After leaving the shopping district, Symboli Speed didn't linger.
On this trip back to Japan, she had a number of things to handle.
For instance—
Checking the address carefully confirmed on her phone, Symboli Speed glanced up to verify her location once more.
Once sure she was in the right place, she raised her hand and pressed the doorbell.
"Just a moment, please!"
A voice from inside—not too loud, just enough to be heard.
Symboli Speed calmly waited for the door to open.
It didn't take long before the door swung open, revealing a rather young Uma Musume standing there.
Symboli Speed quietly studied her for a few seconds before finally speaking. "Are you Tokai Roman?"
"Um, yes… May I ask who you are?"
Roman looked puzzled; clearly, she couldn't match the older woman's face to anyone she knew.
"I'm Symboli Speed—grandmother of Symboli Rudolf and Symboli Sirius. Today I came to see Tokai Teio."
She offered no further explanation beyond her name and status, yet that alone was enough for Roman.
Tokai Roman opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Symboli Speed was effectively the true authority behind the Symboli Family.
Although she had already passed the family's reins to Rudolf and Sirius, she could reclaim control at any time.
So, hearing Symboli Speed's request to meet Tokai Teio left Roman uncertain about how to respond.
"May I see Tokai Teio?"
Symboli Speed ignored Roman's shifting expression and added gently, "It's simply a relative's concern."
This was a phrase Rudolf and Sirius had never used.
The difference momentarily stunned Roman into silence.
"Is that alright?"
The gently repeated question finally brought Roman back to reality.
She nodded. "Y-yes, please come in."
She turned and led Symboli Speed inside.
Once indoors, Symboli Speed quickly confirmed that Tokai Roman's living conditions weren't exactly comfortable.
Perhaps understandable, given that raising an Uma Musume like Tokai Teio involved significant expenses. Being thrifty now wasn't necessarily wrong.
Pulling her gaze away, Symboli Speed's eyes fell upon the closed bedroom door.
She knew Tokai Teio was right behind it.
But…
"Is Tokai Teio sleeping?"
"Yes… Should I wake her up?"
"Could you just open the door slightly, so I can see?"
Roman hesitated briefly but eventually nodded.
Seeing Roman's consent, Symboli Speed moved forward, gently turned the handle, and opened the door just a bit.
Through the gap, she saw Tokai Teio sleeping peacefully on the bed.
Compared to her twin sister, Tokai Teio's growth was clearly excellent.
She hadn't experienced the prolonged malnutrition Mochizuki had faced as an infant, so naturally, her physical development was much better.
The sound of the door opening didn't wake Teio.
Seeing this, Symboli Speed quietly opened the door fully and approached the bedside.
A few months remained until Tokai Teio and Mochizuki's second birthdays, yet in actual age, both were already two.
Despite their identical age, the difference between Mochizuki and Tokai Teio was striking.
And as an Uma Musume, Teio naturally had certain unique traits—like…
"The crescent marking you inherited from Luna."
Symboli Speed gently brushed aside the long white tuft of hair on Teio's forehead before quietly standing up and leaving the room at the same careful pace.
Exiting, she carefully shut the door behind her, not wanting to wake Teio.
Only after finishing did Symboli Speed turn to Roman. "What do you intend to do with Tokai Teio?"
"I'll raise her myself. After all, my younger sister's health…"
Roman answered without hesitation.
Her words satisfied Symboli Speed. Tokai Natural had once been trapped in a complicated family environment. Yet even there, the strong bond between sisters remained intact—a comforting thought.
Thus, Symboli Speed finally spoke again:
"If you run into trouble, seek out the Symboli Family or the Mejiro Family. I haven't greeted Mejiro yet, but I'll contact them later."
With those words, Symboli Speed turned to leave. "I likely won't visit again."
"Huh?"
Symboli Speed had shown genuine affection toward Tokai Teio—like a grandmother looking at her grandchild—which made her statement particularly confusing to Roman.
"My visit today was a secret from someone else. If she knew about this, she'd probably worry."
Symboli Speed's reply instantly brought a certain someone to Roman's mind.
However, Roman refrained from asking further and instead quietly asked, "How… is she doing?"
"You should ask her yourself. And don't mention my visit."
Turning slightly, Symboli Speed pressed a finger to her lips—a gesture of secrecy betrayed by the gentleness in her eyes.
She turned again and quietly closed the apartment door behind her.
As before, she made no unnecessary noise.
Thus, Tokai Teio continued sleeping soundly, completely unaware anything had occurred.
…
About an hour later, Tokai Teio woke up.
Rubbing her eyes, she hopped out of bed and pushed open the bedroom door. "Auntie, did someone come by earlier?"
"Yes, someone did—your great-grandma visited."
"Great-grandma? Who's that?"
Completely confused by this unfamiliar term, Tokai Teio lowered her hands and stared toward the kitchen. "Auntie?"
Roman's voice drifted out from the kitchen, where she was busy preparing lunch.
"Simply put, your great-grandma is your papa's grandma."
"Eeehh?! Then just now I—!"
Teio immediately rushed toward the door, hoping to catch her great-grandma.
"No need to chase her—your great-grandma left an hour ago."
Teio stopped abruptly. "Why didn't you wake me up then?!"
"Because your great-grandma said you were sleeping too peacefully to disturb."
"Ehhh—!!"
---
T/N: eheheh cute tokai teio
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