Serika's first day of freedom

Serika walked down the street like a giddy child. Though she immediately became fearful when she saw other people.

"It's alright, learn to relax. Don't lash out, just take a deep breath and calm your nerves," Reika smiled as she patted Serika on the shoulder.

Serika nodded and began clinging to Reika.

"Well, if this helps then it's fine. Now before we get your photo taken for a new ID, let's go eat some good food. I know a great place with great staff that will treat you good," Reika stated.

"So I can try eating some new things?" Serika asked.

"Go all out, but just for today. I'm sadly not made of money," Reika chuckled.

                                                                          ...

Rika downed some painkillers as Masaru shook his head.

"What? If I take these I can move around just fine," Rika pouted as Masaru glared at her.

"Morning shift only, then you rest," he glared as he went back into the kitchen.

Rika then turned and noticed Reika and Serika entering.

"Well, hello Miss "Reliable". The hell have you been?" Rika glared at Reika.

Serika immediately clung to Reika in terror as Rika in turn went on guard.

"Don't worry Serika, she's just bantering with me. Rika, please be extremely nice to Serika here. She's been through a lot of abuse and is very timid," Reika glared.

Rika eased up and reintroduced herself.

"Sorry for scarin you. I'm Rika Komachi, one of the managers. My boyfriend Masaru's the other manager. Well, sit where you like. We've even got a pool, gym, and arcade up top," Rika smiled.

Serika nervously let go of Reika and sat down at a table.

"First meal's free on the house, though no need to hold back since I assume your friend's paying for it," Rika laughed as Serika scrolled through the virtual menu while glancing over at the physical one.

"Haven't tried takoyaki yet. Gimme some of that," Serika grumbled.

"She can have a fowl mouth, but she means well," Reika explained.

"No need to worry about that. Now lemme go make some takoyaki, oh you want anything?"

"Hmm, perhaps the honey pancakes."

                                                                           ...

"Takoyaki at breakfast?" Masaru asked.

"Yeah, that girl may act tough, but I can tell she's been trough hell. __. Masaru, if my takoyaki's not up to par, remake it yourself. That girl needs to eat the best possible meal in her life," Rika glared as she began cooking.

                                                                           ...

"No need to worry. This takoyaki tastes perfect," Masaru smiled.

Rika grinned and left to deliver the food.

"Sure took a while," Serika growled as Rika placed the food before her.

"That's how it is in busy restaurant. Now dig in and tell me how it tastes," Rika smiled.

Serika touched a takoyaki with her hand, and instantly winced in pain.

"The hell is so fucking hot!?" she shouted.

"Freshly cooked food usually is. I'd recommenced eating takoyaki with utensils," Reika smiled.

"Oh, guess it makes sense. Well better blow on it first," Serika grumbled.

She grabbed a piece with her chopsticks, blew on it, and ate it.

"Mmph!? Mmmmmmm!"

Tears began to pour out of Serika's eyes as she chewed.

"Well?" Rika asked.

"IT'S SO FUCKING GOOD! FUCK THAT PIECE OF SHIT FOR NEVER LETTING ME EAT GOOD FOOD!" Serika cried as she devoured the plate in seconds.

"Still hungry? Order some more."

"Want to try my pancakes?" I don't mind if you eat them all," Reika smiled.

Serika tearfully nodded her head and begun eating the pancakes.

"It's so good! I wanna eat more food!" Serika cried as she cleaned the plate.

"Just be aware that you can get full. We also have an appointment later, though we can always come back here to eat again," Reika smiled.

Just then, Azami and Mahi stormed into the restaurant.

"We're here to disbar everyone here from cooking," Azami glared as she stormed up to Rika.

"Bad time for provocations. I'm busy feeding a very important customer," Rika glared.

"Huh? That delinquent's important? She eats like a slob," Mahi glared.

"The hell's wrong with how I eat, huh!?" Serika fumed.

"Foul mouth too. You're exactly the kind of brat that needs to undergo serious reformment when Madam Ookuma becomes Prime Minister."

*Thump*

Serika's heart began to beat faster as she began to tremble.

"Fuck that piece of shit!" Serika seethed.

"And what did you say young lady!?" Azami glared as she grabbed Serika by the wrist.

"Stop now!" Reika ordered.

"You shut up! Madam Ookuma really is a great woman. Disrespectful girl like this brat here need to be educated so they don't become foo-"

*CRUNCH* *CRASH*

Everyone stared in shock as Azami went flying through the wall and into the wall of the adjacent building across the street.

"FUCK THAT PIECE OF SHIT RUCHI OOKUMA!" Serika shouted with fury at the top of her lungs.

Reika sighed and calmly motioned for Serika to sit down.

