Green Cloud Restaurant – Apartment -
Momo did not want to wake up.
She was lying on the most comfortable bed she had ever slept on, was feeling warm and fuzzy and her entire body felt like jelly while the memories of the night she spent with her beloved were crispy clean still, something that made her squeal a little under her breath.
Love, Passion, Lust...Their union had everything and she enjoyed every single instant of it, uncaring of the knowledge that she did get into it more than what was proper, but she had fully claimed him, nothing else mattered!
"Good morning," When she finally did open her eyes, she saw her beloved, her fiancé, looking back at her from his side of the bed they were sharing.
"Good morning." She answered, and the idea of one day being able to enjoy each other face first thing in the morning set off a very pleasant warmth in the couple's chest.
"How do you do it?" The young Chef asked.
"What?" she answered.
"How do you look so pretty already even thoughyou've just woken up?" he asked.
"You charmer." Momo said with a loving gaze and one of her hands caressing his cheek, and feeling extremely pleased when he leaned onto her touch in evident need.
"Can't help it, it's your fault for being you." Izuku answered, grabbing her arm to pull her on top of him and enjoying her surprised and happy squeal.
"Still not enough?" she asked, fully moulding her body on his to fully enjoy the 100% skin-on-skin contact they had thanks to their complete lack of clothes, she just grabbed two fistfuls of his hair while she tried seeing how long they could kiss before needing to breathe.
"Never enough, I can't ever get enough of you." he answered with a breathy voice as soon as they separated, and after that he just preferred to add more hickeys to her neck other than the ones he already gave her.
"Huhuhu! I am sore all over, you beast, and yet I can tell you are hungry again," she replied, and sadistically enjoying his hissing intake of air when her thighs clamped hard on his lower half.
"Ah!"
"Oh, my! Such a cute sound!" she said with a giggle.
With a sudden movement, their positions were reversed so that it was now him looming over her, and she loved it! She was so defenceless, and he was so in control! Maybe a bit of an encore wouldn't be such a bad idea.
"Even if I would love doing nothing except spoiling you rotten and spending the rest of the day here with you to either cuddle or have fun, we both know we have lots to do." he instead said that with a teasing smile and a kiss on her forehead.
"You meanie. Teasing me like this." she answered, rubbing her nose a little with his and sharing a short laugh.
"Maybe I am a bit mean, but as far as I am concerned, we have our whole life ahead of us to do everything we want together, it's plenty of time."
"I'll hold you to that." Momo answered, kissing him again.
"You won't get rid of me anytime soon, Momo. Wanna join me in the shower? I'll prepare you some Healing Breakfast as well." he asked.
"How do you know that I can't walk?" Momo asked with a half-moan while being carried away in his arms, especially since his hand was shamelessly playing around with the supple flesh of her butt.
"I am a very observant guy."
"Uh-hu. And?"
"And you kept screaming about how you would die if I went any faster last night, so I guessed there were about to be some consequences to that this morning," Izuku added, sheepish.
"You got too much into it, you made me say those vulgar things," the young woman answered with a pout.
"That wasn't me, that was all you," he countered, chuckling.
"And you so boldly declaring me your property and demanding that I carry your children? Among all the other VERY dirty things you kept saying while you were ruining me?"
"Oh, that was all me, but at least I am admitting it!" he answered.
"Oh, you!" Momo answered, chuckling and giving his arm a playful slap as an added measure.
The warm water helped a bit with the soreness, and it would have helped even more if the two actually did wash each other properly instead of using it as an excuse to play around with each other's body.
Later that morning -
Having fully recovered thanks to Izuku's Healing Cuisine, and after watching him go through his usual morning training regime, Momo finally called for her family chauffeur so to be brought back to UA where she will meet the Pro Hero she will intern with starting that day for the so-called Internship Week the University offered to the students that had caught the eye of the Pros during the Sport Festival.
To her surprise though, hermother was in the back of the car waiting for her.
"Good morning, Momo." Rei said with a mischievous smile as soon as the girl entered the thing and the driver took the car away.
"Mother." Momo said, tense.
"So you finally pulled ahead of your Rivals, uh?" she asked.
"It was not just a matter of pulling ahead. I just decided it was finally time for Izu and I to take the next step in our relationship.
"Fair enough. I still don't understand why you don't want our help to 'deal with them', we have both the money and the connections, remember?" Rei asked.
"I am aware of that, mother. But...But I know I can deal with them by myself, without help. They are obstacles to MY relationship, and I will be the one to fix this issue, with my own hands." Momo answered, finally with determination burning in her eyes.
"As you wish, I will stay out of this, for now. But do not hesitate to ask for help if you need." Rei offered with a warm smile.
"Of course, mom. And thanks." she answered, returning the smile.
"Good, issues about Love Rivals aside..."
"Yes?"
"Deets! I know you did not just sleep last night!" Rei asked.
"MOTHER!" Momo shrieked with a red face.
"Don't 'Mother!' Me! I did not deal with your father crying the entire night and this morning about your future husband 'Deflowering his little Princess' just to get ignored! So? How was it?" Rei pressed on.
"It was…It was beautiful." Momo admitted, looking away.
"Uh-hu. Go on."
"We...We started slow...Clumsily...But then he picked-up momentum and...You know…"
"Aaw! My baby girl is a woman now!" Rei said with tears already threatening to spill down like a river.
"Yeah…" Momo said, sighing.
"What's wrong?"
"It's just…"
"Yes?"
"I-I am scared…"
"Of what?" Rei said, leaning forward.
"I-I don't think I can fully satisfy him!" Momo blurted-out suddenly enough that the driver almost lost control of the limo.
"...What?" Rei asked, uneasy.
"He just…He just kept going and going! I barely remember most of the things we did, so I think I wasn't conscious most of the time! But I remember him carrying me to bed while looking still in need. What am I supposed to do?" Momo admitted, ashamed.
"I-I don't know. S-Start from the beginning." Rei asked, and she soon regretted not adding 'Without too many details!' to her request as soon as Momo launched herself into a tale of what she did in complete and excruciating detail.
When the car finally stopped, both Rei and the family's poor driver faces were neon red and looked shocked beyond belief.
"So, mother? Can you help me?" Momo asked, distraught.
"I...I...I'll see what I can do." Rei answered with a small voice.
"Thank you, mother. See you later." the young woman answered, leaving the car and walking away towards UA.
"S-See you later." Rei answered while the car was being driven away albeit a bit wobbly.
"S-S-SO wild! T-They look so innocent, how-how can two sweet kids be s-so degenerate?" Rei thought in wonder.
Sigh! "...Why do you have to be so lewd and insatiable, my Izu? Being remembered as the first woman to die from excessive wild Sex is too embarrassing!" Momo said aloud.
"Grflublusndimsh!"
"Uh?" The strange, unhealthy and guttural choking sound attracted her attention, and once checked the source, she saw Rumi and Ochako already leaving with Gunhead and Ryukyu (The Pros the two were having their Internship with) and all four were looking at her with bulged-out eyes.
"What?" she asked, shy.
"I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!" Rumi roared with bared teeth, luckily Ryukyu grabbed her by the back of her Hero Costume and started dragging her away.
"Later, later. Our Internship first, murder later. We'll use that anger of yours to train harder." Ryukyu said.
"Not only does shedo it, she has the gall to rub our noses in it!" Ochaco grumbled in annoyance while walking faster thanks to Gunhead gently pushing her forward with one hand.
"It's okay, it's okay, no need to get angry about this." Gunhead said with a gentle tone.
"Sorry!" Momo yelled to the retreating quartet, deathly ashamed.
"Who would have thought Boss Icchan/Boss Izuku had it in him. Looking at him you wouldn't think he was that Intense!" Ryukyu and Gunhead thought at the same time while hurrying to leave the awkward situation they found themselves in that morning.
With Izuku – Restaurant – Later that day -
While Momo and the other students of UA went through their small foray into the world of professional heroism, the young Chef instead was dividing himself between managing his Restaurant and working with his mother Inko to help Eri recover from her traumatic childhood.
"How's it going?" he asked.
"Eri-chan is very good at maths, you know? She is learning fast!" Inko said with a proud voice.
"Really? That's amazing!" Izuku said while patting the girl's head.
"Thank you." Eri muttered, shyly.
Grorororo!
"…" the cutesy little growl coming from the kid's stomach caused Eri's normally pale skin to turn into an adorable vibrant red.
"Huhuhu! Do you want some sliced apples, perhaps?" he asked.
"Uh-hu. P-Please."
"I will bring some, no problem."
"T-Thank you." The small kid said, attempting a smile but just forming strange shapes with her mouth, as if she didn't actually know how to smile.
"Auuugh…"
"It's okay, small steps." Izuku said, briefly hugging the girl before walking towards his kitchen.
As absurd as it sounded, Eri seemed physically unable to smile, as in, she didn't seem to know how to move her face muscles to form one...Izuku and the others could not wrap their heads around how that was even possible, but as it stood, it was apparent little Eri literally did not know how to smile.
