Uma Musume: From Being Knocked Ten Meters Away

Chapter 268 Cute Nicknames

"Living together... together?!"

With a startled cry, like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on, the Northern Black Horse's ears and tail stood up, and its eyes widened in surprise.

In an instant, she first waved her hands frantically, then suddenly lowered her head, her hands instinctively clutching the hem of her clothes, and stammered:

"No, no...you've misunderstood, we just...we just..."

Her face flushed bright red, like a ripe tomato, almost dripping blood, and she had no idea how to explain it.

With her mind in a complete mess, she unconsciously glanced at the racehorse girl outside the door, her heart filled with doubt.

She didn't know the other person at all, but she had a strange feeling of déjà vu.

Especially that gentle smile; she felt she had seen it somewhere before.

However, she wasn't thinking about any of that at the moment; all her thoughts were focused on the word "cohabitation."

My thoughts involuntarily drifted back to scenes from that period of time.

Every morning, she would quietly get up and prepare breakfast before Yasui Makoto was fully awake.

Seeing how satisfied the other person was with their meal, she felt a sense of satisfaction as well.

Although it was still a holiday and his hand injury had not yet healed, Yasui Makoto had already started some work.

Besides accompanying her and Xingmu out to play, he would check the latest competition information, association news, training experiences, and papers whenever he had free time.

At times like these, she wouldn't disturb them; she would simply stay quietly to the side, trying her best to understand and memorize the information as she looked at the materials.

She would only make a sound after Yasui Makoto had rested.

For example, you could brew him a cup of hot tea or coffee, chat with him, ask him about any doubts he had while observing, or talk about some interesting or uninteresting trivia.

She initially felt that her days and nights spent caring for Yasui Makoto were simply out of concern and responsibility.

But now, after the horse racing girl outside the door mentioned it, it all seemed to have the connotation of cohabitation.

Thinking about these things, she felt a tingling and numb sensation all over her body.

As she experienced this inexplicable feeling that made her heart race, a sudden flash of inspiration struck her, and she vaguely remembered something.

Living together... it seems like only people who like each other can do that...

Who said that again...? Oh right, it was Hikari-chan...

She also seemed to say that if two people like each other, they must live together, otherwise it's not like they like each other...

So what exactly is the relationship between me and my trainer?

"Living together... together?!"

At this moment, belatedly repeating what Kita Genko had said, Almond Eyes instantly perked up.

She first looked at Kita Genko in astonishment, then at the racehorse girl outside the door with excitement, and finally at Yasui Makoto beside her.

As her gaze darted around, her eyes sparkled with gossip, as if she had discovered a new continent and was filled with curiosity.

"It seems...that's really the case..."

She muttered to herself, scratching her head, "Why didn't I think of that before? Senior Xiao Bei... it's like he's living with his trainer..."

Suddenly, a hand pressed down on Almond-shaped eyes' head, interrupting her.

It was Yasui Makoto who made the move. With a hint of helplessness on his face, he looked at the racehorse girls outside the door and spoke with a touch of complaint:

"What cohabitation? ...Didn't I tell you, Xiao Bei is just taking care of me, Mom?"

Upon hearing Yasui Makoto's words, Kita Genkoma and Aloe both froze for a moment, their expressions instantly turning ashen. Kita Genkoma's previously flushed face turned pale, then red again, his initial shyness and panic replaced by overwhelming embarrassment.

She never imagined that the person who guessed she was living with her trainer was actually Yasui Makoto's mother.

Her hands unconsciously loosened their grip on the hem of her dress, hanging helplessly at her sides, before quickly being pulled behind her back. Her head was so low it was almost touching her chest, as if she wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground.

Almond-eyed stared even wider, his mouth slightly open, his face showing an expression of "I see."

She glanced at Northern Xuanju, then at Yasui Makoto's mother, and then at Yasui Makoto again. The little flame of gossip that had been burning inside was instantly extinguished by a bucket of water, leaving only an awkward ember.

Thankfully, the trainer interrupted her, otherwise she would have made some outrageous guesses and become a laughing stock... While feeling embarrassed, she secretly rejoiced.

Outside the door, looking at the expressions of the people inside, Yasui Makoto's mother suddenly chuckled.

She took off her knitted hat, shook her head gently, and a pair of long black ears popped up on her head. Her long, black hair, which had been tucked into the hat, fell naturally down beside her cheeks.

"Okay, okay, I was just kidding. Of course I know Xiao Bei is taking care of you, you clumsy guy. Look how scared you are."

She stepped into the house naturally, walked up to Beifang Xuanju who was bowing her head and unsure of what to do with her hands, and gently patted her head:
"So, thank you so much for taking care of Xiao Zhen these past few days. Auntie is very grateful to you, Xiao Bei."

"May I call you that?"

Upon hearing this, the Northern Black Steed instinctively said:
"Yes, yes, that's fine. Also... You're welcome, it's what I should do..."

As soon as she said it, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind.

Who is Xiao Zhen...?
She then realized it was the trainer's nickname and couldn't help but steal a glance at Yasui Makoto.

Seeing Yasui looking at her mother with genuine helplessness, she quickly lowered her head again.

The trainer's nickname... sounds kind of cute...

After a moment of inexplicable thought, she quickly realized that Yasui Makoto's mother was still at the door, and she frantically began rummaging through the shoe cabinet in the entryway.

"I...I...Auntie, can you wear my slippers? There are spares here, they're all new...they should fit, right?"

While frantically searching, she avoided eye contact with a guilty conscience and stammered.

A meaningful glint flashed in Yasui Makoto's mother's eyes. She subtly curled the corners of her lips, but said nonchalantly:

"That's all, thank you, Xiao Bei."

As she said this, she glanced around the room, seemingly casually.

Upon seeing the bed placed in the center of the living room, the sofa moved to the side, and the bright red lanterns hanging from the ceiling, the corners of her mouth turned up again, and a meaningful look flashed in her eyes once more.

At this moment, Almond, who had been standing next to Yasui Makoto, finally recovered from the embarrassment she had just experienced.

She blinked, looked at Yasui Makoto, scratched her head, and whispered:

"Trainer, your mother...she looks so young. Is she 30...no, 25?"

Upon hearing this, Yasui Makoto was slightly taken aback, then immediately found himself at a loss for words.

I'm 19 already, how could my mom only be 25? What's going on in this kid's head...?

But before he could speak, Yasui Makoto's mother, after accepting the slippers handed to her by Kita Genko with his head bowed, thanked her and looked over with a smile:
"This child must be Almond Eyes, he's really good at talking."

"Although I can't tell you my age, it's okay if I'm only in my twenties."

"Let me introduce myself. My debut name was Kiki Misuzu. You can call me Aunt Misuzu."

"Of course, I'd be even happier if you called me Sister Meiling."

"Sometimes, I'll let Xiaozhen call me that too."

(End of this chapter)