By the time they got off the train, it was already afternoon.
The Tokai Family's treatment, care, and training base was within the Tokyo metropolitan area.
But considering the speed of Japanese trains, it was probably about this time now.
Tokai, after getting off the train, still saw that small train station.
Everything inside the train station was exactly the same as when Tokai had left years ago.
Nothing had changed at all.
Time seemed to have stopped.
Thinking this, Tokai fell silent.
She had been able to continue chatting with Tokai Roman on the train, but the closer they got, the fewer words were exchanged.
She looked as if she were afraid of something.
Her overly unusual behavior made Mochizuki turn her head to Tokai.
But all she saw was her mother's face, feigning composure.
Noticing this, Yayoi Mochizuki was silent for a long time before she finally spoke: "Where would be a good place to stay tonight?"
She looked at the two adults, posing the question.
Her eyes were full of the innocence a child should possess.
"Tonight, then..."
Turning her head to Tokai, Tokai Roman thought for a few seconds before finishing her sentence: "How about going to the Tokai Family's property?"
"Mm..."
Tokai's voice wasn't loud, but it was just enough for everyone present to hear.
Tokai's response made Tokai Roman look at the two children: "Let's go there tonight first."
Saying this, Roman turned her head to Tokai: "Shizen?"
"...Huh?"
"Do you want to walk around the town?"
Tokai's absentmindedness didn't annoy Tokai Roman; she simply continued to ask the question.
The question finally brought Tokai back to herself a little.
She took a few seconds to adjust her state, then replied: "Yes, I'll walk around the town here, and then..."
"I'll bring back ingredients."
Saying this, Tokai looked at Roman: "Don't worry about me, it's not winter now, and it won't snow."
The two unclear sentences made Mochizuki look at Shizen once more.
Ever since they got off the train, Tokai's mental state hadn't been very good.
And now, this state made Mochizuki increasingly worried about her mother.
She wanted to go over, to be by her mother's side, but she was grabbed by the shoulder by Tokai Roman.
Turning her head, Mochizuki saw Tokai Roman shaking her head at her.
Tokai Roman's meaning was very direct: she didn't want her to follow.
She shifted her gaze back to Tokai.
Mochizuki saw her still trying hard to adjust her expression.
Noticing this, Mochizuki paused for a second before speaking: "Um... Mom, Aunt Roman and I will wait for you over there?"
"Yes, go quickly."
Unlike her previous absentmindedness, this time Tokai responded very quickly.
This also made Mochizuki feel a little relieved.
So, she walked to Roman's side and went onto the road leading away from the train station.
Teio hadn't noticed anything yet; she even wanted to turn her head and tell Tokai to buy more carrots.
But before she could turn her head, Tokai Roman tapped her on the head.
After the three companions had left, Tokai's initial unease suddenly became fully apparent.
With the Tokai Family now defunct, Tokai had originally thought all her worries had disappeared.
But the closer she got to this place, the more she didn't know how to complete what she had originally planned, wanting to explain most things clearly.
The closer she got here, the more anxious she became.
It was as if all pretenses were being stripped away.
But just now, Yayoi Mochizuki and Teio were still by her side, so Tokai could barely maintain her expression, but now... the expression on her face couldn't be held back.
"Are you alright?"
A strange voice came.
Looking up, Tokai saw a man in a uniform.
"I'm the attendant here. I've seen you standing here for a long time."
"Thank you, I..."
After a slight pause, Tokai then continued, "I'm fine."
The unnatural pause made the other person ask a new question: "Do you need to rest for a bit?"
"No, thank you."
Saying this, Tokai turned around and walked towards another exit of the small station.
Tokai's actions made the man silent for a few seconds, then he slightly adjusted the hat on his head.
He had no obligation to follow her directly.
And the attendants here didn't work in pairs, so he could only watch Tokai leave.
After leaving the station, Tokai walked down the unfamiliar street.
She didn't know the way, nor did she understand anything about the small town.
Because at that time, to avoid the Tokai Family, she had never left the orphanage far.
So, now she was just aimlessly walking around the town, looking for a convenience store to buy ingredients for tonight.
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After leaving the train station, Mochizuki looked at Roman: "Aunt Roman..."
"What is it?"
"We seem to be walking on the road out of town, aren't we?"
"That's right."
Saying this, Tokai Roman glanced at the road sign, then continued, "That Tokai Family property is quite a distance from the town because of its huge area."
"But there are no problems with the basic facilities."
Tokai Roman's voice made Mochizuki nod.
Teio, on the other hand, looked at Mochizuki: "Mochizuki, don't you need to accompany Aunt Shizen?"
"My mom..."
Recalling Tokai's state just now, Mochizuki paused for a second before continuing, "She should be fine. My mom's physical condition has improved a lot, and if she takes her medication regularly, there won't be any problems."
At this point, Mochizuki looked at Tokai Roman: "Aunt Roman?"
"What is it?"
"Did Mom ever come to this town?"
Hearing Mochizuki's words, Roman just turned her head to Mochizuki.
She had realized before that Mochizuki was very smart, but she hadn't expected Mochizuki's intelligence to manifest in both emotional and intellectual aspects.
However, after realizing that the question Mochizuki raised wasn't something that needed to be kept secret, Roman spoke, "Your mother visited this town, but as for the specific circumstances..."
Mochizuki, whose gaze had returned to the front, recalled the tightly closed door.
Then she spoke again, "She'll probably explain it later. We can wait until then."
"..." Roman's words silenced Mochizuki. Now she was certain that this place had a huge impact on her mother.
But, since her mother would speak of it herself, there was no need to ask.
So, Tokai responded:
"Yes, I understand."
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