Itsuki's resolve

Rika giddily knocked on the door to Helga's hotel room.

"Well, you're late as hell. I was getting ready to sleep after my all-nighter," Shiori growled as she answered.

"Hey, work came up, so is Itsuki fine?" Rika asked.

"Got the tattoo lasered off and washed all the spray tan off. Hope your work salary can satisfy my fee," Shiori growled as she held her phone up.

"That's in yen, right?"

"Euros."

"Shit, why's it so high!?"

"Well, I also included White hair's medical fees since she's with you."

"Oh, in that case Hanabi can pay some of it," Rika said as she pulled out her phone."

...

Hanabi sighed as she read the message on her phone. "Well, it's what I get for screwin up. Guess my act as a food critic wasn't enough to clear me, well good thing I have enough cash and this place has an exchange counter."

"Izumi's sorry," Izumi bowed.

"Don't be. Hell, we might even be able to void that debt we have for damaging the roof, if we go ham in the underground arena here. Though guess I better bring Rika the cash first."

...

"She says she'll bring the money up in a few minutes," Rika stated as she read Hanabi's reply.

"Come in then," Shiori growled as Rika entered the room.

Helga was lying on the bed completely bandaged from head to toe. Her neck was in a neck brace while her left leg and right arm were in casts. "Well, you sure took your sweet ass time," she growled.

"She can at least move everything and talk fine, but she'll be wheelchair bound for at least a few weeks," Shiori stated.

"Great, not like I have a restaurant to work at anyway," Helga growled.

"Oh, yeah... Hanabi blew it up. Well, guess we can say that's where you got your injuries from," Rika suggested.

"I was seen coming to the hotel. Ugh, whatever."

"And how long to you intend to ignore me?" Itsuki glared.

Rika turned to find Itsuki sitting on the sofa wearing nothing but the robe from the hotel. Her entire head was covered in bandages save for her eyes and mouth.

"Yeah, sorry about that, so did my little demon sister mess you up after you left the restaurant?" Rika asked.

"Little sister!? The one that was with your father?"

"Yeah Hasue, she's a demonic little shit."

"All your sisters are crazy. Just last night as soon as I got back from your restaurant, your older sisters stopped by for an examination. They were pissed I cured your friends but were more concerned about Ichika's hair follicles. After I told them her hair follicles were completely destroyed, the two left to go on a kill spree," Shiori grumbled.

"Oh, then they probably caused that mess Matcha's mom got blamed for. Those bitches."

"AHEM! Are you going to let me explain!?" Itsuki glared.

"Yeah, sorry."

"I should be apologizing first. I just ran off without thinking and probably made you feel horrible," Itsuki sighed.

"Wait, so you didn't quit?"

"NO! I ran all the way to the police station but decided not to go in and to go back and hear you out, but some evil middle school girl and her cop sister kidnapped me and took me to what appeared to be a holding cell."

"Hold on! What do you mean you were kidnapped!?"

"I don't know why. Though they mentioned some kind of cult, presumably those creepy hairless women I saw in the lounge."

"Shit. What did the officer look like?"

"I didn't catch their name, but the cop had long brown hair styled in pigtails while her sister had long brown hair styled in a ponytail. There was also a middle-aged woman with a blue buzz cut named Yoriko Sakaguro, whom they mentioned was chief of the station."

"No clue who any of those three are."

"As for what happened, that evil girl turned my pants into shorts, stole my shirt, shaved and waxed all my hair off, glued my mouth shut, spray tanned my skin, and gave me that hideous tattoo nearly breaking my mind. I was in hell, thank you very much! Had it not been for you calling my phone, I would have lost all hope."

"Wait, so then my call went through?"

"I only heard you say hello before the call was ended by the girl. The officer named Yoriko then wrapped me up in packing tape. When I could see again, I was in the rooftop lounge staring up at 6 hairless women with pale skin wearing yoga outfits and orange lipstick. Some fat postman was there too. The women said I was broken, and I was swapped out for a mummified woman. Then the yoga women were killed by two women, one with blue hair and one with red hair. I used the opportunity to escape and then ran down the stairs, but realized they didn't go all the way down, therefore I ran into the hall and found you."

