Before long, Maruzensky arrived at the restaurant too.
Since she knew Yayoi Natural hadn't had time to shop, Maruzensky brought a lot of ingredients—things that could work as extras and fill-ins.
Of course, the most important thing was—
"Natural, I bought soba~!"
As she spoke, Maruzensky took out several packs of soba and set them in front of Yayoi Natural.
Yayoi Natural glanced at the soba, set it aside, then took the grocery bag from Maruzensky's hand.
Between what the three of them had brought, it was a lot… and half of it overlapped.
So… before Yayoi Natural could even decide what would be best for dinner, the restaurant door opened again.
The one who stepped in was Symboli Sirius.
Yayoi Natural glanced at the grocery bag in Sirius's hand, fell silent for a beat, then said, "Sirius, you're here?"
"Yeah. Obaa-san told me to come. I was only planning to drop off ingredients."
As she spoke, Symboli Sirius sat down to Chiyono O's right—at the bar, closer to the end.
Her words pulled Yayoi Natural's attention in another direction. "Symboli Speed is back in Japan too?"
"Obaa-san has some Symboli Family matters to handle."
Sirius pulled a boxed drink out of the bag as she spoke, then added, "But she won't be coming today."
"I see."
"She's probably somewhere else right now."
Remembering what Symboli Speed had said to her a few days ago, Sirius poked the straw into the carton and continued, "But during New Year's, obaa-san should come by once."
Yayoi Natural nodded, then picked up the grocery bag Sirius had set on the counter.
She opened it, took a look, and said, "Hot pot tonight."
"Hot pot?"
"More specifically, Chinese hot pot. The stuff you all bought is… kind of a weird mix, so this is basically the only option."
With that, Yayoi Natural turned and handed the bag to Tokai Roman.
Roman would handle ingredient prep; Yayoi Natural needed to focus on the soup base.
...
While Yayoi Natural and the others sat in the restaurant…
The one who'd sent Symboli Sirius there—Symboli Speed—had already arrived on Irabu Island.
She had only one reason for coming.
Standing in front of an apartment, Symboli Speed pressed the doorbell.
Not long after… Symboli Rudolf opened the door, wearing an oversized top that only barely covered her thighs.
The two of them fell into silence.
Symboli Speed hadn't expected Rudolf's style to become this… casual after leaving Tracen Academy and the family.
And Symboli Rudolf had no idea why Symboli Speed was here at all.
After a few seconds, Rudolf spoke first. "Obaa-san. What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you. It's New Year's."
Rudolf nodded, then turned and walked back inside.
She didn't say yes, but she also didn't close the door.
Seeing it left open, Symboli Speed stepped in.
The room was small—so small it was almost unbelievable.
But…
Watching Rudolf sit at one side of the low table like it didn't bother her at all, Speed didn't comment. She only sat down on the other side.
Across the low table, the two of them faced each other.
There wasn't much conversation.
They just looked at each other.
This time, unlike before, Speed was the one to speak first.
"How is it, living here?"
"It's pretty good. Not many people come to bother me. Except…"
Rudolf thought of Mejiro Ramonu for a moment, then continued, "And not many people recognize me here. It's a good place to live."
Hearing that, Speed looked fully at Rudolf.
Rudolf's expression was gentle—so gentle the old her was nowhere to be seen.
She'd changed so much that even if she went back to Tokyo now, being recognized would be difficult.
The difference was simply too stark.
Catching Speed staring, Rudolf looked back at her. "What?"
"No. Nothing."
After that, Speed's gaze drifted to a few magazines on the low table—and a small bag of soba.
Soba was a standard New Year's Eve food. Most people bought at least one portion.
But…
Looking away from the store-bought soba, Speed turned back to Rudolf. "You're not going back?"
"Mm. There's no need."
As she spoke, Rudolf met her eyes again. "There's nothing over there I need to do anymore, so it doesn't mean much."
Speed nodded. She didn't say more.
Rudolf was incredibly capable. If she were still there, even things Maruzensky and Mr. C.B. couldn't handle—groups like Shadai and the rest—Rudolf could settle easily.
But now…
Maruzensky and Mr. C.B. were barely enough in terms of ability, and their circumstances…
Maybe I should have Shinzan go back.
With that thought, Speed looked around the room.
Rudolf's apartment was only about five square meters, but it had everything she needed to live.
And when Speed glanced back at the soba on the table—wrapped carefully in plastic wrap—
She felt, for the first time, that her granddaughter had truly grown.
Noticing it, Speed stretched, then said, "Not going back might be a good thing."
With that, Speed stood. "I'm meeting Yayoi Natural tomorrow. Is there anything you want me to bring for you?"
At those words, Rudolf looked at her.
After a moment, she shook her head. "I… don't have anything I want to say to Natural."
"Is that so…"
"Yeah. That's how it is."
---
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