Brunch for Azuki and Mahi

All the staff that had gone to Tabemono trembled when they heard they were cooking for Azuki.

"Passing that woman's class was near impossible for those that didn't adhere to the gourmet elitist ideology," Itsuki grumbled.

"I didn't even take her class, but that didn't keep her from intruding into other classes as a substitute teacher," Matcha groaned.

"Even then, all it took was her to be in charge of a class for a day for her to break you. That spartan terror turned me and my whole class into sobbing baldies," Zuina shuddered.

"You got sheared? Then you were one of those baldies she paraded through the school?" Waki nervously asked.

"Yes, it was humiliating, but also terrifying. That spartan terror ended up subbing our fruit and vegetable class and gave us an impossible challenge. Well, impossible for any that aren't gourmet elitists. Those students passed relatively easily, but the rest of us failed horribly. And if you fail in Azuki's class, she shaves your head and eyebrows on the spot and forces you to walk through the school with a "failure" sign hanging on your neck."

"Tis quite spartan indeed. Her aim was likely to instill fear and convert those to the gourmet elite ideology. Well, I naturally was able to be spared her terror with my talents much to her dismay," Benihime boasted.

"Passing her class or a class subbed by her was possible, but difficult if you didn't adhere to her absolute demands, and even then, her methods were still quite spartan. Even some hardcore gourmet elitists ended up doing the bald march of shame due to failing to meet her standards. Well, at least in her main class anyway," Itsuki stated.

"So that's why you all were so scared. She doesn't sound that bad though. I had instructors that tried to kill me during tests and training," Mimi stated.

Everyone froze in shock as Mimi smiled and collected a meal before leaving the kitchen.

"Hope we can satisfy her," Rika sighed as she wiped away the sweat on her brow.

"Mother was always so strict. Worse than Father at times," Masaru trembled.

"Never knew that bitch was your mother before she mentioned it. Looked way to young and always told us to call her "Azuki-sensei" so I just assumed that was her surname."

"So, you didn't know you had beaten and humiliated my mother back then?"

"No, though that would likely explain why you began to look at me seriously as a chef," Rika said as she began to reminisce.

...

"Really now? You dare to question me when it comes to cooking big game in my own class?" Azuki snickered as she stroked her long black hair.

"Yeah, I bet I could slice that beef much cleaner and thinner than you can," Rika smirked.

"You dare to challenge me? Very well. A rebel like you needs to be made an example of."

...

Students gasped and murmured as an angry Azuki stormed down the hallway. Her sneakers emitted loud squeaks while the "failure" sign hanging around her neck clunked around with each step. Tears welled up in her eyes and her face went flush red as she rubbed her freshly shaved smooth bald head.

"That little bitch! How dare she humiliate me in my own class! How the hell did she even slice her beef so clean and thin!? I've never been able to do that ever! Now I can't even scowl properly without my eyebrows! She's dead for that!" Azuki fumed in her mind. She then noticed Masaru glaring at her. "The hell are you glaring at me for boy!?" Azuki shouted.

Masaru immediately went pale and trembled upon realizing he was staring at his mother.

"M- M- Mo- MOTHER!? Y- You were beaten!?"

"Rika Komachi. That's the stalk you need to cut down. Don't you dare fail or I'm shaving you on the spot," Azuki glared as she stormed away.

"Rika Komachi? If I remember correctly, she made that fine dish despite rejecting Makihara-sama's ideals. If she's capable of besting mother in her own proficiency, she must be a chef worthy of respect," Masaru thought.

...

"I honestly had no idea why you suddenly began respecting me so much more back then, but now it makes sense. Most of the other folks from the Makihara faction only got more hostile towards me after I bested Azuki-sensei," Rika stated.

"I remember those meetings. Many hurled jeers at me when I stated that you were likely to become our greatest rival. They refused to believe that we'd lose, yet we did just that," Masaru stated.

"So, how'd you fare against her?"