"Well talk about a lot," Rika grumbled.

"Yeah, that mummy they swapped you out for was me. I was there in the bar and saw everything. Sundae's dead," Helga sighed.

"Wait what?"

"She was brought to those cultists, and I was forced to watch them assimilate her. Then well, she was killed along with them."

"I never got along with her, but that was still way too cruel for her to go out. How'd you know it was her?"

"She was bald, but I recognized her by her outfit. Her eyes were the same too, and her voice sounded the same even though it was muffled. She looked a tad different though from when she shaved herself before the mission, but I guess it's because that wasn't really her back then."

“My apologies, but I forgot to mention that Sundae was also held captive with me. She was indeed shaved bald, so it’s highly probable that she was the one you saw get assimilated and killed,” Itsuki sighed.

Rika scowled as she digested all the information. Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Izumi and Hanabi. Itsuki went on guard, but Rika quickly calmed her down.

"Yep, all the money's here, now let me snooze. You can talk in your own room," Shiori grumbled as she pulled out the sofa bed.

"You’re lucky they gave me an extended stay for free," Helga grumbled.

"Sorry about all this," Hanabi bowed.

"Well, you paid, so it’s good. Feel free to swing by the restaurant for a bite," Rika smiled.

"It's nice that you're more the forgiving type. Well, as soon as we're in the green, we'll swing by," Hanabi waved as she and Izumi left.

"And what about me?" Itsuki asked.

"We'll make something up. Though please don't tell Masaru and especially Benihime about my past. Everyone else already knows, heck Matcha's probably your girl to wail on."

"So, everyone but those two know? Well, guess they don't seem to mind."

"Well, some of them were in the underground killing business before-"

"HUH!?"

"Not all of them, mainly Waki, and maybe Mimi, though I think she was more spy than killer. Matcha and Zuina are normal though."

"Yeah, I'm airing my grievances to Matcha."

"You two mind leaving? Visiting hours are over," Shiori growled.

"Sorry, but Mimi's probably gonna swing by once she hears what happened to Helga. Oh, guess I should let Helga and Itsuki know I won the big cook-off against Makihara and now he's getting banished to America," Rika grinned.

"YOU WHAT!?" Itsuki, Helga, and Shiori all shouted in shock.

"Yeah, I was challenged by him after he saw Itsuki, but Masaru liked my dish more, so he's been banished to America to cook food at fairgrounds for two years."

"Y- You beat him!? Well, I guess I shouldn't be upset," Itsuki trembled.

"What the hell even happened!? Ugh, I want to see the video. Get Mimi in here pronto!" Helga ordered.

"Ri, I thought I said you couldn't use your hand for a few days! Let me see it! Unbandage it NOW!" Shiori glared.

"Yes Ma'am," Rika sighed.

...

"Itsuki! What happened to you!?" Mimi cried.

"I was kidnapped," Itsuki growled.

"Hey, anyone have spare clothes for her?" Zuina asked.

"Well, I did bring a lot, and you are in need, so I shall loan you a set," Benihime laughed as she pulled a yukata out of her suitcase.

"A bit overly formal, but I can't really complain," Itsuki sighed.

"So, I take it you were what ultimately led to the cook-off occurring?" Matcha asked.

"Yes. My apologies."

"Well, it led to that asshole getting banished so now worries," Waki laughed.

"Oh, and Mimi, I suppose I should let you know that Helga was injured and is currently resting in room 1509."

"Wait WHAT!?" Mimi gasped before speeding out of the room.

"Uh, what happened?" Waki nervously asked.

"She fell down a hole or something."

...

"Oi, be a little gentler and stop trying to make me drink milk!" Helga fumed.

"But it will heal your bones," Mimi pouted as she held a glass of milk.

"She isn't like you. Come to think of it, want me to do a DNA test to see if she's related to Hylda?" Shiori asked as she rolled around on the bed.

"Do you even have anything to compare it to?" Rika asked.

"Eluf said he had some strands of her hair," Mimi stated.

"Sure, then why not. I'm kind of curious myself. Now play the footage of the cook-off for me," Helga grumbled.

"And speaking of cooking. NO cooking for you until your hand is healed!" Shiori growled at Rika before falling asleep.