The first move

As September 5th arrived, the media as well as Ookuma's supporters and Illumous had begun to grown more agitated over Ookuma's disappearance. 

Reika sighed as she hung up her call with Mutsumi and headed back through the secret passage to Mao's apartment.

"So the safe was shattered to bits. Some fresh slashes were also discovered on the wreckage. Must be Akuma. I'm glad I had Mutsumi clean out the drains, if they had searched them, it would have been over," Reika thought as she entered the room to find Mao lying on the bed.

"So how long does it take for hair to grow?" Mao asked.

"It should be visible in 3 to 4 days. That actually leads me to another topic. We need to get a new ID for you so you can go out and explore the world without issue," Reika stated.

"New ID? Oh, yeah. Guess that means I gotta change my name too. Well not like I mind, I hate the name that piece of shit gave me."

"Mao is a fairly common name, though I do think it would be safer for you to change your first name as well."

"Mao's a common name? Never really knew. Thought it was rarer. Well, not like I'm an expert on the outside world."

"Try to come up with a name by the time your hair begins to grow. That way, we can have your ID card made and I can enroll you in school."

"School!?___."

"I take it you've not received a proper education. Fear not, I'll ensure you are able to transfer into a good high school."

"It's not that, well kinda, but I'll be surrounded by people I don't know, some of whom might be Illumous goons."

"You are going to need to get used to living and surviving in the world on your own. I'm only constantly staying by your side and coddling you in order to get you accustomed to your new life."

"I get it," Mao sighed as she picked up the gaming console and began playing.

Reika simply smiled as she sat down and watched.

"Really is like having a child or another younger sister," Reika happily thought.

                                                                           ...

At the restaurant, Rika wheeled in in casual attire and parked herself by the door to the kitchen. She then called Mimi.

"How're you holding up?" Rika asked.

"Just fine, though I'm still worried about Helga and Matcha," Mimi sighed.

"As soon as I'm able to walk properly again, I'm gonna go beat the shit out of Helga's staff for selling her out like that."

"Sock em one for me too, though don't get in trouble."

"I know. Masaru will keep me in check for that one," Rika smiled as she ended the call.

She then noticed trouble as Rebelle along with Kyoko, Sorbet, Frosting, and Pika from Helga's place entered.

"Well what a large crowd," Rika glared as the group sat at the table closest to her.

"Oh my, you poor girl. Did someone abandon you there?" Rebelle sneered.

"I can wheel around just fine," Rika glared as she began to roll away.

"Yeah uh-uh, stay n chat Kohai Ri-ri-ka," Rebelle sneered as she grabbed the wheelchair's handles and drove Rika to the table.

She then activated the wheelchair's brake before going back to her seat as Rika glared at her.

"So you're the one that inspired the old boss to murder Sundae-chan," Sorbet sneered.

"And you're the ungrateful bitch that sold her out," Rika glared.

"It's called whistle-blowing. We learned she was involved in a crime, and took appropriate action," Pika stated.

"And you didn't believe she was innocent?"

"Uh, no. Why would she be? She's begun to soften up a bit and get nicer with a heathen like you," Kyoko sneered.

"Wanna say that again?"

"Why you gettin so angry? She wazz found guilty," Frosting sighed.

"So ya'll glad Ookuma's missing?"

Nearly everyone at the table shot Rika a death glare.

"Oh waitress! Water for all!" Rebelle mockingly called out.

Waki emerged with a tray of water, but stopped when she noticed Rika.

"It's fine. Better to give them the water," Rika stated.

Waki begrudgingly slammed the tray down on the table. Immediately, Rebelle, Kyoko, and Sorbet grabbed glasses and splashed the water onto Rika.

"Fool! fool! fool!" they mockingly chanted.

"Fool," Pika glared as she too grabbed a glass and splashed Rika with it.

"Foolzz," Frosting sighed as she hopped on the bandwagon.

"Well thanks for the shower. Waki, mind escorting me to a different place?" Rika glared.

"Yeah no, she's OUR guest. Don't harass her," Kyoko sneered.

"Um, no. I'm-"

"Hmm, hear the Takeda's are still VERY bloodthirsty," Rebelle sneered as she pulled out her phone.

"You're the one that's harassing Rika," Zuina glared as she confronted Rebelle.

"Zuina Morsten Adler, want to join your friend in prison?"

"For what!?"

