Rudolph Symboli left after making her decision, just as she believed she would.
Those fleeting contacts were nothing more than a dream.
It was just... as if it were natural.
Rudolph Symboli arrived at Tracen Academy's Old School Building.
A place of great significance.
This was Rudolph's belief.
However... standing before the entrance of the Old School Building,
the locked gate was not an obstacle for Rudolph: she always carried the key to this place.
After unlocking the main door of the Old School Building with the key,
Rudolph still saw the pile of charcoal left on the ground.
Rudolph Symboli's expression changed slightly as she looked at all of this.
Although Rudolph had previously thought that not much time had passed before the appearance of Tokai Shizen and her daughter.
But... it wasn't until she saw Mochizuki.
Seeing her appearance, which, apart from the unique features of an Uma Musume, was similar to her own.
Rudolph only then felt that so much time had passed.
Rudolph Symboli, thinking of this, simply stepped over the charcoal pile that had been left behind.
Then she walked towards the dormitory on the first floor.
Walking down the corridor on one side, Rudolph quickly found the room towards the inner side.
She pushed open the tightly closed door.
Rudolph Symboli saw an interior that had barely changed in years.
Rudolph Symboli remained silent for more than ten seconds as she looked at the interior,
eventually returning her gaze to the window.
The forest that Speed Symbol had once destroyed had finally managed to recover somewhat after years of cultivation.
Such traces seemed to tell Rudolph that a very, very long time had passed.
Rudolph Symboli, realizing this once more, lowered her head slightly.
Rudolph Symboli's gaze shifted slightly, and she saw something she had deliberately ignored before.
It was a small knife.
It was also something that Tokai Shizen, or rather, Tokai Nature, had left there.
Rudolph Symboli paused for a moment as she noticed the knife,
then she recalled a bit of the past.
Rudolph Symboli's gaze shifted slightly as she recalled that incident,
and finally, she saw the traces left behind, traces she had once helped Tokai Nature create.
A small mark, carved with a knife.
It was like an engraving to count the days.
But Rudolph knew what it was.
However, precisely because she knew the meaning of that,
Rudolph Symboli's expression changed considerably.
Finally, she picked up the knife from the ground.
She made a few modifications to the original carving.
With just a few strokes, she connected several meaningless lines into a meaningful image.
It was a connection Rudolph had failed to make in the past.
And upon noticing this connection, Rudolph Symboli's expression softened slightly.
Her face, already gentle from giving up, completely softened at this moment.
But, in the end...
Rudolph Symboli used the knife to carve the last two marks on it: a large X.
After making the final carving, Rudolph dropped the blade she held.
This was left by Tokai Nature, specifically used to process vegetables or other things bought at the time.
And now, Rudolph used this knife to make the final demarcation.
Then...
Rudolph Symboli stood up, turned around, and left the room.
She didn't plan to come back.
Perhaps, she wouldn't have the chance to come back either.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
In the evening, Maruzensky escorted Mochizuki back to the restaurant.
By this time, Tokai Shizen had already returned to the restaurant.
Looking at the lit restaurant, Maruzensky recalled what Rudolph had said when she found her that afternoon.
To be honest, Maruzensky was quite eager to agree,
after all, the position of Student Council President was indeed good,
both in terms of power and as a spokesperson for the Uma Musume.
But... even now, Maruzensky still didn't know why Rudolph could give up on this so easily.
These were all necessary powers for Rudolph at the time,
and now Rudolph Symboli had just given them up, which was simply unimaginable.
But... looking at the restaurant in front of her,
Maruzensky seemed to understand a little more.
After all, having done such a thing, she probably wouldn't have the face to bring up such things,
so Maruzensky simply pushed open the shop door.
"Shizen, how are things over there?"
"Mejiro Family?"
"Things over there are pretty good, but as for how much of an effect it will have,
we'll have to see tomorrow. Al Dan will be here tomorrow, so we should pretty much understand then."
Tokai Shizen said, then shifted her gaze to Mochizuki, who was being led by Maruzensky:
"Did you go to Aunt Maruzen today?"
"Cooking at home is too troublesome."
Mochizuki's answer was simple, but quite normal.
Because Tokai Shizen still used a gas stove here.
Although Mochizuki was very obedient and sensible, she was still a child after all.
If any accident were to happen, Tokai Shizen wouldn't care about the shop's condition.
But if Mochizuki got hurt, that would be bad.
So, hearing this response, Tokai Shizen just ruffled Mochizuki's head,
and then her hand was slapped away by her own daughter.
"My hair is messy."
"We're home, and it's not open today, so it doesn't matter if it's messy."
Shizen said, pausing briefly, then straightened up and looked at Maruzensky:
"Thank you."
"It's nothing, after all, she's your daughter, and I have to take care of her, but..."
"Hmm?"
Looking at Tokai Shizen staring at her face, Maruzensky was silent for a few seconds,
then shifted her gaze away:
"It's nothing, mainly about something else."
Maruzensky did not speak of Rudolph's matter, because it was not something Shizen should hear.
The change in attitude made Tokai Shizen pay a little attention to her,
but thinking that she didn't really need to ask Maruzensky,
Tokai Shizen just nodded:
"Mm, I know. Are you busy with work tomorrow too?"
"Tomorrow I'll still take Mochizuki to school,
but I probably won't come here in the afternoon."
Maruzensky, saying this, was silent for a few seconds before continuing:
"Chiaki and I have been very busy these past few days,
Shizen, you don't need to worry~ Little Mochizuki, you too~"
After the casual question was resolved, Maruzensky turned around:
"Then I'll be going now."
"Mm, alright. Be careful on the way."
"It's fine, my driving skills are excellent."
"I know, but you still need to be careful."
-------------------------------
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