In February, Tokai Shizen resigned, taking her final severance pay, and left L'Ambroisie restaurant, where she had worked for just over a year.
Of course, because Tokai Shizen had climbed from apprentice to sous chef in just half a year,
Tokai Shizen was considered a semi-legend in the culinary world.
After all, L'Ambroisie was a Michelin three-star restaurant, but Tokai Shizen had risen so casually.
However, those legends and such no longer had anything to do with Tokai Shizen.
She had already resigned from that restaurant.
After resigning, Tokai Shizen came to a place not far from Speed Symbol's mansion.
She walked to the front of a medium-sized shop on the street and opened the door with a key.
What met Tokai Shizen's eyes was a shop that was already fully prepared.
This was the shop Tokai Shizen had taken over, and it would also be where she lived her next life.
Looking at everything in the shop, Tokai Shizen simply placed her hand on the long table along one wall, then gently brushed it.
"From now on, things will get better, won't they..."
She turned around, locked the shop door, and finally pulled down the rolling shutter.
After confirming everything was done, Tokai Shizen took out her phone.
"Mm, the sourcing has also been arranged. From now on, there shouldn't be many problems."
After confirming that the ingredient supply was in order, Tokai Shizen finally felt completely at ease.
As for why a delivery system was adopted, it was ultimately because of Mochizuki.
To take care of Mochizuki, Tokai Shizen wouldn't have time to go to places like the morning market.
However, Tokai Shizen didn't mind this; after all, for her, using slightly inferior ingredients could actually cut costs and save more money.
Mochizuki's future life would, after all, require a considerable amount of money.
Thinking of this, Tokai Shizen didn't linger at the restaurant entrance but went straight back to the mansion.
"Mommy's home~"
"Mommy's home!"
Listening to Mochizuki's words, which were now forming sentences, Tokai Shizen's face showed a slight smile.
She walked up to Mochizuki and picked her up: "Starting tomorrow, Mommy will be home with you~"
"Mommy, home?"
"Mm, I'm home."
After answering, Tokai Shizen used her other free hand to stroke Mochizuki's head: "I'll also pick you up and drop you off at kindergarten from now on."
"Can you?"
Mochizuki's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly expressed her distrust of Tokai Shizen.
"Have I ever lied to you?"
Saying this, Tokai Shizen put Mochizuki down, then spoke again: "I'm going to prepare dinner~"
She walked into the kitchen, her steps light.
Listening to the footsteps, Speed Symbol, who was sitting on the floor with Mochizuki, leaned her entire upper body back and supported herself with her hands.
She could feel that Tokai Shizen was in a very good mood.
However, with just a brief thought about the whole situation, Speed Symbol could understand the reason for Tokai Shizen's good mood.
After all... Mochizuki directly climbed onto Speed Symbol's upper body.
A slight weight made Speed Symbol fall backward.
Quickly propping herself up with her hands, Speed Symbol withdrew her gaze, "From now on, I'll probably really just be an old person."
"An old person?"
"I'm not old!" Speed Symbol corrected Mochizuki, then sat upright again, "However, since Shizen now has time to look after you, I might have to go out for a bit~"
Saying this, Speed Symbol looked at Mochizuki.
She knew there were still some things she needed to do, and if she didn't do them, it would be awkward for her to meet Tokai Shizen later.
Thinking of this, Speed Symbol spoke again, "Shizen!"
"Hmm?"
"I might be going on a long trip soon. Can you take care of Mochizuki by yourself?"
Speed Symbol asked Shizen loudly, looking towards the kitchen.
"Are you going on a trip?"
Speed Symbol had once traveled all over Europe, so Tokai Shizen wasn't surprised by her sudden whim.
And Tokai Shizen's misunderstanding was the perfect excuse for Speed Symbol.
So, she responded to the misunderstanding, "Ah, yes, that's right, it's time to go on a trip for a while, but it won't be long, I'll be back in a few days, no need to see me off."
"I see," a voice came from the kitchen.
Tokai Shizen didn't detect Speed Symbol's intentions; she just thought for a few seconds before responding, "Be careful, Mochizuki really likes you."
"...I know."
Saying this, Speed Symbol stood up.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Three days later, the shop opened, and a day before that, Speed Symbol had already boarded a plane to depart. Now, Tokai Shizen was entirely in charge of looking after Mochizuki.
It must be said that taking care of Mochizuki required a lot of energy.
After all, she was no longer an infant but a child, so it was natural to expend that much energy.
However, caring for her wasn't particularly difficult. Compared to her somewhat slow language development, Mochizuki's psychological state was rather obedient and sensible.
So, taking care of her wasn't as difficult as Tokai Shizen had imagined.
With Mochizuki being so sensible, Tokai Shizen's shop opening wasn't that difficult either.
Moreover, a new shop opening without any discount promotions couldn't possibly attract many people.
So... at three in the afternoon, Tokai Shizen, sitting in a chair and looking at the first day's turnover, sighed deeply, "Although I had anticipated it, I didn't expect to return to the very beginning again."
Saying this, Tokai Shizen sighed, then turned her gaze to outside the door.
In another hour, Tokai Shizen planned to close the shop.
Because the kindergarten would be out at four or five in the afternoon.
Although Mochizuki hadn't started kindergarten yet, Tokai Shizen did need to adapt to these things.
Withdrawing her gaze from outside the door, Tokai Shizen still had to worry about her future life.
But when she turned her gaze back indoors, Tokai Shizen noticed a young Uma Musume standing opposite her.
Tokai Shizen, stared at by the other party's golden eyes, merely tilted her head, "Did you get lost from your adult?"
There was no response.
Looking at the young appearance of the other party, Tokai Shizen remained silent for a few seconds before speaking, "Hmm, stay in the shop for now, until your parents come to pick you up."
Saying this, Tokai Shizen withdrew her gaze from the other party.
When it came to children, Tokai Shizen was always lenient.
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