The restaurant's 3-month anniversary

Rika smiled as the rain came down.

"Why are you smiling? With this weather, we won't be able to open the terrace today," Masaru asked.

"Nah, we're opening it," Rika grinned as she headed inside the restaurant and up the stairs to the newly renovated second floor.

"I guess we can open up the second floor, but not the outdoor patio portion. The forecast said the rain will last all day and night."

"Then we just close the roof," Rika grinned as she pressed a button.

Immediately, a clear roof extended out over the outdoor seating area, shielding it from the rain.

"Perfect. Now you've got an excellent rain viewing dock," Nero grinned as he appeared.

"Hold on! We're not open yet!" Masaru protested.

"Oh, he's the guy who lives in the abandoned mall and orders the smoothies," Rika explained.

"Well, I actually moved to a more comfier place, but the restaurant and mall are still under my protection," Nero grinned as he sat down on one of the sofas on the patio.

"The usual?"

"That and some Col Masaru's chicken nuggets with mayo."

"Perfect. Though first I wanted to ask you something really quick..."

...

Masaru's eyes widened at the size of the mug Rika had poured the smoothie into. "Rika, that's practically a keg!" he shouted.

"So? I figured we'd introduce some oversized meals. Now people can challenge themselves to eat a large burger tower or drink an entire keg of juice. Oh, and we can even do pancake and French toast warships. I've also got giant crepes and pies as well as giant funnel cakes lined up as well," Rika mused.

"But why all now?"

"To celebrate the opening of the second-floor seating, as well as our 3rd month anniversary."

"Three months you say? Time really does fly."

"Maybe by the one-year anniversary, we'll have renovated the whole mall into a giant restaurant."

"We don't have that kind of money."

"Well, I at least want to get the arcade and movie theatre renovated, maybe even put in a pool and gym-"

"We'll focus next on the arcade. But not for at least a few months," Masaru sighed.

"...Alright. Guess that can be our 6-month celebration special. Thanks for getting me such a great birthday gift," Rika smiled.

"Did you not say this would be a gift for both of us?"

"And?"

"I think I'm glad I ended up choosing this place," Masaru smiled as he thought back to that important day.

...

"Rika, why are you so keen on THIS place?" Masaru glared as he stood before an abandoned mall.

"Cause it's perfect. It's got all we need and then some to become the greatest restaurant ever," Rika grinned.

"It's too big and excessive."

"We'll be making the restaurant itself big, cause everyone in town's gonna be coming to it."

"No, I don't want EVERYONE. Only those that can truly appreciate the art and taste of gourmet food may dine here."

"That's why I'm getting a big place, so I can show you the wider world of people beyond the small gourmet elitist circle that ass dragged you into."

"We don't have the funds."

"Yeah, we do; top graduate gets a free pick. And you finished top of the class."

"I'm only the top graduate because you failed that written exam. You became top of the class the moment you beat me in the big cook-off."

"Don't be so hard on yourself. We're practically even in cook-offs."

"But I consider you the top graduate. Thus, I decided to let you choose the location since we'll be opening a place together."

"Yeah, and that's why I want THIS place. Renovations are included in the freebie."

"I doubt they would renovate the entire mall."

"We'll start at the front where a fancy restaurant used to be. We'll make the first floor massive, then get to work on the second floor before working our way through the rest of the mall."

"..."

"The park's pretty close too. Plus, if we get started now, we could have our grand opening on our birthdays in a month."

"Very well. Since I don't want to have to do something for your birthday, we'll say the restaurant will be the present," Masaru sighed.

"To both of us then. This place is gonna warm up your heart too," Rika smiled.

...

Rika stepped out of the kitchen and sat in her chair by the bar. Despite the restaurant just opening for the day, there was already a large crowd lining up to get seating on the newly renovated second floor.

"You can see the whole room from here. It really is nice," Rika smiled as she gazed at the bustling restaurant.

"Seems your judgement was right back then. This place is bustling," Masaru smiled.

"Thanks to you buying me the place for our birthday. As for me, I did my best to make this a happy place for you. In 9 more months, the whole place will be at full capacity," Rika smiled.

"Thank you, Rika."

Rika smiled serenely and closed her eyes. "I can already see the future. When we're old and wrinkled, we'll be sitting here just like we are now. The place will be bigger and filled to max capacity. The place will be managed by the next generation while the old guard will happily reminisce about the old days. Then, I'll smile serenely and say, "It's peaceful", before we pass on surrounded by the love we built up."

"Rika..."

"That's how I want it to end. Surrounded by love."

"You look beautiful when you smile serenely like that."

"I only smile like this when I'm truly at peace."

"Rika, I've decided I'm going to stay by your side. I want to see where your passion takes you," Masaru declared before quickly pecking a kiss on Rika's lips.

"Thank you, Masaru. I promise I won't let you down, and that I'll protect you, this place, and all our staff and patrons."

"Not alone. We'll make sure your place stays in business for eternity," Mimi smiled along with the others.

"Thanks everyone."

"So uh, how are we gonna get this barrel of smoothie to the second floor?"

"Oh, whoops. Let me show you where we put the cargo elevator."

...

"Sorry about the delay," Rika bowed.

"Naw, it's fine. It was plenty entertaining watching you flirt," Nero smirked.

"Huh!? You saw that!?" Masaru trembled.

"Yeah, I was curious how long the line was to get seating up here and heard your conversation when I went down to check. Relax, I'll make sure this place does stay in business for an eternity."

"Well, first try to conquer our emperor sized smoothie," Rika smiled as Mimi and Matcha wheeled over the smoothie in a keg.

"An emperor sized N.F.S.D. smoothie indeed," Nero grinned as he picked up the keg and chugged the smoothie down.

He then set the keg down and ate his chicken nuggets before finishing off the smoothie.

"Wow, gone in under 5 minutes," Rika nervously smiled.

"And still hungry, though just a normal order of chicken and a large smoothie this time," Nero grinned as he pulled out some yen.

"Is he actually an aristocrat?" Masaru whispered.

"No, he just has a job where he makes a lot of money. Though maybe he has a fortune," Mimi shrugged.