Walking along the pedestrian path set up on Irabu Island, Mejiro Sanfeng, carrying a small box of Tokai's handmade desserts, walked side by side with Tokai, who didn't care about it at all.
Both of them were going to see Rudolph, but their mindsets were completely different.
After all, Tokai was just accompanying Mejiro Sanfeng, but Mejiro Sanfeng had put a huge amount of effort into this matter.
So... looking at Mejiro Sanfeng standing at the apartment door, repeatedly pressing the wrong doorbell button.
Tokai tilted her head: "How about I ring the doorbell?"
Hearing Tokai say this, Mejiro Sanfeng just froze for a second, then she turned her head to look at Tokai.
Her face, which originally seemed to have little change, now showed many more expressions.
"No, I'll do it."
Saying this, Mejiro Sanfeng once again faced the apartment door head-on.
Looking at the apartment door, she took a deep breath, and then raised her hand.
Then, this time, Mejiro Sanfeng successfully pressed the doorbell button.
Not long after the doorbell button was pressed, the door opened.
Rudolph Symboli, wearing clothes that were not much different from a few days ago, opened the door.
After opening the door, Rudolph first saw Mejiro Sanfeng.
And then Tokai, who was standing to one side of the door.
To be honest, Rudolph Symboli had somewhat anticipated Mejiro Sanfeng's visit.
After all, Mejiro Sanfeng would come over from time to time.
But... her gaze swept over Mejiro Sanfeng, and Rudolph Symboli's gaze finally rested on Tokai.
Tokai's appearance was something Rudolph could never have predicted.
Looking at Tokai, Rudolph was silent for a moment, then she spoke: "Long... time no see."
This was supposed to be a greeting to both of them at the same time.
But both Tokai and Mejiro Sanfeng could clearly feel who Rudolph was speaking to.
Realizing this, Mejiro Sanfeng turned her head slightly to look at Tokai.
Tokai, however, did not respond to Rudolph's greeting.
There was no response.
For a moment, the atmosphere between the three fell into a deep silence.
Finally, it was Mejiro Sanfeng who broke this death-like silence.
She looked at Rudolph Symboli, trying her best to endure something: "Can we come in and sit down?"
Tokai and Rudolph, who heard the emotion contained in Mejiro Sanfeng's words, both turned their gaze to Mejiro Sanfeng.
Then, both of them spoke at the same time.
"That's right, let..."
"Okay, come..."
The two who spoke at the same time now turned their gaze back to each other.
Then, under Tokai's deliberate avoidance, Rudolph finished what she was supposed to say first.
"Come in and sit down, but the room is quite small, so be careful."
Saying this, Rudolph turned around.
And it wasn't until Rudolph turned around that Tokai and Mejiro Sanfeng noticed that Rudolph wasn't wearing any bottoms at all.
She was just covered by an oversized T-shirt.
Looking at Rudolph like this, Tokai, who didn't feel much, didn't move forward first, but instead pushed Mejiro Sanfeng with her hand.
After putting her in front of herself, Tokai then took a step.
Mejiro Sanfeng, pushed by Tokai, glanced at Tokai, and then walked in front of Tokai, entering the apartment one step ahead of her.
It wasn't until she entered this apartment that Tokai finally understood what Rudolph meant by "very small."
After all, the size of this apartment was almost on par with the back kitchen of her own restaurant.
And... it's actually that Rudolph... With this thought, Tokai looked at Rudolph Symboli.
And she was already standing at one side of the low table.
She was tidying up the half-price bento box she had bought from the supermarket and hadn't finished eating.
Looking at Rudolph like this, Tokai always felt that it was a little bit subtle.
After all, the previous Rudolph always maintained a proper posture, and her clothing was also more mature, but now... Tokai, noticing this, just turned her gaze to Mejiro Sanfeng.
This time, Mejiro Sanfeng was the one in charge, so Tokai didn't intend to sit down before her.
She was just waiting for Mejiro Sanfeng.
"I was having lunch just now, so..." Saying this, Rudolph Symboli placed the tidied-up half-price bento box on the stove, and then returned to the low table: "Please sit."
"...Mm."
Mejiro Sanfeng's voice was much lower than when she was at the door earlier, as for the specific reason.
Tokai didn't know, she just watched Mejiro Sanfeng sit down, and then she sat in the most corner.
"Luna."
"Hmm, what's wrong?"
Looking at her expression as she looked at her, Mejiro Sanfeng wanted to say something, but couldn't say anything.
The difference in how Rudolph treated herself and Tokai earlier still echoed in Mejiro Sanfeng's heart.
Just from that one encounter, Mejiro Sanfeng already understood that she could never compare to Tokai's position in Rudolph's heart.
So, even if she sat here now and did what she originally intended to do.
Say what she originally planned to say.
It would only make her look like a clown.
Therefore, she just opened her mouth, but said nothing.
Looking at Mejiro Sanfeng like this, Rudolph Symboli didn't continue to speak or urge her, she waited for her to say something.
No matter what, she would respond.
And after a slight silence, Mejiro Sanfeng finally spoke: "I just came to see you."
Saying this, Mejiro Sanfeng took a deep breath, and then took out the dessert she had kept close to her heart.
Looking at Mejiro Sanfeng like this, Rudolph just nodded: "Mm, thank you."
The words were too simple.
This made Mejiro Sanfeng feel the difference even more.
Mejiro Sanfeng's condition wasn't good, Tokai could tell.
After all, she had been paying attention to her psychological state since she arrived, so, under such circumstances, Tokai spoke: "I'll go outside and wait for you two."
Saying this, Tokai stood up, leaving plenty of space for the two of them.
Tokai's departure also plunged Mejiro Sanfeng and Rudolph into a delicate silence.
Mejiro Sanfeng lowered her head.
Rudolph also didn't know what to say.
The silence between them continued.
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