What you like to eat

As the sun rose, a teary-eyed Rika finished her story. Masaru sat in silence as everyone else nervously huddled together. "Did all of you know?" Masaru asked with a slight tinge of anger in his voice.

"Yes, all of us knew, but some of us knew longer than others. Zuina only found out back at the hotel," Itsuki stated.

"So even you're vouching for her. Rika, I'm disappointed. You're not the woman I thought you were."

"Yeah, I'm sorry. My feelings for you are genuine. I love you," Rika cried.

Masaru shook his head and rose.

"If you're going to reject me then just kill me here. I don't want to be used by those monsters ever again!" Rika sobbed.

"You are a monster as well," he coldly stated.

"Guess I am too. I used to be a killer too. Heck still got my poison needles," Waki smiled as she flashed her weapons.

"P- POISON!?"

"I'm an ex-spy from Danablu- er, Denmark from an alternate dimension that got merged with this one," Mimi sheepishly smiled.

"HUH!?"

"When I first heard about Rika's past, I ran out in terror. It was only when I reached the police station that I realized I was in the wrong. However, a corrupt cop and her evil sister kidnapped me and messed me up before I could run back and apologize. Rika calling them accidentally and me hearing her voice is what saved me from becoming a broken wreck after what they did to me," Itsuki declared.

Masaru began to go pale and tremble.

"My sister, Purin also arrested our father on false charges that he committed a murder which Rika's older sisters actually committed. Then she likely murdered him," Matcha stated.

Masaru collapsed to the floor in terror. "All this time, I've been surrounded by such dangerous women?" Masaru shuddered.

"Sorry, but I'm adding one more to the mix," Zuina sighed as she entered.

"Zuina? But I thought you left an hour ago with Hime-chan. Why'd you come back?" Rika asked.

"What do you mean? It's nearly time to open! Were you all here all night!? Anyway, to get back on topic, my sister is a despicable blackmailer. She's a far worse woman than Komachi-san will ever be," Zuina stated.

"You weren’t here, but she mentioned that she once killed many innocent people back in 2005," Masaru trembled.

"2005? I think I have a feeling what it could be, but I bet she was tricked into doing it, just like she was tricked into killing Hinari."

"Zuina," Rika muttered.

"Regarding the event in question, Reina was the one responsible for filming it so that her boss could use the footage for her own benefit."

“Hold up, Rebelle works for Ookuma!?” Rika gasped.

"That woman is the reason Rebelle became who she is. I'd argue she influenced her the same as, if not more than Makihara did. She has been working as her aide for years now."

"Wait, does that mean that demon woman with the sludge cut that nearly killed me nine years ago is Ookuma!?" Mimi gasped.

"She almost killed you!?" Zuina trembled.

"Yeah, I tried to kill her in rage but ended up causing Mimi to take a hit for me," Rika sighed.

"So is Benihime also some dangerous assassin?" Masaru trembled as he rose.

"Not to my knowledge, though she does train with a sword each day. She probably would kill Rika if she found out she killed her father. Though isn't your own mother a crazed hunter that fights bears barehanded?" Zuina asked.

"True. She would ironically fit in well with you all."

"But you respect her despite her spartan-like demeanor?"

"As a chef, yes. As a person, I somewhat fear her."

"Well, what about Rika? Even though she has a rough past, she truly does love cooking, and you. Were you not the first normal guy to praise and respect her for something other than killing!?Think! Remember all that she did for you! She bears no ill will towards you, rather she just wants to live a normal life. Sure, she can't erase her killer's instincts, but she can at least use them to protect the ones she cares about!" Waki glared.

Masaru thought back to the events of last night. He then thought back to the incident with Nino and Ichika. Then he remembered the incident with Takeda. Finally, his mind jumped back to the cookoff at the hotel with Makihara. Masaru then stormed out but headed for the kitchen instead of leaving.

...

The fatigue of staying awake all night began to eat at Masaru as he cooked.

"Wonder if he's making breakfast," Mimi wondered.

"No, it doesn't look like it. I noticed him grab an eel, I think," Waki stated.

"Maybe it's unagi pancakes or crepes?"

...

Rika continued to stare at the ceiling as Masaru returned with a dish. "Eat," he grumbled.

"Uh, I can't move at all because of that serum my mother shoved into my neck," Rika grumbled.

Masaru sighed and sat Rika in a chair. Rika's eyes went wide when she recognized the dish before her. Masaru then fed her a piece causing tears to well up in her eyes.

"It's good," Rika cried.

"You are a difficult woman. My life has been completely turned upside down ever since you began gravitating towards me at Tabemono Gakuin," Masaru grumbled.

"It's because you were the first guy to respect me for something other than killing."

"I retract my previous statement. You are clearly not a monster; I was merely blinded with shock."

"I'm not blaming you. It's a perfectly normal reaction."

"You'll need to thank your friends profusely for overwhelming my mind to the point where I remembered everything about you. Last night, you became a monster to save me from that wicked woman. I don't know much about the ways of human interaction. Cooking is all I have come close to mastering. It's thanks to me remembering your cooking that I was able to clear my mind. You truly wanted this restaurant to become a place where you could be free of your past and spend your life cooking. I know you don't bother handling the documents so you wouldn't know our business has been increasing with each passing week. It's mainly because of all that you did. You truly weren't learning to cook so that you could kill, you were cooking to brighten people's lives. You managed to surpass my mentor, Makihara-san in creating a dish I wanted to eat for the rest of my life. You know me well, but I don't know you well. I didn't know your past, but I never told you mine. Yet despite that, you were able to speak to me with your cooking. You knew my taste pallet. However, I never knew yours. You have an eccentric and off the wall attitude and will concoct new and degenerate creations. You also wish to offer the highest variety of food and drink. Yet, I never knew what you liked. It was when I went into the kitchen and gazed upon everything that I remembered..."

...

"Rika, why are you so adamant about stocking this?" Masaru sighed.

"Cause it tastes great. It's not as juicy as the ones I grew up eating, but normal folks can eat it just fine and that's what I want. I'm more surprised you're protesting considering this meal could be considered gourmet," Rika smirked.

"It is quite expensive to order considering they aren't found in Japan."

"What? Never cooked a rattlesnake before?"

"I have. Well, I'll also see if I can stock up on other types of snake meat," Masaru sighed.

"Yay! I love eating snakes," Rika smiled.

"I'm doing this for the customers. You're a chef. Your job is to cook, not eat our stock."

"I cook food for you to eat though," Rika pouted.

...

"You remembered. You remembered I like eating snakes," Rika cried as Masaru fed her.

"Rika, your presence in my life has convinced me to accept you. I don't approve of your killing, but I respect you for your cooking, and as a person," Masaru smiled.

"T- Thank you," Rika smiled.

"So, is that a confession?" Mimi giddily asked.

Masaru immediately went red, as Rika regained her gusto. "Well, is it? I'll take a kiss as a yes," Rika tearfully grinned.

Masaru then grabbed Rika's face and quickly kissed her on the lips before fainting in fatigue and embarrassment next to Rika.

"Heh, I'll accept that for now. I'm tired too," Rika yawned as she closed her eyes and rested her head on Masaru.

"Guess I can acknowledge you too, Rika," Zuina smiled.

"Guess we'll be closed for the day while everyone sleeps. Well guess I'll snooze- HUH!? Ugh, that idiot. Oi Rika, Mimi, Waki, wake up!" Matcha glared.

"Ugh, what is it?" Rika growled.

"There's corpses littering the place."

"Oh. Uh, I can't move cause of the immobilization serum."

"Guess I'll phone Stitch then," Waki yawned.