After Chiyono O and the others left, Mr. C.B. watched Tokai Natural sitting across the table, quietly eating a dinner made from leftovers.
After a few seconds of thought, Mr. C.B. finally spoke. "Did the Mejiro Family invite you?"
"Ah… yes, but I planned to ask for your opinion before deciding."
Only after swallowing a small piece of beef did Tokai Natural continue, "If you two don't agree…"
She didn't finish.
Mr. C.B. simply observed her in silence.
Tokai Natural's expression held both anticipation and unease.
Anticipation for a positive answer.
And unease because...
Noticing the subtle shift in her mood, Mr. C.B. furrowed her brow. "Did something happen between you and Maruzensky?"
She had promised herself not to ask, yet now she broke that resolve.
Tokai Natural was caught off guard.
She quickly waved her hand. "No, no—nothing happened."
Her answer came too fast.
But Mr. C.B. noticed the stiffness in her posture.
Realizing this, she opened her mouth again.
She wanted to know what had happened between Tokai Natural and Maruzensky.
But—
Right before she asked, she remembered Tokai Natural's fragile health.
Adjusting slightly, Mr. C.B. said instead, "I don't mind, but can your body really handle it?"
Her tone was gentle, careful not to alarm Tokai Natural—not enough to send her back to the hospital.
"If it's just occasionally, I should be fine. And the salary Ardan-san offered is pretty good. If I can start soon, I can at least repay a little of what you two have done for me."
Now Mr. C.B. understood.
The moment she heard this, she realized why Maruzensky might have scared Tokai Natural.
Because once Tokai Natural started working, she might be able to live on her own.
Thinking this, Mr. C.B. looked closely at her.
If Tokai Natural hadn't said it outright, she wouldn't have noticed at all.
But—
Mr. C.B. would not choose the same way Maruzensky had.
She had seen Tokai Natural collapse under exhaustion and emotional strain. To her, Tokai Natural was like a fragile crystal flower.
Once shattered, there would be no putting her back together.
So she only smiled softly. "If that's the case, it might actually be good. The Mejiro Family's restaurant won't rely on just one person, so it should be much easier on you than running your own shop."
She shifted her posture slightly. "Now it's just a matter of what Maruzensky thinks. She probably won't be back soon, so should I ask her for you?"
"…Thank you."
Tokai Natural was stunned for a moment, then nodded.
Seeing that, Mr. C.B. became certain something unpleasant had indeed happened—something that made Tokai Natural actively avoid Maruzensky.
Realizing this, she continued to watch her quietly.
She began thinking about what she should do next.
...
After dinner, Tokai Natural stood and looked at her. "Um… would you like to stay here tonight?"
"…"
Mr. C.B. froze for a moment.
Then she quickly stood as well. "No, it's okay."
She didn't know exactly what Maruzensky had done to cause this faint aversion.
But she knew—it had to be something serious.
Because with Tokai Natural's personality, almost nothing Maruzensky did would make her resist.
Yet now...
Remembering her earlier state, Mr. C.B. simply put the wooden chair back and looked up. "I'll get going then, Natural."
"Mm… please be careful."
Without replying, Mr. C.B. quietly closed the door, stepping out of Tokai Natural's daily life.
Walking down the road, she thought carefully about how to approach Maruzensky.
Normally, she would just call and ask.
But she couldn't do that now.
Tokai Natural was still living in Maruzensky's home. If she asked too directly and Maruzensky realized how Tokai Natural really felt—even without thinking it through, instinct alone told her what would happen.
Because possessiveness guided her thoughts. She knew that if Tokai Natural made certain choices—she herself might end up doing exactly what Maruzensky had done.
But unlike Maruzensky—having seen Tokai Natural collapse, Mr. C.B. cherished her even more. She needed to think this through.
Because if Maruzensky ever locked Tokai Natural away, Mr. C.B. wasn't sure she could find her again without calling on Symboli Rudolf.
But Symboli Rudolf's relationship with Tokai Natural was also…
Thinking that far, Mr. C.B. rubbed her forehead. How had things gotten so complicated?
She complained inwardly, but she knew she had involved herself in all this.
So she wouldn't walk away.
And so—
...
The next day, after finishing Student Council work, Mr. C.B. approached Maruzensky, who was still reviewing documents.
"Yayoi was invited by the Mejiro Family as a guest chef."
She summed it up in one sentence.
Maruzensky only nodded. "Hmm… isn't that a good thing?"
"She said she wanted both our opinions before deciding."
"I see. Personally, I don't mind wherever Yayoi chooses to work. But her health…"
"It's just occasional visits, so it should be fine. But…" After a pause, Mr. C.B. added, "She also said she wants to repay some of what we've done for her. Honestly, she really…"
When Maruzensky turned toward her, a flash of desire crossed her eyes, gone in an instant.
"Isn't it good for her to become self-sufficient sooner?"
"True. Then I'll tell Yayoi today that she can take the job."
With that, Mr. C.B. left the Student Council room.
Maruzensky slowly loosened her grip, looking down at the pen she'd been using.
The fountain pen she had held for years had been crushed in her powerful hand.