By the time they stepped off the train, it was already afternoon.
Although the Tokai Family's rehab and training base was technically within Greater Tokyo, given Japan's train speeds, the timing was about right.
Exiting the train, Tokai Natural saw that familiar little train station.
Everything inside the station remained exactly as Natural remembered from the day she'd left.
Nothing had changed.
It was as if time had stopped completely.
Thinking this, Tokai Natural fell silent.
On the train, she'd still managed some conversation with Tokai Roman, but the closer they got, the fewer words she spoke.
She looked like she was scared of something.
Her unusually quiet demeanor made Mochizuki glance up worriedly at her mom.
But all she saw was her mom forcing herself to look calm.
Noticing this, Mochizuki hesitated for a long while before finally speaking up, "Where should we stay tonight?"
She asked this question looking directly at the two adults, her eyes filled with a childlike innocence.
"For tonight... we'll..."
Roman glanced toward Natural, paused for a few seconds, then finished carefully, "stay over at the Tokai property?"
"Mm…"
Natural's response wasn't loud, but just audible enough for everyone present.
After Natural replied, Roman looked at the two kids. "Let's head over there first tonight."
Then, turning back to Natural: "Natural?"
"…Ah?"
"Do you want to look around town first?"
Roman wasn't upset by Natural's distracted manner and continued patiently.
The question finally seemed to help Natural gather herself a little.
Taking a few seconds to regain her composure, she eventually answered, "Yes. I'll walk around the town a bit and…"
"I'll pick up ingredients on the way back."
Saying this, she glanced toward Roman. "Don't worry about me. It's not winter now, and it won't snow."
The oddly cryptic comment caused Mochizuki to stare at her mom again.
Ever since leaving the train, Natural's emotional state had clearly been deteriorating.
Seeing her mom like this, Mochizuki grew even more anxious.
She moved to step closer, wanting to stay by her mom's side, but Roman gently caught her shoulder.
Turning around, Mochizuki saw Roman quietly shaking her head.
Roman's message was clear: Don't follow her.
Looking back toward Natural, Mochizuki saw her mom still struggling to steady her expression.
After pausing for a moment, Mochizuki said carefully, "Mom, Auntie Roman and I will wait for you over there?"
"Yes. Go on ahead."
Unlike before, Natural's reply this time was swift and clear.
That eased Mochizuki's worries just a bit.
So, she stepped back toward Roman and took the road leading out of the station.
Teio, oblivious as usual, even turned back, about to tell Natural to pick up some extra carrots—but before she could speak, Roman lightly knocked her head.
Only after the three had gone far enough away did Natural's carefully hidden anxiety instantly spill onto her face.
With the Tokai Family now completely gone, Natural had thought all her fears had vanished along with them.
But the closer she came to this place, the less certain she felt about carrying out her carefully laid plan to explain everything clearly.
The closer she got, the stronger the unease.
It was as if all her masks had suddenly fallen away.
Just moments ago, with Mochizuki and Teio beside her, Natural could barely maintain her composure. Now, though…
Her expression finally broke.
"Are you alright?"
A stranger's voice came suddenly.
Natural raised her head and saw a man in uniform.
"I work here at the station. I noticed you standing here for quite a while."
"Thank you, I—"
After a brief, unnatural pause, Natural finished, "I'm fine."
The man picked up on her awkward hesitation and asked again, "Do you need to rest a bit?"
"No need, thank you."
With that, Natural quickly turned around and walked toward another exit in the small station.
Watching Natural's hurried departure, the station attendant stood quietly for a few seconds, then adjusted the cap on his head slightly.
He had no obligation to follow her.
And since the station only had one person per shift, all he could do was silently watch Natural walk away.
Once outside the station, Natural wandered the unfamiliar streets aimlessly.
She didn't know the area, nor anything about the town.
Back then, to avoid the Tokai Family, she'd never dared venture far from the orphanage.
So now, she just wandered the town randomly, searching for a convenience store to buy ingredients for tonight.
...
After leaving the station, Mochizuki glanced at Roman. "Auntie Roman...?"
"What is it?"
"Aren't we walking along the road leading out of town now?"
"We are."
Saying this, Roman glanced at a nearby signboard. "The Tokai property covers a large area, so it's actually quite far from the town itself."
"Though at least it has decent facilities."
Mochizuki nodded in response.
Meanwhile, Teio turned toward Mochizuki. "Mochizuki, shouldn't you stay with Auntie Natural?"
"Mom should be…"
Mochizuki remembered her mom's earlier state and hesitated briefly before continuing. "She'll probably be fine. Mom's health has gotten a lot better, so as long as she takes her medicine regularly, there shouldn't be a problem."
Finishing this, Mochizuki turned again toward Roman. "Auntie Roman?"
"Hm?"
"Has Mom been to this town before?"
Roman stared at Mochizuki in surprise upon hearing her question.
She'd long noticed Mochizuki was intelligent, but she hadn't realized that intelligence included both high IQ and EQ.
But…
Considering Mochizuki's question wasn't something that really needed secrecy, Roman replied honestly, "Your mom has indeed been here before, but as for exactly what happened…"
Mochizuki quietly recalled the locked room she'd seen at the rehab base.
Then Roman continued, "She'll explain it herself later. You can wait until then."
"…" Roman's words made Mochizuki fall silent. Now she was sure—this place greatly affected her mom.
But since her mom would eventually explain, there was no need to press further.
So Mochizuki finally nodded:
"Alright, I understand."