Mahi's madness

In America, Makihara danced like an oaf inside his food stall. "Funnel crepes, funnel cakes, I funnel ALL to suit your tastes."

It had been almost one year since he had been banished to America, but just how had he finally begun to lose his sanity. He now danced and sang, tried to make funnel cakes out of everything, and even tried to turn funnel cakes into other things. All in his quest to revolutionize fair food.

His appearance also reflected his insanity as he now looked like a homeless blue-bearded Santa. This combined with his singing and dancing earned him the nickname, Santa Funnel.

At the restaurant, Itsuki sighed as she saw the news blurb on Makihara.

"Why the sigh? It looks like his personality's finally starting to improve," Rika shrugged.

"I know, he even called me to gush about how much he loves me," Itsuki grumbled.

"Isn't that great though?"

"That's the thing, it doesn't feel authentic."

"You think he's faking it?"

"No, what I meant is that it doesn't feel like he's showing love to me out of his own volition. As such, I feel I'd be taking advantage of his mental state for my own benefit if I were to start rekindling our relationship."

"And you haven't been talking with him up until now?"

"Correct. The moment he left the country was the last time I spoke with him, until he called me today in the dead of night."

"Oh, that's why you're looking so tired this morning."

"Yes, he clearly didn't care about the timezone difference, or forgot."

"Come to think of it, he's traveled around almost every state in the US by now, right?"

"I believe so. Though I might be wrong. Since he travels with the fair, they often end up staying in-state, but move to a different location. Not to mention he only tends to make the news when he visits a major state or city."

"Think he'll get his cooking license back?"

Itsuki went silent and shook her head. She didn't think there was an inkling of a chance it could happen, but there was a small part of her that hoped he would, and genuinely become a better person in the process.

"Perhaps my wish is rooted in selfishness, but I just want him to come back to apologize and acknowledge me, then maybe Mahi will too."

"Come to think of it, I heard she went on a mega rant about how your father had ordered the judges not to make her headmaster, but there's clearly no way he could have done that."

"Yes, while he does certainly have diehard supporters at Tabemono, the news blurb clearly showed he is not in the mental state to be ordering- No, perhaps maybe it is true. If he was insane, he'd lash out at everything, but even then, I'm sure something like that would have been noticed considering he's got paparazzi hounding him 24/7."

"Though why did Mahi go on a mega-rant?"

"Probably due to her contentious relationship with him. Before she was engaged, Mahi was an elite chef in her own right. One of the best in fact, which is likely why father chose her to bear his children. She herself was against the marriage, but due to my father's prestige, her family forced her to marry him. Once that happened, she was essentially reduced to a taste tester as my father insisted on doing all the cooking."

"Why couldn't she cook?"

"I honestly don't know the exact reason, though I would guess it was rooted in the fact that my father believed he was the best, and a family as prestigious as his should only eat the best, made by the best. Then I was born. Her mood towards me growing up seemed fine, though once I began speaking out against the gourmet elite society's ways, she began to sour towards me. Even though she hated my father as a person, she did agree with his elitist culinary views."

"Speaking of which, is she now head of the gourmet elite society since Rebelle's dead?"

Itsuki's face darkened as she began looking something up on her phone. "I know you tend not to be on top of culinary-world politics, but this is major news."

Rika's eyes widened as she read the headline. "'Gourmet elite society's Japanese branch abolished'!?"

"Correct. It seems HQ decided to close up shop due to all the scandals around it."

"But that was just with Rebelle, so why close up shop considering how large they are?"

"That's the thing, many members of Japan's gourmet elite society have become our loyal patrons. As such, they've begun laxing on their views which upsets the hardliners over at HQ. But I fear the final straw was seeing my father's mental state, and realizing him mounting a revival of his gourmet elitist revolution was not possible."

"Dang, that's a bit harsh. And this right before Mahi was set to lead it."

"Yes, in fact, I fear she may begin to lash out at us more."

"Don't worry. I can handle her."

...

In Texas, people stared as a Japanese woman clad in red long skirt, red zori, and bandage bindings covering her breasts, strolled by holding an umbrella. Her hair was also styled like a geisha's, giving her the appearance of a Sukeban geisha. Though that description was actually not to far off from what she was, or rather planning to become.

"What a filthy city. Seems America really is full of rube towns like this. But sadly it's necessary to be here," Mahi thought as she strolled around.

She took notice of all the shops before deciding to head into one; the hair salon. The stylist, on duty was a woman with a buzzed Chelsea cut clad in jeans and flip-flops. Upon noticing Mahi, she scowled.

"What are you doing here, degenerate?"

Mahi scowled as she failed to understand the hostility, but quickly realized how she could improve the stylist's mood upon noticing a picture of Ookuma on the wall.

"So Madam Ookuma is popular here too. I take it you support her as I do, yes?"

"You support Madam Ookuma? Guess you're one of the good ones though. So what are you looking to do?"

"Free me from this filth I've been forced to endure ever since I was forced into marrying that piece of shit," Mahi glared as she pointed to her hair.

The stylist began to smile. "I like that fighting spirit. So how much you want gone?"

"All of it."

"So something like mine?"

"No, I intend to have it tattooed."

"Whole head or just partially? We do offer tattoo services here as well, just so you know."

"That saves time then. As for your first question, I believe the tattoos I have in mind will likely cover my whole head."

"Gotcha. And since you're getting tattoos, any other areas you want inked?"

"Back and arms."

"Right this way."

...

At the fair, Makihara began doing ballet inside his stall.

"Hey, hurry up with my order!"

"Funnel cake chicken tenders? Right away!"

"I didn't ask for that shit! Cotton candy dammit!"

"Funnel cake cotton candy! Doesn't it bring a smile to your face?"

The customer snatched the funnel cake-flavored cotton candy and stormed away. As he did, a woman with a shaved head covered in tattoos approached the stall.

"A fun day to you! Would you like a funnel cake revolution?" Makihara smiled.

The woman responded by reaching into her purse and pulling out a gun. Without mercy, she unloaded the entire cartridge into Makihara.

"Die, DIE YOU PIECE OF SHIT! HOW DARE YOU SHACKLE ME FROM THE FAME AND GLORY I DESERVE!"

As the woman continued to pull the trigger of the now empty gun, security quickly swarmed and apprehended her as Makihara fell backwards into his stall, dying in a pool of his own blood.

...

"Breaking news! Famed chef, of Japan's gourmet elite revolution and former headmaster of Tabemono gakuin, murdered by wife, Mahi Makihara!"

Everyone at the restaurant went silent as the news played on the TV. Rika immediately turned to Itsuki to find her in tears.

"W- Why? Why did you do something so brash!? Now we can never be a family again!"

Just like in Texas, the skies in Tokyo let loose a torrent of rain.

"Itsuki, I'm sorry," Rika sighed as she embraced her in a hug.