When Mochizuki came home, she saw a "Closed" sign.
Looking at this sign, Mochizuki and Representative Chiaki tilted their heads.
Clearly, neither of them could quite understand why Shizen would close at this time.
But when they pushed open the shop door and saw the silly grey Uma Musume sitting inside,
Representative Chiaki understood...
"It's Oguri Cap."
After calmly saying this, Representative Chiaki turned her head to look for Tokai Shizen.
Soon, she saw Tokai Shizen still in the kitchen.
Looking at her, Representative Chiaki spoke directly:
"Shizen, I've brought Mochizuki back. If you're tired, remember to rest~"
"Mm, be careful on your way."
Seeing Tokai Shizen give this response without even turning her head,
Representative Chiaki didn't say anything more, but turned and left the restaurant.
She knew that Tokai Shizen would be very tired, extremely tired...
106
"Mom, Mochizuki is very worried about you..."
Night fell, and Tokai Shizen, who had finally seen off Oguri Cap, the god of eating, finally got some rest.
And because of Oguri Cap, Tokai Shizen also...
"Today's revenue is maxed out!"
Tokai Shizen, recording the last number, came to this conclusion.
"Did that auntie eat a lot?"
"She probably ate all the reserved ingredients in the shop.
As for what's next..."
Turning her head to look outside the door:
"Do you want to go out to eat? Or stay here?
If we go out, I do have a good option."
Mochizuki saw her mother's happy face, with her facial expression management starting to lose control.
Her mother being so happy was also rare for Mochizuki.
It was probably because the revenue had finally increased.
Thinking this, Mochizuki looked at her mother:
"Mom, what do you want to eat?"
"Hmm..."
After thinking for about ten seconds, Tokai Shizen shook her head:
"I don't know~"
Looking at her mother, Tokai Mochizuki had an expression of "how can I have such a mother"
before looking at the kitchen.
In the kitchen, the leftover plates were piled up like a mountain, an unusually large number.
Even stranger was that there were only a few pairs of chopsticks.
"Don't we need to clean up the kitchen before leaving?"
Mochizuki, reminding Shizen, pointed her finger at the pile of plates.
"Today I..."
Before she finished speaking, Tokai Shizen saw the passes placed in a storage compartment in the kitchen.
Looking at the two passes, Tokai Shizen's expression changed slightly.
"What's wrong, Mom?"
Tokai Shizen's change would, of course, be noticed by Mochizuki.
Or rather, it was only natural that it would be noticed by Mochizuki.
"No, it's nothing…"
After casually brushing off her daughter, Tokai Shizen continued,
"Mochizuki, do you want to visit Tracen Academy?"
"…"
Tokai Shizen's stiff topic-changing technique made Mochizuki stare at her mother with dead fish eyes.
Tokai Shizen, being stared at with dead fish eyes by Mochizuki,
slightly turned her head away, not daring to look her daughter directly in the eye.
Shizen's timidness made Mochizuki rub her head, full of a headache, before speaking,
"Mom, why are you suddenly thinking about this?"
"Because someone gave me two passes."
"Was it Aunt Luna?"
"Luna?"
"Huh? Mom, you don't know her?"
Both looked at each other with confusion.
Tokai Mochizuki thought that since the other person knew Maruzensky, she must surely know her mother.
But…
"Luna…"
Tokai Shizen, repeating the name, only thought for a few seconds before remembering Rudolph's nickname.
Realizing this, Tokai Shizen finally responded,
"Ah, I know her, but… that person…"
As she pondered what adjective to use to describe the other person,
Tokai Mochizuki's words interrupted Shizen,
"Aunt Luna is very nice, but…"
Tokai Shizen was silent for a few seconds after saying this, then continued,
"I always feel that Aunt Luna sometimes looks quite sad."
Saying this, Tokai Mochizuki looked at her mother,
"Mom?"
"Ah?"
The adjective Mochizuki used was something Tokai Shizen had never imagined would apply to Rudolph.
Although Rudolph was indeed very kind to most people,
Tokai Shizen's impression of Rudolph wasn't that good,
so Tokai Shizen just stared blankly and nodded,
"Perhaps… perhaps."
"Mom, where are the passes?"
Tokai Shizen's unusual behavior didn't distract Mochizuki too much;
after all, with her attention entirely on the passes,
how could Mochizuki notice her mother's abnormality?
Seeing Mochizuki's excited look, Tokai Shizen was silent for a few seconds before replying,
"There are two. I've checked; no names are written on them.
You just need to bring them to enter, so…"
Tokai Shizen paused for a few seconds here, then continued,
"You and Roman go together."
"Can we?"
"Many outsiders are coming to Tracen Academy that day,
and I need to open for business to earn money…"
Saying this, Tokai Shizen turned her head to look in another direction.
Earning money was true,
but Tokai Shizen also really, really wanted to go to Tracen Academy.
After all, she was an Uma Musume who almost became a racing Uma Musume,
though the final outcome wasn't good.
But if Mochizuki wanted to go so badly…
"Eh? Mom, you…"
Turning to look at Tokai Shizen,
Mochizuki saw Tokai Shizen wearing a Lady Kusa mask:
"That's good too."
"…I understand."
Saying this, Mochizuki paused, then continued,
"I'll bring Teio, is that okay?"
Mochizuki's words made Tokai Shizen freeze for a moment, then she spoke,
"Is that alright?"
"It's fine. There's someone there I don't really want to see."
Saying this, Shizen waved at Mochizuki,
"Anyway, just go there and have a good time."
Looking at Shizen's unconcerned expression,
Tokai Mochizuki just stared at her mother, finally nodding,
"I understand…"
"Make sure to look around inside properly~"
Saying this, Shizen took out a few banknotes, then continued,
"Mochizuki, do you want to go out to eat something?"
"Hmm, did Mom consider it just now?"
"No."
"Chinese hotpot?"
"That sounds good, but the shop doesn't have good equipment."
Saying this, Shizen thought for a moment, then continued,
"Why don't we go find Maruzen?
Eating there shouldn't be much of a problem."
Tokai Shizen's suggestion made Mochizuki freeze for a moment.
Then she thought for a few seconds,
"Won't Aunt Maruzen mind?"
"I don't know, but she probably won't mind."
Tokai Shizen spoke with uncertainty.
Mochizuki, realizing this, thought for a few seconds, then asked a crucial question,
"Mom, do you have Aunt Maruzen's house key?"
"This…"
"Mom, you really don't have a key and plan to force your way into someone else's house, do you…"
Mochizuki only said this after noticing Tokai Shizen's hesitation.
"I didn't! I know where Maruzen's spare key is,
so it's not forcing my way in.
And if Maruzen is there, we can just go in and deal with it directly, right?"
Tokai Shizen spoke a line of sophistry.
"Mom, forcing your way into a shut-in's home is illegal…"
"…I know. Anyway, how about we go try first?
If she's not there, we can come back, right?"
"I didn't say no…"
-------------------------------
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