Chapter 97:
Spice of Life
The next day, things began to get back to normal.
"Hmm, guess Serika won't be coming in in the mornings anymore now that she's got school," Rika said as as she entered the kitchen.
"Most students tend to come in the afternoon or evening. Though there are a few like the Crepe goddess that come in the early morning," Itsuki noted.
Itsuki's hair had now grown back significantly. She now sported a side shave along with a new lip and nose piercing.
"When'd you get the new piercings?" Matcha asked.
"Just yesterday actually," Itsuki replied.
"You look good girl."
"Wish I could say the same for you. Though you do look better than you did yesterday."
"We'll just say I went on a diet. Though I do hope Purin gets reprimanded for what she did."
"You can always take more time off if you need it," Rika stated.
"That's rich coming from you. Heard you tried to work through an injury with pain killers," Matcha glared.
"I'm healed up. Shiori even said I'm good."
"Perhaps maybe I should take a day more of rest. I wouldn't want to end up like you did after you got sliced in the stomach."
"Heh, then just clock out after the breakfast shift. Masaru said it was fine too."
"He really has come a long ways since the strict elitist he used to be."
"That he has, now go take the offering to the Crepe goddess," Rika smiled as she wheeled up a cart with a plate full of crepes on them.
...
"So nice to see you back, Matcha," Madoka smiled as she finished devouring her crepes.
"It's nice to be back. That prison was hell," Matcha replied.
"Hell huh? You weren't an inch away from execution," Helga growled as she stormed into the restaurant.
"Hey Helga, you feeling better?" Mimi smiled as she greeted her.
"Um, yeah. I'm not aching and tired. Sorry you got dragged into my problems."
"It's alright. Now come take a seat."
Helga ran her hand through her hair as she sat down.
"That detective sure took her sweet ass time. I nearly ended up a hairless freak," Helga shuddered.
"What do you mean?" asked Mimi.
"Guess I should tell you all now that I'm feeling better. Better call... Rika, so I don't have to explain it again to her."
...
As Rika headed for Helga's table, the staff from Helga's restaurant arrived. Kyoko was now in a full body cast and in a wheelchair as her eyes zeroed in on Helga.
"U BETCH! Y DA ELL ARE U EE!" Kyoko fumed as Sorbet pushed her wheelchair up to Helga.
"The hell happened to you?" Helga glared.
"Yeah, pretty sure I only broke your fingers, knocked out a few teeth and maybe fractured your skull and jaw," Rika glared.
"W- We saw you break all her bones!" Sorbet stammered.
"Yeah sure," Rika glared as she knocked on Kyoko's cast.
"... Oh OW U BETCH IT URTS!" Kyoko wailed.
"Then maybe you should see a doctor," Rika growled as she karate chopped the cast.
It instantly broke and exposed Kyoko's perfectly fine torso.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAH!" Kyoko screamed as she covered her exposed breasts with her arms.
"Huh, thought everything was broken. Now get out before I make it a reality. Harassing staff and patrons is a cardinal sin here," Rika glared as she cracked her knuckles.
Sorbet and Kyoko squealed in terror and ran out in a hurry.
"Huh, could run just fine too. So why are you two still here?" Rika glared at Pika and Frosting.
"I'm here to inform the detestable woman dining here that she is fired and no longer welcome in our establishment," Pika huffed.
"FIRED!? I own the damn place!" Helga fumed.
"You were stripped of ownership by Tabemono's board of directors following your arrest. You are also disqualified from the headmaster qualification test."
"Bullshit! Rebelle set me up!"
"No, Rebelle is a fine upstanding woman."
"We all know that's bullshit."
"You are lucky she is preoccupied with getting the scoop on Madam Ookuma's whereabouts. Otherwise, she would be exposing the corrupt police officials you made a deal with to walk free," Pika scoffed as she and Frosting stormed out.
"Fired, damn bitches. So much for trusting them," Helga tearfully glared.
