Spice of Life [Epilogue]

On April 12th 2024, the restaurant celebrated it's 8-year anniversary. Rika looked the same as she did 6 years ago, though now had some green highlights in her hair.

"Oi, Toga, watch where you go leaping," Rika hollered.

"Got it, Ma," Togarashi grinned as he leaped through the restaurant delivering drinks.

"Heh, he's more active than I was at that age. So you get that funnel cake done for lil Yumi?" Rika smiled as she coddled her 7-month old daughter in her arms.

"Rika, I told you we can't serve funnel cake to infants," Masaru glared.

"But lil Yumi will feel left out when all the others eat it."

"I'll make a baby-safe cake then," Masaru sighed.

"I still can't believe you ended up having a seventh kid. Aren't the other six wild enough?" Matcha sighed.

"They liven up the place though," Mimi smiled.

"Yeah, and they're nice too," Helga nodded.

"Watching them all is a pain though," Azuki grumbled.

Yumi was born on September 23rd, 2023 and was Rika and Masaru's 7th kid. Just like her eldest brother, she had her mother's hair and father's eyes. As for Rika and Masaru's other children, their second and third born were twin girls born two years after Togarashi. Two years after that, Rika gave birth to triplets; two boys and one girl. Masaru began to worry that Rika might give birth to quadruplets or quintuplets, but much to his relief, that didn't happen. Yumi would be the last child though, but with her birth, the Ryono family was now big enough to eat Masaru's Christmas meal like Rika wanted.

"It never ceases to amaze me how much food you turned into baby food," Zuina smiled as she fetched some baby food for Yumi.

"Yeah, ever since Waki and Cinnamon were born, Masaru revolutionized baby food," Rika smiled.

Two young girls with gray hair and orange highlights then walked up to Rika.

"Mother, I procured the supply list," the one with the glasses nodded.

"I made a doughy pizza," the other one smiled as she held up some dubious looking dough.

The two were the twins, Waki and Cinnamon. Unlike the woman she was named after, Waki Ryono was a serious and no-nonsense girl, as well as a genius. Her twin, Cinnamon was an airhead, but more charismatic.

"Of course the one you name after me ends up the complete opposite of me," Waki grumbled as she ran her hand through her now short blond hair.

"My, will you ever get a mohawk again?" Benihime grinned.

"Nah, unless it's for charity. I'm growin into a woman Matcha will want to marry."

"Some things never change I see."

"You're only 4, Waki. No need to waste your childhood acting like an adult, but thanks," Rika smiled.

"I'm simply doing what's most efficient for the business. Father praises me for this, and you should too," Waki huffed.

"Pat me too Mommy," Cinnamon smiled.

"You two really are precious. Have you seen the triplets?" Rika asked as she gave the twins headpats.

The sound of toddlers babbling rang out as two young boys with light orange and gray hair waddled by followed by a a girl the same age as them with a similar hair color. The three were the triplets, Boldo, Mace, and Jasmine. They all still had yet to say their first word, but that didn't stop them from running all over the place. Mace suddenly tripped and fell before crying.

"Uhp, we got a baby down," Rika chuckled.

"He should be more careful of his surroundings," Waki sighed as she helped Mace up.

"Well I'm glad you'll be a good onee-san to him."

"I'm a good onee-sama too!" Cinnamon chimed.

"It's time. Kids! to the dining table!" Masaru called out.

"Wow, you sure had a lot of kids, Rika-san," Yuni smiled as she entered with her mother, aunt, uncle, cousins, Madoka, Harumi, Emeri, Eriza, and Serika.

"You've got a pretty big entourage yourself," Rika laughed as she put Yumi in a height chair.

"We want the usual, and extra crepes," Madoka smiled.

"Crepes are all Mado-chan thinks about, though she's been dabbling with chili occasionally as well," Emeri nodded.

"The chili isn't that bad though. Sometimes I mix in some takoyaki," Serika shrugged.

"Guess Onee-san's been corrupted by the chili," Yuni laughed.

"It tastes good, Yuni!"

"Don't bicker girls, we're here to celebrate," Fubuki glared.

"Yes, Okaa-san," Serika and Yuni nodded.

As the group headed upstairs, Nero arrived with Ryuujin, Hanabi, Izumi, Honoka, and Tetsuka.

"Looks like the place is lively," Nero grinned as he and his group headed upstairs.

"It sure is," Rika smiled as she sat down next to Masaru at the table.

All her children then flocked to the table as Rika smiled and gazed at everyone.

"Are you satisfied? Now there will not be any leftovers this Christmas," Masaru smiled.

"Yeah, I've never been happier. Here's to our growing family, Ryokoma, and the spice of life that makes me smile," Rika serenely smiled.