Breakfast for Masaru

Makihara trembled in anger as he gritted his teeth.

"Um, I can explain-"

"YOU! YOU DEGENERATE BITCH HEATHEN! IS MY FLESH AND BLOOD NOTHING BUT A MERE TROPHY TO YOU!? YOU'VE CORRUPTED HER WITH YOUR COOKING, THEN YOU KIDNAP HER TO WORK AT YOUR DEGENERATE DINER! I HOPED MASARU-KUN AT THE LEAST WOULD BE ABLE TO PUT HER ON THE RIGHT TRACK, BUT NOW!? LOOK AT HER! SHE'S BEYOND CORRUPTED, SHE'S RUINED! ALL THAT TIME AND EFFORT I SPENT RAISING HER TO BE MY SUCCESSOR, GONE! DID YOU TURN HER INTO A DEGENERATE TO SPITE ME!? YES! OF COURSE, YOU WOULD! YOU THINK YOU'RE HOT SHIT JUST BECAUSE YOUR DISHES CAN SATISFY MY ELITE PALLET! WELL, NO MORE! I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU! I'M ISSUING AN ALL OR NOTHING COOK-OFF! YOU VS ME! DOWNSTAIRS NOW! I WILL BEAT YOU AND BANISH YOU FOREVER FROM COOKING! YOU WON'T BE ALLOWED TO BUY GROCERIES, GROW YOUR OWN FOOD, OR EVEN LICK CRUMBS OFF THE STREET WHEN I'M FINISHED WITH YOU!" Makihara ranted.

Nearly every door in the hall opened as people peeked out to watch the exchange.

"My hand's-"

"I DON'T CARE! IT WAS CLEARLY FUNCTIONING PROPERLY ENOUGH TO DRAG MY DAUGHTER TO THAT DEGENERATE PUNK SHOP! YOU HEATHEN! YOU ARE THE TRASH THAT POLLUTES SOCIETY!" Makihara shouted.

"And are you gonna get your cronies to judge!?" Rika glared.

"NO! THERE WILL ONLY BE ONE JUDGE! AN ALL OR NOTHING BET!"

"And who's it gonna be?"

"THE ONE WHO BOTH OF US CAN AGREE ON, MASARU-KUN!"

Rika's eyes went wide as she clenched her fist.

"YES! MASARU SHALL BE JUDGE! I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE FITTING PERSON TO CRUSH YOU WITH! AS FOR THE DISH ALL OR NOTHING, BELGIAN BANANA FOSTER BREAD WAFFLE CAKE! NO WAFFLE IRON ALLOWED! I WILL CRUSH YOU!" a deranged Makihara declared as he retreated to the elevator.

"Shit, I guess hearing Itsuki's story will have to wait. I better get Masaru," Rika thought.

"Um, what about me!?" Itsuki asked.

"Room 1509," Rika hollered back.

...

Masaru sat at a table in the dining hall as Rika and Makihara furiously cooked.

"A waffle without the iron, Makihara-sama is treating us to his skill," a guest mused.

"I wonder what spurned the fight on so suddenly?" another mused.

"I do hope WE get to sample," another chuckled.

"Looks like it's about time the heathen gets a reality check," Azuki mused.

"I'll have to thank Shinji for spurring this match on. Now my son can finally get back on the right track," Asahi chuckled.

"And why are you gloating? My daughter is now ruined. That bitch is lucky I wasn't there, otherwise I'd have joined Shinji in crushing her," Mahi glared as she clenched her fan.

"Yes, just look at what she did to poor Itsuki," Rebelle snickered as she flashed her phone before Azuki.

"Huh? What's wrong with her going bald and getting a tattoo and spray tan?" Mocha shrugged as she began spiking up her hair into a mohawk.

"Oi! the event is still on!" Asahi glared.

"I'll keep the makeup on as a compromise," Mocha glared as she finished spiking up her mohawk.

"I was afraid this was gonna happen," Matcha sighed as she sunk to the floor.

"Cheer up, I'm sure she'll win," Waki nervously smiled.

"Sadly, I’m not so certain. While my female night is indeed talented. The foul Makihara is nigh unbeatable when it comes to cooking," Benihime sighed.

"I don't think a fluke is gonna happen like before," Zuina sighed.

"Yeah, I doubt even Eluf would even be able to sabotage Makihara's meal with everyone watching them like that," Mimi thought. "But maybe she'll win. When it comes to cooking, I have complete fate in Ri-chan," Mimi smiled.

...

Rika and Makihara slammed their dishes before Masaru. Both looked similar, but had some differences, notably what was within.

"There are bite size samples for everyone. I had no issue making them," Makihara declared.

"Funny, me neither," Rika glared as she pointed to her array of samples.

"Then I shall try Makihara-sama's first. It has been so long since I tasted his fine cooking," Masaru declared. As he took a bite, his eyes lit up. "It is delicious. Everything is perfect!" Masaru beamed.

Everyone immediately charged for Makihara's samples as Masaru cleaned the plate.

"My, it seems like that's the game," Rebelle sneered as she ate one of Makihara's samples.

"'Perfect,' he said. You cannot match that, heathen," Makihara gloated with confidence.

