Back at the banquet, Ramonu had already vanished from in front of the live cooking station.
Turning her head to look around, Yayoi Natural soon spotted Mejiro Ramonu standing beside Mejiro Iris.
After giving her a glance, Yayoi Natural withdrew her gaze and refocused on her post.
After that, the banquet went smoothly.
The final agreement they signed was also a good one.
But Yayoi Natural didn't care about any of that. It didn't have much to do with her, after all.
So she didn't pay it much mind—she just took her money and left.
The real trouble came a few days after the banquet.
"Tomorrow's the first day of school, huh."
As she said that, Yayoi Natural looked at Mochizuki and Teio.
Over these past few days together, the two of them had gotten used to each other's presence.
At the very least, there was hardly any protesting about sharing the same room anymore.
After a glance at them, Yayoi Natural shifted her gaze elsewhere.
"The plan the Mejiro Family accepted in the end was an exchange-student plan. The Mejiro Family will be sending a certain number of Umamusume over there, and likewise, it sounds like there'll be a group of Umamusume coming here."
Chiyono O, sitting across from Yayoi Natural, was talking about the Mejiro Family's situation.
"But it seems like the ones they're sending over are mainly Umamusume."
"Mainly Umamusume, huh…"
Hearing that, Yayoi Natural thought for a few seconds.
"So that means next, there'll be a group of Umamusume whose staple food is Chinese cuisine…"
"That's true. Though I don't really know what those Umamusume are like."
There was a lot of anticipation in her tone.
"You really want to know what the Umamusume in China are like?"
"Yeah—sort of. Their Umamusume industry only just started developing, so they might need a lot of help."
Listening to Chiyono O, Yayoi Natural let her eyes drift to Teio. Watching Teio, she thought for a few seconds, then continued.
"I wonder if the exchange-student Umamusume who come over will be able to race in Japan."
What she was worried about was Teio.
Because among the exchange students coming this time, a portion of the Umamusume still hadn't had their honkaku.
So if they happened to collide with Teio…
Hearing Yayoi Natural say that, Chiyono O thought for a few seconds too, then spoke.
"That's true… but JRA should have thought through that issue, right?"
She said it with uncertainty, offering an answer that made Yayoi Natural feel something about it was… oddly off.
After thinking for a bit, Yayoi Natural finally turned her head toward the TV.
"Whatever. It's not like it's a bad thing."
"True."
As she said that, Chiyono O took a sip of the drink Yayoi Natural had set in front of her, then added,
"Yayoi-nee, you're really not good at making drinks."
"Yeah. Could've another way to make money, but if I'm bad at it, I'm bad at it."
After that casual reply, Yayoi Natural looked toward the seats where Mr. C.B. and Maruzensky often used to sit.
Because of their work with the Student Council, those two hadn't shown up around here much lately.
Noticing that, Yayoi Natural let out a sigh.
"Don't you have anything you need to get ready for at school?"
Hearing that, Chiyono O raised her head slightly, thinking for a few seconds—then, as if she'd suddenly remembered something, she jumped to her feet.
"Ah—sorry, Yayoi-nee! I've gotta run to the dorm!"
As she spoke, she downed the rest of the drink in her cup in one go, then jogged out of the restaurant.
Watching her dash off so quickly, Yayoi Natural sighed, a little helpless.
"Still a kid."
With that, Yayoi Natural picked up the cup Chiyono O had finished.
A few drops of liquid remained at the bottom.
Looking at the orange-yellow drink, Yayoi Natural sighed again, slightly exasperated.
"Is it really that bad…"
Muttering that, she set the cup into the sink.
She had no interest in tasting something someone else had already drunk.
And just as she put the cup away—
The shop door was pushed open again.
"Hello, Yayoi-san."
Mejiro Ramonu, who'd spoken before Yayoi Natural could, walked over to face her and sat down across from her.
"Could you make me a dish that you recommend?"
Facing Mejiro Ramonu's request, Yayoi Natural was quiet for a second, then nodded.
"Okay. No problem."
With that, Yayoi Natural turned around and began preparing the food.
Mejiro Ramonu looked at the two children sitting in the corner, thought for a few seconds, then spoke.
"They look very alike—like Symboli Rudolf."
"They do. People have said that before."
As she said that, Yayoi Natural shifted her gaze slightly, then continued.
"Does Ramonu-san prefer something sweet, or something spicy?"
"On that, I think you should decide."
As she spoke, Mejiro Ramonu tilted her gaze a little, then continued.
"Oh—Yayoi-san, do you know about the marriage alliance between the Tokai Family and the Symboli Family?"
Hearing that, Yayoi Natural's hands slowed for the briefest moment, but she recovered quickly.
"Sorry. I don't really know."
As she spoke, Yayoi Natural shifted her gaze slightly again, then continued.
"It doesn't have much to do with me. That kind of thing is too far away from my life."
Yayoi Natural's completely noncommittal response made Mejiro Ramonu turn her head toward the two children.
Looking at those two—so similar to Symboli Rudolf—an edge of impatience flashed through Mejiro Ramonu's mind.
"I think if we keep talking like this, we probably won't reach any conclusion, right? Tokai-san."
She didn't say a given name, but that direct use of a surname made Tokai Roman turn her head, too.
She stared hard at Mejiro Ramonu, guarding against whatever she might do.
Yayoi Natural, meanwhile, just kept preparing the dish, saying nothing.
Before long, a dish was placed in front of Mejiro Ramonu.
"Please, enjoy."
Looking at what had been set before her, Mejiro Ramonu only sighed.
"Come out and talk for a bit later. I think the two of us might need to have a little chat."
With that, Mejiro Ramonu picked up her spoon and began tasting the dish Yayoi Natural had served her, unhurried and composed.
And Yayoi Natural simply watched her, without saying much.
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T/N: RAMONU WHAT ARE U DOING