A bowl of soup

 Matcha sighed as she sat and twiddled her thumbs as she waited for the customer to pick up the to-go order she had made.

"Nearly a year, and she still hasn't been released, let alone given a trial," she sighed.

"Are you referring to your mother by chance?" a woman asked.

Matcha turned to see Reika clad in work attire standing before her.

"And who are you?" Matcha glared.

"Detective Reika Yuzume with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, as well as the one that ordered that meal." Reika responded as she produced her badge.

"Yuzume? Wait are you Bianka's sister?"

"Ara, well that makes things easier. Indeed I am."

"Mochi seems to hold you in high regard, so can you prove her innocence?"

"I'm here because she was just released on parole."

"Really!?"

"She's not in great shape though. Also unable to speak."

"What do you mean?"

"Her jaw was broken."

                                                                                 ...

Matcha frantically ran until she arrived at the spot where the old salon had been. There she found Mocha standing, clad in her trademark attire, though now sporting a ankle bracelet. Her mohawk still stood proud, even though she looked thinner and a bit older. Her hands and mouth were also bandaged up. Upon seeing Matcha, she smiled and held her arms out as Matcha tearfully embraced her.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry I wasn't nice to you!" Matcha cried.

Tears began to pour out of Mocha's eyes as she was unable to soothe Matcha with words.

"Pure evil. They confined her for nearly a year and then set her lose after rendering her unable to communicate properly," Mochi glared.

"If Hina was here, she'd probably go on a rampage," Bianka stated.

"The worst part is they didn't need to even steal her ability to speak. They've already set the narrative that she is mentally insane, yet felt the need to rough her up even though they'd use that as their defense. Perhaps its to keep her from making a fuss since she didn't even seem to know much," Reika stated.

"Wait, how'd you know that?"

"Mocha told me. Or rather, she typed it out using her thumbs. Though it's a miracle they were still able to move. Her hands looked horrible. Though sadly, I was too late to get back and everything was blamed on Sakaguro."

"Though wasn't she corrupt?"

"... I knew Yoriko back when I was in middle school. Back then, she was a cheery officer and self proclaimed poster girl for the station. Her father was also superintendent general at the time. But two incidents changed her. The first, was the murder of her older sister, Fumiyo. They weren't on the best of the terms, but she still mourned nonetheless. The bigger one was the murder of her father."

"Oh yeah, you told me about that one. You were almost killed."

"Yes, had I not been saved by a dear friend, I would have been burned to death. The criminal was a pain to catch too, a very crafty bastard, but even then I doubt we got all the parties involved let alone the kingpin. The rampant corruption still present to this day is proof of that."

"Excuse me, but could you not cry in front of my shop!?" a snobby man scowled at Matcha and Mocha.

He was the owner of the new place occupying the salon's old location, Schnauz Wexley. Wexley was known across the world for his wax sculptures.

To everyone's surprise, Mocha suddenly snatched the bag Reika was holding and stormed into the shop.

"I'm sorry for what I'm about to do, everyone," Mocha thought as she entered the back room where a vat of hot wax sat.

Mochi began to tear up and hugged Bianka as Matcha ran in after Mocha.

"Mochi was present when Mocha gave her message. Bianka, comfort her," Reika ordered as she ran in.

"Excuse me, but this is MY shop and you cannot just run around in it like you own it!" Wexley fumed as he stormed in after them.

Inside, Matcha found Mocha standing under a shower head unwrapping her bandages.

"Huh? her hands are covered in stitches," Matcha gasped as Mocha smiled and flipped the switch.

Hot wax quickly encased her as Reika retrained Matcha to prevent her from hurting herself.

"NO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? MOTHER! MOTHER!" Matcha cried.

"Mocha, I'm sorry I messed up," Reika thought as she remembered what Mocha said...

A few hours ago...

Reika and Mochi stared at the message Mocha had painfully typed out. It read,"I'm sorry, they put somethin in my brain that'll kill me or control me. I heard em say that it'll destroy itself n kill me if I try to yank it out. Yumeko's corrupt. She n Fujiko were the ones that did this. Luckily I waxed my hawk solid so they couldn't shave it off, but they still managed to shove that chip in the left side of my head. I fear they're gonna flip the switch n make me a killer for real. Please do somethin."

"Damn them. Covered their tracks completely. If they truly put in the same vile chip as back then, I don't know if I can have it removed," Reika scowled.

"Sorry, this is the one thing I can't fix. Last time I tried to pull one out, I would have lost a hand if I didn't use the robot arms," Shiori stated as she pointed to a room with robot arms in it.

"Then help me die, before I lose myself," Mocha typed.

"MOTHER! What are you saying!?" Mochi glared.

"Mochi, sadly we can't save her. Though perhaps we could-"

Mocha suddenly began moaning in pain as she grasped her head. She then ran out in a frenzy.

"Damn it, so they won't let us preserve her either. Mochi, chase after your mother and call Bianka for back up. I'm going to go fetch Matcha, just in case she wants to get some final words off her chest," Reika somberly stated.

Back in the present...

Wexley gasped in shock before running over to turn off the wax.

"Reckless! What was that idiot thinking!?" he fumed.

Mocha stood encased in a thick mountain of wax. Matcha broke down in tears as Mochi and Bianka entered. Mochi too began to break down and hugged Matcha for support.

"I didn't even get to cook anything for her!" Matcha cried.

Reika surveyed the area before turning to Wexley.

"You have this room under video surveillance?" Reika asked as she produced her badge.

"P- POLICE!? Well yes. This way," Wexly sweated.

                                                                                 ...

Reika reviewed the footage and closed her eyes.

"I'm glad you still have some fight in you. It will ease your daughter's mental burden greatly," Reika thought as she went to fetch Matcha and Mochi.

                                                                                ...

Bianka watched to make sure the two wouldn't do anything reckless until Reika returned. Reika then ushered the two to view the footage,

"No, I don't wanna see it again!" Matcha cried.

"I want you to see what she did before," Reika stated as she played the footage.

In the footage, Mocha clutched her head before removing the bandages on her mouth and grabbing the soup out the bag. She then gulped it down and smiled once she was done. She then clutched her head again and dropped the empty soup container just before Matcha arrived.

"She ate the soup you made for her," Reika stated.

"Huh, but th- that was for you," Matcha sobbed.

"But you made it as I requested, yes?"

"Yes."

"Then know that your mother fought and enjoyed your cooking."

Matcha began to cry again, though her mental burden had eased up a bit. Mochi calmed down a bit, but still had to wipe her tears away as she hugged Matcha for support.

"Mother, you truly were a strong woman," Mochi tearfully thought.

As everyone huddled together for support, they failed to notice a woman with long lime green hair, sneaking away.

"Sorry for deceiving you, but it's best if the world thinks I'm dead. Sorry girls, I didn't know how much pain this would bring you, but it's best if even you think I'm dead, at least until I can do something about this damn microchip. Though when I'm free of it, I'll happily come to eat your cooking again," Mocha thought as she stealthily made her escape.