As night fell, Tokai Shizen still hadn't returned home.
This wasn't because she was indifferent to her daughter; on the contrary, it was precisely because she cared too much that she didn't go back.
After all, her performance today was a little too outstanding.
So she didn't go home; instead, she stayed at the restaurant.
"The flight tickets are booked, and the things for these few days are ready. Next, it's probably..."
As she said this, Tokai Shizen looked at her phone... She was considering whether to book a hotel.
Although doing so might make Tokai's already strained finances even worse, if she was going to see Rudolph Symboli... Recalling Rudolph Symboli's timid appearance at the time.
Tokai Shizen just shook her head: "Forget it, for her, it's still a bit too early."
Maruzensky said nothing as she watched Tokai Shizen's actions.
To be honest, she knew why Tokai Shizen was going on a long trip.
After all, the facts were right there, so Maruzensky only needed to think a little to probably guess who Tokai Shizen was going to see.
And watching Tokai Shizen's behavior, Maruzensky just opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.
She wasn't clear about the exact relationship between Tokai Shizen and Rudolph Symboli.
Or rather, she knew about the relationship between Tokai and Rudolph Symboli, but as for the story further back... Maruzensky had asked, but there was no answer.
Because Tokai didn't remember.
This was the so-called key.
And now, looking at Tokai Shizen, who was sitting on the bed flipping through her phone, Maruzensky pondered for a few seconds, then asked a crucial question: "What is your relationship with Rudolph Symboli?"
"A childhood friend who fell from the sky?"
"What kind of strange trope is that, only appearing in two-dimensional games..."
"..."
Such words made Tokai Shizen turn her head slightly. Clearly, what Maruzensky had just said really left Tokai Shizen at a loss for how to respond, as what Maruzensky said was, in a sense, correct... Seeing Tokai Shizen's lack of intention to answer her question, Maruzensky didn't dwell on it too much.
She simply leaned back and lay down directly on the bed.
Unlike interacting with Tokai, where one needed to constantly pay attention to Tokai's state.
The interaction between Maruzensky and Tokai Shizen was unexpectedly harmonious.
It looked more like roommates, rather than... Maruzensky's face was full of melancholy as she thought of that word. She also didn't know why, after Tokai became Tokai Shizen, things had so naturally turned out this way.
She clearly wanted to be in a relationship with Tokai.
But the reality was... Seeing Maruzensky's melancholic look, Tokai Shizen didn't say much.
As an observer who had always been unable to influence anyone, Tokai Shizen saw the emotional lines of the several people with utmost clarity.
So she could probably guess what Maruzensky was feeling melancholic about.
But she also didn't know how to respond to her.
After all, she wasn't Tokai.
And after thinking about this, Tokai Shizen simply turned her head to look out the window.
In the gradually darkening Shopping Street, there were only scattered lights.
Looking at those scattered lights, and her own reflection in the slightly spotted glass.
Tokai Shizen turned her head and looked at Maruzensky, who was still lying on the bed.
Seeing her appearance, as if something was bothering her.
Tokai Shizen thought for a while, then asked: "Maruzen, what do you think is needed for marriage?"
The words, echoing the question from the restaurant earlier in the day, made Maruzensky look up.
Looking at the raised head of Maruzensky.
Tokai Shizen showed a slight smile, she stood up directly, walked to Maruzensky's bed, and sat beside her: "I'm asking you again, if you want to marry 'me', what do you need to do?"
Facing Tokai Shizen's question, Maruzensky opened her mouth, then stopped again.
Her lips moved, but she didn't know what to say.
The preparations she could have easily spouted out earlier had all vanished at this moment.
Looking at Maruzensky like this, Tokai Shizen just pinched her face: "Marriage is different from dating~"
"Just like you are now." Tokai Shizen paused after saying this, then continued: "So my advice is not to get married."
"Not getting married can avoid all the problems you can think of~"
After being serious for only a moment, Tokai Shizen immediately couldn't keep it up. After all, she wasn't good at saying such things, so she simply shifted the topic to another angle, one she was more skilled at: "Or rather, Maruzen, do you want to marry me?"
The slightly mocking words made Maruzensky instantly understand what Tokai Shizen meant by "me."
And Maruzensky, understanding this, thought for a moment, then posed another question: "What about Rudolph Symboli? To you, to you who is not Tokai but Tokai Shizen, Rudolph Symboli is very important, isn't she?"
Such a direct question made Tokai Shizen's mind freeze for a moment.
This was a question Tokai Shizen had never considered.
Because at first, Tokai Shizen only regarded Rudolph Symboli as a troublesome problem that needed to be dealt with.
After all, Rudolph Symboli at that time was indeed just that to Tokai Shizen.
And now, Tokai Shizen's feelings towards Rudolph Symboli are also... Looking at the silent Tokai Shizen.
Maruzensky found a slight difference.
Because if it were Tokai, she would probably treat the current Rudolph Symboli as an ordinary person.
But for Tokai Shizen, it might be a different matter.
Maruzensky, noticing this, just turned her head to look at Tokai Shizen.
Tokai Shizen's profile was the same as Tokai's.
However, just the change in their eyes.
Made Maruzensky see a completely different feeling.
Looking at Tokai Shizen like this, Maruzensky asked a question: "Shizen?"
"Hmm?"
Shizen, who was called, immediately turned her head.
Because she was already sitting on the bed, just by turning her head, Tokai Shizen noticed the distance between them.
And Tokai, realizing this distance... immediately got dead eyes: "You want to sleep with me?"
Hearing these words that instantly killed all the original mood, Maruzensky's face fell: "You really don't understand romance at all."
"What's the difference between that and you wanting to sleep with me? After all, the end result is still sleeping with me."
"We can't talk like this."
"It's wrong for you to expect to have a conversation with someone who has been reclusive for over twenty years, isn't it!"
Saying this, Tokai Shizen stood up and walked towards her own bed: "Can you help me look after Teio and Mochizuki these few days while I'm away?"
"Yes."
"Thank you."
And after the lights were turned off, Maruzensky heard some words.
They were the words Tokai Shizen was about to say:
"Rudolph Symboli, to me, is just one of the problems that need to be dealt with.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
[patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"