Night fell.
Tokai Natural and Mochizuki lay together on one bed, while Teio slept on Mochizuki's bed.
Held in Natural's arms, Mochizuki watched Teio sleeping quietly on the other bed. She wondered when exactly Natural planned to tell Teio about everything.
Natural, holding Mochizuki, also gazed at Teio.
But Natural wasn't thinking quite as much as Mochizuki was.
That was only natural—after all, Tokai Natural just wished she could be with Teio.
The reasons didn't matter anymore.
Still, after a while, Natural's gaze shifted away from Teio and landed on Mochizuki in her arms.
Since Mochizuki faced away, Natural couldn't see her daughter's expression clearly.
She stared softly at Mochizuki, quietly thinking about the future.
If Teio could acknowledge me without trouble, that would be wonderful.
If Mochizuki and Teio could get along without me having to worry…that would be even better.
Thinking this, Natural loosened her embrace slightly.
Feeling the slight relief in pressure, Mochizuki didn't say anything. She just closed her eyes, intending to sleep.
After all, no matter how much she worried about the Teio situation, she wouldn't find an answer.
She might as well sleep.
Soon after closing her eyes, Mochizuki fell asleep in Natural's gentle arms.
...
The next morning, the first person awake was again Natural, who rose earliest every day to check inventory and manage deliveries.
Not long after Natural got up, Teio woke too.
She woke up mainly because of her usual morning training schedule. On school days, she'd always do her basic training either very early or right after classes.
But today…
Realizing she was still at Mochizuki's house, Teio rolled onto her back, staring blankly at the ceiling.
She blinked.
She had no idea what to do next.
Maybe she'd slept too well last night—she completely lost track of what time it was.
She just stared at the ceiling, thoughts drifting aimlessly.
Soon, though, her wandering thoughts were interrupted.
"Teio, are you awake?"
"...Mm."
After responding, Teio asked quietly, "Mochizuki, do you always wake up this early?"
"No, I was woken up by Mom getting out of bed."
Saying this, Mochizuki turned toward Teio. "How was your sleep last night?"
At Mochizuki's question, Teio rolled onto her side to face her.
Only then did she realize Mochizuki had already been looking her way.
The two girls stared silently at each other.
After a moment without a response from Teio, Mochizuki spoke again. "It's probably about six in the morning. Teio, do you always wake up this early?"
"Yeah, usually I have to go out running before school."
"I see..." Mochizuki paused briefly before adding, "It sounds really tough…"
"Well, that's pretty normal for Uma Musume. But whether or not you actually become one depends on your honkaku. Even if you show talent early, only after full awakening can you be sure."
Teio spoke thoughtfully, explaining the common knowledge of Uma Musume to Mochizuki. "But sometimes I worry, because my talent seems to…"
"Seems to what?"
Noticing Teio's mood sinking, Mochizuki asked gently.
Teio was silent for a moment at Mochizuki's question, then shook her head. "No, it's nothing."
Even though Teio didn't say the reason aloud, Mochizuki could guess it.
Natural had already mentioned the money issue.
Considering Teio's hesitation just now…
Mochizuki could tell that Teio worried her talent was burdening her family too much.
After considering this quietly for several seconds, Mochizuki brought up a crucial question. "Teio, you keep calling Auntie Roman your aunt?"
"Huh?" Mochizuki's sudden question interrupted Teio's thoughts, prompting a casual sound of confusion before she answered. "Yeah. Auntie Roman said my mom couldn't take care of me because she was too sick and couldn't support me becoming an Uma Musume, so she handed me over to Auntie Roman to raise."
The answer was simple and exactly as Mochizuki expected.
After all, Natural had already explained this reason. Hearing it again now, even though she'd anticipated it, still felt strangely complicated.
"So, Teio," Mochizuki continued cautiously, "have you ever thought about meeting your mom?"
Mochizuki had deliberately asked about Roman's title first to smoothly lead into this question.
After asking, she watched Teio closely.
Teio's answer was crucial.
Knowing her mother, Mochizuki understood clearly—if Teio refused, Natural would never force things. Thus, Teio's response mattered greatly.
Teio fell silent at Mochizuki's question.
Clearly, Teio didn't know the answer herself.
Saying she wasn't curious at all would be impossible.
Yet, not feeling resentment toward her mother for handing her off to someone else to raise was also impossible.
These conflicting feelings battled in her heart.
She truly didn't know how to choose.
That was only natural.
Under the weight of that conflict, Teio finally replied, "I don't know."
"I see…"
Even Mochizuki could sense Teio's inner struggle.
Thus, Mochizuki chose not to dwell on the issue further. She simply sat up. "Teio?"
"Hm?"
"How do you feel about your mom?"
"Well…" Teio hesitated for a few seconds before answering honestly. "I'm angry, of course. But…I still want to meet her. She's my mom, after all."
Teio looked straight at Mochizuki as she spoke. "But speaking of family…"
"What about your dad?"
"Oh, he's dead."
"Ehhh?!"
The bluntness of Mochizuki's reply startled Teio, who genuinely hadn't expected that.
Ignoring Teio's shocked outburst, Mochizuki continued calmly:
"That's what Mom said, anyway. I didn't ask for details, since there didn't seem much point. Besides…"
"If Mom says it, we might as well treat it as true. It's not like it really matters anyway."
Mochizuki's words made Teio pause for a moment before agreeing softly, "Well, I guess that's true too."
"So, Teio—since you want to meet your mom, why not ask her directly when you see her? After you've asked, just let out whatever feelings you've been holding back."
"Mmm…thanks."
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