After that day, everything seemed to return to a state of calm.
But...
Looking over at Maruzensky sitting behind one table in the Student Council room, Symboli Rudolf then shifted her gaze to the other table.
Sitting at that table was Mr. C.B.
Everyone knew that Mr. C.B. was someone who usually would never spend so much time in the Student Council room.
Yet now, ever since Maruzensky returned, Mr. C.B. had been in the Student Council room every day, as if keeping an eye on something.
Furthermore...
These two always left side-by-side at the end of the day.
It sounded absolutely absurd.
Such repeated oddities made Symboli Rudolf feel increasingly uneasy.
But what truly made Rudolf sense something was off was these two people's attitudes.
Watching Mr. C.B. and Maruzensky constantly facing off against each other, yet never once looking in her direction, Rudolf hesitated for several seconds before asking:
"Has something happened recently?"
She never considered that she might have done something wrong.
Instead, Rudolf assumed they were upset because something else had happened to them.
But immediately after Rudolf asked the question—
Both Mr. C.B. and Maruzensky turned to look at her simultaneously:
"Nothing at all."
Their voices overlapped perfectly.
This made Rudolf even more confused.
Looking at Rudolf's blank expression, Mr. C.B. and Maruzensky simply returned their gazes to each other.
Clearly, Rudolf wasn't very important right now.
At least, that's how it appeared to these two.
Seeing that her question went unanswered, Rudolf stayed quiet for a few seconds before bringing up something else instead.
"Then, Maruzensky, regarding your prolonged off-campus living situation—it seems the dormitory management has…"
Hearing this, Maruzensky finally took her eyes off Mr. C.B. and turned her gaze toward Rudolf:
"Has my application for off-campus living still not been approved?"
"It requires the Chairwoman's confirmation. Although it's basically guaranteed at this point," Rudolf paused, reorganizing the papers in her hand, "the Chairwoman isn't here right now."
Upon hearing this reply, Maruzensky's expression shifted subtly.
Mr. C.B., however, brightened considerably.
Due to Yayoi Natural's physical condition, someone had to stay with her most of the time.
Precisely because of this, Mr. C.B. was delighted.
Because Maruzensky was now unavailable.
Thus, Mr. C.B., who no longer had a reason to stay in the Student Council room watching Maruzensky, stood up without hesitation:
"I'll head out first, then~"
Her voice held clear notes of cheerfulness and excitement, leaving Rudolf even more puzzled.
"Hey—"
Rudolf's call was answered by the sound of the Student Council room door closing.
Hearing that sound, Maruzensky furrowed her brow slightly, then sat back down in her chair.
Observing this, Rudolf rubbed her chin in thought for a few seconds.
Still not receiving answers to her earlier questions, Rudolf stopped pursuing the matter, as another question she'd had no opportunity to ask surfaced in her mind.
"Maruzensky, the other day you seemed to be in quite a rush. Did something happen?"
Maruzensky frowned upon hearing this question, understanding immediately that Rudolf was referring to the moment she'd hurried back to the city.
It had been when Yayoi Natural was hospitalized, and she'd rushed to see her.
Remembering this, Maruzensky's expression darkened even further.
Seeing Maruzensky's change in expression, Rudolf hesitated briefly:
"What's the matter?"
"No, it's nothing. I just remembered something unpleasant." Although the mere thought of Yayoi Natural made her want to avoid sitting in this room, since returning today wasn't possible anymore, Maruzensky gave this neutral response.
"Something unpleasant? If necessary, I could help you out."
"Ah, regarding that—it's not really necessary."
Maruzensky tried to keep her tone as normal as possible. After all, Yayoi Natural had no desire to see Rudolf, so in such circumstances, maintaining her original attitude seemed best.
Upon hearing Maruzensky's response, Rudolf simply nodded:
"I see. Then…did something happen between you and C.B.?"
Only now, with Mr. C.B. gone, did Rudolf finally raise this question to Maruzensky.
It wasn't surprising at all.
After all, Rudolf's relationship with Maruzensky was significantly better than her relationship with Mr. C.B.
So it was natural that Rudolf would ask Maruzensky this question at this moment.
But hearing Rudolf ask this, Maruzensky only frowned slightly.
Clearly, she didn't want to answer. After all, the person responsible for the tense atmosphere between herself and Mr. C.B. was Rudolf herself.
Noticing Maruzensky's expression shift again, Rudolf quickly added:
"If it involves personal privacy, it's fine not to answer."
Maruzensky remained silent for several seconds before finally responding:
"Luna."
It had been a long time since Maruzensky called her by that nickname.
Hearing it again now, Rudolf's expression turned a bit more serious.
"Would you adopt a cat you found in the middle of a snowstorm?"
"I'd provide it with necessary warmth and care, but I wouldn't keep it."
After thinking a few seconds, Rudolf gave this straightforward answer.
Maruzensky paused for a brief second upon hearing it, then sighed lightly:
"Then, would you abandon your own pet?"
"If it became detrimental to me, then yes."
The bluntness of this answer caused Maruzensky to stand abruptly:
"Is today's work finished?"
"Yes, more or less. We can call it a day."
"I'm leaving," Maruzensky declared, and just like Mr. C.B. earlier, she exited the Student Council room without so much as a glance back.
After Maruzensky had also left—
Rudolf was the only one remaining in the Student Council room.
She stared at the tightly closed door in silence.
Rudolf's face filled with confusion.
Clearly, to Rudolf, these questions had absolutely no relation to each other whatsoever.
Aside from the general topic of pets, Rudolf couldn't imagine any connection at all.