Since the day she slipped away from Yayoi Natural's side, about a week had passed.
In that week, Mr. C.B. had finally managed to visit Yayoi Natural again.
After all, she still had Student Council work to handle, so the visits had been delayed.
Only today, after clearing out most of her paperwork, could Mr. C.B. once again arrive at Maruzensky's doorstep, carrying a bag of groceries.
As usual, she raised her hand and pressed the doorbell.
Unlike before, she wasn't looking for some excuse to enter.
This time, Mr. C.B. simply stood at the door like a friend waiting to be let in.
It didn't take long before the young mother opened the door.
Looking at the figure far smaller than her own—yes, this girl—
Mr. C.B. still wanted to ask one burning question:
How on earth had she endured Symboli Rudolf?
But given their relationship, Mr. C.B. couldn't be so tactless as to ask.
So, after putting the groceries into the kitchen, Mr. C.B. asked a different question:
"Yayoi."
Those blue eyes turned toward her, full of quiet confusion.
"How's your health?"
This was the real reason Mr. C.B. had come.
She knew of Yayoi Natural's weak constitution; that was why she'd decided to keep visiting once a day.
With Maruzensky away in central, Mr. C.B. was now the only one who knew Yayoi Natural's identity.
And if something happened to her, with no one watching over her—there could be trouble.
So Mr. C.B. really did have to come every day, to make sure no accident left Yayoi Natural without care.
Facing her question, Yayoi Natural merely shook her head. "I'm fine."
Seeing her shake her head, Mr. C.B. didn't press further. After all, this had been her answer before as well.
And besides, even if she pointed the problem out directly now, would the other girl listen?
Watching Yayoi Natural turn and walk into the kitchen, Mr. C.B. reached that conclusion.
But…
"If your identity papers go through, Yayoi, are you planning to move out?"
A question asked with hidden intent.
And from the kitchen, Yayoi Natural answered immediately:
"I will move out. Always troubling Maruzen-san isn't good, but for now…"
Mr. C.B. knew her hesitation.
She lifted her gaze toward the stairs leading to the second floor.
The child.
This was the only thing Yayoi Natural hesitated over.
An infant less than a year old—at a time when a mother's special care was needed most—her presence alone was enough to make Yayoi Natural pause.
Thinking of this, Mr. C.B.'s brow furrowed.
Because another name surfaced in her mind.
Symboli Rudolf.
Whenever she thought of Rudolf, Mr. C.B.'s mood soured.
Leaving aside the racetrack entirely, just Yayoi Natural's situation alone was enough to change her whole attitude toward Rudolf.
But because Yayoi Natural was still here, Mr. C.B. refrained from speaking her name.
Instead, she turned her gaze back toward the kitchen.
As her eyes returned to the doorway, Yayoi Natural finished the second half of her sentence:
"I'll wait until Mochizuki's a bit older before thinking about it."
"So her name is Mochizuki, huh."
"Mm."
"It's a beautiful name, but…"
Clearly, Mr. C.B. had thought of something.
And of course she would. Anyone who was close to Rudolf's circle knew the name by now.
So naturally, Mr. C.B. also thought of the connection hidden in that name.
As though sensing Mr. C.B.'s subtle pause, even the sound of the kitchen knife chopping stopped.
"No, it's nothing. Not really a big deal anyway."
Unlike Maruzensky, Mr. C.B. didn't tangle herself up over questions like this.
Compared to brooding over some worthless person, the dinner Yayoi Natural was about to cook was far more worth anticipating.
After all, Yayoi Natural's cooking skills were extraordinarily high.
If she missed out on dinner because of mulling over some scumbag, Mr. C.B. herself would find it intolerable.
And compared to Mr. C.B., who could monopolize Maruzensky's house and eat Yayoi Natural's meals, Maruzensky, traveling around the country alongside Symboli Rudolf to observe races, was far more pitiful.
Yet these days spent with Rudolf, and that earlier period spent with Yayoi Natural, together pushed Maruzensky toward asking a crucial question.
...
Looking at Rudolf lying on the other bed of their twin room—even though her eyes were shut—Maruzensky knew she wasn't asleep yet.
So, Maruzensky asked the question she'd wanted to ask on Yayoi Natural's behalf, and also for herself:
"Luna."
"Mm?"
"Do you know a Uma named Tokai Natural?"
No concealment—she asked it directly.
After all, Maruzensky knew her. That woman's head had no time for twists and turns. If you tried to go in circles, she simply wouldn't get it.
So Maruzensky was straightforward.
Yet faced with such a direct question, Symboli Rudolf only rolled over.
Those crystal-violet eyes looked at Maruzensky. "Tokai Natural? Is that someone from the Tokai family?"
"…"
Maruzensky's expression shifted slightly, her ears flattening a little.
"Just a Uma who's already dead. Nothing particularly worth paying attention to."
Her strange reaction went unnoticed by Rudolf.
She merely nodded. "I see. Well, leave it at that. We've got another race in the morning—get some rest."
With those words, Symboli Rudolf adjusted her posture. She meant to sleep.
But Maruzensky couldn't sleep.
She had expected at least some flicker of recognition—but Rudolf's response wasn't just forgetting; she had absolutely no impression at all…
Thinking this, Maruzensky turned over, her back now to Rudolf.
She didn't want to see her right now.
She felt it was unworthy—that Yayoi Natural had ended up pregnant with the child of someone who couldn't even remember her name.
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T/N: JUST LIKE THOSE DOMINEERING CEOS!!!! OMGGG RUDOLF :SOB: GET ME PRGENANT