Ryōshū was always quite the busy woman. Of course, being the sole manager and chef of her own personal Bistro in the backstreets of District 23 was no easy task. Not only did she have to get all of her ingredients on her own, but she had to cook and prepare them herself! Of course, Ryōshū is quite the skilled cook, so this was no problem, but there’s only so much she could do on her own, and who else could she rely on in this damned city?
Ah, well, she had an idea.
The quaint jingle-jangle of the last customers signaled the end of any further annoyances. Finally, their loud chatter and greedy munching were starting to make her sick, even though the sight of customers like this should’ve become common for her. Though, maybe it’s because Ryōshū is such a headstrong woman that she’d never stop getting pettily annoyed over what she disliked. Maybe that’s also why she has such an intense fixation on what she loves the most.
After putting up the closed sign, Ryōshū started making quick work of the dirty interior of her shop, abnormally clumsy hands wiping down red stains until the scent of hydrogen peroxide emanated from every single tablecloth and piece of cutlery. She despised the disorganized stains ruining her property. She can’t really help it, she always had an artistic eye.
Though, despite what it may seem, the fervent cleaning wasn’t just for her. Ryōshū had a special guest today, somebody more valuable than the richest customers and more delicious than the most esoteric foods she’s had in her life.
Jingle-jangle~
“Ryōshū~!!”
Ryōshū’s head snapped up towards the door, and, more importantly, her guest of honor. You cheerily bound through the establishment doors, her name leaves your throat like a sweet honey. “Finally. LCDDM.” Late customers don’t deserve meals. This was a light-hearted joke, of course. She’d rather lose her taste buds than ever stop cooking for you. Yes, you truly meant so much to her that she’d get rid of her ability to enjoy what she loves most in the world, aside from you, of course.
Your cute face puffs out as you give her a playful annoyed look. “What a way to treat your number one customer!” You tease her as you take a seat at the one table that still had seats, lounging on the seat as if it were a second home. Ryōshū liked that about you, you were always so casual around her, like she was a close friend to you. Like you were safe around her. Like you weren’t a rabbit in a wolf’s den. “Aaanyways, what did the top chef make for me today? A mille-feuille with marbled human blood on top? An eclair stuff with entrails? Ooh, or a human pot pie! Like that one movie~!” Ryōshū listened to your playful comments as she headed behind the counter to retrieve the special meal she made for you.
“Mm. Nope. You can be more creative than that.” She glanced back at you, locking eyes with you for a moment. In the time she had turned away, you made yourself even more comfortable in your seat, leaning back in the metal chair, resting your arms on the top rail of the hair, nesting your head on top of your arms as you lazily watched her. She couldn’t help but notice that you had similarly layed out your legs on the table, treating her furniture like it was her own. Her hand twitched.
Ryōshū started to rethink that wolf’s den analogy. It wasn't too accurate. Any wolf wouldn’t be able to resist such a delectable meal.
Ryōshū wasted no further time, grabbing the cake stand where your delicacy rested upon and carrying it over to the table where you sat. Ryōshū carefully observed your curious eyes as they tried to figure out the delicacy in front of them. When she placed the cake down on the table, you shifted your body back over to properly face her food. Ryōshū was disappointed she wouldn't be able to admire the view any longer, but she didn't make any comment about it.
Ryōshū sat herself right across from you, still watching your every movement as you marveled over the treat. “Ooooh~! Is that some form of red velvet strawberry shortcake?” You continued your guessing game as Ryōshū used her favorite knife to cut through the crimson layers of sponge cake and whipped cream. “CARDS.” Ryōshū said in response to your huffs, “Culinary artists refuse divulging secrets.” Your face puffs up again as you whine at her again.
“Awwwww~! But I’m sooooo curious! I wanna know what my favorite chef made for me~!” Truly, your words touched her heart, but she couldn't help the dark feelings boiling in her guts when she remembers watching you visit the restaurant staffed by that crybaby with the blonde hair on wednesday, or that cafe you visited owned by that know-it-all with blue eyes on thursday. They didn't deserve to serve you their food, to satisfy your tastebuds and make their work a part of you. It should be her, just her. She should be the only one to feed you, to gain your praises. You really do drive Ryōshū insane. Somehow, you miss the way her eyes twitch.
Ryōshū ignores her own slip up to stab a small piece of cake on her fork, making sure to get every single layer of the treat. “Stop whimpering and take a bite of this.” She moved the fork over to your face. “What a way to treat your customer~.” You gently tease, reaching over to grab the fork yourself, but Ryōshū uses her other hand to slap yours away. “JEI.” You’re confused for a moment, thrown off by the demanding tone of her voice, but after you process her words, you simply oblige her command, ‘Just eat it.’
Ryōshū watches with quiet anticipation as you hover your mouth just around the fork for a moment, before finally wrapping your lips around it and eagerly savoring the flavor of the sweet treat. Ryōshū delights in the sheer pleasure she sees on your face, pushing the plate and fork towards you so you could enjoy it on your own. You don’t hesitate for a moment to indulge yourself in her work. “This may be one of your best treats yet, Ryōshū~!” You delightfully giggle after you swallow, “I totally thought that it would be some sort of red velvet cake with strawberry icing, but it’s actually a strawberry cake with chocolate icing, and the blood jam really pulls it all together~!” You let out a shameless moan as you shove more of the cake in your mouth. Her smile widens and her thigh twitches, the amount of self-restraint she’s used just to stop herself from lunging at you is simply unreasonable.
Ah, but she really wouldn't be so crazy about you if she were a reasonable person in the first place.
Ryōshū happily continued to watch you as you delighted yourself with her desert, participating in the occasional idle chatter between bites. It was only after you reached for your second slice of the cake that you wondered aloud, “Are you not gonna have any for yourself?” Ryōshū hummed, “Made it just for you. Consider it a gift.” You paused, giving her a questioned gaze before breaking out into laughter, “A woman after my heart~!” You didn’t hesitate to pile more of the cake on your plate, only stopping right before you were about to take another bite, “Hmm… Funny that you say that, actually,” you finally take another bite of the cake, “the way that the cake’s flavors present themselves…” you think for a moment, letting your eyes wander, before shifting your gaze back to Ryōshū. “Hehehe~ it’s almost like I’m eating a piece of you!”
Ryōshū laughed as well, how could she not? As she ran a gloved thumb over her now-missing pinky finger, she couldn't help but find the irony of your words hilarious. As the laughter died down, Ryōshū let a lovesick smile fall onto her face. Now a part of her would now forever be a part of you, and that’s something that nobody else could argue against. While she would still be jealous over those other lowly chefs you visited, she now had something they didn't.
A complete sign of her devotion to you.
Ah, truly, Ryōshū loved you the most.