Rika's biggest fear

"Rika, why did you humor that disgrace's request?" Masaru glared.

"I just wanted her to leave me alone," Rika growled.

"Well, clearly she used you as a steppingstone for fame. She's been appearing on nearly every news channel this morning."

"Yeah, her little vanity tour is not something she told me about," Rika glared as Himawari entered the restaurant.

"Komachi, we need to talk. Care to explain where you learned those gymnastics you displayed while carrying Helga like a princess?" Himawari glared.

"Butter chicken pot pie with naan crust on the double!" Rika hollered back to the kitchen.

"Don't play dumb with me! I've encountered an anomaly with the mission," Himawari glared as she grabbed Rika's arm. "Sundae was in her restaurant, perfectly fine, with a full head of hair, and no recollection of the mission. Care to explain why?" Himawari glared.

"The hell if I know. Maybe she has the memory of a goldfish," Rika snarled.

"It was quite odd, how she just up and ran into the bathroom and didn't let me see her shave herself. Not even a hair of hers was found in the bathroom. How odd. I also chanced upon another anomaly; one of my subordinates reported seeing two Helgas. One supposedly fought with Krokow, while the other was carried out by you. Happen to have any insight?"

"Well, that's impossible. You said yourself that the dishes can't disguise themselves."

"Yes..."

"Why isn't the customer seated?" Itsuki asked as she brought out a butter chicken pot pie with naan crust.

The sight of the meal immediately triggered Himawari's PTSD, sending her bolting out of the restaurant.

"She didn't pay. Rika, we shall call the police," Masaru glared.

"I'd rather not. We might get one of her subordinates," Rika groaned.

The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of some customers. "Apologies, but we aren't open ye- ...!"

Rika went pale upon seeing the customers. One was a middle-aged man with red hair wearing a suit and wielding a cane while the other was a teenage girl with orange twintails and braces.

"So, this is what you've been doing ever since you graduated that cooking school," the man glared at Rika.

"Father," Rika muttered in terror.

"So, this your father? It is an honor to meet you. May I ask how skilled your family is at cooking?" Masaru asked.

"You could say, we are skilled at the culinary arts, though that is not our primary trade," the man replied as he sat down at a table along with the girl. "Rika, your finest and most complex work," he ordered.

Yuugen Korosekai, was Rika's father and one of the most dangerous assassins in the world. His sole focus was to further climb the hierarchy of I.L.U. and replace the head of the Bombino family, Antonio Bombino, on I.L.U.'s 12-member governing board. Rika had never come close to matching him in combat, though what scared her more than his power, was her secret being revealed to Masaru and the others. The girl accompanying him was Hasue, his 16-year-old daughter as well as one of Rika's younger sisters. Hasue was nowhere near as skilled as Rika but was far more bloodthirsty and sadistic than her.

"Rika, do not tell me simple parental presence is enough to throw off your game. I and Itsuki have no problem cooking for our parents," Masaru glared.

"This one I'll take Rika's side on. We don't know what kind of training regimen and pressure he puts on her," Itsuki glared.

"Say, could you two step out while I handle this?" Rika nervously asked.

"Hey pretty boy! Gimme one of these big things!" Hasue snickered as she held up the menu.

"Hasue you little bitch!" Rika thought as she trembled even more.

"My apologies, but Masaru is not working here today. He merely came to check in on us and gather supplies for he has been requested to fulfill a catering request today," Itsuki interjected.

"Huh? but-"

"Masaru, I know you're not fans of theirs, but they are paying customers so get to work on that catering order. I'll handle the young lady's request while Rika handles the gentleman's," Itsuki stated as she pushed Masaru towards the kitchen.

Rika calmed down a bit, but still trembled as she headed for the kitchen. Itsuki then promptly locked Masaru in the pantry after grabbing all the ingredients needed for the dishes.

"Thanks for the save," Rika trembled.

"I've never seen you this unnerved. Considering my own experiences, I can't help but sympathize a bit. He sounds as strict as my own father," Itsuki huffed.

"Sorry about losing composure."

