Time rewound slightly.
Let's go back to the day Tokai Shizen got off the plane.
After getting off the plane, Tokai Shizen cautiously looked around.
Soon she spotted the Uma Musume standing at the arrival gate.
After a brief comparison with a photo, Tokai Shizen was able to confirm that the other party should be Speed Symbol.
After all, that hair color was indeed a bit too striking.
And just as Tokai Shizen noticed her, the other party also looked at her.
Wearing sunglasses, she neither waved nor called out to Tokai Shizen.
She just waited for Tokai Shizen to walk up to her.
Soon, Shizen, holding Mochizuki, walked up to the other party.
Looking at the petite Tokai Shizen, Speed Symbol was silent for a few seconds, then spoke: "My idiotic granddaughter caused quite a bit of trouble, didn't she?"
"Eh?"
Hearing these words, which clearly didn't sound like something an Uma Musume from the Symboli Family would say, Tokai Shizen's expression changed slightly.
"But you don't have to worry about it here. Rudolph, that simpleton, probably won't be able to bother you for a while."
The words that slipped out again made Tokai Shizen confirm that what she had just heard seemed to be correct, and then Tokai Shizen cautiously spoke: "Um, I am Tokai Shizen."
"...I know. After this, you'll live in the house I bought in France. As for how long you want to stay..."
Saying this, Speed Symbol was silent for a few seconds, then continued: "It's up to you."
Speed Symbol's words carried a hint of apology; it seemed she already knew what her foolish granddaughter had done.
Hearing this, Tokai Shizen just hummed in acknowledgment, then walked to the other party's side.
Following Speed Symbol, she got into her car.
After getting in the car, Speed Symbol, who was in the driver's seat, did not start the car immediately; she just looked out the window.
Then she continued: "As for living expenses..."
"Do you have any?"
"Not yet exchanged into euros."
"I see. Then just use mine for now. Anyway, it's all from the Symboli Family account, so it doesn't matter how much is used."
"Thank you..."
"The problems Rudolph caused, I, as her grandmother, also have to deal with."
Saying this, Speed Symbol gently stepped on the accelerator.
As the car gradually drove, before long, Tokai Shizen was dropped off by Speed Symbol in front of a villa that looked like a mansion.
Looking at the huge mansion, Tokai Shizen turned her head to look at Speed Symbol.
"This is the house I bought, but I won't be living in it most of the time, so..."
At this point, Speed Symbol took out a key with slight signs of use: "Use it however you want."
Looking at the key in Speed Symbol's hand, Tokai Shizen didn't know whether she should take it, because she felt...
Ignoring Tokai Shizen's hesitation, Speed Symbol directly took Tokai Shizen's hand, which wasn't holding Mochizuki, and placed the key in her palm: "Don't worry about it so much."
Turning Tokai Shizen around, Speed Symbol pushed Tokai Shizen forward: "Go open the door."
She turned her head to look at Speed Symbol.
Tokai Shizen knew that Speed Symbol definitely had a spare key.
But... she couldn't quite understand why Speed Symbol would give her the main key.
After all, even if it was an apology, there was no need to do so much, right?
But before Tokai Shizen could think much more, she was pushed to the door by Speed Symbol.
Looking at the door within reach, Tokai Shizen looked at the key in her hand again.
As if noticing something, Tokai Shizen looked up and turned to Speed Symbol: "Is this alright?"
"...You found out."
Without much concealment, Speed Symbol directly admitted: "It's just a small compensation. After all... what Rudolph did to you really requires me to do something as compensation."
"But I don't want you to forgive Rudolph just like that, because mistakes made don't disappear. Since it's a mistake she made herself, she has to resolve it herself. I can only help her this much."
Speed Symbol's words contained concern for her granddaughter, and also an apology to Tokai Shizen.
Listening to Speed Symbol's words, Tokai Shizen did not continue to look at her, but just lowered her head to look at the key in her hand.
After ten-odd seconds of silence, Tokai Shizen simply inserted the key into the keyhole and gently twisted it.
The sound of the lock opening rang out.
And Tokai Shizen did not look at Speed Symbol.
Only after entering the room did she respond to Speed Symbol's previous words: "Apologies should be made by the person themselves."
Tokai Shizen's words caused a slight change in Speed Symbol's gaze towards Tokai Shizen.
She realized why those juniors were attracted to her.
After all, this feeling was indeed quite attractive to those youngsters.
However... what Tokai Shizen said was also correct.
Since the other party's words were not wrong, there was no point in Speed Symbol saying anything more.
She just looked at Tokai Shizen: "You still need to adjust to the time difference, right?"
"Hmm..."
"Then go do that. I..."
After a brief thought, confirming she had no extensive travel plans in the near future, Speed Symbol spoke again: "I won't be leaving France for a while, not until you've settled in."
Speed Symbol's words made Tokai Shizen silent for a moment.
Then she responded: "Thank you."
"There are rooms on the first floor and rooms on the second floor. Feel free to pick one and rest."
Speed Symbol watched Tokai Shizen as she said this.
It wasn't until Tokai Shizen had entered a room that Speed Symbol took out her phone and called Sirius Symboli.
Once the call connected, Sirius Symboli's voice came through.
"Grandma Speed Symbol, has Shizen arrived there?"
"Yes, Tokai Shizen just got here, and by the way..."
Looking in the direction where Tokai Shizen had disappeared, Speed Symbol was silent for a few seconds, then continued: "I asked Tokai her thoughts."
"What... did she say?"
With a nervous heart, Sirius Symboli asked the question.
Facing Sirius Symboli's question, Speed Symbol, leaning on the sofa, was silent for a long time before she continued: "She said that if an apology is due, it would be better if the person herself came."
"...I see. I..."
Recalling that Rudolph was currently unreachable, Sirius Symboli paused for a moment, then responded: "Understood."
"Tell that brat Rudolph."
"Yes, alright."
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