Their embrace lasted for nearly ten minutes before they finally let go.
Then, as if it were natural.
"Are you trying to drown me in your embrace? Though I feel like you probably can't quite manage it."
The moment Rudolph let go, Tokai Nature immediately started speaking in a mood-killing way again, but... "Also, don't eat bento boxes anymore. Supermarket bento boxes don't have balanced nutrition. You're a big Uma Musume now, you need to learn to cook for yourself."
Listening to Tokai Nature's words, Rudolph merely nodded, then spoke: "You..."
Seeing Rudolph open her mouth, Tokai Nature knew what she wanted to say, so she didn't hesitate and directly interrupted Rudolph's words.
She made everything clear.
Then, she spoke again: "Finally, you wouldn't happen to be wearing nothing underneath, would you?"
This sudden change of topic made Rudolph freeze for a second.
Then, a slight blush appeared on her face.
Looking at Rudolph like this, Tokai Nature silently turned her head: "You've already become like this when you're not in Tracen; I can't imagine what you'll turn into later."
Although she seemed very displeased.
But... "Although I feel pretty good about it ~"
Tokai Nature gave Rudolph a thumbs up.
Tokai Nature's words weren't as familiar as Rudolph had imagined, but with a moment's thought, Rudolph understood.
An unimaginably long time, a life without human interaction.
Even unable to touch things... Tokai Nature only becoming like this was perhaps a good thing.
Realizing this, Rudolph merely opened her mouth, then continued: "Do you like it this way?"
"...I just find it interesting."
Seeing Tokai Nature's response, Rudolph merely nodded, then asked the question: "After this, will you go back?"
The question Rudolph posed.
It was a question no one had ever asked.
Such a question made Tokai Nature's body stiffen for a moment.
Compared to Tokai Nature, who merely had a few more memories, everyone cared about Tokai.
Although Tokai Nature also felt that the other party was better than herself, no one had ever asked this question, so she also concealed some facts... "Probably... probably..."
"Only fifteen days..."
"After that, I'm not too sure."
A broken voice, with a hint of a sob.
This was the first time Tokai Nature had spoken such words since her reappearance.
Listening to Tokai Nature's words, Rudolph looked at the Tokai Nature in front of her, who was much shorter than herself, not knowing what to say.
And after more than ten seconds of silence, Rudolph finally responded:
"So, these are the last fifteen days?"
"...Thirteen days."
"Thirteen days, huh..."
Not caring where Tokai Nature's two days had been spent, Rudolph simply used the height difference between them to pat the other party's head: "Then why did you come to find me?"
"It's some things that I need to handle."
Saying this, Tokai Nature slightly turned her head: "Also... don't touch my head..."
The sob in her voice also gradually began to disappear.
Rudolph could tell that Tokai Nature was already forcing herself to calm down.
So, she put down her hand, looked at Tokai Nature in front of her, and responded: "What do you want me to do?"
"First, call you back."
"Teio admires you, and Mochizuki plans to skip a grade to complete the Trainer exam. After that, the remnants of the Tokai Family are still here."
Rudolph didn't respond to these issues; she just looked at Tokai Nature, thinking about what Tokai Nature said.
Clearly, she quickly realized the crucial matters.
The first and second matters were for her children, namely Mochizuki and Teio.
Among them, the second matter was something Tokai could also ask Maruzensky and Representative Chiaki to do.
So...
This is where some attention is needed.
Realizing this, Rudolph Symboli turned her attention back to the third matter.
The third matter had nothing to do with Tokai Nature; she was not Tokai, and she could barely appear now.
Those people would only find Tokai, so... And Rudolph, noticing this, was silent for a moment, then,
"Alright."
Whether it was Tokai Nature's or Tokai's request, in Rudolph's eyes, there was no actual difference; she merely responded in this way.
Rudolph's response made Tokai Nature fall silent.
Then, she stepped back a few paces, looked at Rudolph, and asked a question: "If there hadn't been that promise back then, would you have…?"
"That would also be my problem."
Saying this, Rudolph let out a breath, then continued, "There are no 'ifs'."
After cutting off Tokai Nature's possibility of continuing, Rudolph asked a new question: "Will you be staying here next?"
"I've already brought my suitcase."
Looking at Rudolph's sudden question, Tokai Nature opened her mouth, then said with a helpless expression, "Is that not allowed?"
"No problem."
After responding, Rudolph Symboli continued, "Ten days?"
"Five days…"
Rudolph knew that Tokai Nature wanted to take her back, so she nodded in agreement: "I understand."
"I'll spend this time with you properly."
Rudolph paused as she spoke, then continued, "For the next few days, just…"
"Just stay here."
"Aren't you planning to stay somewhere bigger?"
"Just stay here."
"The living facilities here aren't great, you know."
"Just stay here!"
Listening to Tokai Nature's increasingly exasperated voice.
Rudolph's expression merely changed slightly, then she responded: "Okay, we'll stay here for the next few days."
Saying this, Rudolph Symboli stepped forward once more, wanting to hug Tokai Nature.
But… Tokai Nature dodged her.
Looking at Tokai Nature dodging, Rudolph simply watched her.
And facing Rudolph's gaze, Tokai Nature retreated a few more steps, then, she fidgeted, seeming to be preparing something,
But in the end, she still looked up, her face slightly flushed, at Rudolph:
"Um, my name is… Tokai, Nature."
Looking at Tokai Nature who had told her name, Rudolph understood what she was doing by saying her name.
So,
Rudolph responded,
The response she, who had made the promise, ought to make:
"My name is Rudolph, Rudolph Symboli."
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