After school debriefing

Going back in time to the morning of Serika's first day of school, Rika shrugged as she noticed Serika had not come in yet. "Hmm, guess Serika won't be coming in in the mornings anymore now that she's got school."

"Most students tend to come in the afternoon or evening. Though there are a few like the Crepe goddess that come in the early morning," Itsuki noted.

"I do hope Purin gets reprimanded for what she did," Matcha glared as she groggily filled some glasses with water.

Matcha had begun to look much better than she did after getting released, but her imprisonment had certainly taken it's toll on her.

"You can always take more time off if you need it," Rika stated.

"That's rich coming from you. Heard you tried to work through an injury with pain killers."

"I'm healed up. Shiori even said I'm good."

"Perhaps maybe I should take a day more of rest. Ugh, but my mom's probably gonna take care of me then. I'm an adult dammit. Besides, I don't wanna go home."

"Heh, then just clock out after the breakfast shift and relax in the break room. Now go take the offering to the Crepe goddess," Rika smiled as she wheeled up a cart with a plate full of crepes on them.

"So nice to see you back, Matcha," Madoka smiled as she finished devouring her crepes.

"It's nice to be back. That prison was hell," Matcha replied.

"Hell huh? You weren't an inch away from execution," Helga growled as she strolled into the restaurant.

"Hey Helga, you feeling better?" Mimi smiled as she greeted her.

"Um, yeah. I'm not aching and tired. Sorry you got dragged into my problems."

"It's alright. Now come take a seat."

Helga ran her hand through her hair as she sat down. "That detective sure took her sweet ass time. I nearly ended up a hairless freak," she shuddered.

"What do you mean?"

"Guess I should tell you all now that I'm feeling better. But call Rika, so I don't have to explain it again to her."

As Helga sat down, Madoka began heading out. "Now that I'm full of crepe fuel, my first day of middle school's gonna be easy," she smiled as she ran out.

As Rika headed for Helga's table, the staff from Helga's restaurant arrived. Kyoko was now in a full body cast and in a wheelchair as her eyes zeroed in on Helga.

"U BETCH! Y DA ELL ARE U EE [YOU BITCH! WHY THE HELL ARE YOU HERE]!?" Kyoko fumed as Pika pushed her wheelchair up to Helga.

"The hell happened to you?" Helga glared.

"Yeah, pretty sure I only broke your fingers, knocked out a few teeth and maybe fractured your skull and jaw," Rika glared.

"W- We saw you break all her bones!" Frosting stammered.

"Yeah sure," Rika glared as she knocked on Kyoko's cast.

"... Oh OW U BETCH IT URTS [OW YOU BITCH IT HURTS]!" Kyoko wailed.

"Then maybe you should see a doctor," Rika growled as she karate chopped the cast.

It instantly broke and exposed Kyoko's perfectly fine torso. "KYAAAAAAAAAAH!" Kyoko screamed as she covered her exposed breasts with her arms.

"Huh, thought everything was broken. Now get out before I make it a reality. Harassing staff and patrons is a cardinal sin here," Rika glared as she cracked her knuckles.

Frosting and Kyoko squealed in terror and ran out in a hurry.

"Huh, could run just fine too. So why are you still here?" Rika glared at Pika.

"I'm here to inform the detestable woman dining here that she is fired and no longer welcome in our establishment," Pika huffed.

"FIRED!? I own the damn place!" Helga fumed.

"You were stripped of ownership by Tabemono's board of directors following your arrest. You are also disqualified from the headmaster selection exam."

"Bullshit! Rebelle set me up!"

"No, Rebelle is a fine upstanding woman."

"We all know that's bullshit."

"You are lucky she is preoccupied with getting the scoop on Madam Ookuma's whereabouts. Otherwise, she would be exposing the corrupt police officials you made a deal with to walk free," Pika scoffed as she and Frosting stormed out.

"Fired? Damn bitches. So much for trusting them," Helga tearfully glared.

Outside, Frosting fidgeted as she and Kyoko walked together.

"You don't think we'll get caught, do you?" Frosting asked.

"We were disguised perfectly when we did the deed," Kyoko glared.

"But was it really right? I only did it cause you asked nicely."

"If you so much as blab, I'll have you killed!"

"B- but your family got-"

"I've cut my ties with them. It is a shame my aunt was arrested, but I assume she betrayed Madam Ookuma which is why her misdeeds were leaked. I will become the next head of the Judiciary it seems," Kyoko scoffed as she grabbed a dress from a store display.

"But Helga didn't murder Sundae. The one who kidnapped- Mmph!"

"Don't you dare utter another word."

"Yes ma'am," Frosting somberly nodded.

...

Once school got out, many of Ryokoma's regulars that were also students arrived.

