The restaurant's one year anniversary

"You literally can't cook for a week," Mimi pouted.

"Coming here rekindled my urge to cook. Cooking will heal-"

"No, when it's your birthday, you get the day off along with a free meal," Zuina huffed.

"I wanna bake a cake for Masaru though," Rika pouted.

Matcha rolled her eyes and dragged Rika over to a table and sat her down before wheeling Masaru up. "Now sit back and relax," she glared.

"You know it's the restaurant's anniversary too. I worked on the day it opened so I should be allowed to work today," Rika pouted.

"So that's why you changed into your uniform. Well request denied. You were adamant that we don't work on our birthdays, so practice what you preach. We can cook just fine without you two, so it back, relax, and enjoy what you've built up over a year.."

"Guess Mimi's making my crepes then," Madoka smiled as anxiously sat at her usual spot.

"Sorry, it might take a little longer than usual," Mimi bowed.

"No worries, I could care less if I'm late to school on the second day. Besides, it's HARD! Why are they giving us so much homework and tests so soon!? I need crepes for brain fuel So I'll wait as long as need be!"

"Well, hopefully the anniversary funnel cake, funnel cake crepes, and snake crepes can do the trick."

"YAY! Exclusive crepes!"

"We also got commemorative pins as well. Everyone that comes here today gets one. And speaking of exclusive celebratory dishes..."

All the staff came and placed Rika and Masaru's favorite dishes before them along with a large funnel cake.

"For the three birthdays we're celebrating," Mimi smiled.

Patrons happily cheered and sang as Masaru and Rika ate their meals.

"The large funnel cake is on the house for everyone to celebrate Ryokoma's 1 year anniversary. Everyone's welcome to a slice, but only one free slice per customer," Itsuki smiled.

While she waited for her food, Madoka helped herself to a piece of the funnel cake and grabbed a commemorative pin. "You sure ordered a lot."

"We want to make sure we still have some by the time the late-nighters come in," Rika chuckled.

As soon as Madoka's food arrived, she devoured the mountain of exclusive crepes before her in seconds before paying the bill and heading off to school.

"Heh, guess Middle school's a bit harder on her. Hope the crepes give her fuel," Rika chuckled.

"I hope so too. Oh, and I guess I'll have a kringle while Gnorville will have a fruit soda," Harumi smiled.

Outside, the group of detractors led by Rebelle froze as Gnorville stared them down.

"He's just a guy in a costume. Just a guy in a costume, so why does he look so menacing?" Rebelle shuddered.

"Don't mess with em today!" Gnorville glared as he pulled out a laser gun.

Rebelle took a picture before running off with the crowd. However, Gnorville had made sure to activate a jamming mechanism, preventing the camera from properly taking a shot of him, much to Rebelle's shock.

Harumi then exited and handed Gnoreville his soda before heading back in to wait for her meal.

...

As the afternoon arrived, all the normal regulars began to pour in.

"Sorry about the other day," Yuni bowed as she and the triplets entered.

"I'm not the one you need to apologize to, but well I'm in a good mood so all is forgiven," Rika smiled.

"Wait! Col Masaru is back!"

"Yeah, but he's out of commission for a week. Don't worry, Major Itsuki will make your chicken like she's been doing."

"Speaking of which, we have Major Itsuki's snake bites. They taste just like chicken," Itsuki nodded as she stepped out of the kitchen.

"Guess I'll try some. Hey girls, wanna try the big cake?" Yuni asked the triplets.

All three, nodded their heads in approval. Even Kasumi seemed to be a bit less grouchy than usual. As the four sat down, Serika and Nonoka arrived.

"Celery twig," Yuni muttered.

"Twintailed bitch," Serika muttered back as she approached Rika. "Uh, S- sorry ma'am," she nervously bowed.

"Well it's normal for kids to get in trouble, apologize, and be forgiven for realizing their mistakes. Now order up, Yuni already apologized too so now you're both good," Rika smiled.

"T- Thanks," Serika smiled.

"Oh yeah, and help yourself to a free piece of funnel cake and a commemorative pin."

