Courageous

As the year went by, Benihime ended up breezing through the Tabemono succession preliminary rounds. By late August, she was a finalist.

On August 28th, the top 10 finalists were announced. Of the people Rika was familiar with, Benihime, Helga, Rebelle, Mahi, and Azami had all made it through to the top 10. The other 5 were a mix of gourmet elites and those that opposed them. However, Helga and two others were the sole finalists that completely opposed Ookuma.

"Seven out of ten chance of gaining control of Tabemono. I'd prefer a 100% chance. The men are easy to deal with. Helga Hepburn? A bit more work, but luckily, I've been building a skeleton closet for you, quite literally," Ookuma sneered.

Two days later...

"Bullshit! What do you mean those two were disqualified!?" Helga fumed.

"They were caught in some nasty scandals," Rebelle sneered as she showed Helga the article she printed.

"What the hell!? One of them literally ran around town naked attacking women, while the other kidnapped a woman!? Why the hell would they do that!? They just got admitted to the finals!"

"Well, men are stupid creatures."

"They aren't THAT stupid. Specially not those two. The one accused of kidnapping even claims he had an alibi."

"But I have a clear shot of him."

"How do we know this wasn't setup? That guy is from the rebel faction."

"But the other participants from the rebel faction were not disqualified. One of them even became one of the strongest advocates for his disqualification."

"Probably cause her master Ookuma told her to."

"Oh? Come to think of it, you ARE the only candidate left that is openly hostile to Madam Ookuma. Even the Ryokoma girl respects her despite her lack of palette."

"Guess I got more motivation to win then."

"Or perhaps you should drop out if you don't wish for your secrets to come to light."

"Bring it on, I've already been wrung of all secrets and embarrassment thanks to that shitstorm a year ago."

"Ah, yes. A shame the bastard publicized it. I would have used said footage for prime blackmailing. Though last chance. Drop out now, or face hell on earth."

"Bring it, I can take it."

"Just what I wanted to hear," Rebelle maliciously thought.

The next day...

Helga went pale as Himawari and Inoka glared at her.

"An anonymous sender sent us a video of you hiding THIS in an abandoned lot," Himawari glared as she held up a bag containing remains of a human skull.

"KYAAAH! MURDERER! Kyoko screamed as she pointed at Helga.

"The hell! I didn't do anything!" Helga fumed.

"Nah, I saw you do it. You hid Sundae-sama's skull in that lot along with your girlfriend from Ryokoma!" Sorbet glared.

"I'm disappointed. To think you would murder your best friend just to get her restaurant," Pika glared.

"Was all this a lie, taking us in?" Frosting cried.

"Uh, which side do I pick to get more praise?" Akito asked.

Futaba promptly slapped him.

"Helga Hepburn, you're under arrest for hiding a body and possibly murdering Suica "Sundae" Nichiyobi," Himawari declared as she cuffed Helga.

*Click*

Rebelle snickered as she took a pic of Helga's arrest.

"REBELLE!? IT WAS YOU! YOU FRAMED ME YOU BITCH-"

"Gag her!" Himawari ordered.

Inoka promtly gagged an enraged Helga and shoved her into the squad car.

"And now, Madam Ookuma controls Tabemono," Rebelle snickered.

                                                                            ...

Rika glared as Purin and Makoto stood in the doorway.

"Where's Mimi Hanazawa?" Makoto glared.

"What do you need her for?" Rika glare.

"We're here to arrest her for hiding a body as well as possible murder."

"BULLSHIT!" Matcha shouted as she stormed up to the two.

"YOU BITCH! YOU TOO PURIN! YOU MURDERERS KILLED MY MOTHER! YOU CORRUPT SHIT!" Matcha cried as Rika tried to hold her back.

"Uhp, slander's a crime. Cuff her ass, Inohara," Purin sneered.

Makoto immediately kicked Rika in the right rib cage sending her flying into some tables.

"RIKA!" Matcha cried as Makoto twisted her wrists before cuffing her.

"Don't go!" Rika moaned as she coughed up blood and struggled to get up.

Purin happily dragged a sobbing Matcha away as Makoto followed. Once they were gone, Mimi burst out of the kitchen as Itsuki, Waki, and Zuina, whom had been restraining her, fell to the ground.

"Don't go after them!" Madoka shouted.

"Why!?"

"They were trying to get rid of you."

"But Matcha is-"

"We'll handle it. Come back to the mansion with me to lay low. They can't intrude in the mansion since its technically it's own city state."

As Mimi begrudgingly agreed, Rebelle secretly took photos of her getting into the Ginkawa sedan.

"Excellent. Now to fan the flames," Rebelle thought as she waited for the Ginkawas to leave.

Once they were gone, she shamelessly strolled into the restaurant. The remaining staff and some patrons were giving first aid to Rika as Rebelle skipped in.

"Oh Ri-Ri-ka! Did you hear? Helga got arrested and disqualified from the Tabemono succession," Rebelle mockingly sang.

Rika immediately sat up and winced in pain as she glared at Rebelle.

"Guess that means your girl's the only one on your team left, but for how long? I bet she'd drop out in fury if I told her you know what. Oh, and you should turn on the news. Madam Ookuma's giving a COURAGEOUS speech!" Rebelle sneered as she left.

Masaru sighed and nervously changed the channel. Ookuma appeared shortly on the TV giving a speech in front of the Diet. She was surrounded by most of the employees from Helga's place.

