Rika and Masaru's birthday present

"Come on you two, it's your birthdays. Let us cook for you," Waki pleaded.

"Cooking is my life," Masaru growled.

"I wanna bake a cake for Masaru though," Rika pouted.

Waki sighed and snapped her fingers. The rest of the staff immediately dragged Masaru and Rika out of the kitchen and sat them down.

"You know it's the restaurant's anniversary too," Rika pouted.

"That's why you two get the day off to lounge in the restaurant and eat. We can cook just fine without you two," Matcha glared.

"Guess Mimi's making my crepes then," Madoka smiled as she ran in.

"So how's Middle school?" Rika asked.

"HARD! Why are they giving so much homework so soon!? I need crepes for brain fuel!"

                                                                        ...

Madoka devoured her crepes in no time flat, paid, and darted off to school.

"Heh, guess Middle school's a bit harder on her," Rika mused.

Suddenly, the staff came and placed Rika and Masaru's favorite dishes before them along with a large funnel cake.

"For the three birthdays we're celebrating," Mimi smiled.

Patrons happily cheered and sang as Masaru and Rika ate their meals.

"The large funnel cake is on the house for everyone to celebrate Ryokoma's 1 year anniversary. Everyone's welcome to a slice, but only one free slice per customer," Itsuki smiled.

                                                                        ...

Outside, the group of detractors led by Rebelle froze as Gnorville stared them down.

"He's just a guy in a suit. Just a guy in a suit, so why does he look so menacing?" Rebelle shuddered.

"Don't mess with em today!" Gnorville glared as he pulled out a laser gun.

Rebelle took a picture before running off with the crowd.

"Huh? Why is there nothing in the picture!?" Rebelle shuddered as she began to go pale."

"Not happening today," Gnorville smiled as he drank the fruit soda he ordered from the restaurant.

                                                                     ...

Back in the restaurant, Rika began to reminisces about the restaurant's founding...

One year ago...

"Rika, why are you so keen on THIS place?" Masaru glared as he stood before an abandoned mall.

"Cause it's perfect. It's got all we need and then some to become the greatest restaurant ever," Rika grinned.

"It's too big and excessive."

"We'll be making the restaurant itself big, cause everyone in town's gonna be coming to it."

"No, I don't want EVERYONE. Only those that can truly appreciate the art and taste of gourmet food may dine."

"That's why I'm getting a big place, so I can show you the wider world of people beyond the small gourmet elite circle that ass dragged you into."

"We don't have the funds."

"Yeah we do, top graduate gets a free pick. And you finished top of the class."

"*Sigh* I'm only top because you failed that written exam. You became top of the class the moment you beat me in the cook-off."

"Don't be so hard on yourself. We're practically even in cook-offs."

"But you won the won that decides who picks the building."

"Yeah, and since we're opening a place together, you can use your freebie to get this place renovated."

"..."

"The park's pretty close too. Plus if we get started now, we could have our grand opening on our birthdays."

"*Sigh* Very well. Since I don't want to have to do something for your birthday, we'll say the restaurant will be the present."

"To both of us then. This place is gonna warm up your heart too," Rika smiled.

Once construction was complete, the two opened up the restaurant.

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," Rika 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 we were shown that not everyone agrees with him when we all 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."

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. Rika then 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 happily glanced at Masaru as she cooked.

"Thanks for the great birthday present. I promise, in a year, I'll say this place is your present," Rika smiled.

Back in the present...

Rika sat back and smiled as she gazed at the bustling restaurant.

"Seems your judgement was right back then. This place is bustling," Masaru stated.

"Thanks to you buying me the place for our birthday. As for me, I did my best to make this a happy place for you. Happy Birthday," Rika smiled.

"Thank you Rika."

Rika smiled serenely and closed her eyes.

"I can already see the future. When we're old and wrinkled, we'll be sitting here just like we are now. The place will be bigger, there will be more younger staff. The old guard will happily reminisces about the old days. Then, I'll smile serenely and say "It's peaceful", before we pass on surrounded by the love we built up."

"Rika..."

"That's how I want it to end. Surrounded by love."

"Yes, love indeed," Barney Obaba smiled as he sat surrounded by the aged staff and Rika in the vision."

"Yeah-HEY! GET OUT OF MY VISION!" Rika yelled as her vision ended.

Rika opened her eyes to see Barney Obaba and his cougar harem standing before her.

"Wait, you were real!?" she gasped.

"Former US President, Barney Obaba," Barney smiled as he tipped his hat.

Rika and Masaru immediately shot up out of their chairs.

"At ease soldiers, the young lady at the door said you two were off today. I'm just here for a small brunch anyway," Barney smiled as he sat down.

"So your vision was for all of us to be old and cuddling up with that guy?" Matcha glared.

"You know that wasn't it. The vision was corrupted," Rika pouted.

"I think she's just teasing you," Masaru chuckled.

"Heh, guess you're 2-0 on birthday wins. You keep giving me the better gifts," Rika said as she sat back and smiled serenely.