Mom is not normal today.
This was a fact Tokai could confirm at first glance.
After all... "It's so spicy!"
Hearing Teio's voice, Tokai knew there was something different about her mother.
After all, the usual Tokai would absolutely never make food with this flavor.
"After all, Japanese people's tastes lean towards sweet and savory..."
After comforting Teio with these words, Tokai looked at Tokai Shizen again.
Tokai Shizen was leaning most of her upper body on the counter, talking to Maruzensky in a way that was closer to her.
"...Is Mom finally crazy?"
Looking at Tokai Shizen like this, Mochizuki came to a not-so-good conclusion.
Hearing the conclusion Mochizuki gave, Tokai Teio didn't respond. She just drank the water in her glass in large gulps.
Clearly, Tokai Teio was not used to her mother's suddenly changed taste.
And as the focus of the two's attention, Tokai Shizen just looked at Maruzensky in front of her: "As expected, Mochizuki has already noticed~"
Saying this, Tokai Shizen's gaze slightly shifted from Mochizuki.
Then she spoke again: "Maruzen, what do you think?"
Looking at the successful prank-like smile on Tokai Shizen's face, Maruzensky did not answer.
To be honest, Maruzensky didn't believe Tokai Shizen's explanation.
After all, that kind of thing seemed too strange no matter how she looked at it.
But... Tokai's body... Thinking of this, Maruzensky looked at Tokai Shizen with a headache.
Almost completely opposite to Tokai, Tokai Shizen had her own proactive ideas about many things.
And considering this... "Uma Musume can't eat things with a lot of spice."
Sighing, Maruzen then looked at Tokai Shizen in front of her: "Do fewer pranks like this in the future."
"Don't worry, under normal circumstances, it's quite difficult for me to come out."
After a casual explanation, Tokai Shizen turned her head to look in another direction: "But after mastering the method, if I occasionally want to come out for some fresh air, I should still be able to~"
Saying this, Tokai Shizen looked in the direction where Tokai Teio and Tokai were sitting.
Looking at those two children.
Tokai Shizen's expression changed slightly.
Although the two of them were not born from Tokai Shizen.
At least she hadn't experienced that.
But, the feelings they held were the same.
And thinking of this, Tokai Shizen just retracted her gaze, placing it back on Maruzensky in front of her: "Although I don't know if I'll be able to appear again in the future."
Saying this, Tokai Shizen relaxed her body slightly, and then her feet touched the ground again.
Only her head emerged from behind the restaurant counter.
Looking at Tokai Shizen like this, Maruzensky just focused her gaze on the part of Tokai Shizen that was just her head.
She looked at Tokai Shizen's face, thinking about the fundamental difference between Tokai Shizen and Tokai, but after several seconds of thought.
Maruzensky still hadn't found that although there were slight, fundamental differences between Tokai Shizen and Tokai.
But, recalling Tokai Shizen's gaze towards Teio and Mochizuki just now.
Maruzensky realized that Tokai Shizen and Tokai were still the same in some key aspects.
Realizing this, Maruzensky shifted her gaze back to Tokai, who was busy preparing lunch for the customers.
Looking at her, Maruzensky wanted to say something, but she stopped before opening her mouth.
She didn't know whether she should ask.
But... after Tokai finished her work, and looking at Tokai Shizen who looked at her again, Maruzensky decided she had to speak.
"Shizen..."
"Hmm?"
"Right now, Tokai can't hear, right?"
Maruzensky's question made Tokai Shizen turn her head to look at her. Tokai Shizen had already sensed what Maruzensky wanted to say.
But... Tokai Shizen, supporting herself with one hand, used the index finger of her other hand to tap Maruzensky's lips: "It's meaningless for you to tell me~ Of course, if you absolutely must say something..."
"You can talk to me, but I won't give you a solution~ Go explain it to her yourself."
At this point, Tokai Shizen relaxed slightly, letting her feet return to the ground: "Eh, I can't believe after all these years, I'm still so short... Why can't I grow taller..."
Tokai Shizen's words were full of resentment: "Why can't I grow a little taller? This height is so inconvenient for everything..."
Looking at Tokai Shizen's resentful expression, Maruzensky just smiled slightly.
Just as she had seen just now, in some places that were deeper than the superficial changes, Tokai Shizen and Tokai were alike.
Realizing this once again, Maruzensky just looked up at the wooden ceiling.
Looking at the wooden ceiling, Maruzensky finally returned her gaze to Tokai's face.
"What are you looking at? Do I have flowers on my face?"
"Hmm, do I?"
Hearing this, Tokai Shizen once again propped herself up with one hand, then placed a hand on Maruzensky's forehead: "Holy crap, two hundred fifty degrees."
"Hmm?"
"Did your brain burn out?"
Saying this, Tokai Shizen once again landed steadily on the ground, then continued: "You even said I have flowers on my face."
Looking at Tokai Shizen's actions, Maruzensky just nodded: "Just assume I have a fever."
"Then hurry to the hospital. If you're sick, remember to go to the hospital, don't waste time here with me."
Looking at Tokai Shizen's feigned impatience, Maruzensky was silent for a few seconds, then continued: "By the way, Shizen?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you think love is a good thing?"
"If you can understand what you did to 'me', then you wouldn't think that."
Listening to Tokai Shizen's pointed words, Maruzensky just nodded, and then,
She stared intently at Tokai Shizen, her lips pressed together,
Unsure whether she should speak the words that followed.
But, she still made a decision.
So, she posed the question: "Do you think marriage is a good thing?"
"You want to marry 'me'?"
"Of course."
"Then you should just keep thinking about it for now."
"Okay~"
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