Izuku had even considered using the Century Soup to have her achieve one, but even then he found himself feeling guilty about that plan, as he saw the smile Eri could potentially get from that soup as fake.
He wanted his little girl to smile for real, honestly and without outside help, as a mark of her healing from everything.
"I hope whoever reduced her like this won't try taking her back, because I won't be so gentle as to let them run away unscathed." Izuku promised himself with a frown, but unknown to him, while he was asleep his Restaurant did get visited by a duo of Villains sent to recover Eri…
While Izuku and Momo were asleep – Outside the Restaurant -
In the dead of the night, once Izuku and Momo had finally fallen asleep, two mysterious figures working for the Villain Overhaul had silently neared the closed door of the Restaurant and had started to fumble with its lock.
"Not even a gate, the kid sure trusts his door." The first goon said, one eye closed and his tongue hanging out while he used his collection of lockpicks to try to force the door open.
"Just open the thing, you moron! We can't risk a cop or a passing Pro Hero catching us." Goon 2 hissed with a low voice while mounting guard, she kept stealing glances everywhere thanks to her eight eyes.
Click!
With a subtle sound, the lock gave-in and the door silently swung open.
"Ta-da! No lock can resist me! Get in." Goon 1 said with a smug tone while holding the door open for his pal.
"Yeah, yeah. Down with the ego and remember the plan." Goon 2 answered while rolling her eyes.
"I know, I know: Kill the Chef, smash the knees of the brat and call the boss so he can remind the kid she belongs to us while we drag her back to the base. It's not the first time I've done this sort of job." Goon 1 answered, annoyed.
As both entered the Restaurant, neither of the two noticed how the door closed and locked itself just as easily as The System opened it for them.
"Sssh. That door must lead to the upper floor, maybe the kid is there." Goon 1 whispered.
"Okay!" Goon 2 answered.
And as soon as they passed next to one of the trees, from the shadows of one of the tables Blackie silently awoke and walked towards them with cat-like steps.
"Fools." The Lord Dog said in pity.
"UH?!" When both turned around to see who talked, Goon 1 watched in abject horror as the plump dog's head enlarged to enormous sizes and swiftly chomped down on the woman to devour everything from her waist up.
Chomp!
"A-" Goon 1's horrified scream at seeing the lower half of the woman fall down to the floor to splatter blood everywhere didn't have a chance to come out as Whitey's hand covered his mouth.
"Detected Killing Intent directed towards the Host." The Robot said as his other hand grabbed the Villain's head.
CRACK! SPLAT!
Under orders of the System, the robot first snapped the man's neck like a twig and then squeezed his head so hard the Villain's skull burst like a balloon splattering blood and grey matter on Whitey's face.
"Threats dealt with, good job." The System said that while disintegrating the corpses of the two Villains, cleaning away allevidence of their presence there and even, as an added measure, making sure no lingering feelings or ghosts could try haunting the place.
Not even Izuku will know what had happened there that night, nobody ever will.
"Eh! Big deal, this Lord Dog is more annoyed at the fool's taste. She was disgusting," Blackie answered, uncaring, he just walked back under the table from where he came to return to sleep while Whitey just walked back inside the kitchen to his own corner.
"…" Silence once again returned inside the Restaurant, no blood or strange smells or any other trace suggested two people ever entered the place, leaving to Overhaul only to wonder what happened to the two goons he had sent to recover Eri.
Present Time -
"Boss! Good morning!" As the traffic of people coming and going increased, the giant girl Ippan as well arrived to start the delivery service for the lunch hour.
"Ah! Ippan-chan! Good morning! Ready to start?" Izuku asked.
"Uh-hu!" The giant girl answered with a shy smile, already wearing the green jacket with the Restaurant name on the back over her clothes.
"Perfect! I already prepared the first orders, all here." He said while patting the huge backpack next to him, the thing was actually twice the size of his entire body.
"I'll go immediately!" she answered.
"Thank you, Ippan-chan!" Strapped the thing to her back, and with a loud rumbling of a powerful engine, the girl was soon off for her deliveries under the proud eyes of Izuku.
"Host, soon there will be another Sortie in a different Dimension, this time as well you can take a Helper with you to accompany you on the trip." The System said.
"Uh? Okay…" The Chef muttered with a shrug, not really thinking about taking somebody with him since Nejire kind of joined with him by chance.
"Speaking of which, I wonder how they are doing," he muttered to himself.
With Nejire and Rumi – Ryukyu's Agency -
Ryukyu was looking at the curious scene of both her Interns juggling rubber balls during the small pause she conceded them for lunch.
"Definitely easier than with those bugs," Rumi, juggling six, muttered.
"At least they are not poisonous or corrosive like the original ones, Icchan luckily managed to ask for THAT gland to be removed," Nejire, juggling eight, answered.
"What are they even talking about? This thing is his idea?" Ryukyu thought, confused.
At the base of Enbu Training there was, among other exercises, juggling a bunch of animals called BB Pill Bugs, Ingredients from Zaus' world with the special ability to instantly alter their body weight from being light as a feather to as heavy as a boulder.
Normal BB Pill Bugs could also secrete a highly poisonous toxin able to kill a human just by contact, fortunately under Izuku's request the System removed that poison gland from the bugs the girls were required to use for their training.
Said poison, though, had been switched with a different secretion that was extremely itchy and disgustingly smelly, so to still act as a further difficulty factor.
Their ability to change weight randomly in a tenth of a second or secreting that disgusting itchy goo was what made them perfect for Enbu Training as it could teach the girls how to control their bodies' cellular structure so as to react instantaneously and instinctively to the bugs' changes.
"Thinking makes you waste time before any action. Instinct doesn't." That's how Izuku explained it.
Unfortunately Momo, Ochako, Rumi and Nejire could train with those bugs only within the confines of Izuku's Restaurant's Storage Room, but the four of them decided to counter that by juggling normal rubber balls so to still gain the necessary muscle memory for their night training with the bugs in Green Cloud Restaurant.
"Is it for Hand dexterity and reflexes?" Ryukyu asked.
"Among other things," Rumi answered, looking at the balls she was juggling with narrowed eyes as she tried to pretend they were BB Bugs.
"I guess being hyperactive like them means staying still for them is hard!" The Pro Hero thought in amusement, catching one of the balls as it escaped Nejires' grasp.
"Aaaw!"
"Huhuhu! Mind if I join you? It looks fun!" Ryukyu admitted, chuckling.
"Sure!" Nejire said, taking a few more balls for the Dragon woman to use.
"Thanks! Ten minutes then we get back to work, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah." Rumi answered while picking-up speed to try juggling the things stupidly fast and bringing the number of balls up to ten, the same number she knew Momo could and was already juggling in her own spare time.
With Ochaco – Gunheads ' Agencies Dojo -
"Nine even?" Gunhead asked, chuckling, as he saw his most recent Intern use the last five minutes of the small pause he gave his students for their lunch to juggle, of all things.
"It's training too." she answered.
"That much is part of some training?"
"I aim to do ten, actually." she answered with her face scrunched into intense concentration.
"Why does it sound like a bet?" One of the others asked.
"I just don't want to lag behind the others doing the same special training as me!" she answered.
"Hahahaha! Yes, determination is a great instrument to push forward! Good job!" Gunhead answered with a thumbs up.
"HI! Sorry to disturb you, but I am here for delivery!" It was then that Ippan made her presence known by crouching down a bit to enter the dojo.
"Food Delivery? You guys are way too spoiled!" Gunhead said, humming.
"I just asked for a simple sandwich, I was late and didn't bring anything with me…" A girl answered with a shy whisper.
"It is important to stay humble and be prepared, kids. You need to either prepare your lunch yourselves or eat after we are done, you can't splurge like that just because you can. Humility as a Hero is fundamental!" Gunhead said.
"Yes, sir." The students answered as one, sighing.
"Ah-hem…" Ippan, though, had to cut through the lesson while handling Gunhead a thick box.
"I also have your Luxury Bento, Sir: Fried Oysters with the requested Champagne Sauce and side dish of Caviar, fried Scallops and Shrimps, Rice dumplings with Salmon roe filling and for dessert the chocolate truffles with brandy cream filling you asked for. Thank you for choosing Green Cloud Restaurant!" The giant girl said with a bow.
"...Ehmmm…I-I forgot I had placed an order myself." Gunhead felt several eyes drill through the back of his skull in great disappointment, along the same sense of shame climbing up his spine as somebody that had just been delivered a sex doll from a Sexy Shop.
"Th-There was no need to list what was inside." The Pro Hero muttered with a small voice.
"Oh! Sorry about that!" Ippan answered with a red face, but still, she collected her money and left the man alone to drown in the disappointment of his Interns and Students.
"I-I-I can explain!"
"HYPOCRITE!" The assembled Hero Students yelled as one, and amazingly, the tall muscular man seemed to shrink under their combined glare.
