The relationship between Tokai Shizen and Maruzensky, along with a few others, was like that of a pet and its owner.
Tokai Shizen, being raised, had no ability to survive on her own.
Therefore, on the question of whether Tokai Shizen should be given the ability to live independently...
Maruzensky did not tell Representative Chiaki the truth.
Maruzensky was resistant to the idea of giving Tokai Shizen the ability to survive independently.
Evidently, the choice she had made, initially stemming from a bit of kindness, had begun to affect Maruzensky.
Looking at the document in her hand, Maruzensky pondered such a question.
"Maruzen? Maruzen?"
"Huh?"
Looking at the slightly distracted Maruzensky, Rudolph Symboli merely frowned: "Are you alright? Do you need to rest?"
There was a hint of concern in her words.
The concern in Rudolph Symboli's words did not make Maruzensky relax even slightly; in fact, it made the expression on Maruzensky's face even more subtle.
After all, at least a third of the reason Tokai Shizen was in her current situation came from Rudolph.
Rudolph Symboli herself could not deny this point.
Therefore, Maruzensky's reaction to Rudolph's concern was naturally... And Representative Chiaki, noticing Maruzensky's unstable state, immediately spoke up: "How about you go back first, Maruzen."
She looked at Representative Chiaki.
Representative Chiaki merely blinked at Maruzensky.
Looking at Representative Chiaki like this, Maruzensky understood her thoughts, so Maruzensky simply stood up: "Sorry, I think I'll go rest for today."
Saying these words, Maruzensky left the Student Council Room.
After leaving the Student Council Room, Maruzensky's slightly relaxed brow, which she had originally feigned, furrowed tightly once again.
She was still hesitating about what she had thought earlier.
She was worried about the choices Tokai Shizen would make.
Of course, Maruzensky wouldn't worry about most of Tokai Shizen's choices.
But the real problem was...
Maruzensky was worried that Tokai Shizen, after gaining the ability to live independently, would choose Rudolph again.
After all, her daughter's name was Mochizuki, wasn't it?
Thinking of this, Maruzensky quickened her steps slightly.
She wanted to go back early; she was very worried about such a thing happening.
She was worried that Tokai Shizen was still thinking about that person who was sitting in the Student Council Room, completely unaware.
Maruzensky returned home and saw the person sitting on the sofa; her already anxious state became even more agitated.
After walking a few steps forward, she heard a faint breathing sound.
Slightly moving around to Tokai Shizen's side, Maruzensky saw Tokai Shizen asleep on the sofa.
Tokai Shizen's lack of sleep was a common occurrence.
After all, her daughter was not yet one year old, so she was quite restless for parts of the night. It was precisely because of this that Tokai Shizen suffered from lack of sleep, and looking at Tokai Shizen like this...
Maruzensky was silent for a few seconds.
The questions she had originally wanted to ask could not be spoken.
After all, Maruzensky was not like Rudolph, who would continue even when Tokai Shizen was unconscious. She naturally understood Tokai Shizen's condition, so Maruzensky just sat by her side, waiting for Tokai Shizen to wake up.
About an hour later, Tokai Shizen finally woke up.
Opening her eyes, still sleepy, the first person she saw was Maruzensky. Looking at Maruzensky sitting beside her, the expression on Tokai Shizen's face changed slightly: "Maruzen? You're back?"
There was a hint of panic in Tokai Shizen's voice; she was very worried about certain things happening.
Hearing Tokai Shizen's words, Maruzensky merely looked at her.
Evidently, the panic in Tokai Shizen's voice was not concealed; in fact, because she was too flustered, Maruzensky heard it clearly.
Listening to Tokai Shizen's words like that, Maruzensky's original question, which she had intended to ask, again became unspeakable.
After all, Tokai Shizen's cautious demeanor indeed made it difficult to continue questioning, so...
Maruzensky was silent for a moment, then spoke: "Yes, there's nothing for me to handle at the Student Council today, so Chiaki stayed there."
Hearing this, Tokai Shizen merely lowered her head slightly.
She faced Maruzensky with a submissive posture: "Mm."
Looking at Tokai Shizen like this, Maruzensky thought for a few seconds, then asked a question that was somewhat related to the previous one, but not directly:
"Shizen, if you were to see Rudolph again, what would you do?"
She did not directly ask, "Would you go find Rudolph?" such a question.
Because of Tokai Shizen's physical condition, Maruzensky could not directly ask such a highly stimulating question.
Therefore, Maruzensky's question was phrased in this way.
"Eh? Rudolph?"
Maruzensky's question was sharp.
This made Tokai Shizen unsure how to respond, because she knew that if she gave the wrong answer, she might face the same problems as before.
Although Tokai Shizen now had a new identity document, she was well aware that with a daughter and no money, it would be very difficult for her to survive in Tokyo.
At least, for Tokai Shizen, that was the case.
If Tokai Shizen had confidence before her hospitalization due to illness, now she no longer had that much self-confidence. She worried about what to do if she fell ill again.
So, she deliberated.
Thinking about how to answer.
But after a few seconds, Tokai Shizen gave her response: "I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"Mm, because I don't think I'll see her again. Under no circumstances is it very likely." Saying this, Tokai Shizen smiled at Maruzensky, then continued: "I'm just an ordinary Uma Musume, with no Tokai Family status, and no title. How could I possibly meet that Emperor?"
Cutting off the possibility of the problem occurring from its root, this was Tokai Shizen's response.
And listening to Tokai Shizen's response, Maruzensky continued to ask: "What if you did meet her?"
"Probably, maybe, I wouldn't say anything. After all, she might not even remember me, so..."
In Maruzensky's view, Tokai Shizen's response was like avoiding her own problems.
But... "However, if she did recognize me, she probably wouldn't say anything either, after all..."
Recalling Rudolph Symboli's attitude towards her back then, Tokai Shizen just let out a long sigh: "I don't think she would care about me."
"What are your thoughts?"
Noticing the reminiscent look on Tokai Shizen's face, Maruzensky pressed on with her question.
"Probably give her a slap, but I can't do it. If I did that, I..." Recalling her previous experiences, Tokai Shizen lowered her head further, preventing Maruzensky from seeing her face clearly.
"I still have a daughter."
Several minutes later, this response reached Maruzensky's ears.
Evidently, Maruzensky could tell that Tokai Shizen no longer wanted to interact with Rudolph Symboli, no matter the reason.
Tokai Shizen did not really want to interact with Rudolph again.