Tokai Teio was not feeling very well at the moment.
Because she was being watched.
As for the one watching her…
She turned her head to look at Tokai Mochizuki, who was sitting beside her and made no attempt to hide her gaze:
"Um, is there something wrong?"
"I was just thinking, are all Uma Musume pretty much the same?"
"Mochizuki, have you met other Uma Musume?"
"I've met one, named Mochizoku, a friend from France."
Mochizuki's words piqued Teio's interest, but she didn't continue to ask questions.
She was only concerned about Mochizuki looking at her.
"I see…"
And seeing that Teio didn't continue to respond, Mochizuki didn't say much either, simply retracting her gaze.
She put it back on the blackboard.
Most of the content being taught on the blackboard was something Mochizuki had already learned last night.
If she were to follow her own learning pace, she could probably complete everything for this semester in about a month.
Thinking about this, Mochizuki shifted her gaze slightly, just enough to see Teio.
Looking at Teio one last time, Mochizuki was still suspicious.
What her mother had said about her sister or younger sister.
After all, from Teio's appearance, she didn't look like her sister at all.
She really felt that this somewhat overly naive Uma Musume didn't resemble her sister.
————————————————
Following the address provided by Sirius, Tokai Shizen, who had finished talking to all the suppliers, arrived at this rental building located near the suburbs.
Standing in front of this not-so-good-looking rental building, Tokai Shizen sighed helplessly.
The downfall of the Tokai Family was a happy event for Shizen, but for Roman…
Thinking of this, Tokai Shizen walked up to the second floor.
Then she saw someone knocking on a door.
After glancing at the door number next to it, Tokai Shizen confirmed whose door the person was knocking on.
Judging by the fact that the door wasn't opening, it was likely that this person was not someone Roman wanted to see.
So…
Thinking of this, Tokai Shizen didn't know how to solve the problem.
After all, if she went up and called out to someone her sister didn't want to see, she would also be…
So Tokai Shizen simply leaned against the side of the stairs, waiting for the other person to leave.
And after about half an hour, the person finally stopped knocking.
Then, footsteps gradually approached from far away.
Tokai Shizen knew she could go over now.
She turned around and once again stood on the second floor.
Then she saw a familiar person.
Tokai Shizen remembered that it was someone from the Tokai Family.
The other person, with her head down, didn't notice Tokai Shizen's appearance.
Subsequently, the two passed each other, neither intending to acknowledge the other.
Seeing this situation, Tokai Shizen knew that the Tokai Family was basically finished.
After all, they had come to beg Tokai Roman, so their living conditions were probably not very good.
However…
if she were to get entangled with them, it would be very troublesome.
Thinking of this, Tokai Shizen just walked to Tokai Roman's door.
She wasn't in a hurry to knock, but instead looked out of the building.
After seeing the person from the Tokai Family leave Tokai Shizen's sight, looking disheartened,
Tokai Shizen finally raised her hand and knocked on the door.
"Sister Roman!"
Calling her sister's name confirmed her identity to the person inside the room.
Then,
The door opened.
Standing inside was still the same person from several years ago.
But there was one difference: her face was slightly haggard,
seemingly due to the people from the Tokai Family and her efforts not to affect Teio recently.
Seeing her sister, who used to be so good to her, become like this,
Tokai Shizen wanted to say something, but ultimately chose to hug her directly:
"I'm back, Sister."
"…"
Roman, being hugged, just froze for a second, then hugged her younger sister with her hands.
Neither of them used much strength; they simply held each other like that.
About a minute later, both of them let go.
"Sister, I came this time for Teio's matter."
After letting go, Tokai Shizen immediately stated the purpose of her visit.
After all, it was best to resolve Teio's matter as soon as possible.
If they waited until Teio entered Tracen Academy to explain it, it would become very troublesome later.
Tokai Shizen's words also made the other person pause for a moment.
Then, she nodded at Tokai Shizen:
"Mm, alright, come in and talk."
After the two entered the room, Tokai Shizen spoke again, but she didn't ask about Tokai Teio, but about something else:
"Was that person from the Tokai Family just now?"
"Mm…"
Tokai Roman, with a helpless expression, was silent for a few seconds, then dismissed the question:
"Shizen, aren't you here to talk about Teio's matter?"
"Mm…"
Shizen, who didn't take out the bank card from her handbag, continued to say what she wanted to say:
"Sister, Mochizuki is already in the same school as Teio. In another month or two, Teio can move in with me…"
She simply described her current situation, and Roman listened and nodded.
She had no objection to her younger sister's decision,
because Teio was her daughter to begin with, and she had only been raising her on her behalf all these years.
After all, Shizen at that time really didn't have the capacity to take on another person.
So…
Thinking of this, Tokai Roman was silent for a few seconds.
She knew that it was only natural for her younger sister to take Tokai Teio back.
But,
There was still a slight reluctance in her heart.
But…
"However, it will still depend on Teio's wishes then. If she wants to stay here with Sister, then let her stay here."
Changing the subject, Tokai Shizen showed a slight smile to her sister:
"After all, Teio was raised by Sister. If I were to just take her back like this, it wouldn't be very good, but ignoring Teio's own wishes also…"
At this point, Tokai Shizen simply reached out and cupped her sister's slightly lowered head:
"So, Sister, don't be so downhearted!"
"But…"
"There's nothing wrong with it, Sister taking care of Teio is a good thing, and…"
It was only then that Tokai Shizen took out the bank card she had prepared from her handbag:
"Sister, use this money to improve your life. At least don't let those people bother you anymore."
"This… no, I can't."
"It's alright. For me, earning this money isn't very difficult.
After all, when Mochizuki grows up a bit more, she won't need to sell out every day,
so Sister doesn't have to worry. I'll also cover the expenses for Teio's training later."
Once again hugging her sister, thereby interrupting her from saying anything,
Tokai Shizen continued beside her head:
"You've worked hard all these years, Sister…"
Subsequently, as if something within her had been touched,
Tokai Roman, held by Tokai Shizen, burst into tears.
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