That night – Dinner hour – Green Cloud Restaurant -
Dressed impeccably, as usual, the infamous Food Critic entered the Restaurant and immediately scanned the entire room, with his eyes lingering on Eri looking at the room from behind the counter with the cash register and the plush cushion with Shiro sitting on it, especially surprised to not see even a single hair on that cushion.
"Good evening, mademoiselle." Ego said with a gentle voice as he neared the kid.
"H-Hi." Eri answered while hiding behind the kids book she was reading.
"Kyun?" In an instant Shiro was in front of her to glare at Ego, and the man was surprised to feel the hair on the back of his neck stand-up in alarm.
"I am not an enemy, my small friend." Ego answered, patting the Taotie's head with a single finger, secretly surprised to see no hair remained on his hand or the counter as the thing moved.
"No hair loss? Good to know, I guess that is why you are permitted to be here. Good."
"You believe me to lose hair like a lesser being? You fool! This Esteemed Taotie is not a common beast! My Godly-soft fur stays on unless I say so!Show me some respect, or I shall devour you!" Shiro immediately understood the Critic's intention, and his indignation immediately reached its peak.
"Ha-ah!" Blackie, of course, pounced on that to mock the Taotie with a telepathic bout of mocking laugh.
"SILENCE!" Shiro sent back in answer, incensed to near-madness.
"Good to see you are also clean, properly groomed and even trained to protect this little girl. Do protect her properly." Ego muttered with a pleased nod before walking away.
"I can do my job, you peasant!" Shiro thought in apoplectic rage, something that greatly amused Blackie.
"Good evening," Ego said once caught Izuku's attention.
"Good evening." the Chef answered.
"I was wondering if you had a free table for one," The Critic asked.
"I do have one...Next to that...Gentleman…" Izuku answered, pointing at a table next to a rotund half-bald old man eating with the grace of a pig, and may pigs everywhere forgive me for putting them on the same level as that guy.
"Delishous." The old man grunted while emptying his plate with loud slurping sounds that caused the guys at the table next to him to develop green faces with disgust.
"My apologies." Izuku offered, distraught.
"There is no problem, unfortunately you cannot test if a Customer has the Table Manners of a civilised human whenever one enters, nor can I exactly force you to evict him." Ego answered.
"I did try to tell him to try and act properly, but he instead doubled down on the grunts." Izuku answered.
"He did?"
"Unfortunately, yes." Izuku answered with a long exhale packed-full in annoyance.
"The table next to his will suffice, have no fear. While you have obligations in respecting Customers no matter what, I don't. I will set him straight should he overdo it." Ego said while walking towards his table.
To his surprise he felt a hand gently but still firmly grabbing his arm.
"Fighting here is prohibited, keep things civil or I will evict you both. It's one thing permitting a Guest of mine to eat with bad manners as long as they still enjoy their lunch or dinner, it is another entirely to let two guests bother everybody else with a fight, I won't condone the latter." Izuku explained, he then let go of the man.
"Have no fear, my manners, compared to his, will be impeccable since I was taught them." Ego answered while taking his seat, he still kept his eyes and ears trained on the Chef once he saw him near a woman now taking care of the child.
"You okay, Icchan?" he heard Inko asked.
"More or less, mom. That Guest is getting more obnoxious the longer he eats, He even showed me his badge as Food Critic of the Japan Cooks Magazine as a threat. As if that meant I would treat him differently." Izuku answered.
"Hn?" Ego muttered, curious.
"I am just glad young Ochaco couldn't come tonight, he keeps leering at the other women here, I can't imagine how he would have acted with her with the excuse of her being a waitress." Inko answered.
"I assure you that had he tried anything both me and Whitey would have taught him manners."
"But...But he is a critic!"
"So? I still have dignity as a Chef, I won't throw that away under the threat of a bad review as he not-so-subtly told me in the hope to get special treatment, I treat every 'Guest' to the best of my abilities, no matter their job." Izuku answered, frowning.
"Interesting…"
"Oh! I remember you! We met at a convention!" The balding old man said, without even the decency of swallowing first.
"We did? Must have forgot it," Ego answered, watching in disgust the crumbs adorning every corner of the man's tale.
"Yes we did instead!...Hey…" The man then asked with a conspirator whisper.
"Yes?"
"Are you here to review him? He doesn't seem to know you."
"Or maybe he does know me and is just treating me as any other Customer...Or Guest, as he calls them. Something I wish more Restaurants did. I find simpering fools unpalatable." Ego answered.
"I am here for work too, you know? Reviewing him and stuff!"
"And?"
"Everything is good,"
"But?" Ego asked, already bored of the guy.
"The boy still has a loooong way to go, so I guess I will need to be a bit harsh and point out to him where he needs to improve. Isn't this what we are here for?" The man said with a creepy smile and squinting.
"Ah, yes. You must be Matoi's Plan B. Subtle like a nuclear warhead, not that I can't expect much from somebody doing this to avenge the frail pride of a Primadonna." Ego thought with a low grumble.
"May I take your order?" Izuku had in the meantime reached Ego's table ready to take the man's order.
"Come closer." Ego said.
"Yes?" The young Chef asked, leaning forward a little.
"Bring me every dish you have served to this…"
"Human?" Izuku offered.
"Even that sounds like a stretch, but yes. Do bring me the exact same dishes you will serve and have already brought to this person next to me." Ego said.
"Yes, I can do that no problem." Izuku answered while returning to stand upright.
"Very good."
"Can I ask why, though?"
"Why am I making this peculiar request?"
"If it is not a problem, me asking."
"I just want to test something." Ego answered.
"He is a Food Critic too, you know? An Evil one!" The guy said with a cruel smirk that lasted until Ego glared at him hard enough the old man shrieked in fright.
"Ignore this buffoon, please."
"You don't look evil to me, sir." Izuku admitted.
"To be fair, I can be, when annoyed enough." Ego answered with a cold chuckle.
"Hmm."
"Something on your mind, young man?" He asked.
"Scared?" the other Critic said, returning infuriatingly smug.
"When was the last time?" Izuku asked.
"Uhn?"
"When was the last time you ate something not for work, but for pleasure?" the young Chef said.
"Let's not go over philosophy much, young man. That is not what we both are here for." the other said with cutting sarcasm.
"That is indeed the answer I was waiting for. My hunch was right." To the critic's surprise, the young man actually looked pleased with the answer.
"You were?"
"Pretty much. Anything else I can bring you besides your order?"
"I am feeling adventurous tonight, so some fresh, clear, well-seasonedperspective would be much appreciated." Ego answered.
"Perspective?" the other critic asked, to his dismay though the two easily ignored him.
"A fresh new Perspective. I see." Izuku answered, nodding.
"If you are not able, just bring me some food and I will be the one to provide the perspective."
"No need to worry, sir, I will prepare your fresh Perspective immediately. As for the Wine-"
"I will have a Cheval -"
"Cheval Blond, 2147." Izuku interrupted the interruption with a gentle smile.
"Correct. You mean such a small place as this one has a wine like that?" Ego asked with a mocking tone.
"I am still here-" The other critic tried saying.
"I do, because good wine enriches the experience and taste of a dish if paired properly. And if I have a small selection of Chateau Cheval wine it's because it is a personal favourite of mine. Although asking for a bottle from 2147 it's peculiar, something only a man of high standards would ask for: small production compared to other years due to a flood, higher tannin and more accentuated earthen tones than usual, a year famously hunted down to the very last bottle by collectors and Experts everywhere. I believe my choice of Perspective will match it very well."
"I hope it is, I don't do well with disappointment," Ego answered, smiling sharp as a blade.
"Neither do I." Izuku countered, his own smile cold enough to put a glacier to shame.
"Off you go then. Wow me with your talent," the critic said, smirking.
"With your permission," the Chef replied with a small bow and then left for the kitchen.
"Let's see if the fame matches the skills, boy, or if you are just another popular restaurant." Ego muttered.
"He ignored me," the annoying guy at the table nearby said with a whine.
"Because he has sharp eyes and just like me he can recognize a lost cause when he sees one, now be quiet and just do your...Job." he hissed in answer, and the plump moron was smart enough to keep quiet for the rest of his visit.
"I am doing it. I am doing it…" the other answered, showing an ugly pout.
What followed, for Ego, was a surprise! He had a Quirk himself, although one that was considered useless for a society enamoured with Pro Heroes and flashy powers: a sense of taste over a hundred times more keen than a normal human's, one few of his detractors called Langue de Dieu (God's Tongue) out of begrudging respect.
The last gift from his mother from whom he inherited the Quirk, instead of his father's more 'acceptable' gift of petrifying everything he touched with all five fingers, and maybe that was part of the reason the man left child and wife behind to chase fortune and never return. But that was a story for another time.
The taste of every dish was indeed stellar, and while in itself the thing was a pleasant surprise, it was the sense of care he felt in every dish what he was actually looking for, for Ego didn't just like food, he LOVED it, something the other cooks he usually reviewed failed to grasp. Contrary to the young Chef he was now putting to the Test.
