After submitting the most troublesome batch of review paperwork, all Yayoi Natural had to do was sit in Maruzen's house and wait.
Her daughter's identity application could only be filed after Yayoi Natural's own registration was completed.
Therefore, what truly mattered to Yayoi Natural right now was something else.
"Names…"
Yayoi Natural had never gotten around to thinking of a name for her daughter.
It wasn't that she didn't want to spend the time—her previous circumstances kept her living on edge, so she'd had no energy left to ponder a name.
But now…
Everything was starting to get better, and precisely because of that, Yayoi Natural finally had the leisure to think a little about her daughter's name.
As for naming her daughter, Yayoi Natural hoped to choose it herself.
After all, she was her own child; letting someone else interfere at this point wouldn't feel right.
So Yayoi Natural decided to think one up on her own.
Of course, on this point, Maruzensky was supportive enough.
After all, the baby wasn't much related to Maruzensky, and as an older onee-san, she wasn't particularly fussy about these matters.
However, when Yayoi Natural finally offered the name, Maruzensky felt something was a little… off.
Yayoi Mochizuki.
Mochizuki…
Seeing that name, Maruzensky frowned.
She remembered Symboli Rudolf's nickname—or rather, the name one might hear if one were close enough to Rudolf.
Luna.
Rudolf had that nickname because the white "meteor" in her hair looked like a crescent moon; hence the lunar name. But, looked at in the present situation—
She turned her head to look at Yayoi Natural.
The other's expression didn't change much; she seemed quite satisfied with the name.
Seeing Yayoi Natural's expression, Maruzensky only took a sip of tea. She didn't plan to ask questions right now.
At least—not at this moment.
Only…
Noticing the slight change in Maruzensky's complexion, Yayoi Natural tilted her head in confusion. She couldn't tell what she'd done to upset the other.
But—
"Maruzen," she lifted her head toward Yayoi Natural—only to find the other already looking at her.
"Um… is there something wrong with the name?"
"…No."
"Are you sure?" Yayoi Natural asked again, looking at her.
Hearing the second, careful probe, Maruzensky more or less realized that the other truly didn't know Symboli Rudolf's nickname.
With that in mind, her expression loosened a little. "In a while, I'll be heading out to the provinces together with Ru— with that person. We may be gone for quite some time. I'll leave you some money."
Seeing Maruzensky sidestep that person's name, Yayoi Natural just smiled slightly and asked, "When will you be back?"
"Hard to say, but probably not too long."
With that, Maruzensky stood up. "Do you need me to buy you a phone? You'll need one for contact, right?"
The question made Yayoi Natural think for a few seconds; then she shook her head. "That's too much trouble for you. I'll buy one myself later."
Hearing this, Maruzensky paused to think, then said, "Mm."
She knew Yayoi Natural wasn't someone planning to be sheltered forever, so those words were only natural.
Therefore, Maruzensky asked another question: "Do you need me to introduce you to a job?"
"Mm…"
The question made Yayoi Natural think for a few seconds; then she shook her head. "No need—it would cause you a lot of trouble, wouldn't it?"
Seeing the refusal, Maruzensky didn't press. She simply finished her tea and stood. "I'll head out first. I haven't been around over there lately—still need to placate the dorm supervisor."
At the door, Maruzensky turned back to Yayoi Natural:
"By the way—"
"Mm?"
"That person has a nickname. It's Luna."
"Eh?"
Without saying anything more, Maruzensky closed the door and left the apartment.
Only several seconds after the door shut did Yayoi Natural fully realize what her chosen name implied.
Mochizuki—if you interpret the characters literally, isn't it "to hope for the moon," or "to gaze at the moon"?
And Luna is just the phonetic for "moon." So, if that's the case…
Now I know why her face changed just now.
"Isn't that basically telling Maruzensky I'm still thinking about Rudolf? …Good thing she didn't get angry."
Saying this, Yayoi Natural patted her not-insubstantial chest. Clearly, though the relationship between her and Maruzensky had improved a lot, Yayoi Natural still worried that Maruzensky might kick her out.
After all, her identity papers weren't in hand yet. If she got thrown out now, not getting the new documents would be pretty dangerous.
Thinking this, Yayoi Natural let out a quiet sigh of relief.
...
The next day, Rudolf and Maruzensky began preparing to head out to observe the regional race series.
This had been decided last year—Symboli Rudolf planned to travel nationwide, scouting Umas in the local circuits who had the talent but hadn't entered Central, and bring them into the Central scene.
Originally, the plan also included Mr. C.B.
But...
"Not going!" A direct refusal, delivered in a tone extremely C.B.-like.
Hearing this, a faintly bad premonition crossed Maruzensky's face. Still, she didn't know what Mr. C.B. intended, so she kept quiet.
Symboli Rudolf, on the other hand, was used to Mr. C.B.'s refusals. She only nodded. "That's fine as well. But the student council affairs will be in your hands while we're gone, alright?"
"No problem~"
Saying this, Mr. C.B. turned away.
Maruzensky and Rudolf didn't plan to depart until the afternoon, so there wasn't much to do yet.
But as she walked past Maruzensky, Mr. C.B. spoke a single name.
The moment she heard it, Maruzensky stood up.
"Maruzen, what's wrong?"
"…No, it's nothing." Saying so, Maruzensky turned her head to watch the receding figure of Mr. C.B.
She knew exactly what it meant for Mr. C.B. to say that now.
Because at this moment, Maruzensky couldn't chase after her—Rudolf would be hard to explain things to.
So Maruzensky simply sat back down, pulled out her phone on the spot, and sent Mr. C.B. an email.
Standing just outside the council room, Mr. C.B. glanced at the incoming mail… and didn't reply. She let the screen go dark.
She couldn't care less what Maruzensky had to say.
[Mr. C.B.]:Yayoi Natural, you want to know Tokai Teio's current situation too, don't you?
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T/N: HEUIHEUHUEHEUHE