A sharp intuition had already sensed the truth, yet Tokai Teio didn't dare confront it openly.
She could only follow passively behind Yayoi Natural.
The secluded rehab base, which once felt like the perfect training ground, now seemed excessively large in Teio's eyes.
With only two sets of footsteps echoing, the emptiness made Teio feel the place was far too vast.
Vast enough that no secrets could remain hidden.
Unaware of Teio's shifting expression, Yayoi Natural simply kept walking forward.
Step by step, down the corridor.
Soon, the two stopped in front of a door.
Standing before it, Yayoi Natural's expression shifted slightly. Gathering her courage, she turned her head to face Tokai Teio. "This room..."
Her words trailed off.
Her movements froze.
All of this made Teio even more aware of the reality before her.
Yet, standing there, neither Tokai Teio nor Yayoi Natural did anything. Neither could move.
They simply stood, silently gazing at each other, unable to speak.
...
At the local convenience store, Mochizuki and Tokai Roman were wandering aimlessly, sharing an unspoken understanding.
Their planned return was scheduled for three hours later—
Not three hours from departure, but beginning their return exactly on the third hour after arriving in town.
They intended to leave enough time for Yayoi Natural and Tokai Teio.
Staring at the ingredients before her, Mochizuki quietly considered whether she should add them to the shopping basket.
Roman, however, had deeper concerns.
Finally, after a dozen seconds, Roman voiced her worries: "Mochizuki."
"Hm?"
"Do you think those two can communicate properly?"
Roman turned her head, meeting Mochizuki's gaze as she spoke.
"I don't know."
"What a coincidence—I don't know either."
A few simple words were enough to confirm both their worries about Yayoi Natural and Teio's current state.
After a moment's silence, Mochizuki shifted her eyes elsewhere. "Um… Mom mentioned something once before."
"What?"
"If they make up, we should eat gaijiaofan with five different kinds of meat." Mochizuki spoke based on her fuzzy memories, turning back to look at Roman. "You two might need something like that, right?"
Roman froze slightly upon hearing Mochizuki's words.
After a dozen seconds of quiet, she finally responded. "You're right. We probably do need something like that."
Mochizuki's words had revealed that she already knew something.
But…
Perhaps there was no reason to get hung up on such details.
Thinking this, Roman turned back to the produce shelves. "What ingredients do we need, then?"
Mochizuki pondered this for a few seconds before replying, "I don't know exactly, but probably just meat will do. Mom should be able to handle the rest."
Saying this, Mochizuki glanced at Roman again. "Later, could you help Mom, Roman-san?"
"…Yeah, I will."
...
Still silently facing each other, Yayoi Natural carefully thought about what to do next.
After several seconds of tense silence, Teio finally spoke up. "C-can… can we open it?"
"…Mm."
Her hesitation lasted only a moment before Yayoi Natural made her decision.
She placed her hand on the doorknob and turned it with all the strength she could muster.
As the latch slowly retracted, Yayoi Natural looked back at Teio. "Teio, someone's waiting for you."
"…"
Teio's gaze shifted slightly away, unable to directly face Yayoi Natural.
Seeing Teio's reaction, Yayoi Natural pushed the door open fully.
Then, a room containing only a single bed was revealed to them both.
Staring into the room, Tokai Teio was at a loss for words.
Yayoi Natural's breathing quickened slightly. She stared at the room that had imprinted itself deeply into her memories—
Her eyes filled with fear.
That fear forced Yayoi Natural to look back at Teio. "Would you like to go in?"
"…Mm." Teio's eyes flickered between Yayoi Natural and the room before finally settling on the interior.
Yayoi Natural had said someone was waiting, but no one was inside.
Or rather, at this moment…
In this enormous, empty rehab base, there were only the two of them present.
So…
After a brief pause, Tokai Teio stepped into the room.
As she'd seen from outside, it contained only a single bed. Nothing else was there.
After looking around, Teio turned back toward Yayoi Natural, who remained standing outside the door.
Due to the building's layout, she couldn't clearly see Yayoi Natural's expression under the natural lighting.
Yet, seeing clearly wasn't necessary.
She only needed to ask a single question.
"Was… it you who was waiting for me?"
Her voice trembled.
Tokai Teio feared meeting her parent because she didn't know how to face them.
But…
She still asked that question.
Facing Teio's inquiry, Yayoi Natural's expression changed subtly before finally responding, "…Mm."
Both of their words were filled with anxiety, each fearing how the other would respond next.
After hearing Yayoi Natural's answer, Tokai Teio was stunned for a second, her voice shaking even more noticeably: "Then… why did you abandon me…?"
"It's a long story. If you want to hear it, I can tell you."
"I want to."
"I see…" Taking a deep breath, Yayoi Natural stepped forward.
She entered the room that had terrified her for so long.
Then, she gently continued, "Sit down. Listen carefully to the whole story."
Saying this, Yayoi Natural patted the bed gently, signaling Teio to sit beside her.
Tokai Teio stared at Yayoi Natural for several seconds in silence. Finally, she moved to her side and obediently sat down.
...
Three hours later, Mochizuki and Tokai Roman walked side-by-side on the road home.
"Roman-san, do you think Mom and Teio can get along well?"
"They can. Teio's a good kid…"
"I see…"