Ever since that day, Mejiro Ramonu would occasionally drop by Yayoi Natural's restaurant.
The reason—naturally—was because she found Yayoi Natural's attitude interesting.
So…
Looking at Yayoi Natural standing in front of her, Mejiro Ramonu simply raised a hand. "Yayoi-san, can I get an order of the yogurt pancake?"
The order made Yayoi Natural sigh. She placed a plate of yogurt pancakes, clearly prepared in advance, in front of her. "Can't you order something else for once?"
"I do sometimes, but compared to the Mejiro Family's chefs, this place suits my tastes better~"
As she spoke, Mejiro Ramonu shifted her gaze slightly, then looked back at Yayoi Natural. "Besides, everyone at home is pretty boring. Ardan's busy taking care of the exchange student sent by the Chinese Umamusume Association."
"And the younger kids seem pretty afraid of me, too."
Mejiro Ramonu picked up the knife and fork Yayoi Natural had set beside her and cut into the pancake. "Plus, I get to feed you."
"I'm not a pet."
Yayoi Natural answered casually, then slightly averted her gaze. "Also, if it's about Rudolf, shouldn't you be settling things with Rudolf directly?"
Her bluntness created an awkward silence between them.
Thankfully, it didn't last long.
Mejiro Ramonu dropped her gaze back to the pancake. "Rudolf's situation isn't that simple to resolve."
She took a small bite of the pancake, speaking around it in a slightly muffled voice. "I need your help."
"I'm not free. And swallow before you speak."
"See? Exactly." Mejiro Ramonu swallowed, then continued, "So there's no point in me going over there right now~"
She looked up at Yayoi Natural again. "But if you went with me, wouldn't that fix everything?"
The pointed remark made Yayoi Natural turn her head away.
Yayoi Natural didn't fully understand Rudolf's circumstances.
But compared to their last separation—and even the one before—Rudolf had apologized.
And Yayoi Natural had accepted the apology.
Yet nothing between them had changed.
The real reason was that neither felt closure after their rushed, half-hearted meeting.
So faced with Mejiro Ramonu's question, Yayoi Natural turned aside.
Because she didn't know how to clearly explain this to Rudolf.
Seeing Yayoi Natural look away without answering, Mejiro Ramonu paused briefly, then raised her hand again. "Yayoi-san?"
"Hm?"
"Can I get something to drink?" Mejiro Ramonu looked at Yayoi Natural. "Of course, if it's handmade, that'd be even better~"
Yayoi Natural thought for a moment, then shook her head. "No."
"Aw, that's too bad."
Having successfully changed topics, Mejiro Ramonu speared the last piece of pancake. "Yayoi-san, are you really not interested in becoming the Mejiro Family's head chef? The pay's quite good, you know~"
"I already answered that before, didn't I?"
As she spoke, Yayoi Natural rubbed the spot between her brows. "I couldn't handle things over there."
Hearing that, Mejiro Ramonu sighed and stood. "Fine, then. I'm going."
She hopped down from the barstool, then turned back. "Oh, and I won't be coming by for a while."
"Hm?"
"I'm going on a trip~"
With those words, Mejiro Ramonu pushed the door open and walked out.
As Yayoi Natural watched the door swing closed, her expression shifted slightly.
She didn't know exactly where Mejiro Ramonu's "trip" was, but perhaps it wasn't hard to guess.
The answer came easily enough.
Given what they'd just discussed, there was only one place Mejiro Ramonu would go.
"Going to see Rudolf, huh…"
Yayoi Natural's expression changed subtly.
She didn't know what Mejiro Ramonu intended by going to see Rudolf right now.
But…
"Whatever. As long as she's not coming to bother me, that's a good thing."
Yayoi Natural sighed, shifting her gaze elsewhere.
To Yayoi Natural, Mejiro Ramonu was honestly a headache.
Because Mejiro Ramonu's situation was different from most people's.
As the person whose engagement Yayoi Natural had shattered, Mejiro Ramonu was someone Yayoi Natural constantly worried might suddenly act out.
Even if the Mejiro Family wouldn't back Mejiro Ramonu…
Yayoi Natural turned her head and glanced at Tokai Roman standing in another corner of the open kitchen.
She sighed again.
Compared to Yayoi Natural or Tokai Roman, Mejiro Ramonu's physical strength was overwhelmingly greater.
If Mejiro Ramonu ever truly wanted to cause trouble—Yayoi Natural wouldn't have the strength to resist anyway.
Thinking about this, Yayoi Natural shook her head helplessly. She approached where Mejiro Ramonu had been sitting, took the plate—with traces of yogurt still remaining—and set it in the sink.
…
After leaving the small shop, Mejiro Ramonu glanced back briefly at the nameless storefront.
She studied it silently for a few seconds, then looked away.
What she'd told Yayoi Natural earlier wasn't a lie.
She was indeed heading to Okinawa—on a genuine trip.
Not to meet Rudolf.
Given Rudolf's current situation, Mejiro Ramonu didn't think it would be good to see her now.
This time, it really was just for travel.
Of course, claiming it had nothing to do with Rudolf would also be a lie.
Because Mejiro Ramonu constantly kept Rudolf in her thoughts.
So this trip was Mejiro Ramonu's way of exploring Rudolf's current environment.
If she couldn't meet Rudolf directly, then visiting and observing Rudolf's living circumstances for a while wasn't unacceptable either.
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