A chat with Rika

Rika's eyes widened as Madoka, Yuni, Serika, and Emeri all entered Ryokoma together. "I was wondering where you all were, but to think you all would be together. So what changed, Serika?"

"I'm friends with Madoka and Emeri, not Twintails," Serika grumbled.

"Well, you want takoyaki for lunch or the honey pancakes? Oh, since it's St. Patricks day, we've got special green colored variations of our food. Some have matcha, while others don't."

"Takoyaki matcha crepes."

"Fusion huh? Challenge accepted. So what about the rest of you?"

"Green Leprechaun Masaru's chicken!" Yuni cheered.

"Green crepes!" Madoka cheered.

"Unadon," Emeri grumbled.

"Comin right up!" Rika smiled.

"Are you upset we're not eating on the terrace?" Yuni asked.

"No. I just got something else on my mind," Serika mumbled.

"If it's about your past, Mimi said she had no problems with you when you told her," Madoka stated.

"Rika already knows though. In fact, she was apparently with Sensei when she found me in the woods.

"If you got something you wanna get off your chest, we can chat in that private booth over there," Rika smiled as she walked by.

Serika let out a sigh and decided to take Rika up on her offer. Once the two were alone, Serika began airing her grievances.

"Hmm, so that's what it is. Well, you can probably guess what I'm gonna say considering who I am," Rika smiled.

"You're going to tell me to brush it off and not worry about it, assuming my theory is right," Serika sighed.

"Yup, though I take it that theory of yours isn't what's truly been eating at you."

Serika somberly stared down at the floor. "I actually can't tell you why, at least for now."

"Hmm? Why's that?"

"Because I don't just want to tell you one of Fubuki's biggest secrets without permission."

Rika began thinking before suddenly arriving at the answer. "Now I get it, you feel guilty for all you've done."

Serika's eye's widened in shock. "H- How did you-"

"I know my customers and Fubuki just so happened to be one. She only came by once a year on January 31st, but she always ordered egg rolls and Col Masaru's chicken. Don't worry about it. If your theory is true, just tell Yuni. I'm sure she'd understand."

Serika somberly nodded and began to head back. "Oh, guess I should mention one more thing. I told Mimi about my past, same for Twintails, Madoka, and Emeri."

"You did? Well good for you. In fact, I say that's all the more reason you should tell Yuni about who you might be."

"No, if my theory's wrong I'll look like an idiot and live in humiliation for the rest of my life."

"Well, I could see that. Though if you really are her sister, you definitely need to tell her. Ever since her family broke up, she's been desperately searching for a lead on them. It's why she mainly agreed to become a detective."

"But we've hated each other for years."

"If you really are sisters, it would be considered simple sibling banter in retrospect. Besides, you have any idea how horribly my sisters treated me?" Rika chuckled.

"No problem. Oh, and the rest of the staff are tight lipped if you feel like telling them too. It's OK if you don't considering those I.L.U.  bastards would probably descend on you if they knew who you were."

"Yeah, though thanks for easing my anxiety."

"That's what this place is for," Rika smiled.

"Hope you enjoy your lunch," Mimi smiled as she placed Madoka's huge plate of crepes before her.

"Wait, are you that Crepe goddess I saw all those years ago!?" Serika gasped.

"Yup!" Madoka smiled as she devoured all but three crepes.

"And here's your blessing!" Madoka smiled as she placed the three remaining crepes before her friends.

"A green Kringle crepe? Can't believe it's been years since I last ate a Kringle crepe," Serika mumbled as she munched on it.

"Really? I ate one just a few days ago," Yuni stated as she ate her green Kringle crepe.

"You came here with us though," Emeri stated as she munched on her green Kringle crepe.

"And how long before then?" Serika glared.

"Uh... Rika?" Yuni nervously asked.

"It was when you came in here all sad after your mother disappeared," Rika replied.

"Oh. A sad memory. So that's why I couldn't remember it well... Rika, could I talk to you about something?"

"Sure, though I do have to get back to cooking soon so hope it isn't a long story."

"It's about my mother," she stated.

"Your mother?" Rika asked.

"Yeah, it's about who she is."

"Is it Fubuki?"

"Yeah- WAIT! How did you know!?"

"Because she came here a few times."

"She came here!? Now that you mention it, she did bring me Col Masaru's chicken every year she visited."

"That, and she also got an egg roll platter like your aunt always did. Since the two looked kind of similar, I wondered if they were sisters."

"Twins actually."