Rika stared out at the bloodied twitching Azami and whistled.

"Not a bad punch. You got a great boxing career ahead of you girl, but try not to get in fights with everyone ya get in a disagreement with," Rika smiled.

"M- MONSTER! Y- YOU KILLED HER!" Mahi shrieked as she went pale and fell to the floor.

Serika immediately began to hyperventilate, however, Reika and Rika stepped in.

"It was an act of self defense. As Miss Komachi stated, she is a brawling prodigy. Now stop the harassment or I'll arrest you," Reika glared as she whipped out her badge.

"Finally a good cop!" a patron shouted.

"That punch was amazing!" another shouted.

"Ah no need to worry about the woman, she's still very much alive and well," an elegant man stated as he walked in.

"Yeah, she hunts bears and lions all the time, nothing to worry about. Just try to be a bit calmer in the future," Rika smiled as she sat down.

"What was that noise!?" Masaru shouted as he ran out.

"Oh, your mom just got stupid and tried to brawl with a fighting prodigy. That's the result," Rika snickered as she pointed at the hole in the wall.

Masaru nervously nodded and retreated to the kitchen.

"That... was his mother?" Serika trembled.

"No worries. Everyone thinks she's his sister at first too. Now I don't mean to encourage delinquent behavior, but how bout some more food to calm you down?"

Serika nodded in approval as Rika retreated to the kitchen. A terrified Mahi scrambled away and ran outside to find a groaning Azami.

"That bitch. Nearly broke my skull," Azami glared as she clutched her broken nose.

"Ah good, you're fine," Itsuki glared as she stepped outside.

"FINE!? She's bleeding like crazy! Itsuki, when did you become so brainwashed by that heathen!?" Mahi glared.

"I was always against father's ideology. I only became his brainwashed puppet because he beat me in a cook-off, but now I'm free," Itsuki stated as she returned to the restaurant.

                                                                               ...

Serika calmly finished her meal and turned to Rika.

"Th- Thanks miss. Food was the best I ever had," Serika trembled and blushed.

"I can relate to you perfectly. I had a scumbag family that forced me to do things I didn't want to, heck, quite a few of us here did. I know a good friend that also was bound to similar circumstances, but one day, she told her lousy family to fuck off and rode into the sunset to live her dream. Now she's growin out her hair and livin the life she chooses with her partner," Rika smiled.

"S- So I can live free... too?"

"Yeah. I look forward to seeing you again and cooking for you. Don't worry about the wall, that bitch is getting billed for it."

"I can see why Bianka speaks so highly of this place, the girls here really are good," Reika smiled as she rose to pay the bill.

"It would be nice if you could help prove the innocence of the girls that aren't here."

"It will happen. Ah, and I promise you this. Ookuma is never going to become prime minister, nor will her party gain anymore power," Reika whispered, before leaving with Serika.

                                                                            ...

"Sorry for causin trouble," Serika frowned.

"I'm glad you are, though that's why I'll stick by you until you can be strong on your own," Reika smiled.

"But I am strong."

"Yes, though you just need to adjust to your new environment. Learn to be cool and calm, and only throw a punch when there's no other options."

"Umu."

                                                                                    ...

Serika trembled as she and Reika walked out of city hall.

"That was scary," Serika shivered.

"Don't worry, since you were never seen in public, nobody will recognize you. This is your new life, now it's up to you to make it a good one," Reika smiled.

"C- Can we go back for dinner?"

"Just for tonight. I'm sadly not made of money."

                                                                               ...

"Well look who's back. So want pancakes for dinner?" Rika grinned.

"Shut up, I want dinner for dinner," Serika growled as she walked towards the stairs.

"Gonna check out upstairs? Have fun," Rika called out.

"I'm glad you're getting along with her. She truly needs friends," Reika smiled.

"I know, I can tell she's probably very scared and frightened, but if she's feeling brave enough to banter with me, that's good progress," Rika smiled.

The two ascended the stairs to find Serika staring at the pool.

"Never seen one in person before...I don't know how to swim though," Serika sighed.

"Well it's not too deep so you can probably stand in it," Rika laughed.

"Shut up! I'll learn how to swim!" Serika growled as she walked toward the arcade.

She walked up to one, but was unable to play.

"You need to deposit payment," Reika smiled as she put a coin in the machine.

Serika nodded and then proceeded to get hooked on the arcade.

                                                                                 ...

Serika laid in bed with a big smile on her face.

"This was the best day of my life," she smiled.

"You're doing so well, and you've made some friends," Reika smiled.

"Can I trust them?"

"Yes. Rika has a very similar background to you. She will never let Illumous harm you."

"That's good," Serika smiled as she happily went to sleep.