The next day was Tokai Teio's rest day.
After all, she hadn't yet reached honkaku-ka; even simple training and tests needed to be handled carefully.
Under these circumstances, Teio had quite a bit of free time every day.
Precisely because of this, Teio's life now could be described as rather leisurely.
Unlike Mochizuki.
Every day, Mochizuki had to spend time watching over her mom and then even more time studying.
And as for Roman—because of Tokai Natural's fragile constitution, Tokai Roman had to handle grocery shopping daily for the four of them.
Of course, it wasn't especially difficult for her. She's a healthy Uma Musume after all, so compared to Yayoi Natural, running around town was simple enough.
Because of this, when Mochizuki decided to accompany Tokai Roman grocery shopping today—the only people left behind were Tokai Teio and Tokai Natural.
And immediately, the atmosphere became awkward.
After all, Tokai Natural and Tokai Teio didn't share many common topics.
Yet…
Tokai Natural lifted her head, glancing at Teio seated across from her, before quickly lowering her gaze again.
Clearly, she had no idea how to start the conversation.
It wasn't like she could just come out and say, "Hey, I'm your mom," right?
At this thought, Tokai Natural's expression twisted slightly again.
She wanted to speak but didn't know how to begin.
But it wasn't Tokai Natural who broke their silence.
It was Tokai Teio.
"Um… Natural-san?"
"Y-yes?"
"Mochizuki mentioned you seemed to have something you wanted to talk to me about?"
"…" Hearing Tokai Teio's question, Tokai Natural froze briefly.
Then, she responded. "Yes, there is… indeed something I wanted to discuss."
Tokai Natural looked up at Teio. After several seconds of thought, she continued, "About your mother… how much do you know?"
The bluntness of the question immediately put Teio on guard.
In the time they'd spent together so far...
Tokai Teio never thought Yayoi Natural wouldn't know about her mother. Yet…
Teio looked at Yayoi Natural again and hesitated for a moment.
She wasn't Mochizuki. She hadn't spent as much time around Yayoi Natural, so she couldn't figure out what Yayoi Natural was aiming for with this question.
But…
A faint anxiety rose in her heart.
Clearly, Tokai Teio already sensed something.
It was only a vague intuition.
Still, it forced Teio's full attention onto Yayoi Natural. "Natural-san, why… why are you asking?"
"I happen to know some things about your mother."
Without directly explaining, Yayoi Natural looked at Teio. "Teio, would you like to know?"
"Huh? Natural-san, you know about that?"
"You could say that." Yayoi Natural glanced around at their surroundings, then continued, "You're aware this place is owned by the Tokai Family, right?"
"Yeah…"
"Actually, your mother gave birth to you right here." Saying this, Yayoi Natural paused slightly, carefully watching Teio's reaction.
Tokai Teio was stunned for just a moment before speaking up again. "I-Is that true?"
"It is."
"But Roman-san…"
"Back then, your mother had already been publicly expelled from the Tokai Family, so Roman didn't know." Yayoi Natural spoke with deliberate ease about her own past, then fell silent for a dozen seconds before continuing, "As for why things ended up that way… all I can say is, it was complicated. Teio, it's probably best if you don't know too much."
Unlike Mochizuki, Teio, due to her Uma nature, didn't tend to reflect as deeply on things.
At least not yet.
Thus, Yayoi Natural didn't reveal the core truths. It was enough to show the surface of events.
"Roman probably figured it out, though. After all, this property's ownership was always in your mother's hands. But at the time, her health was extremely poor, so Roman handled the details."
Listening to Yayoi Natural, confusion filled Tokai Teio's eyes. Clearly, she hadn't fully grasped these matters before.
Ignoring Teio's confusion, Yayoi Natural continued, "I…"
After a brief hesitation, Yayoi Natural pressed forward. "I… know exactly where your mother gave birth."
"But, Natural-san, didn't you just say she gave birth to me right here?"
The anxiety in her heart intensified. Looking directly at Yayoi Natural, Teio felt as if she'd grasped the edge of some truth.
The sense of wrongness from before quickly connected itself.
The relationship between Yayoi Natural and Tokai Roman.
Her uncanny resemblance to Mochizuki.
The fact that Roman had trusted Yayoi Natural enough to leave Teio entirely in her care.
They'd come to this training and rehab base, originally meant for only herself and Roman, yet two extra people had come along.
The vague unease she'd felt earlier now crystallized as Yayoi Natural freely revealed stories of her mother—stories even Roman didn't seem to know clearly.
Everything connected.
But…
Even knowing all this, Tokai Teio couldn't voice her suspicion.
Just like Yayoi Natural, she feared what confirming it might mean. So, instead, she asked her question.
And waited for Yayoi Natural's answer.
Soon, the words she both dreaded and anticipated arrived clearly.
"Actually…"
Yayoi Natural stood up, gazing gently at Teio. "Your mother spent her entire pregnancy—those ten months—living in a single room."
"Do you…"
Another slight hesitation. Then Yayoi Natural firmly decided again: "Do you… want to see it? That room?"
With each sentence, Yayoi Natural confirmed the suspicions that had formed in Teio's heart.
Although Teio wasn't as thoughtful or observant as Mochizuki—nor could she read Yayoi Natural's every expression as clearly—
She wasn't stupid, either.
The fact that she could connect all these oddities meant she'd already realized certain truths.
Though…
She wasn't fully prepared to accept those truths.
After all, there was still room for other explanations.
Like why Yayoi Natural's surname was "Yayoi."
Or perhaps, at that time, the Tokai Family hired Yayoi Natural specifically to care for her mother.
...
There were countless ways to dismiss that terrifying guess.
All Tokai Teio needed to do was refuse Yayoi Natural…
But.
Looking at Yayoi Natural, who now stood waiting in front of her, Teio chose instead to face her fears head-on.
She stood up, following closely behind Yayoi Natural.
When it came to something this important about her closest family member—
Teio knew she had to confirm it for herself.