"We'll see. I WON'T lose to you!" Rika glared.

Masaru then took a bite of Rika's dish. Immediately, his mood soured. He looked disappointed, but nonetheless finished the dish.

"My, was that a humiliation. Well, guess I'll get the article ready to publish," Rebelle sneered.

"Indeed. It seems he has finally been brought back into the light," Azuki mused.

No one had even bothered to try Rika's samples aside from Mocha, Mochi and the Ryokoma girls. Yet even they began to prepare for the inevitable.

"Makihara's was good," Matcha dejectedly sighed.

"I kind of liked Ri-chan's better though," Mimi mumbled.

"It doesn't matter. Ryono-dono clearly liked Makihara's more," Benihime sighed.

"I guess this is it then," Zuina sighed.

"Dammit! What the hell even led to this!? This better not all be because we impressed with our performance!" Waki glared as she slammed her fist into the wall in frustration.

"So, what do you think, Mochi?" Mocha asked.

"If I was the judge, Makihara would win. His dish truly is close to flawless despite the enraged state he was in when he cooked it," Mochi nodded.

Masaru then took a deep breath before slowly rising to give his verdict. "I... am conflicted. Makihara-sama's dish is flawless. Everything about it is properly made," Masaru stated.

"I understand, you must be disappointed that the heathen who's cooking you respect could pale-"

"Makihara-sama's dish is flawless, however, I feel it tastes inferior to Rika's dish."

Makihara's jaw dropped as the room let out an audible gasp.

"It conflicted me. Makihara-sama's dish is flawless, yet I enjoy the taste more of Rika's. How should I judge such a decision? My decision will ultimately determine who is allowed to remain in the culinary industry."

"Then my dish is clearly superior!" Makihara shouted.

"It is flawless, but I would prefer the way Rika made hers. The taste satisfies me more than yours does Makihara-sama."

Some attendees began moving to try Rika's samples.

"Hmm, I don't get it. Makihara's clearly tasted better," one stated.

"I disagree, this one tastes a little better than Makihara-sama's another argued.

"No, NO! How can the taste of that bitch's dish satisfy my tongue more!? Must be the fruit dammit!" Rebelle thought as she tried one of Rika's samples.

"Must have catered the dish to his tastes. Well, Makihara-san's dish is flawless, so naturally he should get the win," Azuki growled as she ate a sample.

"Damn right! I taught that boy that the more complex and elite gourmet meal wins every time," Asahi huffed.

Mahi remained silent as she tried one of Rika's samples. "Hmm, perhaps things might go more in my favor than I thought," she thought to herself as she glared at Masaru.

Soon all of Rika's samples were gone. The opinion on which dish tasted better was evenly split. Rika and Makihara then tried each other's dishes.

"Yeah, even I'll admit that this tastes pretty good," Rika grumbled.

"Unfortunately, yours fails to satisfy my pallet, and that is true," Makihara glared.

"Yeah, not expecting you to like it, but I don't care if YOU like it or not."

Masaru then continued. "It is true, I do greatly respect Rika's cooking, yet her skill, as well as my own is still far from surpassing Makihara-sama. Nonetheless, Rika clearly made a dish that I would want to continue eating more of. I also doubt I'd ever choose to eat Makihara-sama's dish over Rika's if I was only allowed to eat one or the other for the rest of my life. I am conflicted, Makihara-sama's is flawless, but I would be driven mad if I simply discarded Rika's dish because of that. I enjoyed its taste more. The moment I tasted it, my turmoil began, it simply tasted better, but Makihara-sama's was flawless. What should I do? I will not cop out with merely calling the match a draw, it would be a disservice to all present. Therefore, please everyone, respect my decision." Masaru then took a deep breath before giving his verdict. "The winner... is Rika."

Everyone gasped as Makihara went pale with shock. "B- But MINE WAS FLAWLESS!" Makihara shouted.

"Maybe in structure, but it could not overcome my taste buds. If I was to only eat one of those dishes ever for the rest of my life, I would choose Rika's. It just satisfies my taste pallet better than yours does, Makihara-san."

"'-San'!? H- Have you forgotten who taught you-"

"No, and I am grateful, but Rika seems to know my tastes better than you do, and since I am the sole judge, my decision matters. I have also come to not hold you in as high regards as before. I thought you were wiser than to foolishly call for a reckless match like this. I'm sorry, but you have lost, and with a heavy heart, that means you are banished from the culinary world as per your bet."

Before the crowd could descend into madness, Rika quickly grabbed the mic. "Can he still cook if the winner says it’s, OK?" she asked.

"DO NOT PITY ME YOU HEATHEN! FIRST YOU RUIN MY DAUGHTER, NOW YOU HAVE TURNED MY PROTÉGÉ AGAINST ME! YOU THINK I WILL BE AT YOUR MERCY!? NO! I'LL JUST BECOME PRIME MINISTER AND REVERSE THE DECISION WITH MY OWN HANDS! MANY WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS!" Makihara fumed with tears beginning to well up in his eyes.

"There must be a punishment unfortunately," Masaru sighed.

