By the time Tokai Shizen's file was ready, almost a month had passed since Tokai Shizen moved into Maruzensky's residence.
During this month, after completing her duties at Tracen Academy, Maruzensky spent most of her time here.
There was a reason for this, as Tokai Shizen no longer had any money and also had to take care of her child, so she was quite dependent on Maruzensky for her daily life.
And now... Maruzensky, sitting on the wooden chair, looked at the document in her hand and frowned.
Uma Musume identity documents require both paper and electronic file storage as double insurance, as well as two reviews.
Currently, the photocopy in her hand was the document she had prepared for Tokai Shizen.
On this document, almost all the parts that could be processed had been processed.
However, the name field had not yet been finalized.
After all, she couldn't just casually help someone decide on a name.
Besides that, Maruzensky also had something else to consider.
That was how to get this document approved.
This identity document would go through several rounds of review, the first of which was the approval from the office it was submitted to, which meant the review from the Central Tracen Uma Musume Academy.
This was the most troublesome part for Maruzensky.
Because such matters were usually handled by the Chairperson, but with the Chairperson not at Tracen Academy and the acting Chairperson not yet present, only two people were qualified to review this document.
The first was the current Tracen Student Council President, Rudolph Symboli, and the second was Mr. CB, who currently served as Vice President.
If it were Rudolph Symboli, then this document, which included Tokai Nature's photo, would definitely be recognized.
Maruzensky didn't think Rudolph Symboli would forget such a serious matter.
So the only chance for it to pass was Mr. CB.
Maruzensky knew that Representative Chiaki would definitely be curious about this document.
Because she bypassed Rudolph Symboli and chose her to review the document.
Mr. CB, who could think of this, would definitely notice something.
If she was truly interested in this matter, things would become very troublesome.
But as long as she could get past Mr. CB, then it would be smooth sailing from there, as that was how Japan's bureaucratic system worked.
However,
Looking at the document in her hand, Maruzensky's eyebrows drew closer and closer together.
Hesitation.
She was hesitating whether she should do this.
She knew doing this was good and right, but... a hint of hesitation emerged in her heart.
Maruzensky wasn't sure where this hesitation came from, but... looking up, she could see Tokai Nature busy in the kitchen.
Her tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly.
Tokai Nature didn't give people too much of a sense of tension; most of the time, she was like she didn't exist, but... thinking that Tokai Nature might leave her after getting a legal identity, Maruzensky always felt like something was missing.
This wasn't to say how important Tokai Nature was to her, nor how indispensable Tokai Nature's existence was.
It was just that,
Thinking of Tokai Nature not being by her side, Maruzensky always felt like something was missing around her.
Maruzensky didn't think Tokai Nature's departure would affect her life.
But thinking of Tokai Nature not being there, she indeed felt as if something was missing from her side.
"Miss Maruzen?"
"Hmm? Oh, is dinner ready?"
"Yes, yes, it's just that you've been spacing out, so..."
At this point, Tokai Nature looked at the document in Maruzensky's hand. Tokai Nature remembered very clearly Maruzensky taking her photo a few days ago, and she could probably guess what the document in Maruzensky's hand was.
It was just... recalling Maruzensky's expression as she stared intently at the document earlier, Tokai Nature thought it would be better not to ask any questions.
If she were to say something she shouldn't and ended up without an identity, perhaps she would truly be confined as Maruzensky's kept lover.
Although Tokai Nature wasn't too bothered by this; after all, her life was already so bad, so a little worse wasn't unacceptable.
But her daughter should have an identity, at least not be born undocumented.
Seeing that Tokai Nature had no intention of continuing, Maruzensky simply placed the document back on another table, then looked at Tokai Nature: "Shizen,"
Tokai Nature, sitting on another chair, looked at Maruzensky.
Looking at Tokai Nature's timid expression, Maruzensky frowned.
After a moment of hesitation, Maruzensky asked, "The new identity application document is ready; now all that's left is the name."
"Name, huh..."
"You need a surname, after all." Maruzensky said, falling silent for a moment, then spoke again: "Are you planning to let someone else decide the name?"
"Eh? Well, Miss Maruzen, you could use your surname, couldn't you?"
These few words made Maruzensky pause for a moment.
Maruzensky, of course, understood what a change in a woman's surname meant.
For Uma Musume, although they wouldn't truly change their names after marriage, some Uma Musume would remove their original racing name and use someone else's surname or racing name after marriage.
And now, Tokai Nature's racing name, Tokai, was gone. In such a situation, if she were to use her own racing name... Maruzensky's expression changed several times as she thought about this.
Finally, after a second, Maruzensky's expression returned to normal.
"Maruzen Shizen, it sounds good." Maruzensky said, looking at Tokai Nature: "Are you sure?"
The question was asked again.
As if she was helping Tokai Nature make up her mind, Maruzensky was also questioning herself.
Maruzensky's question made Tokai Nature's expression change. She realized the outcome she might face if she agreed at that moment.
Thinking of that outcome, Tokai Nature, after a brief silence, cautiously,
Asked, as if afraid Maruzensky would suddenly change her mind: "Can I, can I decide?"
"..."
After a moment of silence, Maruzensky finally responded:
"Of course you can decide. I'm not your birth parent."
Maruzensky's words made Tokai Nature pause for a moment, and looking at Maruzensky, a hint of gratitude welled up from the depths of her heart. Tokai Nature responded with a slightly trembling voice:
"Thank you, thank you..."
By the time Tokai Nature had composed herself, half a minute had passed.
Her eyes were slightly red, as if she was about to cry:
"Can I, think about it for a day?"
"...No problem."