"I...I…" HIC! "I think I drank too much…" The buffoon next to him gurgled-out, looking wobbly even while sitting.
"Nonsense, here, drink some of my wine. And do tell me more about your deal with Matoi." Ego answered, purposely filling and refilling the guy's glass until his pig-like face took a HEAVY red colour.
"He pays well, ya know? This food is fucking good, but money's money! I will trash this place and get a looooooot of money! Enough to buy the car I always wanted and buy a nice ring for my woman!"
"Your wife?"
"Nah! Not that ball-busting old bitch! My woman! The one that recognizes how handsome and smart I am! That's why I cover her in presents!"
"Of course, silly of me getting the two mixed-up." Ego answered, rolling his eyes.
"It's okay! I forgive you...If you pour me another!"
"Here. And please, choke on it." the other answered with a smile.
"To myself! The world's greatest critic!" the guy answered, downing the new glass in one gulp and then falling face-first into his plate to sleep.
"One annoyance less to ruin my dinner, good." Ego commented, pleased with himself.
"Oh! He fell asleep?" Izuku asked, surprised, while delivering him another plate.
"I am afraid that for all his boisterous talk, he could not hold alcohol as well as he believed." Ego answered.
"I'll go call a taxi for him then, I will check his wallet for his home address."
"Do forward the bill too, just in case."
"Of course. I will be back immediately."
"Before you go, I have a question." Ego said.
"Yes?"
"Leaving aside how you cooked, impressive as it is, the Ingredients' own quality is higher than I expected for the prices you ask. Why so?"
"Because I don't need to cover myself in gold, I want Guests not Customers.
Increasing the prices so that only 'The Elite' can eat what I make would go against my beliefs as a Chef. Just as a Hero should help everybody in need, so a Chef to me should feed whoever enters their door looking for food, not just who has an obscenely-high net worth." Izuku answered, smiling.
"I don't see homeless people here, though." Ego said, with just a tiny smirk on his face.
"They know they can come here whenever they need, and on SundayI deliver food to several shelters and other organisationsfor the homeless, you are free to ask them. Now sorry, I have a taxi to call." The young Chef answered.
"...Hn."
"Hey, old man?" A near Vigilante in civilian attire said from the opposite side of the room.
"Yes?"
"Quit bothering Boss Icchan, it sours my mood to see bullies at work." The guy said with a snarl.
"No fighting, please. That's the rule." Pro Hero Edgeshot said in warning.
"No need to worry, I am not here to fight." Ego answered, still studying the room and the customers in it coming and going.
Clink!
A peculiar scent caught the Critic's attention though, and soon he saw the source in the small plate Izuku had brought to young Eri,
"Here, tell me if you like them like this, okay?" he asked, gently.
"Uhmm...Uhmm…" The kid said, unsure.
"I know you don't like vegetables, but they will help you grow big and strong, promise." Izuku tried saying.
"I-I am sorry,"
"It's okay, don't worry. Just try one bite." The young Chef said.
"Picky eater?" Ego asked, nearing the two.
Sigh! "Just a bit, little Eri has had a difficult childhood before I took her in, and I am trying to have her eat healthy too, but I forgot how kids are naturally against eating their greens. I tried stretching the rules a bit to make them a bit more palatable, but I am still struggling." Izuku admitted, sighing.
"And this latest try of yours is?" he asked.
"Stewed Vegetables, in this case Tomatoes, aubergines, zucchini and carrots. She does eat spinach and apples, but other vegetables or fruits? Nope!"
"I-It's...T-They taste bad!" Eri admitted with a low voice.
"Have you tasted them, Mademoiselle?" Ego asked.
"No? What does that word mean?"
"Mademoiselle means Young Girl in French, my Language." he answered.
"Ooh!"
"Do you know what my job is, Madm...Missy?" Ego asked.
"Villain?"
"ERI!" Izuku said, shocked.
"Sorry!"
"Huhuhu, I am sure many would say you are right, my dear. No harm done, but no. My Job is telling people if food is good or not." Ego answered, unfazed.
"And you are good?" Eri asked.
"If I can say it myself, I think I am very good at it."
"...Can you tell me if this is good?" Eri said while looking at her plate, and for Ego's amusement, Izuku looked offended at the question, in a very childish way.
"I normally don't offer this service, but for once, I can make an exception. Please allow me…" Ego answered, accepting a new fork from a very apologetic Izuku to take a small piece of the plate to taste it.
"Is she your daughter, Mister Midoriya?" he asked while studying the food.
"I am trying to adopt her, yes. Unfortunately the circumstances behind my taking her in and the state she was in when I found her, along other issues I cannot talk about until the police close the case, makes it harder than it should." Izuku answered, sighing.
"But you want to be her father even with all those issues?"
"...Yes. Yes, I do." he admitted, and Eri looked ready to burst to tears upon hearing that.
"I see. The food a father made for his daughter then, I wonder if the taste will be different…" Ego muttered to himself.
"Sir?" The Young Chef asked, confused.
"…" Upon testing it, the Critic simply fell into contemplative silence, lost down memory lane as he slowly, methodically chewed and used his own abilities to analyse every facet.
"Is it good?" Eri asked.
"It's very good, missy. Not eating it would be a mistake, your father put lots of love in it, and that is a taste that one cannot buy. Trust me." Ego answered.
"...Okay, I will try it…" Eri conceded.
"Very good." The Critic answered, patting her head a little and then returning to his table.
"Thank you, Eri hardly trusts strangers, but I guess everybody needs a second opinion sometimes." Izuku said.
"She trusts you to not hurt her with your food, and as a Stranger she has no reason to think we were actually colluding to trick her, a kid's mind is very straightforward." Ego answered, still looking thoughtful.
"I guess. There is anything else I can bring you?" he answered.
"Not really, the perspective you brought me was more than enough. Just bring me the bill." Ego answered.
"Of course, sir." Izuku answered, rapidly walking away to prepare it.
"…"
"...Still sad, mon petit soleil?" a hazy figure in front of Ego asked with a gentle voice.
"Can't a son miss his mother?" Ego asked back with a whisper of voice.
He had forgotten the taste of a dish made with the love of a parent, like his mother used to make for him, especially whenever he was sad; her Ratatouille may have not been worthy of a 'Five Star Restaurant', but that dish still was stored inside Ego's heart as the best dish of his life, even just for the memories linked to it.
He now really understood what Proust was trying to prove with his 'Recherche du temp perdu' book that Ego's teacher was so adamant to have her class read over and over again.
"Hahahaha!" Looking aside, he saw a customer call Izuku over to show him something on his phone, and both shared a laugh of happiness while the woman at the table blushed at some praise while gently caressing her belly.
"Guests, not Customers." Ego muttered, looking at the half-eaten dessert still in front of him, and while waiting for his bill to arrive, he did finish the morsel he had momentarily abandoned to go help Izuku to convince Eri vegetables were not something to fear.
"Still my grumpy little Soleil. Remember: tears make dishes taste bad…" The same female voice said with the warmth only a mother could give before fading away.
"Huhuhu. It was indeed a while since I ate something out of enjoyment instead of work. I should do that more often." Ego muttered in answer, for once enjoying his food instead of analysing it.
"Ah! The taxi arrived! Whitey, help me!" Izuku said while he and the plump robot gently loaded the drunk Food Critic in the back of the car.
"Did he drink too much, Boss?" The driver asked.
"Listening to the others, he was a lightweight." Izuku answered, rummaging a bit with the man's pockets to recover his wallet and find the address on his ID.
"There is nothing Light about him, Boss." The Taxi driver answered while watching the man's bulging belly.
"That's not very nice!"
"Hehehe!"
"Just go, and forward me the cost of the ride, I will offer him at least that, even if he was being obnoxious the entire time he was here." Izuku said.
"Yes, yes, no problem with that." The man answered, and once sure the snoring moron was sitting properly inside the cab, the young Chef watched the thing move away and stood in thoughtful silence in front of the open door.
"Everything was simply splendid, congratulations," Ego said while looking outside and standing next to him.
"I am happy the meal was enjoyable, but, what's the matter? You seem troubled." Izuku asked.
"...That must be what the other Guests described as your Hero Side, smelling trouble and offering your hand in help. Have no fear, mine is only introspection, I am not the one that needs help this time."
"Sir?"
"That man has been bribed to purposely release a bad review of this Restaurant, a bribe that came from the same man that asked ME to do it as well, either wishing for your name to be besmirched both here in Japan and outside, or just to have a plan B in case either me or that idiot we just watched being took away failed or refused to do so." Ego said.
"Should I get worried?"
"Contrary to that buffoon, I have a sense of moral and pride for my position as Critic. I give praises when there is a reason to, and destroy the fools wasting my time when the fame does not match the skills. But this is the first time I see the Fame lagging behind the Skills."
"Thank you?" Izuku answered, unsure.