"Make it up to me by sending him to bliss. It will make up for the lecture Masaru will give us."

"Please, he's probably admiring the ingredients in there or cooking a survival meal. Just as long as he isn't anywhere near that man, I can relax a bit."

Itsuki shot Rika an odd look but decided not to press any further.

...

Rika put on a smile as she placed the dish before her father. It was her mochi surprise, the very dish that had humiliated Makihara and the gourmet elites in the past. Even though Rika had been in an anxious state, the meal had been made perfectly.

"Hasue, you will sample some too," Yuugen stated as he cut a portion and placed it on a plate before Hasue.

Both then took a bite. Hasue appeared to smile wider as she began devouring her portion like an animal while Yuugen remained unfazed as he ate the meal.

"Don't worry, I saw you made no mistakes. It even took a while to affect my father," Itsuki said as she put her hand on Rika's shoulder.

"UMAI! Dis was so good!" Hasue blissfully moaned as a derpy smile appeared on her face.

Yuugen finished the meal and turned to face Rika. "The meal was, by taste standards, delicious. It truly is a work of art," he coldly stated.

Rika's heart began to beat faster and faster as Yuugen coldly stared at her.

"Why are you still pale? He gave his approval," Itsuki glared.

"However, I am disappointed," Yuugen glared. Rika began to hyperventilate as Itsuki glared in confusion. "Why is there no poison in this meal when I told you to give me your best?"

Rika began to gag and choke as she collapsed to the floor.

"Poison!? What are you talking about!?" Itsuki glared.

"Yeah Rika-nee-nee, what good is a good meal if you don't poison it. Couldn't even detect any slow acting or super tasteless ones," Hasue snickered as she regained her composure.

"Rika, have you gone soft? I did find it suspicious how you didn't kill any dignitaries despite being presented with ample opportunity at that esteemed school," Yuugen glared.

"KILL!? Sir what is wrong with-"

Before Itsuki could finish, Yuugen had vanished and was pointing a sword at Rika's neck. "So, you are at least capable of defending yourself, though not very well," Yuugen glared.

Rika had barely managed to block the sword from decapitating her with her kitchen knife. Yuugen then kicked her in the gut before leaping back and sheathed his sword in his cane, faster than the eye could see. He then began walking out as Hasue followed behind.

"I was disappointed to hear that you were present at the banquet the other day yet failed to kill a single disposable. Worse, you were seen working alongside Izuhana. Need I remind you that they are traitors and must be executed? I had hoped you had blossomed on your own, but it seems you are trying to shirk your duty. There will be punishments for your pacifism," Yuugen glared as he vanished with Hasue.

Tears began to pour out of Rika's eyes as she collapsed to the floor in pain and misery.

"Rika... What was all that?" Itsuki nervously asked.

Rika silently sat and cried for a bit before attempting to regain her composure. "Oh, he's a crazy chuuni. Problem is he's almost killed me before, so it triggers some PTSD. Hell, I'm still sore from that kick just now," Rika nervously laughed.

"No. That man was far too cold and menacing to be a chuuni. Rika, who exactly are you?" Itsuki trembled.

Tears once again began to flow out of Rika’s eyes. "Please, don't tell Masaru. I don't want him to reject me," Rika begged.

Itsuki was taken aback by Rika's current state.

"Huh, then the killing..." Itsuki began to go pale as a hypothesis formed in her mind. She immediately began retreating away from Rika in fear.

"I wish you weren't so smart. I'm not from a family of chefs, I'm from a family of assassins," Rika tearfully smiled.

Itsuki immediately ran out in terror as Rika laid down on her back. "Yeah, why was I expecting any other reaction," she tearfully chuckled. "If I told Masaru I'm a murderer, he'd reject me. This isn't some fairy tale where people will just stay your friend after you revealed you've been killing countless people throughout your life. Despite his gourmet elitism, Masaru is part of the light world, while I'm from the dark underworld. We just can't be together. I thought that perhaps if I seduced him, he wouldn't reject me, but at this point, I have no faith," she thought as she stared at the now empty restaurant.