Father's Day feast

The weeks flew by and before anyone knew it, Father's Day had arrived. Like on Mother's Day, the restaurant was packed, with exclusive meals being offered for fathers.

"Wow, you're really gettin' fat girl. Ya wanna work out with us to get back in shape?" Eika asked as Rika delivered the meals.

"Mother, she's clearly pregnant," Emeri groaned.

"So? She can still work out."

"That's right, Eika was doing full workouts when she was pregnant," Kouki stated as he dug into his meal.

"Ugh, I kind of remember when she was pregnant with Eriza. It was a miracle she was born with how extreme her workouts were," Emeri sighed.

"Hey, I trained to make sure you'd both grow up strong, but guess maybe I went a bit hard on the core workout with ya. That's probably why ya struggle so much so sorry."

"YOU WERE DOING CORE WORKOUTS WHILE YOU WERE PREGNANT WITH ME!?"

"Yeah, I thought I was getting fat so I started doing core workouts like crazy. Nearly died of shock when someone told me I was pregnant, but luckily you were hangin' on to life and came out just fine later. And when I got pregnant with Eriza, I knew how to train and look at her, future greatest Olympian of all-time."

"Ugh, learning that makes me feel weird. But my health is just fine. I'm simply not athletic."

"Just thought that could be a reason. But anyway, after I learned I was pregnant, I was given an explanation of how intense I could get with working out and also given a list of foods I had to be careful with eating. I could share some of that with ya, Rika."

"Thanks. To be honest, I often find myself in intense workouts out of habit, but my doctor says I need to tone it down. Having some insight on what I can and can't do would be nice."

Rika then made her way to the head of the table where Gozaemon, Harumi, Madoka, and the twins, Oribia and Orise, were seated. The Ginkawa family had elected to spend Father's Day at Ryokoma and as such, they had ordered a feat of a meal and invited the Kuramoris to join them.

"So are you planning to have yacht restaurants in the bay?" Gozaemon asked as he cut a piece of chicken.

"Maybe not yachts, but small restaurant boats that would stay close by in the bay. Though I guess we could have a drive-thru for boats too. Right now, we're focusing mainly on improving the dry-land bayside seating area," Rika stated.

"I see. This place has gotten real popular, and is practically a national icon."

"I know, and it's honestly amazing we're able to do everything with the amount of staff we have."

"You need some staff? Hit my grandson, Yuki up. Though I guess maybe he's still too young," Gozaemon laughed as he gestured towards a young boy with silver hair.

"Yeah, certainly looks too young. We can't hire anyone that isn't at least 15 years old. Though why does he look a little down?"

"Probably because he still misses his father. My son Natsuya was an idiot. He was stubborn pacifist that believed everything could be solved peacefully with diplomacy. But of course, that thinking got him backstabbed and killed. It's hard to think it's been over 3 years since then."

Rika nervously began recounting everyone she had killed in her mind, hoping Natsuya wasn't among them.

"Relax, I saw the bastards that killed him and they most certainly weren't you or anyone from your family. In fact, it was Henry Hakkin himself."

Rika nodded as she recognized the name. "And was Hilda with him?"

"The girl with the multi-colored hair? Yes. Heard she finally kicked the bucket though. In fact, we had a nice bounty of 1,500,000,000 yen on her head so feel free to invest in them yahts," Gozaemon smiled as he placed a stack of cash before Rika.

"Heh, if one our most loyal patrons is advocating for a spin-off yaht restaurant, guess I'll have to take the consideration seriously," Rika smiled as she collected the cash.

She then returned to the kitchen and found everyone working. Itsuki however was still down after what happened with her parents.

"Hey Itsuki, you holding up?"

"Honestly, I'm struggling. It was all so sudden, and to make matters worse, the whole thing's become a media circus in America."

"What do you mean?"

"I guess some lawyer's trying to make the case that Mahi should be exonerated because my father's alleged domestic abuse drove her insane to the point of murdering him. I'll admit my father was not the kindest towards her, but he never went as far as physical or sexual violence as the lawyers are claiming. Worse, they're trying to get me out to the states, both the prosecution and the defense, in order to testify. I really don't want to go though."

"Is that all that's bothering you though?"

"No, I really wanted to cook a meal for my father here, but thanks to Mahi, I never can. Even you got to at least cook a meal for your father before Nero killed him. But me, I was never able to cook something here for him. My skills have improved, and perhaps if he had become a changed man, I could have gotten a smile out of him by showing him the fruits of my labors."

Rika smiled and patted Itsuki on the back. "Don't worry, many here feel your pain. Matcha, Zuina, Masaru, I bet even Benihime would too if she was still working here."

"Now that I think of it, everyone who's working here and even Benihime, no longer have fathers."

"Unless Mimi's is actually still alive and makes a dramatic appearance, you're right. But on the flipside, there's Waki," Rika sighed as she gazed at Waki's picture.

"I believe her father Katsuhito and her sister, Wakaha are here today."

"Then I'll go see them."

Rika exited the kitchen and made her way to the table where Katsuhito and Wakaha were seated.

"Grading papers, professor?" Rika asked as she set a bowl of pork ramen before Katsuhito.

"Hmm? Ah yes. I have a new student that is a pain in the ass. She's looks and acts like a delinquent, but aces her tests perfectly! I'm positive she's cheating, but I don't know how! She can even answer things perfectly when I read off the test directly!"

"Perhaps she really is a genius, or has photographic memory," Wakaha suggested.

"No way. I refuse to believe it."

"Sounds like a handful. I hope you enjoy your meal."

No sooner did Rika say that did Katsuhito take a bite and scowl in disgust. "Terrible. It's not the same."

"I get it. I'm sorry I can't make it like Waki did."

"No, what he means is that he just can't enjoy it the way he used to," Wakaha sighed.

"I see. Hey Wakaha, you know how to cook right? Want to try cooking the special for him?"

Wakaha sighed and decided to take Rika up on the offer. As she followed her to the kitchen though, she suddenly felt her dress being lifted up. She turned to notice Yuki, smirking lustfully as he stared up her dress.

"Damn, got some nice panties, onee-san."

SLAP!

Yuki fell to the ground smiling as blood oozed out of his nose.

"Ugh, that little perv did it again," Mimi groaned as she walked by escorting an elderly man.

"'Again'? Ugh, so he's a little perv?" Rika groaned.

"Got it from his grandpa. Er, could you scoop him up and bring him back? I've got my hands full right now."

"Sure, who's that you're escorting?"

"My daddy. We first met each other a few days ago, so now we're going to reconnect."

"Wait, he was alive this whole time!?"

"Yup, Lucas is my name. I'm going on 87," the man nodded as he wobbled along with Mimi.

Rika smiled at the sight before glaring and scooping Yuki up. "Wakaha, just head over to the kitchen and tell em I sent ya. I'll be right back once I deliver this perv back to his family."

...

Wakaha nervously followed the instructions as she made the meal.

"See, it's not that hard. Even I managed to do it," Mimi smiled.

"But did your father enjoy it?"

"Sure looked like it. Also liked the kringles. Say, wanna make a little bowl of pork ramen too?"

"That woman told you everything, didn't she. Very well."

...

Katsuhito went silent as he tried Wakaha's meals. "... They taste better. Waki was still the best chef after Masaki though."

"So I'm third after Waki and mother? Well at least you're last."

"That's why you better not leave me too."

Wakaha smiled and patted her father on the shoulder before sitting back down. "Don't worry, I'll force myself to.

Rika happily watched from her a distance holding Waki's picture. "Don't worry, your family's doing alright. Heh, maybe your sister will come work here," she smiled.