December 26th.
Sirius Symboli's investigation in the Tokai Family area was finally complete, and she could return.
Sitting alone on the train, she pondered the information she had gathered over the past few days.
She knew there were many noteworthy aspects to the entire matter, but her mind kept her focus on one particular thing.
"Tokai Shizen even ran away from home…"
Muttering softly about this matter that Tokai Roman had told her, Sirius Symboli frowned.
Her instinct told her that there were many noteworthy aspects to this matter.
However, the incident had occurred too long ago, so even Tokai Roman couldn't recall too many details.
After shaking her head and clearing her mind of her previous thoughts, Sirius Symboli looked at the scenery outside the train window opposite her.
After changing trains, the girl finally returned to the vicinity of Tracen Academy.
Standing outside the Tracen Academy wall, Sirius Symboli chose not to return to Tracen Academy immediately.
She walked in another direction.
That was the direction of the Shopping Street.
Compared to the family task Rudolph had given Sirius, Sirius felt it would be better to check on the situation elsewhere.
She slowly walked forward along the road outside Tracen Academy.
Sirius Symboli was not in a hurry.
Because she knew that at this time, the restaurant would surely have many people.
If she were to go in like that, it would probably cause some problems.
However… after standing at the restaurant entrance and confirming that there were no Uma Musume inside, Sirius Symboli pushed open the door.
"Welcome."
After saying this, Tokai Shizen put down the magazine in her hand, and then noticed that the customer entering the restaurant was Sirius Symboli.
Tokai Shizen stared at her for a second, then stood up: "Would you like something to eat?"
Tokai Shizen's words still carried a hint of fear, but it was much better than before.
Hearing these words, Sirius Symboli simply sat down opposite Tokai Shizen, then spoke: "Do you have a menu?"
"Yes."
Tokai Shizen said, placing a laminated, hand‑drawn menu in front of Sirius.
Looking at Tokai Shizen's menu, which had been updated several times over the past few months, Sirius Symboli didn't say much. She simply picked up the menu and began to look at it.
Before long, she made a decision: "I'll have this."
Sirius Symboli pointed to a dish on the menu and looked up at Tokai Shizen.
Sirius Symboli's gaze also made Tokai Shizen understand that the other party wanted to say something.
Because Sirius Symboli was different from the other few who came for idle tea every day; she only came to Tokai Shizen's small shop when she needed to confirm something.
Noticing this, Tokai Shizen didn't continue to ponder. She simply looked at the dish the other party had chosen, then nodded: "Okay, it will be quick. Please wait a moment."
Saying this, Tokai Shizen turned around and began to prepare the chicken wings.
Tokai Shizen's technique for deboning chicken wings was fluid and precise. Watching her, Sirius Symboli simply looked around the small shop.
Although the shop had a good atmosphere, because it was a newly opened restaurant, there were only a few people at this 11 AM time slot.
After all, the older generation rarely tries new things, so this restaurant was aimed at the Uma Musume of Tracen Academy from the very beginning.
Therefore… watching Tokai Shizen's movements, Sirius Symboli pondered for a few seconds, then finally chose to speak: "Manager."
"Hmm?"
Without using her given name or surname, Sirius Symboli chose a more unfamiliar form of address.
"Where do you think a runaway child would go?"
A roundabout question.
"Run away from home?"
Catching the keyword in her words, Tokai Shizen realized the true question Sirius Symboli wanted to ask.
"Yes, a sickly junior in the family ran away from home, and I have to deal with it, but unfortunately, I don't have any experience in this area, so I can only ask around."
She used words to cover up a question that could have been asked directly.
Sirius Symboli looked at Tokai Shizen.
"I'm sorry, I'm not too sure either. My child hasn't grown up yet, and I don't have any relevant experience, so…"
Tokai Shizen said this to Sirius Symboli with a slightly apologetic tone.
Tokai Shizen's answer didn't prompt Sirius Symboli to say anything more.
She didn't care what the answer to that question was.
Because the answer Sirius Symboli wanted was already determined.
So, she just feigned a helpless sigh: "In that case, we'll just have to search every possible place. It's quite troublesome."
"Looking for a child is indeed troublesome, but there's no need to worry about it. If she gets hungry, she'll come back eventually."
Saying this, Tokai Shizen placed a beautifully colored chicken wing in front of her: "Besides, this kind of thing shouldn't be handled by a student, right?"
"Family matters are unavoidable."
Sirius Symboli's words stopped there. She just picked up a pair of disposable chopsticks and started eating directly.
The once‑fried chicken wing was tightly wrapped around a carrot placed where the bone used to be.
This taste was also a first for Sirius Symboli.
"It's really delicious. If possible, I'd even want to hire you," Sirius Symboli said this impossible thing after finishing the chicken wing.
Sirius Symboli's words were just a hopeful thought, so Tokai Shizen only gave a slight response: "The restaurant will remain open. You can come again in the future."
Saying this, Tokai Shizen gave Sirius a faint smile, with no further response.
And Sirius Symboli, knowing her idea was impossible, didn't ask further. She just picked up a disposable towel Tokai Shizen had placed by her hand, wiped the sauce from her mouth, and stood up: "How much?"
"Twelve hundred yen."
Hearing this, Sirius Symboli said nothing more. She just took out a banknote and some hundred‑yen coins, placed them on the table, and then left the restaurant directly.
Clean and decisive, she did nothing superfluous.
After leaving the restaurant, Sirius Symboli began to ponder Tokai Shizen's answer: "She doesn't remember running away from home…"
Pondering the potential issues in this matter, Sirius Symboli did not choose to return to Tracen Academy but decided to continue investigating.
As for the punch she wanted to land on Rudolph Symboli's face after investigating the Tokai Family's affairs…
She would save that until after Tokai Shizen's matter was confirmed.
After all, Tokai Shizen suffered greater harm throughout the entire incident, so the priority of matters had changed for Sirius Symboli.
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