rika stood next to him and posed.

"DASTARD!? Were you the one that called us!?" the officer shouted.

"Why yes! As for the bombshell, I've stolen your research notes! Oh, and my assistant took one of your human popsicles as well. Good night! I've got to get some sleep!"

The head researcher went pale before frantically ordering the officers to catch Dastard. Dastard threw a smoke bomb down at the police below and right in front of him. In the confusion, he and Rika flew away on paragliders.

"We part ways here. I look forward to our future thefts," Dastard laughed.

"Hey, it wasn't so bad after all. And I got something out of it," Rika smiled.

                                                                            ...

"Ri- Rika!?" Masaru asked as Rika groggily walked into the restaurant.

"Oh hey Masaru. Got no sleep. Ready to work," Rika groggily smiled as she struggled to stay awake.

"Alright! We'll hire more staff! Just sleep on the booth. I'll do everything. Cooking, serving, serving, serving... I think maybe we'll only do take out today."

Mario Nakano 64
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