On October 13th, Tokai Shizen officially moved into the second floor of the restaurant.
There was still some time before the official opening.
This was the pre-opening preparation period.
Unlike the previous soft opening.
There were many things to do during the pre-opening period, but the main task was simply to slightly change the interior decorations, tables, and chairs of the restaurant.
These items had to be new; if old ones were used for these aspects, the impression the shop gave would be rather subtle.
If Tokai Shizen were alone, she wouldn't be able to manage these basic tasks.
But fortunately, Tokai Shizen had many people helping her, so the preparations went smoothly.
After everything was handled and Maruzensky, Representative Chiaki, Sakura Chiyo O, and Tamamo Cross, who had come to help, were sent off.
It was already nine in the evening.
Tokai Shizen glanced at the wall clock, checked the remaining ingredients, and then began to think about dinner.
However, while she was contemplating dinner, the shop door was pushed open.
"Sorry, we haven't started business today…"
Before she finished speaking, Tokai Shizen saw the person standing at the door.
Sirius Symboli.
Looking at Sirius Symboli, Tokai Shizen froze for a second.
A bad premonition arose in her heart.
She remembered that she hadn't hung an 'Open' or 'Closed' sign on the door, because it wasn't officially open yet, so there was no need for that sign.
Sirius Symboli, standing at the doorway, looked at the renovated or replaced seats inside the shop, thought for a moment, and then chose a seat closest to Tokai Shizen and sat down.
"Um, may I help you?"
Sirius Symboli heard the voice, which was feigning composure.
She looked at Tokai Shizen.
The other party was still feigning composure.
Looking at Tokai Shizen like this, Sirius Symboli was silent for a second, then spoke: "Tokai, no, Tokai Shizen?"
"You, you know?"
"Don't worry, I'm not like Rudolph."
Saying this, Sirius Symboli stood up and placed a hand on Tokai Shizen's shoulder to prevent her from falling to the ground.
Sirius Symboli's action did not reassure Tokai Shizen; instead, it made her even more afraid.
Noticing that Tokai Shizen's body trembled a little more, Sirius Symboli simply let go: "Don't fall."
Saying this, Sirius Symboli sat back down on the high stool.
Once she was back on the high stool, Sirius Symboli looked up again: "The child adopted by Tokai Family, I remember her name is Tokai Teio, right? Is she your child?"
Without excessive words, she directly stated the purpose of her visit.
Tokai Shizen did not respond.
She didn't know whether she should answer Sirius Symboli, because from a status perspective, Sirius Symboli was from Symboli Family, and what she would do to Teio was an unknown for Tokai Shizen.
If… thinking about this and that.
Tokai Shizen's expression gradually changed.
Looking at Tokai Shizen's changing expression.
Sirius Symboli was not in a hurry.
Sirius knew the extent to which Tokai Shizen had been persecuted by Symboli Family and Tokai Family, so she didn't care whether Tokai Shizen responded or not.
She just continued to speak:
"I've looked for Tokai Roman; she cares a lot about you." Saying this, Sirius Symboli stood up. She knew that Tokai Shizen would not respond to some questions now, so she would not stay here long.
However,
When she reached the shop door, Sirius Symboli turned her head and looked at Tokai Shizen: "I'll be going to Tokai Family later."
After saying this, Sirius Symboli pushed open the shop door and left directly.
Tokai Shizen looked at the closed shop door.
She didn't know what Sirius Symboli intended by saying that, but if Sirius Symboli really planned to do something, Tokai Shizen only had one option: to escape.
She had no ability to resist and no power to choose.
She could only escape.
So, Tokai Shizen only worried for a while about what Sirius Symboli intended to do, and then, filled with worry, began to make dinner.
Mochizuki still needed care; she had to get her own body in order.
Therefore, Tokai Shizen, still worried, fell asleep on the second floor of the restaurant.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"Are you going to the Chukyo Cup tomorrow?"
Walking back, Representative Chiaki asked this question.
Facing the question, Maruzensky turned her head to look at Representative Chiaki: "Why wouldn't I go?"
"I don't really want to go."
"I don't really want to either, but it's still work." Saying this, Maruzensky looked up at the sky.
In the night sky, polluted by the lights of Tokyo, no starlight could be seen, only a bright moon. Maruzensky had long been accustomed to such a sky.
It's just… "If only her personality could be a little softer."
With a slight sigh, Maruzensky's words carried a hint of sadness.
She knew why Tokai Shizen was working so hard, and she also knew that Tokai Shizen's efforts were merely a sandcastle simply built, which could be easily destroyed by the slightest external force.
Tokai Shizen herself understood this point.
But she was still trying to build a small refuge of her own.
Looking at Tokai Shizen like this, anyone would sigh.
Maruzensky's words made Representative Chiaki look at Maruzensky: "As long as it doesn't involve her daughter."
What Representative Chiaki said was entirely correct.
Just as she said, as long as it didn't involve Tokai Mochizuki, then Shizen truly didn't care about herself at all.
"I think, if it weren't for Mochizuki, we wouldn't have met her."
Simple and direct.
Both of them knew that Mochizuki was Shizen's current motivation to live.
If it weren't for Mochizuki, neither of them would likely have met Tokai Shizen.
So… "What will happen next?"
Saying this, Representative Chiaki sighed: "I hope she can be better."
Representative Chiaki's words made Maruzensky silent for a moment.
She just turned around.
This location was already too far from the restaurant.
The restaurant was completely out of sight.
But the faint glow of the Shopping Street could be seen.
Looking at the Shopping Street, which was still twinkling with some lights, Maruzensky was silent for a few seconds, then turned around: "Tomorrow we still have work."
"How about we skip it?"
"Good idea."
"Can't even think about it?"