"At her discipline, I would come close to besting her, but not quite. Nonetheless, since I was the only person who could give her a run for her money in that discipline until you showed up, my performance was deemed acceptable. That is why I came to view you in a more positive light despite your eccentricities. You were able to best someone at something I had failed to best them in."

"Heh, guess he was respecting me even back then. Maybe he holds me in higher regards than I thought," Rika happily thought.

...

Mimi happily laid the dishes before Azuki and Mahi. "Thinly cut just like I asked, though did he truly make this himself?" Azuki thought as she began eating her meal in a polite manner.

"Wow, I thought you'd eat it all barbarian like," Mimi smiled.

"And just who are you? You're the only one here I don't recognize," Azuki glared.

"Codename: Laks, though everyone calls me Mimi."

"Laks? As in salmon laks? Are you a specialist in seafood?"

"Nope, sweets."

"Then why the hell are you naming yourself after fish!?" Azuki fumed as she stood up.

"My codename was assigned to me! That's how it works," Mimi cried.

"Then whomever assigned it needs to be disbarred from cooking."

"No need for that, they're probably dead by now," Mimi somberly stated.

"Good, the world-"

"DON'T INSULT MY DEAD FRIENDS! I mean, I guess the head of the agency wasn't technically my friend, but we were on the same team. Don't insult them!" Mimi tearfully glared.

Azuki simply shrugged Mimi off and sat back to continue eating. "Tell me, did Masaru cook this all on his own?" she asked.

"Both me AND Masaru made it," Rika stated as she appeared along with Itsuki and Masaru.

"You made it together!?"

"Yes mother. We combined our strength to make this meal," Masaru stated.

"Combining? My, it seems you too have been ruined by that heathen," Mahi glared as she ate her meal.

"How is it, mother?" Itsuki asked.

"Regrettably passable."

"Why is that a bad thing?"

"Because it is a meal that has been tainted by the influence of the heathen. Sure, the spices you put in the meal may enhance the flavor, but they are against the gourmet elite society's teachings."

"Yet both of you cleared your plates," Rika smirked.

Sure enough, both women had cleared their plates of their meals.

"I was stress-eating. Waitress! Bill us now!" Azuki ordered.

Mimi left to fetch the check as Rika stared at Azuki's hair. "So, you grow out your hair, or is it a wig? Though more importantly, how was your meal, Miss Gourmand?" Rika snickered.

"Did I not tell you before that this is my real hair!? Second the meal was terrible," Azuki huffed.

"Really? Rika smirked as she tugged on Azami's hair.

"OW! The hell!?" Azuki glared as she swung her fist back.

Rika swiftly dodged and released Azuki's hair. "Huh, guess you were only lying about the meal then," Rika smirked.

"Bullshit. I truly despised it," Azuki glared as she paid the bill.

"Why?"

"Because you had a hand in making it."

"And you?" Rika asked as she gazed at Mahi.

"The meal might have been delicious, but I will not accept it," Mahi scoffed as she left with Azuki.

"So, it was not good enough to overwhelm her words," Masaru sighed.

"Nah, she liked it. She was only letting bias consume her," Rika stated.

"Bias can corrupt taste," Itsuki warned.

"She is correct Rika; my mother's taste pallet is greatly affected by how she feels towards the chef. If she has misconceptions or ill will, the dish's taste will diminish. She also does stress eat at times when she's extremely flustered," Masaru stated.

"She could just be a tsundere. I remember back then, she refused to say my dish was delicious, yet her body language said she loved it. Well, luckily the judges were professional, otherwise I'd have been doing a bald march even though I bested her," Rika smirked.

Outside, Azuki went red in the face as her eyes began to tear up.

"Why are you acting like that?" Mahi glared.

"Because the meal was good dammit! That means that I'd have to praise the heathen and her methods!" Azuki tearfully glared.

"See, told you she was a tsundere," Rika smirked as she and Masaru peered out a window.

"It seems you were right. I'm glad you truly enjoyed our meal, Mother," Masaru smiled.

Azuki's face only got redder as she ran off crying in embarrassment. Mahi merely glared at the two before continuing on her way.