Ryo and Alice lay in bed. He had his arms around his wife's body, holding her close. "I'm not an idiot, Ryo. I know you're sick. I saw all of your medications. Why did you tell my mother to lie to me about why you went to Sweden?"

"I'm sorry Alice I didn't want to worry you."

"Well, you failed!" Alice cried. "How bad is it? I have the right to know."

Ryo's voice was a whisper, "It's bad." He took off his shirt. He had not been intimate with his wife for nearly a year, due to travel and work keeping them apart. This scar on my hip is from my chemo port, this one on my chest is from my PICC line, and this one he motioned towards the massive series of scars on his stomach is from when the doctors removed, part of my stomach, my a few inches of my intestines to remove the tumors. Then when I had an MRI they found tumors in my liver. So I had another surgery, only for the illness to return even stronger.

"You are so selfish! I'm your wife! Don't you think I would have wanted to be by your side? We've been married for 15 years and best friends even longer." Alice put her arms around him crying into his shoulder. She felt sick to her stomach. "I love you, Ryo."

Ryo looked at her with an expression of shock. "What?"

"Are you serious, you never thought I loved you?"

"What's the point?" His voice trembled.

Alice kissed his cheek. "Will you at least let me hold you?"

Ryo felt a little guilty, his mind drifted back to the one moment when he felt real love from his wife. They were supposed to fly to Japan for Soma's father's memorial but Ryo had awoken with such a horrible fever he couldn't open his eyes. He assumed she would be upset, but Alice held him. She was crying so hard, he swore he was hallucinating.

Alice called her mother begging her to send for a doctor.

Ryo's had developed pneumonia in his chest, with terrible pain. Elena, at the age of 12 was already at the academy. He reached for his wife's hand. Ryo cried when he felt her touch him.

That was why in the off campus hotel he and Alice made love. Not sex or fooling around, they made deep passionate love, treasuring every moment.

The next day Ryo met with Elena at the Polar star dorm to work on her dish but there was an unexpected third party. A large Asian boy with his hair in braids was with Elena and they appeared to be rapping while using various pans as percussion instruments.

(lyrics by Fort Minor Remember the name)

"This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill

Fifteen percent concentrated power of will- take it, Elena!"

"Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain

And a hundred percent reason to remember the name.

Ryo- K, yo- he doesn't need his name up in lights…"

Ryo smiled, he was intrigued enough to not barge in. 'This is kind of cool.'

The boy picked up, "Who the hell is he anyway?

He never really talks much

Never concerned with status but still leaving them all star struck

Humbled through opportunities given despite the fact

That many misjudge him because he makes a living from writing raps

Put it together himself, now the picture connects."

Ryo opened the door.

"Daddy, you made it!"

The boy jumped up. "Oh my God! It's really you!"

"Do you always rap about people who are late for meetings?" Ryo asked.

"Nah man, we at Polar Star like to sing the praises of all the heroes of the 92nd class: you, Soma, Erina, Alice- if it wasn't for what your crew did, this school would be a jacked-up place."

"Daddy, this is Jamie- my boyfriend."

"Jamie Mimasaka, it's an honor, sir."

"Boyfriend?" Ryo was not sure how to react.

"Don't worry dad, no one at the academy has time to have sex."

"Got that right," Jamie muttered, "I'm probably going to fail out like my dad did."

"Who was your father?" Ryo asked.

"Subaru Mimasaka, kind of a legend for all the wrong reasons. But rest assured I'm nothing like him."

"Jamie's cool. Anyway let's get started; I already know the pizza Giovanna is going to make."

"You do?" Ryo asked.

"Yeah, man," Jamie said, "G is the most outspoken vegan at the Academy."

Ryo doubled over laughing. "Takumi Aldini must be so proud."

Jamie was laughing with him. "She doesn't even use pasta she using that spiral thing that skins carrots and zucchini!"

"You two are a bunch of Neanderthals! Giovanna's cooking is amazing. Everything she makes is light and fresh. So my pizza should be bold and savory with bacon or foie gras…"

"-With Limburger!" Jamie added.

"No! I am not putting your mom's Limburger cheese on my pizza!"

"It pairs well with bacon and onions…" he added.

"No it does not, it smells like a men's locker room!"

Ryo put his hand over his face, already knowing the answer, "Jamie who is you mother?"

"Nao Sadatsuka, mom was a big influence on me. She's the cook I want to grow up to be."

"Nao Sadatsuka married Subaru Mimasaka?" Ryo couldn't even imagine such a pairing.

"Not 'married' per say. But back to cheese, at least Limburger is a real cheese, unlike the crap G uses. "

"Nutritional yeast tastes great!" Elena shouted.

"What's nutritional yeast?" Ryo asked.

"You never worked with nutritional yeast? Not even in Grandpa's lab? The flavor is a cross between cheddar and almonds."

Ryo took a taste from the jar. "It does have a nutty flavor, I wonder what would taste like toasted." He put a few spoonfuls in a plan on low heat, cooking it until the nutty aroma filled the room. "It has a breadcrumb quality." Ryo looked to Elena, "and what to breadcrumbs pair well with?"

"Oysters!" she said excitedly. "I can do oysters Rockefeller pizza!"

Jamie tasted the powder, "Who toasts nutritional yeast?"

"My dad, Ryo- K, the rock star chef. Come on Jamie, help me prep my dough!"

Ryo took out a notebook, "Dear Elena, my angel, by the time you read this I will be long gone from this world. Please do not marry Jamie." He watched as the two grilled the pizza crust on a bed of coals. "I'm not going to say I disapprove, hell I might be completely wrong. Just always stay true to your soul. And for the love of all that is holy do not eat anything inspired by Nao's cooking." Ryo closed his notebook. Elena was so happy, he had no right to ruin her joy.