After Christmas came the New Year.
However, this had nothing to do with Speed Symbol and Tokai Shizen, who were still in France.
The people involved in this matter were mainly… "The next event is Hatsumōde, huh…" With a touch of worry, Rudolph Symboli.
Evidently, in less than a year, she had already begun to gradually unaccustom herself to a life under the scrutiny of the Symboli Family.
Sirius Symboli, standing beside Rudolph Symboli, simply helped Rudolph adjust her earrings: "You are still the Emperor."
Emperor meant the face of the family, even if Rudolph had handed over all power to Sirius Symboli, it was still the same.
After all, even when the Shogunate stripped the Emperor of all power, they still couldn't kill him, right?
So, during Hatsumōde, an event likely to be observed by many, Rudolph Symboli could not afford any mistakes.
At least on the surface, that was the case.
After helping Rudolph put on the last part, Sirius Symboli spoke: "Are you not going to recruit for the Student Council?"
"…We haven't recruited yet."
Instead of saying that those people were all unqualified, Rudolph Symboli chose a softer-sounding statement: "So, the Student Council's work is still quite troublesome."
She glanced sideways, and Sirius Symboli, standing beside Rudolph Symboli, saw the expression on her face.
Her pretense wasn't exposed, and Sirius Symboli merely humored her, "Do you need my help?"
"I can manage it myself."
After politely declining Sirius Symboli's offer of help, Rudolph Symboli changed the subject to avoid more questions on that topic: "What about you? How are things with the Symboli Family?"
"Occasionally, a few troublesome individuals pop up, but they're mostly resolved."
She lowered her hand, indicating that Sirius Symboli had finally adjusted her earring: "With that, there shouldn't be too many problems."
"Even though I'm not handling family matters anymore, I still trouble you to help me get ready."
"No, it's just something that needs to be done."
Turning around, Sirius Symboli then added, "It's time to go."
"It's time to go, huh..."
"Yes, it's time to go."
"Are we still going to the shrine for Hatsumōde this year?"
Representative Chiaki, looking at Maruzensky sitting opposite her, asked this question.
However, even Representative Chiaki herself wasn't interested in it.
Although Hatsumōde was a custom, and Uma Musume also completed this custom during the New Year when they had races.
But... the absence of a third person at the dining table made both of them lose much of their desire to go for Hatsumōde.
So,
Maruzensky didn't respond.
Finally, after a long silence, Maruzensky gave what seemed to be a response to the question: "No, we're not going."
"I see..."
Representative Chiaki's voice also dropped in response to Maruzensky's reply.
Clearly, she didn't want to go either.
Listening to Representative Chiaki's lowered voice,
Maruzensky turned her head.
Her phone was on the table, ready for use; if she called now, it might even be daytime over there.
However... another gaze also fell on the table.
As if by telepathy, both of them thought of the same thing.
Contact Tokai Shizen.
This thought appeared simultaneously in both their minds.
Silence was gradually engulfing this residence that no longer felt much like a home.
Both of them wanted to contact Tokai Shizen, but neither dared to make the call.
Finally, both of them looked up at the same time.
The moment their eyes met,
Both understood a little.
"If you want to call Shizen, you can, you know. No one's stopping you, just like when you first found Shizen~"
Maruzensky's nonchalant tone made it seem as if she wasn't the one who had just been staring at her phone.
"How could I disturb Shizen? This kind of thing should obviously be done by you, shouldn't it? After all, you were the one who adopted her back then."
An unhesitating counterattack.
However, after such a simple exchange, both fell silent.
An undeniable fact lay before them:
Both of them had been exposed by the other's words.
Therefore, the result of this round's exchange
was a mutual defeat.
At eight in the evening, Tokai Shizen, walking to the mansion's main gate, took out her phone and checked it.
It was the last day of the year; if it were according to Japanese customs, there might already be New Year's greeting messages by now.
But there was only one message on her phone, which told Tokai Shizen that not many people were thinking of her.
However, even if there was only one, Tokai Shizen still needed to open and check it.
"Tokai-nee, Happy New Year. Please continue to guide me in the coming year."
"Although it seems the New Year hasn't arrived where Tokai-nee is, it's already a new year here for me, so consider this an early congratulation."
"Sakura Chiyo O"
Looking at the message, Tokai Shizen merely showed a slight smile on her face, then pushed open the door.
"Happy New Year!"
"Happy!"
Two voices rang out simultaneously.
Then, the two voices received a response: "Mm, Happy New Year. This year, we'll eat that, right? Are the ingredients ready?"
"That?"
Facing Tokai Shizen's question, Speed Symbol wore a bewildered expression.
"The thing I asked you to buy yesterday."
Tokai Shizen's reminder finally made Speed Symbol remember what she had bought that day: "Oh, buy... Ah! It's soba noodles! Speaking of which, it's been a long time since I've observed this custom."
"So, did you buy them?"
The repeated question made Speed Symbol think for a few seconds: "I think so?"
"Think so?"
Her gaze gradually focused on Speed Symbol.
At this moment, facing Tokai Shizen's gaze, Speed Symbol felt a subtle pressure.
"We're in France now, so it's fine even if we don't eat this."
With a hint of wishful thinking, Speed Symbol offered an excuse: "Besides, you can't buy soba noodles in France. I only managed to buy soba flour. Let's take today as a rest and not make so much, okay?"
"Okay!"
Ignoring her daughter's babbling words, Tokai Shizen merely stared at Speed Symbol: "At least you bought soba flour, right?"
"I bought all three types of flour."
"That's good."
Saying this, Tokai Shizen walked past Speed Symbol and Mochizuki, "I'll go make the soba noodles. You two wait."
"Soba noodles!"
"Eh eh eh? Are you making them now?"
"We should make it in time!"
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