"Well, then let's interpret it a bit differently. Since I don't want mobs coming after us, how about Makihara's forced to go work at an American fair and cook fair food. You only said he's banished from the culinary world, and he doesn't consider fair food culinary at all; so, it's perfect. He can still cook, but still be banished from the culinary world. A man of his skill should have no trouble revolutionizing fair food, and who knows, maybe after a year or two, the Worldwide cooking association can give him a remedial exam to get his cooking license back," Rika declared.

"JA! I agree with the girl," Hanabi said while still in in disguise.

The others began to begrudgingly agree.

"Then, that shall be the punishment. Shinji Makihara, you are hereby banished to America where you must spend two years cooking fairground food. If you comply with the punishment fully and find a way to revolutionize those foods, you will be granted the opportunity to regain your cooking license. Thus, this ends this cook-off," Masaru declared.

Makihara sunk to all fours as he stared at the ground. "This is a crueler fate than I would have originally gotten," he trembled.

"And it's all your fault. I don't know how that happened to Itsuki, but before she could tell me, we ran into you," Rika glared.

"Do not mock me-"

"It's true. As for what ultimately led to your downfall, you made Masaru the sole judge."

"How!?"

"Because I love Masaru, and through our time together, know what his tastes are. Seems you erased the funnel cake incident from your mind. Well, you'll be making plenty of them where you're going."

"Love!? I was intending for Itsuki to marry Masaru-kun, why must I lose to you even there!?"

"Because cooking is the way to a man's heart, didn't I tell you that before?"

"I have no recollection- ...! I... despise you," Makihara tearfully glared.

"I don't like you either, but I decided to be the adult and forgive. But your petty pride doomed you. Better head home to pack, I hear they're booking you the latest flight to LA tonight," Rika said as she walked away.

Makihara remained on the ground as his supporters surrounded him in an attempt to comfort him as the Ryokoma girls all let out a collected sigh of relief.

"Too close for comfort," Waki smiled.

"You can say that again. Though now we gotta deal with the fallout from this," Matcha sighed.

"I imagine Reina's going to be hitting us with a swarm of slander. We should brace ourselves," Zuina sighed.

"Oh, that should be easy to handle," Benihime laughed.

"Yeah, besides we won. Let's go revel in victory!" Mimi smiled.

As the 5 headed out, Rika approached Masaru who was being confronted by Asahi and Azuki.

"You can't be serious!? You're corrupted!" Asahi shouted at Masaru.

"Father, I am not corrupted. Rika's dish just truly impressed me more," Masaru responded.

"But Shinji's was flawless! Didn't I drill into you that the more complex and elite dish wins every time!?"

"That logic is flawed. Sure, Rika's dish was not as well made as Makihara-san's, but it tasted much better. Why should I give the prize to a dish I deemed inferior in taste over a dish I truly enjoyed?"

"But Shinji is indispensable to the culinary world!"

"All the more reason he needs to accept this punishment. Should he try to skirt it, the negative furor he's been receiving these past few months, will only get worse. I also believe that seeing a new side of the world will broaden his horizons."

"So, you think you're hot shit!? Well maybe we need to disown you like your sister!" Azuki glared.

"Huh? Why would you have any say in disowning Masaru?" Rika asked.

"Cause I'm his mother!"

"By marriage? You’re way to young-"

"Rika, she is in fact my biological mother and despite her young looks, she's actually 47 years old," Masaru explained.

"HUH!? She's THAT old? Learn something new every day. Well in that case, I'll be taking great care of your son," Rika bowed to Azuki and Asahi before leaving with Masaru.

The two fumed in silence as they watched Masaru and Rika walk away. "How dare she corrupt my son. I'm going to kick her ass for this!" Azuki thought.

"Well seems I'll have to make massive revisions to my article. Though you seem quite calm, Mahi," Rebelle said as she gazed over at Mahi.

"I despise that the heathen has secured another victory, however, I also despised that man," Mahi stated.

"But aren't you a gourmet elitist?"

"I despise the man, but not his culinary mantra. Not to mention, his loss now means his spot as head of Japan's gourmet elite society and more importantly his headmaster's seat at Tabemono, are now up for grabs."

"Ah yes. Now that Kiji Myouchi's dead, there's no one to properly fill the spot. I imagine Asahi Ryono will be tapped to be interim headmaster, but the selection process for a new headmaster will begin, nonetheless. Madam Ookuma would probably want one of her loyal supporters to fill the role," Rebelle maliciously grinned.

...

"I truly meant everything I said. Makihara-san's dish was flawless, yet yours satisfied my taste pallet more," Masaru stated as he and Rika walked into the lobby.

"That's why I won, I know what you like," Rika smiled as she prepared to go in for a kiss.

"Ri- Rika! Why here!?"

"Still nervous, well then how about you kiss me first? I don't mind," Rika said as she closed her eyes and tilted her face back.

Masaru sighed, nervously brushed her hair back, and kissed her quickly on the lips.

"Th- There, now I'm going to cook lunch, I'm feeling better, so I'll speak with the hotel staff," Masaru blushed as he ran away.

"That's fine, you've earned it," Rika blushed and serenely smiled.