"Unfortunately my own professionalism forbids me from telling you who it was that tried to bribe me and that moron, but this doesn't mean I won't publicly call that fool out for actually accepting a bribe from 'Mysterious Sources' and spitting on the integrity of my own category." Ego answered.
"I understand," Izuku answered, sighing.
"Indeed. Unfortunately my hands are tied, I can't reveal how mister Hidetaka Matoi is behind this injustice," Ego admitted with a sigh, never once looking behind himself back at Izuku.
"I understand, sir. No need to worry, I will find a way to deal with this by myself." The young Chef answered with a wide smile.
"I know you will, Mister Midoriya. You are a resourceful young man, I am sure you will think about something...Like, perchance, waiting few months before going to America where Mister Matoi will soon open his new overly-priced Restaurant and crush him in a cooking duel in front of everybody and right at the apex of his moment of glory.
Especially if that counterattack of yours coincides with the birthday of the insufferable spoiled brat that is his daughter and the huge commotion of Pro Heroes and journalists he hopes will be there to shower him and her in praises. Or a similar plan." Ego said with a casual tone.
"I am sure I will think about something, Sir. Thank you for your concern." When the Food Critic did look back at the young man, he was very pleased to see a truly Magnifique smile, cold and cruel as he hoped it to be.
"We are professionals, Mister Midoriya. Whoever tries to trample our territory looking for a challenge can only expect to see us answer in kind. It's only proper." Ego said.
"It's only proper." Izuku repeated with a cold chuckle.
"Feel free to return to visit my humble Restaurant whenever you want, Ego-san. My doors will always be open." He said.
"I am sure I will, Mister Midoriya. I enjoyed my stay quite a bit." the other answered, and walked towards the car waiting for him with the driver holding the door open for him.
"...Ah! What a disgrace…"
"What?" Izuku asked.
"I seem to have lost the business card of an American Restaurant I was asked to review soon, and while I don't really need it since I had more than one copy, losing one still feels like such a bad move on my part. Should you find it, please let me know." Ego answered with a very fake disappointed expression while boarding his car.
"I sure will, sir. Goodnight." Izuku, his smirk now FULLY Villainous, answered.
"Goodnight to you, Mister Midoriya. Let's go, Bernard, I want to return to my hotel, there is a call I have to make."
"Of course, sir." the man's assistant answered.
"MISTER!" Eri called out.
"Yes?"
"The veggies...It was good." she said, shy.
"Good to know, I am glad I was of help. Goodnight, missy." Ego said, and with a last wave to the girl the luxurious car left to take the Critic back to his hotel suite.
"…"
"Hidetaka Matoi, uh?" In the long silence that followed, Izuku mumbled that name to himself and neared Ego's table to find the business card of his newest Nemesis' Restaurant neatly placed on top of a glass, waiting for him.
"Opening Soon: The Symphony. Quite the artsy name...A couple months after the Grand Opening, during his daughter's birthday and when the Restaurant will be at the true peak of popularity...Yes, yes I can do that…" Izuku muttered with a low voice.
"Bo-Bo-Boss Izuku? You okay?" The young Illegal Hero Pop-Step asked with a squeak once noticed the COLD light in the Chef's eyes, intense enough to scare the crap out of her.
"It's okay, don't worry. I was just planning a visit to a new friend. I will bring you your dessert in a minute." he answered, smiling warmly again, and disappearing inside his kitchen.
"Good God that was scary." the girl muttered to herself, shivering.
Later that night – Hotel – Suite -
"Uhmm, yes. This should do. Properly written and to the point." Ego said after re-checking his personal Review of Green Cloud Restaurant.
"Bernard?" He called.
"Yes, sir?"
"As usual, copy this into an email and send it to the newspaper, I wonder if they feel like having a surprise extra review to add to the one I was sent here for." he said, handing his small black book to his Assistant.
"Of course, Sir."
"Then please be a dear and fetch me the number of the owner of Japan Cooks, if I saw correctly, that sad excuse of a critic works for them. Use our usual channels to find the number."
"At once sir." the Assistant answered, and walked away once waved off by Ego.
"I will need to postpone your review a bit, my dear Matoi. I want to see how you act when challenged by a true Chef." Ego muttered to himself, deep in thought.
Driiiin!
"...And who may it be at this hour of night? Of all the people that have this number, nobody risks calling me after dinner unless it's an emergency." Ego muttered, and once saw the Unknown appearing on his screen instead of a number, his curiosity was piqued.
"Yes? With whom I have the pleasure to talk to?" he said in sarcasm.
"This is The System. Are you interested in proof of the fool accepting bribes to try to besmirch the Host's Restaurant?" A metallic, genderless voice answered from the other side of the call.
"Proof of the bribe? Actual proof?" Ego asked, eyes narrowing.
"Yes." The voice answered.
"If you really have that, please, enlighten me, and if it is good, I will actually use them." Ego answered, tone full of mockery.
"You will." The answer was swift and cold, enough even the Critic shivered a bit, then the call went closed abruptly enough to make the man look at his phone in surprise.
"Tch! Rude," he commented.
"Sir? You just received a strange email, it's full of pictures and recordings and copies of other emails…" The Assistant said, unsure.
"Hn? Let me see," Ego answered, accepting the laptop his assistant handed him to check said strange message.
"...This is fairly impressive." he admitted with his eyebrows shooting high, whoever that The System was, besides being so peculiar to use such a strange nickname, they clearly didn't give a damn about laws for them to collect so much exhaustive proof.
"I will need to tread carefully when preparing the proof of the bribes, I risk going to prison myself otherwise...The magazine's number?"
"Here, sir."
"Thank you, Bernard." Ego answered.
"…"
"Hello?" The voice on the other side was of a middle-aged woman with a high-pitched voice.
"Good evening, am I speaking with Miss Tsubasa? Director of the 'Japan Cooks' Magazine?" the old man said with a pleasant tone.
"Good evening, yes, it's me. With whom I have the pleasure of talking to?" She asked back.
"I am Anton Ego, and-"
"OH, MY GOD! The Devil Critic!" the woman gasped in horror.
"I see my fame has not been relegated to Europe only then, yes it's me." he answered, he was unfazed by the very rude moniker attached to his name since he had heard far worse through the years.
"Wha-What can I do for you, sir?" the woman asked with a tone full of dread.
"I was wondering if you were interested in posting one of my reviews in your magazine, both the printed and the online version."
"OF COURSE! My father is a great fan of yours!" the woman answered instantaneously.
"Glad to hear about somebody appreciating my work, you see, I happened to eat at a small local restaurant while here in Japan and recognized a colleague of mine in the middle of a review himself...And I am saddened to say I saw him willingly and gleefully break every non-spoken and commonly-known Rule we critics have sworn to follow. I was told he works for your magazine." the old Critic answered, tone frosty cold enough to make the woman shiver.
"...Who was it?" the woman asked with a whisper full of fear.
"Middle-age, fifty probably, horrid beard and disgusting fashion sense and shrilly nasal voice. Balding head, thick round glasses and a nose not only big, but slightly slanted to the side, I suspect coming from multiple people that were less-than-happy about his reviews and punched him, not that I would blame them considering what I saw him doing while he worked. Ah yes, the few hairs still on his head looked oily. I would suggest having him change shampoo, if he ever used any, but I doubt he would listen."
"That's Yo...That's definitely Yo…" The woman muttered in defeat.
"Yo Munetaka...Yes, I remember his name now. One tends to willingly forget meeting and talking with unpleasant people like him. Please forgive the strange hour, but I prefer to err on the side of caution and call as soon as possible to avoid an injustice happening."
"What has he done this time?" the Director asked slowly, clearly afraid.
"I see his antics are well-known, that's very bad. The fool accepted a bribe to willingly ruin a Restaurant reputation in the hope of seeing it close forever. Same offer I got and refused out of Critic's Pride and personal decency. I have with me all the proof you need to demonstrate this; as I suspected, once drunk enough Mister Yo becomes so talkative secrets no longer exist."
"A BRIBE?! THIS IS LOW EVEN FOR HIM!...What do you want me to do? I can erase his review, of course." the woman hissed in anger.
"Aah, punishment will be up to you, I won't pry in your business. What I ask is for both my review and his to be printed on the same page for everybody to see how low he fell from grace, so to have your readers see the difference between a real review and a phoney one as we both ate the exact same dishes that day. Is It possible?"
"Of course it is! I will need to check if this was an isolated case or if he did it again in the past, but rest assured he won't work for us anymore and I WILL put out a formal apology to whoever was damaged by him!"
"This is why I love you Japanese and your concept of Pride, the transgressors are always punished so beautifully. Very well, I will send you an email with the proof I mentioned and my review. Thank you very much, Miss Tsubasa."
"Thank you for uncovering this mess, Ego-san. You'll see, I will protect the integrity of my Magazine and of Food Critics with all my power!" the woman promised with burning eyes.
"Wonderful. Have a pleasant night." the Critic answered, closing the call right after.