"Twins? Well, I guess it makes sense why Fubuki looks so much different."

"Yeah, she's got battle scars and a stronger look in her eye."

"Now can I ask you something? Did your unreliable mentor know Fubuki?"

"Yes. She said she met her when she was in middle school."

"Cheeky little bitch. So that's why she did some things the way she did. Well, anything else you want to talk to me about?"

"Nope. Thanks again for all that you've done for me."

"Anytime. I hope you can find your mother and cousin. I haven't seen the triplets come in ever since that day either."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Though there are many people that eat the strudel cake they like. That popular Ewetuber Kumi in particular loves it and frequently comes here to film herself eating it along with various other dishes."

"Kumi? Never really heard of her."

"Long multicolored hair, pointy teeth, pink eyes. Also really dank and edgy."

"No clue. Though is she really a big deal?"

"She's got 69,000,000 subscribers."

"That's a lot!"

"Yeah, and you can bet most of em swarm the place after she uploads a video, or posts that she's here. Oh and before you head back, I got one more thing to ask."

"What is it?"

"Pardon me if this sounds a bit incentive, but what would you do if you found out you had a long lost sister?"

Yuni stared in confusion for a few seconds before replying. "That would be nice, though if someone approached me claiming to be my sister, I probably wouldn't believe them. Especially considering what happened to my mother."

"I heard about it. You were going to have an older sister, but them..."

"She was murdered."

"But what if that older sister of yours was actually alive?"

Yuni went silent. The scenario Rika presented to her was actually something she had never even considered. However, it reminded her of something her mother once said to her...

...

"Yuni, are you unhappy that you're an only child?" Fubuki asked Yuni as the two sat next to each other behind a wooden fence.

"Not really. Plus, I kind of feel like a big sister to the triplets."

Fubuki smiled ans stroked Yuni's head. "You've matured so much. To think you'll soon be graduating middle school."

"With perfects too."

"I see. Oh, and while I do hate to bring up such an outdated topic, I hear you got into a fight nearly a year ago at Ryokoma."

Yuni began to scowl. It was Celery's fault. She tried to yank my twintails off so I slapped her.  Ugh, she's such a bitch. She hurls insults at me and thinks she's smarter than me. She struggles to get perfects. She claims it's because high school is harder than middle school but that's bullshit. Heck, she even started dying parts of her hair magenta because she thinks it will make her smarter."

"So you think she dyed her hair magenta because she thinks having magenta hair would make her smarter?"

"Yeah. She claims the highlights are natural, but I know better than that."

Fubuki simply smiled and patted Yuni on the head. "Sounds like you've encountered quite the character. Well, do try to get along with people in the future. You never know who you might end up working with in the future. Not to mention, it's better to be on friendly terms with someone."

"I get it," Yuni pouted.

...

"Oi Yuni, you alright?" Rika asked.

"Gah! Oh, sorry Rika. I just suddenly thought of a conversation I had with my mother."

"What was it about?"

"I was complaining to her about how much of a bitch Serika was."

"Heh, what an interesting conversation to think of," Rika smiled.

Yuni stared in confusion at Rika.

"Ah it's nothing. Anything else you wanna talk about?"

"Nope, I think I'm good. Thanks for listening to me," Yuni smiled.

"My pleasure."

Yuni returned to the table and began chatting with the others as Rika headed back into the kitchen.

"About time you returned," the woman with chartreuse hair glared.

"Sorry Matcha. Just had to chat with our loyal customers."

"Well get cooking, we've got loads of orders, both for here and take out."

"Got it," Rika smiled.

Back at the table, Serika stared at Yuni with a somber smile.

"Why are you staring at me like that? It's creepy," Yuni cringed.

"Oh shut it, twintails. You should be glad I'm at least giving you a smile," Serika scoffed.

Yuni began to pout as Emeri decided to change the topic of discussion. "Rika really is the kind of person you can tell your problems to. I wonder if she might know a bit more about the loli and why she might have turned traitor."

"Oh, if that's the case, maybe we should try asking her sister," Serika suggested.

"'Her sister'?"

"Yeah, Mochi's sister, Matcha works here. In fact, there she is now," Serika stated as Matcha walked by with a tray of food. "Yo Matcha, do you have some time to chat a bit with us?"

"Sorry, but-"

"No worries. I'm back in the kitchen so she can take a break," Rika hollered from the kitchen.

"Seems I can. Once I deliver this order, I'll come chat with you," Matcha sighed.