The two of them walked along Irabu Island's roads.
They didn't talk much—just followed the path at an unhurried pace.
"Ramonu?"
"…Mm."
There was a faint sob in Mejiro Ramonu's reply.
"Come on. Let's go back first. Tomorrow, we'll return to Tokyo."
As she spoke, Yayoi Natural turned her head slightly.
The apartment building where Rudolf lived was slowly slipping out of view.
Watching it fade, Yayoi Natural turned back to Mejiro Ramonu.
Mejiro Ramonu kept walking forward.
But...
"Natural…"
"Yeah?"
"…No. It's nothing."
Mejiro Ramonu lifted her head.
A strained smile tugged at her lips. Clearly, she wasn't doing well—but her upbringing still pushed her to keep herself presentable.
Yayoi Natural didn't speak. She simply waited for what Mejiro Ramonu would say next.
"Natural… actually, I booked a room at a hotel here today."
She didn't say who she'd intended to share it with.
But Yayoi Natural could guess with her eyes closed.
There was only one possible answer.
"Mm. Then maybe we—"
Mejiro Ramonu turned to face Yayoi Natural. "Natural, staying in the same room as me—would that be a problem?"
The emotion still clung to her words. Hearing it, Yayoi Natural looked at her.
This wasn't the Mejiro Ramonu who always seemed effortlessly in control. Right now, she was openly unraveling.
But Yayoi Natural didn't mind that much.
She only nodded. "Sure."
"Good."
Mejiro Ramonu didn't say anything else. She just led Yayoi Natural onward.
Before long, they arrived at the hotel Mejiro Ramonu had booked.
Yayoi Natural stared at it for a few seconds, then looked away.
To be honest, she'd expected Mejiro Ramonu to be bold, but…
Seeing a place whose colors—and even its name—screamed couples' hotel, Yayoi Natural turned to Mejiro Ramonu. "This is… where we're staying?"
"Something like that."
Mejiro Ramonu's expression shifted slightly, and only then did she speak again. "At this hour, it's too late to go back."
That reminded Yayoi Natural—yeah. It really was too late to return to the hotel they'd been staying at on Okinawa's main island.
Realizing it, Yayoi Natural looked back at Mejiro Ramonu.
Mejiro Ramonu didn't speak. She only met her eyes, waiting for an answer.
They held each other's gaze until the silence got heavy.
Yayoi Natural remembered what Rudolf had told her.
But—seeing the bitterness on Mejiro Ramonu's face…
Yayoi Natural nodded.
"Mm. Okay."
She stepped to Mejiro Ramonu's side, then said, "Let's stay here tonight."
...
Time rewinds a little.
In truth, after Rudolf went back into her apartment and shut the door, she didn't return to her lunch.
She leaned her head against the door, pressed an ear to it, and listened for the sounds outside.
Only after the footsteps of Yayoi Natural and Mejiro Ramonu faded farther and farther away did Symboli Rudolf open the door again.
Standing in the corridor, she watched the two figures receding into the distance along the road.
She stayed silent for a long time, then turned and went back inside.
Even in that short exchange, she'd felt it—Mejiro Ramonu's mental state was dangerous.
Rudolf needed to prepare in advance.
Back in the apartment, she rummaged around and found her phone in the corner of the table, completely buried under magazines.
With the phone in hand, Rudolf didn't hesitate. She called the Mejiro Family.
As the former head of the Symboli Family—whose ties with the Mejiro Family were exceptionally close—Rudolf had contact information for practically everyone in the household. Through that line, she could reach what she needed.
Before long, someone picked up.
Normally, when Rudolf contacted the Mejiro Family, she could reach Madam Mejiro directly. But this time she'd called the general household line.
So the one answering wouldn't be Madam Mejiro.
It would be the Mejiro butler.
"Hello, this is the Mejiro residence. How may I help you?"
A voice Rudolf didn't particularly recognize.
Rudolf took a slow breath, then asked, "Is this Afu?"
"That voice… Miss Rudolf? May I ask why you're contacting me?"
Hearing how quickly the butler identified her, Rudolf's expression shifted slightly. Then she stated her purpose. "Afu, can you provide me with information on any rooms Mejiro Ramonu has booked recently in Okinawa or around Irabu Island?"
"I can provide that, yes. But, Miss Rudolf… what do you intend to do?"
"Well…" Rudolf paused, searching for a reason.
After a moment's thought, she answered, "To stop Mejiro Ramonu from doing something irreversible."
Hearing the obvious cover in her words, Afu fell silent for a few seconds before replying, "Understood. I'll send the details of the room Miss Ramonu booked to your email."
"Thank you."
"I hope you succeed in dissuading Miss Ramonu."
With that, the call ended.
Staring at the dark screen, Symboli Rudolf let out a long breath.
"So they saw through it…"
She tightened her grip on the phone slightly.
She was worried about Yayoi Natural.
Because she knew that in Mejiro Ramonu's current state, Yayoi Natural might end up facing something ugly.
After all, the things that had happened in the past…
Thinking that far, Rudolf lifted her head a little.
"Please… let nothing happen."
---
T/N: OH NO! guys here's the chapter name
Mejiro Ramonu Is Going to Uma-Pyoi with Natural!
GUYS!! RUDOLF QUICK!!! SAVE YOUR EX WIFE!!!
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hehe every 100 followers on either instagram or twitter is 5 bonus chapters...? (for all tls ongoing)
idk theyre at like 35 followers both :3c
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