"That Yo is dead." The woman hissed in contempt.
The Next Day -
As the Director promised, the Saturday issue of Japan Cooks had a special edition many readers were unprepared for, because in the Review section of the thing stood a full page dedicated to two different reviews given by two different critics to the very same restaurant, all prefaced by the Director herself apologising for Yo's reviews in the past and how they discovered the man had actually taken bribes to willing put out a negative review, along the news of the man being officially fired and under investigation in case more bribes had been accepted.
Anton's own review thus attracted every reader's attention for its different style and the open attack to Yo's own, although some recognized the Critic's name from other similar magazines and went wide-eyed at seeing such an infamous name being involved with a humble restaurant instead of his usual super rich victims.
Many of you won't really know me, as the name Anton Ego is mostly known, and feared, in Europe only, while outside their borders only some of the biggest names in the world of Cooking and Food Critics still see me as a Dark Omen, and start swearing as soon as they see my shadow being cast on their restaurant's doors.
For you others, I will humbly present myself, an old-school practice, considering that a simple internet search will tell you everything there is to know about me, but alas I am old, and I still enjoy my Old-timer Etiquette.
I am Anton Ego, proud critic and for many, the Devil Incarnate, destroyer of careers.
Many restaurants have fallen under the weight of my pen, with only a handful actually showing determination and bravery enough to raise from under the rubble left by my blows and grow into great examples of Culinary Masterpiece, some of which are actually featured in my own personal All-Time Top 10 in the papers normally housing my reviews.
Why then is somebody like me, that many of you have clearly already pinned-down as a French snob, reviewing a humble Restaurant like the Green Cloud owned by a young Chef such as Mister Midoriya? For your answer look no further than to the left column of this same page, to the MOCKERY of a proper review one of my esteemed colleagues had the nerve to write and even publish here, thus wasting paper and ink and even worse, a reader's time!
Since the money he had been promised in exchange for this deliberate act of libel has caused him to forget it, please allow me to remind him, and teach you, what a REAL Critic is, if I might be so bold...
In many ways, the work of a critic is easy.
We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer-up their work and themselves to our judgement .
We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read.
But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so.
But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defence of the new.
The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations, the " new" needs friends.
Yesterday, I experienced something new, an extraordinary meal from a singularly unexpected source.
To say that both the meal and its maker have challenged my preconceptions about fine cooking is a gross understatement. They have rocked me to my core.
In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for France's beloved Chef Gusteau's famous motto: Anyone can cook . But I realise , only now do I truly understand what he meant.
Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere.
It is difficult to imagine more humble origins than those of the genius cooking at Green Cloud Restaurant, in Yavin Street number 4, who is, in this critic's opinion, nothing less than the finest Chef in Japan.
I will be returning to visit Chef Midoriya soon, hungry for more.
And if there is even just a single suggestion I can give to whoever is reading this:
Do visit Green Cloud Restaurant as a friend, more than a mere customer, you won't regret it.
For this reason I award Green Cloud Restaurant with a full score, something I had hardly ever given in my long career, unfortunately setting the bar for my next reviews even higher than ever before.
As for my full Review, under here there will be my own thoughts on every dish I tried, the exact same dishes ordered by a so-called Critic that was instead more than happy to throw his credibility away in the name of money.
You will read my own opinions, given in full professional honesty, something you will soon see is sadly lacking from the review of the INCOMPETENT BUFFOON that has his own review written right next to mine…
With Izuku – Green Cloud Restaurant -
"Another stellar review and another victory for our invincible Boss Izuku! CHEERS!" Setsuna Tokage from Class 1B said, lifting her glass as a salute to the framed review of Ego now hanging proudly on a nearby wall.
"CHEEERS!" The assembled customers of the full Restaurant, either Pro Heroes, Vigilantes, Civilians and even small-time Villains not affiliated to either the League or the Liberation Army (Or Overhaul himself) answered as one, all lifting their glasses as well.
Even Eri clapped a little, unfortunately still unable to smile properly, and Izuku still refused to use the Century Soup to artificially achieve that.
"Thank you, but please stop, it's embarrassing!" Izuku answered, face completely red and yet with hands still perfectly firm as he delivered a new tray of food to a nearby table.
"Get the praise, Boss Icchan! You deserve it!" The Pro Hero Ms. Joke answered and gave his back a strong slap once he finished delivering her order.
"Still embarrassing!" he answered, chuckling.
"So that strange mister helped dad?" Eri asked.
"Hu-uh! He wrote lots of good things to defend him and his Restaurant from a very bad man." Inko answered.
"Oooh!"
"He really helped me a lot, I just hope Ego-san won't be in trouble because of this," Izuku admitted with a sigh.
"Want us to keep an ear out in case he needs help?" The Vigilante duo in disguise Gentle and La Brava asked as one.
"No, guys. No need for you to get involved." The young Chef asked, nailing both with an intense stare he hoped no Pro caught.
"Got it." Gentle answered with a nod.
"Just remember that if you need, we are here." A small-time 'Villain' , normally known as Pack-Rat and specialised in data theft, offered.
"Please leave justice to Pro Heroes, my dear, no need for Civilians to break the laws that are there for a reason! Should there be problems, our dear Boss can easily reach out for us!" Pro Hero Backdraft answered.
"Suuure." the Villain answered with barely-restrained sarcasm.
"Careful now, don't blow your cover." Izuku warned him with a whisper while delivering Pack-Rat his dish.
"I know, I know. Don't worry, Boss." the other answered with a fist-bump.
Izuku was happy to know his Customers were taking his safety and the safety of his Restaurant at heart enough to offer their help, unfortunately some of his Regulars were part of the eternal Hero VS Villain VS Vigilante conflict, and while the guys from the Bad Side were careful in not getting caught, the young Chef still had SOME worry at any probable fight happening inside his beloved Restaurant. Mostly because he was afraid of Whitey, Shiro and Blackie going too much heavy-handed in stopping said fight.
He was unaware of All for One, Overhaul and the MLA having stationed spies 24/7 around his restaurant to look for weak spots to exploit; his full focus was on the full tables he was tasked with serving.
At the same time – Hotel – Ego's Suite -
Contrary to Izuku's expectations, Ego the Food Critic was facing some backlash for his review, but surprisingly, he was also completely unaffected by it, unfazed by the man in front of him throwing a tantrum worthy of a spoiled 10-years-old kid, he just kept drinking his tea, this time some properly made one.
"Why did youdo this!?" Matoi asked at the very end of his screamed rant.
"Because the Restaurant deserved a PROPER review, not that junk you paid for," he answered.
"HAVE YOU ANY IDEA WHAT YOU HAVE DONE?!"
"Yes I know: I did my job. As any professional would and should." he answered.
"I am in trouble now because of you!" Matoi screeched.
"And that is a good thing, you incompetent clown." Ego answered, voice cold and unforgiving.
"How dare you!"
"Who do you think you are, Mister Matoi? What power do you think you and Mister Samui have? Who or what gave you the notion you get to decide what somebody can or cannot do?" Ego asked.
"We are pioneers of cuisine! The ones that managed to keep this form of Art relevant in times where every moron out there started looking at Heroes like Gods and forgot about everything else!"
"Aaah, yes! Envy, the most ancient excuse." Ego answered, voice full of mockery.
"ENVY?!"
"Pro Heroes with a gift for cooking are your greatest enemy, aren't they? They have talent in both Heroics and cooking, so, differently from you, they can also pull on their fame as Heroes to attract customers and media attention.
That is why you, Samui and the rest of your merry group of friends are so determined to stay relevant and spend more time on TV and giving interviews than in the kitchen to cook and refine your skills.
You fear being forgotten and are burning in jealousy at seeing Pro Heroes being instead put on a pedestal by the masses with zero efforts, or at least with zero efforts from your point of view." It was no secret that if Ego was good at something, those were cutting remarks, he just knew how to cut deep enough to make his victims almost bleed for real with his words.
"You…" Matoi said with a frown of mad fury.
"This is also why you hate Mister Midoriya, isn't it? You can't excuse his talent with a Quirk or his successes with him just having a Hero Fanbase. He is just a Quirkless young man that does everything out of raw skills and abilities, something that would be solely your fault if you cannot match and surpass, isn't it? You hate that you can't hide your shortcomings compared to him behind paper-thin lies."
"SHUT UP!"
"Aah, and that is the confirmation of my theory, wonderful! I love being right, it makes me feel all warm inside. He may use Ingredients of a quality even I have never seen before, but the skills, those are the real deal, and you know it."
"Yes? So what? Money and Fame talk! You just had ONE job, and that was to make him close! Why didn't you do that like that other idiot did?!" Matoi demanded.
"To teach you a lesson. Simple as that." Ego answered, uncaring.
"You?! Teaching a Lesson to ME!?"
"Yes, Mister Matoi. And it's even a very simple lesson you were supposed to learn as a kid: You cannot always be right. You should try being wrong sometimes, because you might learn something."
