What you like to eat

As the sun rose, a teary eyed Rika finished her story. Masaru sat in silence as everyone else nervously huddled together.

"Did all of you know?" Masaru asked with a slight tinge of anger in his voice.

"Yes, all of us knew, but some of us knew longer than others. Zuina only found out back at the hotel," Itsuki stated.

"So even you're vouching for her. Rika, I'm disappointed. You're not the woman I thought you were."

"Yeah, I'm sorry. My feelings for you are genuine. I love you," Rika cried.

Masaru shook his head and rose.

"If you're going to reject me then just kill me here. I don't want to be used by those monsters ever again!" Rika sobbed.

"You are a monster as well."

"Guess I am too," Waki stated.

"Waki, please-"

"I used to be a killer too. Heck still got my poison needles," Waki smiled as she flashed her weapons.

"P- POISON!?"

"I'm an ex-spy from Danablu- er Denmark from an alternate dimension that got merged with this one," Mimi sheepishly smiled.

"HUH!?"

"When I first heard about Rika's past, I ran out in terror. It was only when I reached the police station that I realized I was in the wrong. However, a corrupt cop and her evil sister kidnapped me and messed me up before I could run back and apologize. Rika calling them accidentally and me hearing her voice is what saved me from becoming a broken wreck after what they did to me," Itsuki declared.

"A- a cop did that horrible stuff to you at the hotel!?"

"My sister Purin also arrested our mother on false charges that she committed a murder which Rika's older sisters actually committed," Matcha stated.

Masaru grew pale and collapsed to the floor.

"All this time, I've been surrounded by such dangerous women?" Masaru trembled.

"Sorry, but I'm adding one more to the mix," Zuina stated as she entered.

"Zuina? You came back?" Mimi asked.

"Uh no, it's morning and morning business hours. Sorry, but our resident crepe goddess kicked down the door. She'll pay for its repair of course."

"Kicked down the door!?" Masaru shuddered.

"Getting back on track, my sister is a despicable blackmailer. She's a far worse woman than Komachi-san will ever be."

"You weren't here when she told us about what she did when she was 8."

"She probably killed people. Most likely as part of the 05 slaughter."

"Huh? Zuina, how did you know!?" Rika gasped.

"My sister took part as well. Though she handled the filming rather than the killing. She idolizes Ookuma and is even her unofficial secretary. You being roped into one of Ookuma's slaughters would explain your anger and bloodlust last night."

"Ookuma also nearly killed me 9 years ago," Mimi stated.

"She almost killed you!?" Zuina trembled.

"Masaru, you saw firsthand what kind of inhuman demon she is. Unlike Rebelle, she's far stronger and smarter and has backup from Illumous. Hell, she's the biological daughter of one of it's 12 leaders. She hates anyone that isn't an obedient stooge for her and has the power to destroy anything she despises," Rika tearfully stated.

"Yeah, momma hates that akuma bitch," Madoka stated.

"MADOKA!? Why are you here!?"

"I told you she kicked down the door. Guess she was eavesdropping. My bad," Zuina sighed.

"Hey col Masaru, Rika-sama really, REALLY loves you. She's cryin her heart out because she doesn't wanna lose you. Man up and tell her you love her!" Madoka glared.

"Love? ___. I- I don't know," Masaru sighed.

"Think! Remember all that she did for you!"

Masaru thought back to the events of last night. He then thought back to the incident with Nino and Ichika. Then he remembered the incident with Takeda. Finally, his mind jumped back to the cookoff at the hotel with Makihara.

Masaru then stormed out, but headed for the kitchen instead of leaving.

                                                                                ...

The fatigue of staying awake all night began to eat at Masaru as he cooked.

"Wonder if he's making crepes," Madoka wondered.

"No, it doesn't look like it. I noticed him grab an eel, I think," Itsuki stated.

"I'll take eel crepes!"

"Are crepes all you think about?"

"Nah, I like all sweets. Crepes the most though. Beans are also good too. I also like trying new stuff."

                                                                             ...

Rika continued to stare at the ceiling as Masaru returned with a dish.

"Eat," he grumbled.

"Uh, I can't move at all because of that serum she shoved into my neck," Rika grumbled.

Masaru sighed and sat Rika in a chair. Rika's eyes went wide when she recognized the dish before her. Masaru then fed her a piece causing tears to well up in her eyes once more.

"It's good," Rika cried.

"You are a difficult woman. My life has been completely turned upside down ever since you began gravitating towards me at Tabemono," Masaru grumbled.

"It's because you were the first guy to respect me for something other than killing."

"I retract my previous statement. You are clearly not a monster, I was merely blinded with shock."

"I'm not blaming you. It's a perfectly normal reaction."

"You'll need to thank your friends profusely for overwhelming my mind to the point where I remembered everything about you. Last night, you became a monster to save me from that wicked woman. I don't know much in the way of human interaction. Cooking is all I have come close to mastering. It's thanks to me remembering your cooking that I was able to clear my mind. You truly wanted this restaurant to become a place where you could be free of your past and spend your life cooking. I know you don't bother handling the documents so you wouldn't know, our business has been increasing with each passing week. It's mainly because of all that you did. You truly weren't learning to cook so that you could kill, you were cooking to brighten people's lives. You managed to surpass my mentor, Makihara-san in creating a dish I wanted to eat for the rest of my life. You know me well, but I don't know you well. I didn't know your past, but I never told you mine. Yet despite that, you were able to speak to me with your cooking. You knew my taste pallet. However, I never knew yours. You have an eccentric and off the wall attitude and will concoct new and degenerate creations. You also wish to offer the highest variety of food and drink. Yet, I never knew what you liked. It was when I went into the kitchen and gazed upon everything that I remembered..."

                                                                               ...

"Ri- Rika, why are you so adamant about stocking this?" Masaru stuttered.

"Cause it tastes great. It's not as juicy as the ones I grew up eating, but normal folks can eat it just fine and that's what I want. I'm more surprised your protesting considering this meal could be considered gourmet," Rika smirked.

"It is quite expensive to order considering they aren't found in Japan."

"What? Never cooked a rattlesnake before?"

"I have. *Sigh* Well, I'll also see if I can stock up on other types of snake meat."

"Yay! I love eatin snakes," Rika smiled.

"I'm doing this for the customers. You're a chef. Your job is to cook, not eat."

"I cook food for you to eat though," Rika pouted.

                                                                        ...

"You remembered. You remembered I like eatin snakes," Rika cried as Masaru fed her.

"Rika, your presence in my life has convinced me to accept you. I don't approve of your killing, but I respect you for your cooking," Masaru smiled.

"T- Thank you," Rika smiled.

"So is that a confession?" Madoka giddily asked.

Masaru immediately went red, as Rika regained her gusto.

"Well is it? I'll take a kiss as a yes," Rika tearfully grinned.

Masaru then grabbed Rika's face and quickly kissed her on the lips before fainting in fatigue and embarrassment on top of Rika.

"Heh, I'll accept that for now. I'm tired too," Rika yawned as she closed her eyes and rested her head on Masaru.

"Guess we'll be closed for the day while everyone sleeps. Though here's some crepes for your help. On the house," Zuina smiled as she handed Madoka a box of crepes.

"Thanks! I'm so glad all that romance anime helped drill those lines into me, " Madoka smiled as she headed off for school.

Zuina then put a note on the door and returned to see everyone peacefully sleeping in the ruined luxury dining room.

"Guess I can acknowledge you too, Rika," Zuina smiled.