Outside, Frosting fidgeted as she and Pika walked together.
"You don't think we'll get caught, do ya?" Frosting asked.
"We were disguised perfectly when we did the deed," Pika glared.
"But was it really right? I only did it cause Rebelle had somethin on me."
"If you so much as dare blab, I'll have you given a maximum prison sentence!"
"B- but your family got-"
"I've cut my ties with them. It is a shame my aunt was arrested, but I assume she betrayed Madam Ookuma which is why her misdeeds were leaked. I will become the next head of the Judiciary it seems," Pika declared as she adjusted her glassess.
Nene "Pika" Takeda was the younger sister of Kazuya Takeda. She had met Ruchi Ookuma at a young age and been inspired by her. Like Kazuya, she dabbled in cooking, but was more serious about it then him. She ended up disowning herself from the family after being faced with an arraigned marriage. After assuming her new identity, she graduated from Tabemono and continued to secretly aide Ookuma from the sides until being scouted by Helga to work at her restraint. She was a cold and ruthless woman that wanted nothing but power and order.
Matilda "Frosting" Gonzales was simply a a girl that wanted to be a chef. However, she had committed some shoplifting crimes in the past due to being poor. Rebelle had managed to gain evidence of her crimes, thus forcing poor frosting to do her bidding.
"But Helga didn't murder Sundae. The one who kidnapped-Mmph!"
"Don't you dare utter another word," Pika glared.
"Yes ma'am," Frosting somberly nodded.
...
"We passed-"
"-Our big-"
"__."
"Kasumi!!"
"*Tch* Test," Kasumi growled.
The triplets, Kasumi, Nika, and Miku were all celebrating passing their test at Ryokoma.
"Well congrats you three, so how about you, Yuni?" Rika asked.
"Mine wasn't that hard. Perfect score though," Yuni stated as she displayed her test.
"Dang, you really are a smart one. How many perfect scores is this now?"
"We'll just say all of them. I can't remember the exact number, but I've got perfects on all of them."
"Well aren't you cheeky. So a large strudel cake and Col Masaru's chicken?"
"Yes please!!!" Yuni, Nika, and Miku smiled.
"Whatever," Kasumi grumbled.
As Rika went back to the kitchen, Serika strolled in. She was clad in her highschool uniform and chartreuse sneakers. Her green buzzcut was now fully exposed since she wasn't wearing her baseball cap.
"Perfect score? Smartass twintail bitch," Serika muttered as she strolled up to her usual spot.
"Well look who it is. Really rockin the punk schoolgirl look," Rika grinned as she strolled by.
"Shut up, I look beautiful!" Serika growled.
"So how was school?"
"Uh, not bad I guess. Had trouble understanding some stuff, got in a tussel with a delinquent. The lunch there was fine, but the food here tastes better."
"Guess Reika spoiled you a bit by bringing you here. Well, nearly every student in town agrees our food is better than their school's cafeteria food."
"Why were those three on the first floor so happy about passing?"
"Cause it feels amazing to pass a hard test you spent hours and days prepping for. Trust me, I celebrated too when I passed my big tests at cooking school."
"But I didn't do well on my quiz," Serika grumbled as she placed her paper on the table.
"75? Better than me. I barely scraped by with passing grades on written tests."
"Really?"
"Heh, we've got more in common than you think. Don't worry, I'm sure Mommy Reika will teach you how to pass tests, assuming she can be reliable."
"Ha ha ha! You really are somethin Miss Rika. You really are a tsundere like Sensei said." Serika laughed.
"HUH!? THE HELL DID SHE- Wait, you laughed."
"Of course I can laugh, baka."
"Heh, you're more the tsundere then me."
"AM NOT!" Serika fumed as her face went bright red.
"Ha ha ha, well to celebrate your first day and laugh, takoyaki's on the house."
"I- er, thank you."
Rika simply smiled as she headed back for the kitchen.
"Guess I'll be the reliable big sis when mommy's at work," Rika happily thought.
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