"I can ruin you!" Matoi shrieked.
"Uh-huh. I am sure you can," Ego answered, unimpressed.
"If I go down, so will you." the Chef said while his hands grew hot enough thanks to his Quirk the table he was leaning on started smoking.
"Understandable. Of course you know that IF I go down, I will have to answer lots of questions, some of which revolving around WHERE all the money you make with your restaurants and other avenues really go. I am sure the infamous Japanese Government's NTA (National Tax Agency) will be happy to know about it. About that and the real circumstances behind the strange fire that destroyed your fist restaurant years ago," Ego answered.
"Y-Y-Y-You know nothing!" Matoi said, now finally sweating in fear.
"I know a lot instead, I am probably the only man on the planet that knows." Ego answered.
"Don't think I won't hurt you, you will keep your mouth shut!" the Chef said before trying to grab the old man by the throat.
CLINK!
"URGH!" only for a diamond-covered arm to close around Matoi's throat to lift him from the ground and force him to turn around to meet the eyes of a humanoid mass of diamond shining in a mesmerising halo of reflected light.
"I think you never really met my Assistant. Let me introduce you to my Assistant/Chauffeur/Bodyguard Bernard Lafitte, once known as the dreaded French Vigilante Le Bijou.
While just as durable and shiny, that is sadly not really diamond covering him, still, only a fool would fight him with brute strength, so please, do try punching him, it's always fun to watch fools destroy their hands to punch a Diamond-Man." Ego said, still calmly enjoying his tea.
"What do you want to keep the secret?" Matoi said with a weak voice since already about to pass-out from asphyxiation.
"I want just a small favour."
"Name...Name your price…" Matoi answered faintly.
"I want a special seat in that rumoured exclusive Party you will have for your daughter's birthday party, a party that I am told will also coincide with her debut as a Pro Hero. I want a seat as a VIP Guest." Ego answered.
"T-T-That's it?"
"As a Guest, not for a review, remember. Do this and I will feel inclined to keep your dirty little secret." he answered.
"If I do that you swear you won't talk?"
"Huhuhu! I am sure you will have more pressing matters to worry about soon, Mister Matoi."
"What-"
"Your answer?"
"...Fine." Matoi answered.
"Good. Bernard? Show mister Matoi to the door, our time together has sadly come to an end." Ego said.
"Of course, Sir." Bernard answered, and an instant later Matoi was unceremoniously tossed outside the room and the door slammed closed on his face.
"Just a Food Critic. AS IF! I saw Mafia Bosses being more reasonable!" The Chef cursed while marching away, too afraid of the possible proof of fraud in Ego's possession to try anything else anymore.
"Just what I needed, somebody else besides Samui holding onto the other side of the rope around my neck!" he hissed to himself.
With Ego -
"Do you want me to follow him to deliver some more intense convincing?" Bernard asked, dropping his Quirk and returning human-looking.
"No, Bernard. I am a Food Critic, not the Boss of a criminal empire. I will keep my cards against him neatly placed aside for now, I will see him destroyed in a couple months anyway, when a real Chef will finally show him what truly means cooking." Ego answered.
"Of course, sir. Do you want me to start organising for our return home?"
"Yes, please. I grew bored of this dull gold-coated hostel. I miss the lovely sunset over the vineyards of my country home, I think it's time to return home."
"As you wish."
"But also, do book us a table at Green Cloud Restaurant, before departing. I want to eat there one last time, it will be a while before I will eat his food again, and there are various other dishes on his menu that I wish to try." Ego said with an elegant chuckle.
"Yes, sir." Bernard answered with a nod.
With Izuku – Restaurant – Storage Island
"Holy Hell! You girls are relentless!" Izuku admitted in awe at seeing them trying super hard not only to juggle a single BB pill bug, but even multiple ones!
"Host, while this level of hard work is really appreciated, you must not forget your next Sortie, as the System said, The Host can take along a Helper that will accompany and offer further assistance to the Mission." The System said.
"I know, I know." Izuku answered, sighing.
"I can accompany you!" Momo said.
"NO! ME!" Rumi answered immediately.
"I can come as well! Time works differently, yes?" Ochaco said.
"OOOH! A new world? Where are we going this time?" Nejire asked.
"Yes, Time Dilation will take care of not interfering with the Host's schedule or the Helper. The System can suggest the best Helper for the current Mission. Can the System give its suggestion?" The Entity said.
"Go ahead." Izuku answered, shrugging.
"Very well. The system suggests…"
And I am stopping here.
Why? Because the next Sortie will be chosen by you readers!
I personally wanted to use Rumi (Fantasy World with Elves, Dwarves, etc-etc. )
But I am open to change it with:
Momo (Sci-fi World)
Ochaco (Magical Girl World)
If enough "Votes" for either choice are cast.
Consider this, though, in Rumi and Ochaco's case those would be my way to move further forward with their own pairing with Izuku.
After that ARC there will be the Training Arc of MHA (Canonically The Fight against Muscular ) and the resolution of Himiko's own misery, just so you know.
And now!
The blasted RWBY OMAKE! So you will finally stop asking, you bullies!
With just a MINOR difference, I added Rumi to it for an extra dose of comedy, I hope you don't mind.
(See it as an alternate version of the events)
A Chef Rebirth omakes
Extra File: Dimensional Ingredient Hunt!
The Delicious Grimm Kebab Sandwich!
Kingdom of Vale – Huntsmen Academy ' Beacon' – Dormitories -
"WEEEEEEEISS!" a cheerful and LOUD cry was heard as the door of a small bedroom of four went unceremoniously kicked-open by a humanoid blur flash-stepping its way inside in a storm of red rose petals.
"...What is it, now?" a Cultured voice asked with a small sigh of dismay, an action immediately hidden to maintain the poise and class the girl's strict upbringing would have never allowed.
"That sounded like a 'I have amazingly cool news I absolutely have to share with you' kind of Weiss." a girl with black hair and cat ears lying on her own bed and reading answered, her eyes never leaving the pages.
"Hey!" the human blur, now showing herself as a girl with short hair and a long red scarf around her neck, said with a pout.
"Let her be happy, it has been a while since we had anything to celebrate. What is it?" The last member of the group was a tall blond woman with a robotic arm, she chided the others in defence of her sister.
"Thank you, Yang. Well, guess what?"
"What?" the girl named Weiss asked, rolling her eyes.
"Pyrra is back!" the bubbly Leader of the four girls Team said with an impossibly wide smile.
"…"
"…"
"...What?" the cat girl, Blake, asked with a whisper.
"What do you mean with 'Pyrra is back'?" Yang asked slowly.
"That Pyrra is back, she is alive and...IIIIIIII Think she is also, ahem, giving herself to Jaune in a very adult manner. If the howls and moans are anything to go by. I barely had the time to tell her we missed her before she dragged Jaune away to...you know…" Ruby answered, turning awkward.
"But Nora said she watched her die!" Weiss said, shocked.
"Actually, I saw her being half-dead and then being hit by a way-too-strong attack of Cinder. I just thought she incinerated Pyrra's body since a moment she was there, then she was gone.'' Another girl, Nora, added once reached Ruby inside the room.
"Instead it wasn't?" Blake asked.
"She gave me a few snippets before rushing away to tie the knot with Jeaune. 'Shoot away across half the continent', that's how she described it. Whatever they did to her, she is good as new now," Nora answered, uncertain.
"Okay, no. I need proper and detailed answers! And I am sure the teachers have them!" Weiss said while storming out of the room followed closely behind by the rest of the RWBY Team.
"What's wrong with her?" Ruby asked.
"She is a bit nervous. Her sister keeps pestering her to join her hunt for whatever is leaving behind Grimm skeletons and she is unsure about what to do." Blake answered.
"Didn't even know those things had bones," Yang admitted.
"Because they are supposed to disappear after dying! Not leave behind bones! And if they have bones, they have organs and skin and meat, meaning that something is harvesting those! Ergo, something incredibly evil is afoot!" Weiss added, growling every few words thanks to her nerves.
"Incredible! He won again!"
"Uh?" a nearby group of gossipers caught Ruby's attention.
"It's the sixth Chef that loses against the guy! He is going on a spree!" Another member of the group answered in awe.
"A spree? That dude is going on a rampage! They said he was last seen close to here! Maybe he will challenge our Cafeteria staff too!"
"A cooking challenge? Cool!"
"We have no time for useless gossip, let's go!" Weiss answered by dragging away Ruby by the arm.
Their march brought them to the Headmaster Office, just in time to see Ozpin desperately trying to reign in a furious Winter Schnee and a laughing Qrow hiding behind the Headmaster.
"Sister!" Weiss said.
"UNCLE QROW!" both Yang and Ruby yelled at the same time with a giant smile.
"Oh! Hey there!"
"Good evening." Ozpin offered with a professional smile, albeit slightly ruined by his struggle to keep Winter from strangling his other guest.
"What is happening, sir?" Blake asked.
