Night fell.
Tokai and Mochizuki lay on one bed, while Teio slept on Mochizuki's bed.
Held by Shizen, Mochizuki looked at Teio sleeping on the other bed, wondering when Tokai would tell Teio about it.
Shizen, holding Mochizuki, also looked at Teio.
However, Tokai, looking at Teio, wasn't thinking as much.
This was natural, as Tokai only wished to be with Teio.
As for why, there was no need to ponder.
But her gaze only lingered on Teio for a moment before Tokai shifted her eyes, and then she saw Mochizuki in her embrace.
Because she was holding her, Tokai couldn't see Mochizuki's line of sight.
She looked at Mochizuki in her arms.
Thinking about the future ahead.
If Teio could recognize her peacefully, then that would be wonderful.
If the interaction between Teio and Mochizuki didn't require her to worry, then that would be wonderful.
Thinking this, Tokai slightly loosened her arms around Mochizuki.
The loosened embrace made Tokai feel a slight sense of relief.
But she didn't say much, merely closing her eyes.
She had no intention of dwelling on this matter; she just wanted to sleep.
After all, even if she worried and fretted about Teio, she wouldn't find an answer.
So, it was better to go to bed early.
And after closing her eyes, not long after.
Tokai fell asleep in Tokai's arms.
The next day, the earliest to wake up was still Tokai, as she needed to inspect and transport goods, so she woke up the earliest every day.
Not long after Tokai woke up, Teio also woke up.
She woke up because of her basic training schedule; due to school, basic training was always conducted either before or after school.
But now... Teio, suddenly remembering she was still at Mochizuki's house, merely rolled over and lay flat on her back, staring at the ceiling.
She blinked.
She didn't know what to do.
And it seemed because she had slept so soundly last night, Teio completely failed to notice what time it was.
She just stared at the ceiling, thinking about random things.
However, her thoughts were quickly interrupted.
"Teio, are you awake?"
"...Mm."
After responding, Teio spoke again: "Mochizuki, do you usually wake up this early too?"
"No, it's just that Mom's movements woke me up."
Saying this, Mochizuki looked at Teio, then continued: "How was your rest last night?"
Mochizuki's words made Teio, who had only recently lain flat, roll over to her side, looking at Tokai.
At this moment, Teio realized that the other person was also looking at her.
They looked at each other.
After a moment of silence, Mochizuki, seeing that Teio hadn't responded, spoke: "It's about six in the morning now. Teio, do you usually wake up so early?"
"Mm, because I have to go for a run, and after I get home, I have to go to school."
"I see..." Mochizuki paused for a moment after saying this, then continued: "That sounds really tough..."
"Uma Musume are all like this, but whether one can truly become an Uma Musume still depends on after their full awakening. Although talent can largely be seen now, it can only be fully confirmed after the full awakening is complete."
Teio, explaining common knowledge about Uma Musume to Mochizuki, said while thinking: "But sometimes I do care, because my talent seems to..."
"What's wrong?"
Noticing Teio's gradually declining tone, Mochizuki asked.
Facing Mochizuki's question, Teio just froze for a moment, then shook her head: "No, nothing."
Although Teio didn't voice the reason for her low spirits, Mochizuki could still guess.
After all, Shizen had mentioned the money issue before.
And if one considered what Teio had said... Mochizuki could already confirm that Teio felt her talent was placing too much burden on her family.
Thinking about this, Mochizuki just looked at Teio, and after thinking for about ten seconds, she asked a crucial question: "Teio, you seem to always call Aunt Roman, Auntie?"
"Eh?" Mochizuki's sudden question interrupted Teio's thoughts. Her thoughts broken, she first gave a casual response, then answered the question: "Mm, because Aunt Roman said my mom couldn't take care of me due to health reasons, and also couldn't afford my expenses as an Uma Musume, which is why she entrusted me to Aunt Roman's care."
The answer was simple and within Tokai's expectations.
After all, Tokai had already explained this reason, so hearing it again now, although expected, still felt quite subtle.
"Then, Teio, have you ever thought about meeting your mother?"
Mochizuki had asked about the form of address precisely to naturally bring up this question now.
After asking this question, Mochizuki stared intently at Teio.
Teio's answer was very important.
After all, her own mother, if Teio refused, she wouldn't force anything, so Teio's response was very important.
The question Tokai posed made Teio fall silent.
Clearly, Teio also didn't know the answer to this question.
To say she wasn't looking forward to it at all was impossible.
But to say she wasn't angry at all about her mother entrusting her to others for upbringing was also impossible.
Two completely different thoughts clashed within her heart.
But she didn't know how to choose.
This was only natural.
Under this naturalness, Teio responded: "I don't know."
"I see..."
Even Tokai could feel Teio's struggle.
So, Mochizuki didn't continue to dwell on the question. She simply sat up: "Teio,"
"Mm?"
"How do you feel about that mother?"
"This, huh..." Teio thought for a few seconds, then spoke: "Although I'm angry, I still want to see her, after all, she's my mom."
Saying this, Teio looked at Mochizuki: "But speaking of family matters."
"Where's your dad?"
"Oh, he's dead."
"Eh eh eh!"
The overly blunt answer made Teio exclaim in surprise, as she truly hadn't expected such a conclusion.
Ignoring Teio's gasp, Mochizuki continued:
"That's what my mom said, but I didn't ask much about the specifics, because asking that question is actually quite meaningless.
Besides... since my mom said so, then let's just take it as fact. It's not a very important issue anyway."
Mochizuki's words made Teio silent for a few seconds, then she gave a similar response: "Hmm, it sounds like it is."
"So, since you want to see your mother, Teio, then just ask her when you meet her. After clarifying everything, vent whatever you want to vent."
"Hmm... thank you."
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