Their life discussion didn't last long before it was interrupted by Tokai's call.
Mochizuki knew that Shizen was calling them down for a meal.
Thinking of this, Mochizuki just looked at Teio: "Time to get up."
"Mm."
Teio just nodded, then got out of bed.
Not long after, the two of them came downstairs, one after the other.
Then, they saw a breakfast that they probably would never find in Japan.
"Breakfast is ramen."
"Oh, it's ra... Eh?"
Unlike Mochizuki, who looked indifferent, Teio froze the moment she heard this: "Um, ramen doesn't seem to be..."
"It's ramen from China, a different flavor from Japanese ramen." Tokai paused for a few seconds after saying this, then continued: "It's very normal to eat noodles for breakfast in China."
"I see..."
Hearing Shizen's explanation, Teio just nodded, but still had many doubts.
Because in Japan, ramen isn't really suitable for breakfast.
Thinking of this, Teio sat down at the counter with a skeptical look, then picked up a pair of chopsticks: "I'm eating."
Seeing Teio's concerned expression, Tokai didn't explain further.
She just shifted her gaze slightly, then looked at Mochizuki: "Do you need condiments?"
"Yes!"
Hearing Mochizuki say this, Tokai merely placed a few small dishes next to her: "Add as much as you like."
The small dishes mostly contained various vegetables, quite different from the common toppings in Japanese ramen.
Looking at the side dishes Tokai placed in front of Mochizuki.
Teio just froze for a second, then chose to continue eating.
Although she also wanted to try the side dishes, the taste she was currently experiencing was already delicious enough.
Thinking this, Teio began to slurp her noodles bite by bite.
Not long after, Teio finished her bowl of ramen.
After eating, Teio looked up at Tokai: "Aunt Shizen, this bowl..."
"Let Mochizuki clean it up. You're not quite sure where it should go in the kitchen, so for now, let Mochizuki handle it."
Saying this, Tokai shifted her gaze to Mochizuki.
Facing Tokai's gaze, Mochizuki just nodded.
Then continued to lower her head and eat her noodles.
Seeing Mochizuki's behavior, Tokai didn't say much. She just turned on the television.
The news broadcast on TV didn't have much worth paying attention to, at least not for Tokai.
Seeing Tokai's indifferent demeanor, Teio merely shifted her gaze slightly and then posed a question: "Aunt Shizen, do you know what asset Aunt Roman is going to see?"
"That asset..."
Teio's question caused Tokai to fall silent for a moment.
To be honest, she didn't really want to mention what that asset was.
After all, the memories from that place were certainly not good, and Tokai didn't even want to go back there.
Thinking of this, Tokai remained silent for a few seconds before responding: "If you want to see it, I can have Roman find a time to take you there, but just try not to be too surprised when you do."
Having said this, Tokai turned to Mochizuki: "Mochizuki, do you want to see it too?"
"It sounds like it's quite important?"
"It is relatively important, I suppose, because that asset should be a training and upkeep facility?" After explaining the situation of the place in uncertain terms, Tokai continued:
"Strictly speaking, it should be an asset of the Tokai Family. Although the Tokai Family no longer exists, due to the special nature of that incident, the ownership of that training and upkeep facility is still in Roman's hands."
Without mentioning why the Tokai Family had disappeared, Tokai simply looked at Teio: "If Teio wants to train there during the summer vacation, it's certainly possible."
"A training and upkeep facility..." After a few seconds of thought, Teio nodded, "Then, during the summer vacation, can I go with Mochizuki?"
Hearing that Teio wanted to go with her, Mochizuki turned to Tokai.
It was as if she was asking Tokai: Should we go together?
Facing Tokai's gaze, Tokai remained silent for a few seconds before nodding: "Mochizuki can certainly go. However, if Mochizuki goes, I should go along too. After all, that place is very far, and if I don't go with Mochizuki, I'd be quite worried about this child."
Tokai's unnatural nod went unnoticed by Teio.
She merely caught another question from Shizen's words: "Aunt Shizen, do you also want to go and see it?"
"As for going to see it, I do have such a plan, but..." Tokai paused for a few seconds before continuing: "It's mainly because of Mochizuki."
Tokai's words were full of unnatural traces.
Even Tokai Teio noticed some of this unnaturalness.
But Teio didn't press further. She simply looked at the situation inside the shop before asking a new question: "Is it always like this here?"
"As for this..."
The shop door was pushed open.
"Shizen!"
The sound of the door opening, coupled with the familiar voice, made Tokai turn her head with a look of exasperation: "Chiaki, what is it?"
"Just saying hello~"
Saying this, Representative Chiaki looked inside the shop.
Soon, she noticed Tokai Teio, dressed in a white staff uniform.
Looking at her, Representative Chiaki paused for a second.
She had never seen Tokai Teio before, but from the staff uniform she was wearing, Representative Chiaki probably realized her identity.
So she quietly shifted her gaze and then spoke: "I've been working these past few days, I'm so tired."
Saying this, Representative Chiaki sat down next to Mochizuki and then continued: "Do you have any breakfast recommendations?"
"Ramen."
"Eating that for breakfast, won't it be too heavy?"
"Chinese ramen, not Japanese." Saying this, Tokai glanced at the remaining ramen on the cutting board, just enough for one last bowl: "Want some?"
"Yes!"
An unhesitating response.
Representative Chiaki's reply made Tokai grab the noodles and toss them into the boiling pot.
After finishing this, Tokai looked at Representative Chiaki: "Where's Maruzen?"
"She's doing the final finishing touches." Saying this, Representative Chiaki paused for a second before continuing: "She should be coming over once she's done."
"I see... I understand."
After saying this, Tokai looked at Teio: "Sometimes, it gets quite lively here..."
Her words were full of helplessness, and hearing this, Teio had roughly understood what this 'liveliness' meant from the exchange between Tokai and Representative Chiaki just now.
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