"This Buffoon knows who is behind the insane amount of Grimm Bones we found barely a step out of Vale borders and refuses to say anything! That was enough Grimms for a full-scale invasion! Don't you understand how important it is to discover who was behind it?!" Winter roared in a mixture of Noble elegance and savage blood-thirst.
"I am not saying a thing because you, Princess, are immediately jumping to extreme measures, as usual." Qrow answered, way more relaxed.
"They are stocking on Grimm body parts! The bones alone have practically revolutionised weapon creation overnight! Think what organs and other parts will do!" the other replied.
"I know that, I got some sweet upgrades myself thanks to those. But meat and Organs are being harvested for a completely mundane and innocuous reason."
"How can you tell!? What makes you say that?!" Winter demanded, shocking Weiss with how acidic the woman's voice turned.
"You and Ozpin liked the steaks I offered you last week, right?" Qrow asked with an amused smirk.
"...UH?!" Everybody else uttered in shock.
"That guy I told you about was a young genius Chef I met, remember? The dinner we had last week had all been made with Grimm meat by him." Qrow said.
"Indeed it was good, surprising how such foul beasts can be used to make those dishes." Ozpin confirmed.
"But!...But!...But what if it is toxic? Or worse?!" Winter demanded.
"Both me and Qrow have been under constant medical tests to check for any change. It has been a week and no change has been found. I even took a sample of both raw and cooked Grimm meat. It is 100% safe for consumption and surprisingly nutritious...Now several experts are pulling their hair out to understand HOW harvesting it works since for us Grimms keep disappearing upon death." Ozpin answered.
"And if it was toxic, or worse, you would have been the first to notice it. Miss Three full courses." Qrow added, smirking.
"I-I-I was just a tad hungry! Don't make me sound like a savage!" Winter answered with an outraged expression.
"Uhm...Sir?" Weiss asked.
"Oh, yes! Do you need something, dear?" the Headmaster asked.
"I am sorry to disturb you, but we were wondering if you knew anything about Pyrra's miraculous return." she asked with a low whisper.
"Oh! That! It seems like dear Pyrra met by chance somebody that managed to heal her fatal wounds and return her to full health, she had apologised for not returning to us sooner but she felt honour-bond to accompany her saviour here as a way to pay him back."
"Thank you, Headmaster. Sorry for interrupting your meeting."
"No problem, if ever, a small pause from this ruckus was something I really needed. Why don't you girls go eat something? We have a guest Chef today and he promised a very special menu." Ozpin answered.
"Special Menu...YOU INVITED THAT GUY HERE?!" Winter said.
"It was the only way we had to get him here to answer our questions. I had to personally round the best Chefs of Vale and torch them for their secret recipes, something he apparently wants hard enough to Challenge all of them one at a time. He will come here in exchange for me handing him that list of recipes. And I want you two to be in your best behaviour, because besides cooking, we believe Grimm body parts could be used to develop new medicines. So, behave." Ozpin said.
"Yes…" Both Qrow and Winter answered as one with zero conviction.
"Grimm meat...You know? I am curious about the taste." Yang admitted.
"Oh, trust me, it's amazing!" Qrow said with a loud laugh.
"I wanna try it now!" Ruby said immediately.
"Come along then, it is almost time for lunch...And you, young Nora."
"Yes!"the girl answered.
"Please be a dear and go collect the two lovebirds, I think they had enough time to get closer."
"Of course, Sir!" Nora answered before running away FAST.
Cafeteria -
What the group found was the entire place packed full and a divine scent filling the air while a strange girl with rabbit ears kept zooming back and forth from the kitchen to the tables.
"Grimm Steak and Grimm Carpaccio. Who was it?" Rumi asked after reaching a table with a long tray.
"Here, thank you."
"Eat up! My Boyfriend's dishes don't deserve to be eaten cold unless it's part of the recipe!" the bunny heroine said with a smirk, delivering the plates and then rushing away at insane speed right after.
"There he is!" Winter said while pointing at a young man with green hair delivering a new tray to the bunny girl.
"He looks...Young…" Weiss said, unsure.
"Young and damn good. Hoy, boss! Got a table for us?" Qrow said aloud while waving at the young Chef.
"AH! Mister Qrow! Good morning! Over here." Izuku answered, nearing the group himself to guide them to a table.
"I assume you were questioned by my staff, yes?" Ozpin asked.
"Yes, Mister Port and Miss Peach especially had a lot to ask. They seem to think my semblance is behind my ability to collect Grimm meat," Izuku answered, unsure.
He just used the Sea Dragon kitchen knife and his own techniques, he honestly couldn't explain why he could collect meat while they couldn't.
"Maybe it's because of my Food Honour?" the young Chef thought.
"We will solve that mystery, don't worry. You just enjoy those recipes, as a payment for your help." Ozpin conceded.
"So? What's on the menu?" Qrow asked.
"Besides Grimm Carpaccio, Steaks, Grimm Fried cutlets and Grimm rolls. I managed to perfect my own creation: Grimm Kofta Kebab Burger." Izuku answered.
"Burger? Do tell!" Yang said immediately.
"I am using pita bread as the buns so that the juices of the burger spill out into the mouth at each bite.
Köfta is a Turkish meatball recipe I followed using Grimm meat that I used as the patty, and then enriched by adding several spices to the taste, the kebab itself was cooked with multiple cuts of Grimm meat and spices and all the unwanted smells are masked by my homemade yoghourt sauce.
To counterbalance the heaviness of the burger, I used achaar as the pickles for the burger. It's a condiment made with dry unripe mangoes and chopped onion." Izuku explained.
"I am definitely trying that!" Qrow said.
"Me too!" both Yang and Ruby said as one.
"May as well…" Blake said with a shrug.
"Fine! I'llhumour you, boy." Winter said with a condescending tone.
"I will have that as well then. Even just to not be left out." Weiss added, sighing.
"I will bring it to you immediately." Izuku answered.
Few minutes later -
"OH MY OUM! THIS IS HOW GRIMM TASTES LIKE?! I LOVE IT!" Ruby yelled with her mouth still full and starry eyes.
"It may look a bit uncouth, but the taste certainly is impressive!" Weiss admitted, amazed.
"It's juicy and spicy! Awesome!" Yang echoed.
"Must you talk with your mouth full?" Blake said with a green face.
"I am glad you like it! I have finally finalised my Grimm-based recipes, so now I can fully give the Ingredient the love it deserves." Izuku said with a sweet smile.
All things considered, the young Chef liked his current mission, he hadn't been bothered by psychotic girls not even once! Maybe that curse was finally over!
"Uhmmmmmm!"
"...Sister?" Weiss asked, unnerved by the strange look in her older sister's eyes.
"...Oh, no…"
One Hour later -
"RUUUUUUN!" Izuku yelled while dragging Rumi away by the scruff of the neck.
"LET ME GO! I JUST WANNA MURDER HER!" Rumi roared in fury.
"I order you to stop! You shall become a personal Chef whether you like it or not! Show your worth and I will even concede to you the honour of having my hand in Marriage!" Winter ordered while bombarding him in ice attacks Whitey had no trouble shielding the Chef from.
"BWAHAHAHAHA! THIS IS HILARIOUS!" Qrow commented with a loud laugh while chasing them.
"Winter, please! Regain your dignity!" Right behind them Weiss was giving chase followed by Team RWBY and JNPR in a desperate attempt to keep the older Schnee heiress from murdering the competition for Izuku's heart, and Rumi's own fiery temper was not helping.
"Stop bothering my friend, Schnee!" Yang roared.
"Run, Mister Midoriya! I'll stop her!" Pyrra echoed right after.
Especially since Izuku was recognized as the one that had saved Pyrra and SOMEHOW regrew Yang's arm thanks to his food, now both girls were adamant in paying him back by stopping Winter by any means necessary.
"There you are! The fool that dared using MY GRIMMS as mere food! You will pay for this insult with your life!" It was then that a strange woman with unhealthy grey skin and a face covered in purple bulging veins appeared right in front of the group accompanied by dozens of angry GRIMMS.
"SALEM!" the others hissed in both anger and shock.
"Step aside, fools! I have a Chef to murder!" Salem barked.
"BRING IT, BITCH!" Rumi roared back in defiance.
Sigh! "Every time something happens...Why?" Izuku asked himself while crying.
"GET HIM!" Salem ordered.
"GET HER!" Winter countered.
"GET FUCKED!" Rumi answered to them both while she and Whitey joined the fray for a free-for-all three-way battle.
"Be strong, my Partner! One day you won't be forced to face these annoyances! Have faith!" Shiro the Taotie in the meantime kept trying to comfort his sobbing partner while absent-mindedly swatting away any stray Grimm getting too close and killing them in one shot with just a playful pat of his fluffy white paw.
At the same time The System kept wondering how it was possible that no matter how extensive its researchwas before choosing a world, Izuku could still find himself in these kinds of situations.
Thank you for reading.
