At seven in the evening, Tokai, carrying a small bag, finally arrived at the medical care and training base.
Standing at the entrance once again, Tokai looked at the large door before her.
She remained silent for a long time.
Then, gathering a little courage, she pushed the door open.
The interior decoration was just as it had been years ago, but unlike then, there was no one here.
Looking at the courtyard, which held a hint of loneliness, Tokai simply took a deep breath, then stepped forward.
After entering the main building, Tokai merely walked around the corridor. Before long, she found the three people sitting in the main living room.
Looking at the three of them, Tokai simply nodded at them, then walked in another direction.
Tokai's actions were very unnatural.
Teio, unaware of anything due to her personality, didn't notice anything.
Roman, who knew the reason, saw the problem but didn't know how to act.
Mochizuki, who had spent the longest time with Tokai, immediately stood up.
"Mom, I'll take you to the kitchen!"
Saying this, Tokai quickly left the main living room and walked to Tokai's side.
After they had walked some distance from the room where Roman and Teio were, Mochizuki spoke, "Mom..."
"..."
Mochizuki, who received no response, did not continue to call out to her.
She simply followed behind her mother.
Walking slowly down the hallway.
It was at a certain fork in the road that Tokai's completely unconscious forward movement made Mochizuki freeze for a second.
Then, she grabbed her mother's hand.
"Mom!"
The direct call finally brought Tokai back to her senses.
The pulling sensation in her palm made Tokai turn her head.
"We should go this way."
"..."
Mochizuki's reminder made Tokai pause for a second.
Then, she replied, "Oh, yes, I just unconsciously followed the other path."
Saying this, Tokai turned in the direction Mochizuki pointed, and then she spoke again, "Mochizuki, when did you catch up?"
Tokai's words made Mochizuki freeze for a second.
Evidently, she hadn't expected Shizen to not even notice something so obvious.
Just from this incident, Mochizuki already realized that her mother might have encountered something here.
Mochizuki thought about this for only half a second, then shifted her gaze, "Mom, have you ever considered starting a personal channel on YouTube? I think quite a few Uma Musume would follow it, right?"
A crude tactic to change the subject, and an unanswered question.
But for Tokai at the moment, these were just right.
After all, with Tokai's indifferent attitude just now, it would probably be very difficult for her to even notice the problem.
Thinking of this, Mochizuki looked at Shizen.
Tokai's original worries were interrupted by Mochizuki's question, and she began to ponder Mochizuki's query.
Then, she asked in return, "What should I do?"
Seeing that Tokai's attention had successfully been diverted, Mochizuki merely shifted her gaze slightly, then replied, "Mom, you'd probably be great at making food-related videos, since quite a few Uma Musume follow your Twitter, right?"
Tokai, deliberately drawing out the conversation, turned her head to look at her mother's face, which was almost level with her own.
She paid attention to the subtle changes in the other party's expression.
While observing the changes in Tokai's expression, Mochizuki continued, "But maybe doing something about everyday life wouldn't be bad either, or finding some time to promote the restaurant a little?"
Facing Mochizuki's continuous suggestions, Tokai, whose original train of thought had been interrupted, replied, "YouTube videos, huh? They are indeed relatively simple to make, but I don't have much time to do it well at the moment."
"As for the restaurant work, one person still can't manage it all."
Saying this, Tokai shifted her gaze slightly, then continued, "There should be an opportunity in the future."
Shizen's increasingly normal words reassured Tokai that her mother's condition was fine, and then Mochizuki continued, "Alright, then let's do it later."
Saying this, Mochizuki shifted her gaze slightly, then continued, "Mom, do you need help with dinner?"
"Probably not much?" Shizen said, turning to look at Mochizuki walking beside her.
Looking at Mochizuki, Tokai felt a slight sense of unease.
She felt that Mochizuki was a bit off today.
But she couldn't pinpoint what was wrong.
Thinking of this, Tokai just tilted her head and looked at Mochizuki: "Are you perhaps a little too concerned about me?"
"I just feel like you're not in a good state, Mom." Tokai, who had given the answer to the question, continued, "If no one takes care of you, it would be quite dangerous if something happened, wouldn't it?"
Listening to Mochizuki's words, Tokai also put down her slight doubts, and she nodded, indicating that Tokai was right: "In that case, come and help. After all, I haven't been into the kitchen in this place yet."
After speaking, Tokai, without waiting for Mochizuki's answer, shifted her gaze slightly, "Speaking of which, Mochizuki, have you already decided to become a Trainer?"
"Yes, I've decided. If I can happen to catch Teio when she completes her full-blown development, maybe I can become Teio's Trainer?"
"Is that so? But your age…"
"I've looked into it. There are Trainer professional schools, and the graduation age there is usually around twenty; if your grades are good, you can apply for early graduation, or directly take the Trainer qualification exam."
"Oh, in that case, it seems age won't be much of a concern then." Tokai, whose thoughts were repeatedly interrupted by Mochizuki's lines, paused for a few seconds before continuing, "But…"
"Mom, I've already applied to skip a grade. If it's successful, there shouldn't be many problems."
Saying this, Mochizuki stopped in front of a metal door: "Mom, this is the kitchen. Don't go the wrong way next time, okay?"
Mochizuki, reminding her mother once again, pushed open the kitchen door.
"Yes, I know."
Shizen, who said this, merely shifted her gaze to the kitchen.
Everything in the kitchen was brand new, and from the internal setup, it seemed comparable to the Mejiro Family's kitchen.
Looking at such a kitchen, the expression in Tokai's eyes changed subtly.
Subsequently, Tokai took a deep breath, then exhaled it.
Finally, she continued, "Alright, let's begin. We can't keep Roman and Teio waiting too long."
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
[patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"