Along the walking path on Irabu Island, Mejiro Ramonu walked side by side with Yayoi Natural, carrying a small box of desserts Yayoi Natural had made by hand—while Yayoi Natural herself didn't seem to care much at all.
They were both going to see Rudolf.
Their mindsets, however, couldn't have been more different.
Yayoi Natural was only here to accompany Mejiro Ramonu.
Mejiro Ramonu, on the other hand, had poured an enormous amount of effort into this.
So…
Standing at the apartment door, Mejiro Ramonu somehow managed to hit the wrong doorbell button several times.
Yayoi Natural tilted her head. "Want me to ring it?"
Mejiro Ramonu froze for a second, then turned to look at her.
That usually unreadable face had far more emotion on it now.
"No. I'll do it."
She faced the door again.
Took a deep breath.
Raised her hand.
This time, Mejiro Ramonu finally pressed the right button.
Not long after, the door opened.
Symboli Rudolf stood there in clothes that looked almost identical to what she'd worn a few days ago.
When the door opened, the first person Rudolf saw was Mejiro Ramonu.
Only then did she notice Yayoi Natural, standing off to the side.
To be honest, Rudolf had expected Mejiro Ramonu to come.
Mejiro Ramonu visited from time to time, after all.
But... her gaze slid past Mejiro Ramonu and stopped on Yayoi Natural.
Yayoi Natural being here was something Rudolf could never have predicted.
Rudolf fell silent for a beat, then spoke. "Long time… no see."
It should've been a greeting to both of them.
But both Yayoi Natural and Mejiro Ramonu could tell exactly who Rudolf was speaking to.
Realizing that, Mejiro Ramonu turned slightly to glance at Yayoi Natural.
Yayoi Natural didn't respond.
Not a word.
For a moment, the air between the three of them sank into dead quiet.
In the end, it was Mejiro Ramonu who broke the silence.
She looked at Rudolf, forcing something down. "Can we come in and sit?"
Hearing what was threaded through her words, both Yayoi Natural and Rudolf shifted their eyes to her.
Then they spoke at the same time.
"Yeah, let—"
"Sure, co—"
Their voices overlapped, and their gazes snapped back to each other.
And with Yayoi Natural deliberately yielding the floor, Rudolf finished first.
"Come in and sit. The room's small, though, so… mind your step."
With that, Rudolf turned around.
Only after she did did Yayoi Natural and Mejiro Ramonu realize Rudolf wasn't wearing anything below.
Just an oversized T-shirt, draping down to cover her.
Seeing that, Yayoi Natural—who didn't look particularly bothered—didn't step forward first. She simply nudged Mejiro Ramonu ahead.
Letting her go in first.
Only then did Yayoi Natural follow.
Mejiro Ramonu glanced back at Yayoi Natural, then walked in.
And once Yayoi Natural stepped into the apartment, she finally understood what Rudolf meant by "small."
The place was about the same size as the back kitchen of her restaurant.
And…
So it really is Rudolf.
With that thought, Yayoi Natural looked at Symboli Rudolf.
Rudolf was already standing by the low table.
She was cleaning up a discounted convenience-store bento she hadn't finished.
Watching her like this, Yayoi Natural couldn't help feeling something… faintly off.
Because the Rudolf she remembered—no matter what—always carried herself with immaculate propriety, always dressed in a more mature, composed style. But now…
Noticing it, Yayoi Natural's gaze slid to Mejiro Ramonu.
Mejiro Ramonu was the one leading this visit, so Yayoi Natural had no intention of taking a seat before her.
She simply waited.
"I was having lunch, so…" Rudolf set the tidied bento container on the counter, then returned to the low table. "Please. Sit."
"…Mm."
Mejiro Ramonu sounded even more subdued than she had at the door. As for why—
Yayoi Natural didn't know. She only watched Mejiro Ramonu sit, then took the seat at the far edge.
"Luna."
"Mm? What is it?"
Mejiro Ramonu stared at her, wanting to say something—but nothing would come out.
The difference in how Rudolf had treated her versus Yayoi Natural still echoed in Mejiro Ramonu's chest.
From that moment at the door, she'd already understood:
She could never compete with Yayoi Natural's place in Rudolf's heart.
So even if she sat here now and did what she'd planned—said what she'd planned to say—all it would do was make her look like a clown.
So she only parted her lips… and said nothing.
Seeing her like that, Rudolf didn't push or prompt. She simply waited.
After a stretch of silence, Mejiro Ramonu finally spoke. "I just… came to see you."
She took a deep breath, then brought out the dessert she'd been clinging to the whole way here.
Rudolf only nodded. "Mm. Thank you."
Too simple.
Those few words only made the gap feel sharper—made it worse.
Mejiro Ramonu didn't look well. Yayoi Natural could tell.
She'd been watching Mejiro Ramonu's mental state ever since they arrived, and in a situation like this, Yayoi Natural spoke up.
"I'll wait outside. You two talk."
As she said it, Yayoi Natural stood, leaving them space.
With Yayoi Natural gone, the atmosphere between Mejiro Ramonu and Rudolf sank into a different kind of silence.
Mejiro Ramonu kept her head down.
Rudolf didn't know what to say.
Their silence stretched on.
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T/N: oof... poor ramonu, just go for the ex wife ramonu!!!
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