"We passed-"

"-Our first-"

"..."

"Kasumi!!"

"Tch, Test," Kasumi growled.

The triplets, Kasumi, Nika, and Miku were all celebrating passing their test at Ryokoma.

"Well congrats you three, so how about you, Yuni?" Rika asked.

"Mine wasn't that hard. Perfect score though," Yuni stated as she displayed her test.

"Dang, you really are a smart one. How many perfect scores is this now?"

"We'll just say all of them. I can't remember the exact number off the top of my head, but I've got perfects on all of them."

"Well aren't you cheeky. So a large strudel cake and Col Masaru's chicken?"

"Yes please!" Yuni, Nika, and Miku smiled.

"Whatever," Kasumi grumbled.

As Rika headed for another table, Serika strolled in with Nonoka.

"Perfect score? Smartass twintail bitch," Serika muttered as she strolled up to her usual spot.

"Well look who it is. Really rockin the punk schoolgirl look," Rika grinned as she strolled by.

"Shut up, I look beautiful!" Serika growled.

"So how was school?"

"Uh, not bad I guess. Had trouble understanding some stuff and got in a tussle with a delinquent. "

"You got in another fight?"

"Yeah, guy was an asshole. I tried to be strong like Sensei told me, but once he groped my breast, I snapped.

"He groped you? Well then that was perfectly justified self-defense.  So you here to treat your friend to something?"

"Yeah the lunch there was fine, but the food here tastes better. This is Nonoka. She stuck up for me after I beat the shit out of that asshole, so I decided to treat her to some food."

"Guess Reika spoiled you a bit by bringing you here. Well, nearly every student in town agrees our food is better than their school's cafeteria food."

"Why were those three on the first floor so happy about passing?"

"Cause it feels amazing to pass a hard test you spent hours and days prepping for. Trust me, I celebrated too when I passed my big tests at cooking school."

"But I didn't do well on my quiz," Serika grumbled as she placed her paper on the table.

"75? Better than me. I barely scraped by with passing grades on written tests."

"Really?"

"Heh, we've got more in common than you think. Don't worry, I'm sure Mommy Reika will teach you how to pass tests, assuming she can be reliable."

"Ha ha ha! You really are somethin Miss Rika. You really are a tsundere like Sensei said." Serika laughed.

"HUH!? THE HELL DID SHE- Wait, you laughed."

"Of course I can laugh, baka."

"Heh, you're more the tsundere then me."

"AM NOT!" Serika fumed as her face went bright red.

"Ha ha ha, well to celebrate your first day and laugh, takoyaki's on the house."

"I- er, thank you."

Rika simply smiled as she headed back for the kitchen. "Guess I'll be the reliable big sis when mommy's at work," Rika happily thought.

Bianka and Mochi strolled in next and quickly joined Serika.

"So who's the shy cutie you got with ya?" Bianka cooed.

"Flirt with her and I'll slug you like the asshole that groped me," Serika glared.

"You got groped!? By a girl?"

"Guy."

"Oh, hope he's suffering in constant pain and torment."

"Well your tone sure changed. And if it had been a girl?"

"I curse her for her luck."

"Figured."

After the 4 ate their meals, Reika arrived. "I heard there was an incident at the school."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You had every right to exercise self-defense in that situation."

Hearing Reika tell her things were alright, caused Serika to calm down. "Miss Rika said the same thing."

"Did she now? Well, I guess she really is getting more motherly with age. Though still younger than normal to be a mother."

"What do you mean?"

"I believe she's pregnant."

Nearly all the girls at the table became engrossed in the conversation. Serika meanwhile, stared in confusion.

"Ah, I assume you're a bit out of the loop. See, Rika is in love with the chef she founded this restaurant with, but sadly an incident occurred and he's fighting for his life. However, it appears that either intentionally or not, Rika is pregnant with his child."

"How'd you know she was pregnant?" Serika asked.

"Ah, was that why you looked confused. Well it's simple. Her behavioral patter has changed a bit, most notably the fact that she's constantly rubbing her womb and smiling as she looks down at it. That's hallmark behavior of a pregnant woman. Her baby bump is also beginning to show ever so slightly too."

"Wow, you're really observant. Do you remember everything you've ever seen?"

"Yes, I do possess a photographic memory."

"So that's what it's called."

"Hmm? Do you believe you possess it too?"

"I mean, I remember shit back when I was in the womb."

"Hmm, then did you have a test today?"

"Yeah, a quiz. Got it right here."

Reika gazed at Serika's quiz and nodded in amazement. "And how did you answer these questions?"

"I just remembered seeing the formula somewhere."

Reika smiled as she handed Serika her quiz back. "In that case, I think you have a very bright future ahead of you."