"Courage. It takes a lot to be courageous. The world is a very scary and harsh place. I know that better than anyone. But now I stand before you, courageously. Our society is plagued by degeneracy, yet I choose to courageously say my piece and do all within my power to lead it towards prosperity. No matter how much slander or scorn, violence or death threats are hurled at me, I stand courageous ready to fix this nation and the world. Now, I ask you to be courageous. Be courageous and defy the radical and violent opposition that seeks to spread hate, and vote for me and my party to FIX this nation! Do not be afraid of the scorn and hatred you may face. When I am sworn in as Prime Minister, it will END! For years the opposition has VIOLENTLY tried to silence our movement, yet I faced them on courageously. My growing support base also courageously stood up to the violent opposition and overthrew them in the past elections. Should more people be courageous and vote for my party and our movement, I will become YOUR Prime Minister and we will have courageously won. I know it can be scary. These fine women you see standing besides me witnessed their boss commit a heinous crime. They were terrified, however they chose to be courageous. They chose to be courageous and reported the crime to the police. Luckily, a competent officer that truly seeks change did all she could to make sure the criminal was arrested and these women were kept safe. Despite the current despicable and corrupt Superintendent general breathing down her neck, she was courageous and did not rest until the main suspect was taken away in cuffs. And they were indeed!" Ookuma stated as she flashed a pic of Helga's backside being loaded into a squad car.

"I have learned from the courageous reporter whom captured this photo that sadly, the other suspect is being harbored by the corrupt Ginkawas!" Ookuma scowled as she showed the picture of Mimi and Madoka.

"However, despite knowing that, these courageous witnesses chose to show their faces. Why? Because they are courageous. They have tamed their fear. Now I ask this entire nation to be courageous. Be COURAGEOUS and refuse to give into degeneracy! BE COURAGEOUS, and boldly take a stand for what is right! BE COURAGEOUS, and fight back against violence and injustice! BE COURAGEOUS, and scoff at the petty scorn and insults the vile and DESPERATE opposition will hurl at you. BE COURAGEOUS, and hold your head high with pride knowing that you chose to be courageous and walk the path courageousness. And walk it you shall in October, WE WILL BE COURAGEOUS!"

The crowd erupted in cheers while the restaurant meanwhile erupted in boos.

"YOU AREN'T COURAGEOUS! YOU'RE A WANNA BE DICTATOR!" one shouted.

"ANIME OVER YOUR UGLY ASS ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!" another yelled.

"OOKUMA'S AN EVIL BITCH!" another shouted.

"Yet, she courageously walks forward, and proves everyone wrong, by winning," Benihime stated as she entered the restaurant.

"Read the room, things are not good right now!" Masaru pleaded.

"I did, and that's why I'm being courageous," Benihime huffed as she strutted to the kitchen.

"Masaru, maybe we need to close early for today. Serve everyone here then take the rest of the day off," Rika suggested as she winced in pain.

"Rika... I despise that woman for polluting the word "courageous". You are by far the most courageous one here," Masaru stated as a tear rolled down his face.

The patrons erupted in cheers and began praising Masaru.

"You've grown boy," one smiled.

"Here, here," another clapped.

"No worries if you can't cook anymore today. We'll be back when Rika's healed and Matcha and Mimi are free," another smiled.

Rika began to smile as paramedics arrived to cart her away.

"Just don't be too hard on Hime when I'm gone, girl's arrogantly prideful to a fault," Rika chuckled as she was loaded onto a stretcher.

"WE PROMISE!" the patrons tearfully smiled.

"I will be going with Rika. Itsuki! You're in charge!" Masaru shouted as he followed the paramedics.

"You've truly grown, Masaru Ryono," Itsuki smiled as she motioned for Waki and Zuina to come to the kitchen.

She then explained what happened to Benihime.

"Such a thing occurred!? Ha, ha, Perhaps I was more woefully ignorant than courageous. I should apologize profusely," Benihime nervously chuckled.

                                                                            ...

As nightfall hit, Ookuma sat with her daughter Mao at the dinner table.

"Today, is a wonderful night. The seeds have been sown for my victory in October. Today is also your 16th birthday. However, you shall make your public debut tomorrow on September 1st," Ookuma smiled.

"I look forward towards working publicly by your side," Mao bowed.

"Indeed, you shall now be publicly appearing alongside me from now on, though you are not to leave my side."

"I understand dear mother."

"Excellent, and how will you refer to me in public?"

"As Madam Ookuma and then Prime Minister Ookuma once you are sworn in.

"*Clap* *clap* Excellent! I gave raised you well. In the early mornings of the night, I've scheduled for a mob to burn down this house. We will escape with our lives and there and then, you shall make your public debut before the news as the violent "opposition" is arrested."

"The act shall solidify the party's win and your courage in the face of oppression," Mao smiled.

"Ah, music to my ears. I can even scoop a few non-political loose ends in this as well. Ah, I have never felt so empowered. Just 51 short days and I will take the seat of the vermin who bred me on the council of 12. Then I become President of the council, and exude MY worldview on the world at large. It won't be instant especially with a few notable national roadblocks, but it will be inevitable. Mao, serve me a piece of this fine cake. Today I feast like the queen I am!" Ookuma laughed as she closed her eyes, reclined, and thought about her vision for the future as Mao rose to cut the cake.