"What's it for?"

"The restaurant's one-year anniversary. Also me and Masaru's birthdays. Speaking of which, this is Masaru, the other owner of the place as well as my boyfriend."

"N- Nice to meet you."

Masaru merely looked up for a second before darting back to his meal.

"He can be a bit awkward, but once he communicates more via cooking, he'll greet you more normally," Rika smiled.

"Is it really OK for me to celebrate though? I mean, I only started coming here a few days ago," Nonoka fidgeted.

"No worries. I don't care if today's your first day dining here or if you've been coming since day 1. All are welcome in on the celebration."

 Nonoka smiled and headed over to the large funnel cake with Serika. 

"This shit's good!" Serika exclaimed as she tried a piece.

"It's Masaru's favorite after all."

"Guess we'll have to try some too," Hanabi grinned as she and Izumi strolled in. "Glad to see your man's doing well."

"So I presume he's cyborg-free?" Eluf asked as he strolled in."

"Yeah, the Ginkawa medical technology really saved him," Rika smiled.

"I'm glad it did. I was on the verge of being a permanent resident there if it didn't," Shiori grumbled as she walked in. "As for you, Ri; watch your damn diet."

"I know," Rika pouted.

"It seems like Masaru is alive and well," Mochi smiled as she entered with Bianka.

"Good to see you two too. Serika just headed up with Nonoka to their usual spot. Oh, and we got free funnel cake so grab a piece and a commemorative pin before you head up."

"Guess we'll let the kids hang out on their own," Mocha laughed as she and Hina entered and sat down at a table.

"Heh, if I had known Masaru would be back today, I'd have had myself all dolled up. Maybe even worn a nice dress," Rika mused.

"You own dresses?" Masaru asked.

"Oh yeah, guess I never really wore a casual or formal dress around you.  Well, guess I'll let you pick my outfit since we'll be living together."

"'Living together'!?"

"Yeah, no way you can live on your own so..."

"Fine. It looks like you need me too since your health clearly took a hit while I was gone."

"Uh, what do you mean?"

"Well aside from the obvious mental trauma, you've begun to gain weight."

Rika stared down at her baby bump and smiled as she rubbed it. "Maybe I'll tell him later about you," she happily thought.

"Rika, why do you have a smug grin on your face?"

"Oh nothing. By the way, I need to show you all the amenities."

Rika gave Masaru a tour of the new amenities, ending the tour at the now open movie theater.

"I curse that robot for keeping me away for so long. You went completely wild on the amenities," Masaru glared.

"But now we can grow some tropical foods here. Besides, the theater was always planned," Rika pouted.

"And who's working it?"

"Tonight it will be me," Itsuki nodded.

"We'll start hiring part-timers in the coming weeks," Rika grinned.

"You truly are eccentric and passionate. Are you also going to request we have sex tonight?" Masaru sighed.

"Well, uh..."

"I am capable of at least doing that. The medical team said I could have sex as soon as tonight."

"Er, it's not that I don't want to, but more like I can't."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I'm pregnant."

"Huh? HUH!?"

Masaru immediately went red, and even Itsuki began to go red in the face.

"Wait, so then you getting fat wasn't because you were depressed, it was because-"

"Yep, our baby is growing inside me," Rika blushed.

Masaru immediately fainted from shock as Rika laughed. "Guess I'd better make the announcement public now that he knows now."

...

Patrons naturally showed their support for Rika after she announced her pregnancy.

"I'm surprised she kept that secret from us," Matcha glared.

"Well, guess she wanted to tell Masaru first," Mimi smiled.

"That's a fair point," Zuina nodded.

"What a wild woman. Bet their kid's going to be even crazier," Helga sighed.

"Izumi thinks we'll be guarding Rika more," Izumi smiled.

"Yeah. This time we'll make sure the whole family's protected," Hanabi grinned.

"Ara, and she cracked jokes about me being a mother when you're going to be a mother," Reika chuckled as she headed up to the terrace.

On the roof of the restaurant, Nero smirked as he chugged his smoothie. "I knew today would be a good day," he grinned.