Talking things out with Matcha

"So care to explain why you're talking about my mother?" Matcha glared.

"How much of that did you hear love?" Waki nervously asked.

"About right as you started talking about your "research"."

"Oh, Rika's just asking about everyone's motivation for cooking. She just finished up with Beni-chan and was discussing who to ask next," Mimi chimed in.

"Yeah, even though I'm friends with you, I don't KNOW know you," Rika sheepishly grinned.

"We aren't friends, you're just an annoying and pushy senpai that drags me along on your whims, or talks my ears off."

"Harsh girl."

"*Sigh* Well, I might as well come clean now so that the stalker doesn't twist the truth. My mother is not a chef and had a rough time growing up. She honestly didn't tell me how bad things were, but did tell me she was thrown in jail for shoplifting as a young girl. Despite that, my father somehow saw something in her. I guess they got close in school or something. As for the settlement, that was apparently for a crime my mother did not commit, at least so she claims. My father claims he settled the matter with a little money. Shortly after, he had her name legally changed before officially marrying her. Then a few months later, my older sister Purin was born. She and my father are biologically related, meaning he likely had sex with my mother a few months prior to the settlement and subsequent engagement. Ever since then my mother's been mostly clean. She doesn't get along too well with law enforcement and also had a run in with Takeda a few months ago. She'll also sometimes go on weird rants about conspiracy theories at times when I try to have a conversation with her. That and ever since I was expelled, she's been trying to get me to work in her struggling salon. And don't get me started on my father. He won't even acknowledge me or my older sister ever since our expulsions from Tabemono. Now all he cares about is my younger sister, Mochi who far surpasses us in culinary skill and pretty much anything she puts her mind to, yet probably won't pursue a culinary career. And that's that. Oh, I guess you wanted my reason for cooking? Well, I guess it's cause I enjoy it."

Rika warmly smiled upon hearing Matcha's story.

"Thanks girl for being so brave. Now mind if I lay my secret bare?" Rika asked.

"Huh? What's this about secrets?" Matcha confusingly glared.

"Well, I told Itsuki about my past, and well she ran out in terror."

"*Sigh* Fine tell me. Even I can tell this is bothering you."

"Alright. Just don't tell Masaru about this."

"Ok?"

"So my family sucks."

"Yeah, that's nothing. Just look at Makihara."

"No, worse than sucks, they're flat out terrifying. The truth is that I'm not from a family of chefs. rather I'm from an offshoot of one of the most infamous assassin families in the world."

"Huh? HUH!? Th- Then that would mean-"

"Yeah, I've killed people. Lot's of people," Rika somberly smiled.

"Oh yeah, I'm an underworld assassin too," Waki chimed.

"I'm a spy from Danablu, known as Denmark to you," Mimi smiled.

Matcha pressed her hand to her face as she struggled to process everything.

"And just, why did you tell me this?" Matcha groaned.

"Well, because my father showed up and was pissed off that I wasn't killing for him anymore." Rika explained.

"So you're NOT killing anymore?"

"Might as well explain everything from the beginning. Don't worry, I'll make it fast so we finish before opening. Mimi, Waki, keep watch so no one overhears."

                                                                                ...

Matcha shook her head as Rika finished.

"I'm just bewildered. But then again, where am I to argue. It's clear that you're trying to go against your family. That and you do seem genuine. I can understand why you wouldn't want to talk about that stuff," Matcha stated as she closed her eyes.

"So does that mean-"

"Yes, I will accept you, HOWEVER, you do owe it to everyone here to tell them who you are. I understand that people have secrets that they'll take with them to the grave, but since your past could come to bring harm to us, you need to tell everyone what they're getting into. Masaru included."

"Does it have to be right now?" Rika asked.

"Sooner would be more preferable. That way any who wish to get out of this mess can leave. I am choosing to stay even after hearing your story, but I'm assuming some might bolt away like Itsuki."

"Thanks for that. I'll tell Masaru when I'm ready, but Benihime's a no-go."

"Why's that?"

"Well, I kinda killed her father and she just told me she wants his killer to have the most inhumane death possible."

"*Sigh* Well that would make things more complicated. How about Zuina?"

"Is she close with Hinari?"

"Not best friends, but friends nonetheless, why?"

"Well, cause I kinda killed Hinari too."

"HUH!? Rika, just how many people have you killed!?"

"Hinari was different. Though even though I haven't killed for my family, I have killed a few thugs including that ass Takeda."