"For threatening violence against these fine young women whom correctly told the police that your colleague aided a murderer. Hmm, wonder if the managers of this place are-"

*Smash*

Before anyone could react, Zuina had punched Rebelle in the face, sending her and her chair to the ground. The girls from Helga's place gasped as Rebelle sat up and wiped the blood off her nose.

"Oh, you've become a bad girl, Zuina," Rebelle sneered as she quickly went into her contacts to dial an ally.

Suddenly a news blurb appeared on the TV.

"Breaking news! The Takeda family which has controlled the judiciary for generations have all been arrested on corruption charges after damming videos and photos were leaked just a few short minutes ago. Here are some of the leaks in question, viewer discretion is heavily advised," the anchor stated as videos of the Takeda's gross misdeeds were shown.

Rebelle immediately went pale and dropped her phone.

"T- Those are the videos I took of the Takedas. B- But only Madam Ookuma should have that footage. She was planning to make Mami Takeda head of the judiciary, so why is everything getting leaked!? Is this a sign? Did the Takedas betray her!?" Rebelle frantically thought as she stood up and grabbed her phone before quickly running out of the restaurant.

The girls from Helga's place stared in shock, while Rika began to grin.

"Say, what would you lot do if Helga was proven innocent and she became headmaster of Tabemono?" Rika asked.

"Uh, not gonna happen. She's a disgrace to cooking. Besides I'm the boss of her place now," Kyoko sneered.

"You're the disgrace to cooking."

"Uh-uh! I'm a fine gourmet elitist and diehard supporter of Madam Ookuma. How bout I prove it in a cook off against you. Oh wait, you can't cook. You lose, I win! Ahahaha-HA!?"

Rika had risen and appeared right before Kyoko.

"S- So you CAN move around just fine! What a coward. But you still lost on defAULLLLL!" Kyoko screamed as Rika began squeezing her hands and fingers.

"Nah, YOU'RE the one getting DQ'd for not being able to cook Rika glared.

*Crunch* Crunch*

"EEEEEEYOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!" Kyoko screamed as Rika broke her fingers.

"YOU BITCH! HOW DARE YOU-"

Before Kyoko could finish, Rika socked her in the face, downing her to the floor instantly and rendering her unconscious as blood oozed out of her nose and mouth.

The other girls from Helga's place shrieked in terror as Rika glared at them.

"Don't cause anymore trouble for us, and get out NOW!" Rika seethed with fury.

The three shrieked in terror and grabbed Kyoko before hightailing it. Once they were gone, the restaurant erupted in applause.

"Way to show em!" one cheered.

"You rule Zuina! Way to show that blackmailing bitch who's boss!" another cheered.

Rika smiled before wincing in pain and struggling to maintain her balance. Masaru quickly arrived and parked the wheelchair behind Rika, allowing her to fall into it.

"I go to cook for a few minutes and you're already moving around recklessly. Do we need to go back to your doctor?" Masaru glared.

"No, I'll be a good girl," Rika sighed.

                                                                           ...

Reika smiled as she read the news on her phone.

"Looks like I made the right choice leaking the dirt on the Takedas to media around the country. Perhaps confusion is the best way to make Ookuma's movement collapse, since I have no idea how much control she has over the vote counters. Keeping Fubuki in the dark might also work for the best to. Her genuine confusion to the event will help sell that she has no idea where Ookuma is. Now I just need to get Mao on her feet," Reika thought.

A few days later on September 9th 2017...

Mao tearfully smiled as she ran towards the door and slipped into a pair of chartreuse sneakers.

"Time to venture out into the world, though let me show you how to properly tie your laces so you don't trip on them," Reika smiled as she retied one of the laces.

"Oh, that's how. Never really wore anything besides house slippers since I was never allowed to leave the house," Mao stated as she tied the other lace.

“Oh right, did you finally decide on a new name for yourself? I'd like to get you that new ID so you can start going to school.” Reika stated.

“Yeah, Serika Midoriya.”

“Serika Midoriya huh? Were you inspired by that manga you've been hooked to?" Reika giggled.

“Yeah, though I doubt I'll ever be a hero. Still its nice to be able to finally read and watch things I've always wanted to check out."

"You've got the green hair now too. Besides, if you became a detective like me you could definitely help people. Though I'd suggest just living a normal happy life until you truly decide what you wish to do. Don't let me influence your decisions and actions. Now one more question, why did you choose chartreuse sneakers?"

“Because I like the color!”

“All I needed to hear.”

The two laughed and smiled as they walked down the street. Serika's new life was about to start.