Honoka and the chili cook-off

The next day, Honoka arrived at the restaurant. "Rika! I wish to battle thee!"

"Oh come on. I can't fight. I'm pregnant," Rika groaned.

"Tis no worry. To even the odds I'll fill my stomach full to bursting."

"Ugh, that's not- Actually, why don't we have an eating battle."

"Not a drinking battle?"

"I'm PREGNANT! Ugh, so let's think about what we're going to eat.

As Rika escorted Honoka to a table, the sound of shouting caught her attention.

"WHAT YOU MEAN YA DON'T SERVE NO CHILI HERE!?"

Recognizing the voice, she turned to notice Tom Rubio, the lawyer from the other day, sitting at table yelling at Mimi.

"What's the problem?" Rika asked.

"He says he wants chili, so I gave him some chili peppers, but then he said this wasn't how it's made and showed me something that wasn't on the menu."

"Chili? Like the soup chili? Hmm, he's from Texas right. Well tell him some new chili is about to go on the menu. In fact, let's give him a better taste of home with a chili cook-off."

...

"Rika, why is a foreigner that is not a registered chef participating in a cook-off?" Masaru groaned.

"Because he says he can cook some good chili, and that's the theme of the competition."

"Chili? Hmm, that is more of an American dish. Similar to curry in a sense."

"And apparently the state food of Texas. So in Texan spirit, we're having a chili cook-off, oh and a chili eating contest."

"Why that?"

"Because it's the only way to deal with my battle-freak cousin."

"Ugh, do try not to overeat. You are pregnant after all."

"Don't worry, I called Stitch over so if she says to stop, I stop."

...

The competition got off without a hitch and featured 5 participants, Rubio, Rika, Masaru, and two regulars that were self-proclaimed chili connoisseurs. The judging panel consisted of Stitch, the egg guy, and Etsuya who had been sent over by Rize to supervise.

"Damn her, why must I sample slop?" he mumbled.

"Oi, I heard that American's pretty sensitive when it comes to chili, so best keep that to yourself," Stitch grumbled.

Rika ended up winning the cook-off, and thus her chili became the new menu item, though it would be far from the only chili option available as both her and Masaru had new ideas to enhance the dish.

"Well that was a dang tootin' chili cook-off. Sorry bout the yellin' earlier. Hope ya enjoy the good ole taste of Texas," Rubio smiled.

"No worries. We got a new menu item so it's good," Mimi smiled.

However, it was now on to phase 2; the chili eat-off.

"I do hope this chili is spicy," Honoka giggled as she prepared herself.

"Some is, some isn't. But I can only eat a few bowls," Rika groaned.

"But don't you have a baby inside you? Shouldn't you be able to eat enough for 2?"

"That's exactly why I need to watch what I eat, because the baby inside me will also get some of it."

Once the competition began, Honoka dug in and began devouring her portions in seconds. Rika on the other hand slowly gulped down her food. Luckily for her, the chili wasn't too spicy and Sticth was able to give her an estimate of how much she could eat.

"Tis not hot enough! It must be spicier!" Honoka growled.

"Then how about you use this," Rika growled as she tossed Honoka a bottle of spice.

"'Ghost pepper spice'!? Oh don't mind if I do!" Honoka grinned as she dumped the whole bottle into a bowl and gulped down everything. "Mmm, now that is a far more suitable taste. Do you have more?"

"MORE!? That was a whole bottle of ghost pepper spice! Ugh, you're lucky the import store had a full stock."

Honoka naturally won the bout and despite being stuffed with chili, still wanted to fight. Rika sighed and flicked her forehead, causing her to tumble to the ground with a loud thud.

"T- Tis a loss for me. Ulp! Ugh, I seem to have eaten too much."

"That's what happens when ya eat too much chili!" Ryuujin laughed as he gobbled some down.

"Don't tell me you wish to partake in an eating contest. You're banned I say!"

"Why? Cuz I'm a bottomless pit?"

"YES!"

"Well, gravity is his forte and black holes are gravity," Nero snickered as he carried Honoka over to a couch.

Rika meanwhile couldn't help but laugh. "Guess I just gotta stuff her full of food to keep her battle-craze in check. Hmm, guess Hanabi will have to face her then. Well, she always was a big eater."

The next day, Madoka stared with wonder at the new chili menu. "What is this stuff?"

"Chili, wanna try some on a crepe?"

"You know it!"

Madoka ended up really liking the chili, so much so that from that day forward, she'd get a side of chili with her daily offering every other day. But she wasn't the only regular who chili really took off with.

"Wow, this stuff tastes good. Lemme try mixing in some takoyaki," Serika nodded as she did just that.

"Takoyaki chili, huh? Sounds like a new menu item to me," Rika grinned.