"Well, nobody's complaining about that asshole's death. Though considering how corrupt his family is, I can see why we shouldn't be throwing a celebration for that. Though what happened to Hinari?"

"It was shortly after you told me about some people that may not want to get their remedial licenses. I went to Hinari's place, but she was so distraught and suicidal. However, when she saw me, she lunged at me in hatred. She apparently blamed me just as much as the Makihara faction for her getting blacklisted from the culinary world. Due to my reflexes, I ended up killing her accidentally. I was originally just going to let her know that I'd pose as her to get her license back, but she was too unstable and forced me to kill her in self defense."

"So that Hinari at the remedial course-"

"Was me. I had an underworld affiliate fake her death certificate and preserve her corpse long enough so that it would look like she killed herself after the remedial course. That way, all your reinstated licenses wouldn't be in danger of being revoked again."

"*Sigh* You clearly are an idiot. And is Takeda's body stuffed somewhere too?"

"Nah, his I completely destroyed. Hinari disappearing rather than being declared dead might have ended up hurting more than helping."

"*Sigh* You're also an idiot for not even doing a background check on your own employees."

"I mean, I had Masaru do all the paperwork."

"*SIGH* You REALLY are an idiot. Do you know that my older sister Purin is a cop?"

"Oh..."

"Rest assured, I will not be telling her. We aren't exactly on the best of terms ever since her expulsion."

"Oh, I kinda remember that. She was a massive Makihara supporter, but ended up getting full of herself and challenged some school girl to an official cookoff."

"Yes, it was against our sister Mochi. The gourmet elite families can be very cold and unforgiving to those that are greatly outmatched by their siblings. Tabemono also features a middle school segment meaning younger siblings of high school students can challenge them to cook-offs and even put expulsion on the line. The event with Masaru's sister was a forced event by Makihara, most likely to strengthen his protege. Purin's case was all her own fault. She was all set to graduate, but I guess someone dissed her to the point where she stormed into the middle school and challenged Mochi to a cook off with the threat of expulsion and subsequent blacklisting from the culinary world on the line. Mochi accepted, and utterly outclassed and humiliated Purin. To make matters worse, Mochi then decided to drop out of Tabemono and transfer to a regular middle school. That only worsened Purin's attitude, and put more pressure on me. Especially considering I butt heads with my father on his support for Makihara's elitism. I had already declared my intent to oppose Makihara's elitism, which is why I ended up getting expelled via his unfair exam. My father simply acted like I didn't exist, and instead spends his time trying to change Mochi's mind and get her into a culinary career."

"I kinda feel bad for her, but I'm glad you're on board with me."

"*Sigh* Well, it's clear you need someone that can call you out on your stupidity. Since I'm essentially disowned anyway, what do I have to lose?"

"Thanks Matcha."

                                                                                 ...

Once the restaurant opened, Matcha was promoted to cooking duty due to Itsuki's absence. Benihime was also sent out on a supply run to various vendors to procure more ingredients. Masaru's time in the pantry had caused him to realize that there was still plenty of unused space, thus he decided it was best to stock up considering how much food the restaurant ends up serving.

"What is going on? First you refuse to let me see how your father views your cooking, then you tell me Itsuki's not feeling well, now you have an inexperienced chef cook for our customers?" Masaru groaned.

"Hey, it happens," Rika shrugged.

"Next time at least let me hear the results. If I am to learn more about you, then I need to know how your family views your cooking."

"Wow, so you're starting to get more serious about pursuing me?" Rika cooed.

"_- Yes. We'll phrase it like that," Masaru blushed.

Rika blushed and smiled warmly at Masaru.

"Hey, um we've got a problem. Some rowdy customers are trying to challenge Rika to a cook-off," Zuina groaned.

"Well then let em. I'll serve em good. So who is it? Helga and Sundae?" Rika smugly grinned.

"Two delinquent girls. Most likely high schoolers considering one's wearing a high school uniform."

Rika entered the dining hall and immediately froze upon seeing the challengers.

They were two women with long red hair and gold eyes. One wore a navy blue high school uniform with a long skirt and white sneakers, while the other had spray tanned her skin and wore a a plaid bra-top, grey ripped jean shorts, and white sneakers.

"Yo, Ri-ri-ka! Onee's here for a hardcore challenge," the one with the plaid bra top grinned as she held up a spatula.

"Ichika, we're here for-Mph!?"

"Shush Nino-nee, read the vibes girl. We go with the flow," Ichika grinned as she pressed her spatula over the other girl's mouth.

"Shit, it's my older sisters," Rika groaned.