Uma Musume: From Being Knocked Ten Meters Away

Chapter 321 Perhaps feelings are impossible to define.
My mother's final words were very tactful, but Yasui really understood what she meant, and it wasn't that she hadn't thought about it.

Although it differs from most celebrity idol circles, the Shining Series still has this aspect.

In the Japanese idol industry, there are quite a few strict requirements regarding dating. Whether an idol can date is often not entirely up to them, but rather in the hands of their group.

To put it simply, generally only those who have left the entertainment industry are qualified to pursue love.

The Shining Series is similar, but the details are quite different.

This field is ultimately a competition, and countless examples and studies have shown that romantic relationships more or less affect competitive levels, and always negatively.

The prime of a racehorse's career is very short, averaging only a little over two years, which is simply too short to afford.

More importantly, they enter their prime at around the age of a human girl in her teens.

Like other girls of this age, they have not yet fully developed their beliefs and are easily misled or even manipulated.

For these reasons, in earlier years, Japan completely prohibited romantic relationships between racehorse girls and trainers.

Even after retirement, it's not allowed, because there can't be such an example.

When Yasui Makoto was researching, he also came across some anecdotes about this topic.

For example, Qianming represents the parents.

Chiaki is one of only seven players in Japan to date to have achieved the "Triple Crown".

During her classic year, she won the Satsuki Prize, the Japanese Derby, and the Chrysanthemum Prize in one go.

Because of Japan's past requirements regarding marriage between female racehorses and trainers, this triple crown winner almost became British.

Chiaki's mother eloped with her trainer after retiring, and they eloped to England.

What happened afterward, and how the associations in Japan and the UK communicated, are all unclear.

In conclusion, Chiaki's parents eventually returned to Japan and gave birth to Chiaki, thus making him the third triple crown winner in the history of the Japanese Open.

Perhaps because of the triple crown and the whole incident, Japan has gradually relaxed its restrictions on marriage and relationships.

For example, Yasui Makoto's parents got married under this background.

However, despite the many restrictions, there are still many limitations on the relationship between horse girls and trainers.

These are the things my mom emphasized, but she was clearly not emphasizing the rules; she was emphasizing the feelings themselves.

Or it could be the Northern Black Horse itself.

What Yasui Makoto had been thinking about was actually about Kita Genko himself.

He felt he knew better than anyone else about the girl's talent and what she would achieve in the future.

If, due to some unforeseen event, the Northern Black Horse does not receive everything it is rightfully entitled to, he will find it unacceptable.

So even though he hadn't faced it directly, or rather, deliberately ignored it, he still vaguely realized that, just as his mother had said, he had feelings for the Northern Black Horse.

Therefore, he felt he could never forgive himself if such a thing affected Northern Xuanju.

But now that I think about it, this subconscious consideration was actually a form of escapism.

He always prefers to do things in a clear and organized manner, rather than relying on feelings or intuition. He always makes sure to come up with a clear, step-by-step, and practical plan.

If that's the case, then knowing that you have feelings for someone but not acknowledging them or sorting them out logically is a form of avoidance.

So at this moment, probably moved by the sight of the sleeping Northern Genko outside, Yasui Makoto decided to seriously consider how to face this matter.

Then I discovered...

I have absolutely no idea what to do.

With his arms behind his head, Yasui Makoto had shifted from gazing at the moon to staring blankly at the ceiling, and gave a silent, bitter smile. He wasn't familiar with feelings or emotions; he hadn't had much romantic experience in his past life, and in this life, due to his mental age, he had little in common with women of the opposite sex.

If we use training as an analogy, then he doesn't even have a reference.

So I had no ideas.

However, after a moment of bitter laughter, he quickly felt relieved.

Northern Black Horse often told him with a silly grin that he usually just didn't think about things he couldn't understand.

He is actually the same way.

Previously, she had vaguely sensed a liking for the Northern Black Horse, but she intentionally or unintentionally avoided it. In reality, she knew that she couldn't figure it out, so she deliberately didn't think about it.

I haven't thought about it carefully for so long, and nothing messy has happened, especially nothing that would affect my training or competition.

Perhaps this means that the current way of getting along with the Northern Black Horse is the best and most suitable.

Thinking this, staring at the blurry outline of the ceiling chandelier under the moonlight, Yasui Makoto suddenly thought of the practice race between Northern Genko and California Shining.

Practice races are different from parallel runs.

When the latter is being performed, the trainer may and must give verbal reminders.

The purpose of parallel running practice is to master unfamiliar skills. Only with timely reminders from the trainer can the racehorse girl fully apply the guidance through repeated practice.

Practice races emphasize the female racehorses' understanding of themselves, requiring them to integrate their past learning and experience and give full play to their abilities as freely as possible.

After all, racehorses aren't machines; adaptability is crucial for the race.

So throughout the entire practice match, Yasui Makoto didn't give any reminders.

However, in the instant that the Northern Black Horse adjusted its breathing and running posture, he had an urge to remind it.

At the time, he only thought that he had restrained himself, but now, looking back, it seems that the tacit understanding between the two of them was probably deeper than he thought.

Thinking back, it seems that from the preparations for Arima Kinen, or even earlier, the two began to work together like two gears that were gradually meshing.

Every data analysis and every tactical adjustment during training and matches has brought us closer and closer to each other's rhythm.

Especially recently, Beifang Xuanju has gotten used to helping him organize various training logs, and he can easily sense the girl's confusion. Before she can speak, he points out the key point.

Thinking of all this, Yasui Makoto lay on the bed, gazing at the ceiling. His arm unconsciously rose, his palm covering the chandelier, then slowly closed, and he murmured silently:

"So, matters of the heart... probably can't be defined, analyzed, or studied like training or competition..."

After a murmur, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up as he looked at the bedroom door that was not closed.

Outside, the faint sound of even and light breathing could be heard.

Silently opening his mouth, Yasui Makoto murmured:

"Then... let's continue like this."

"At least, let's continue standing together on the highest podium."

"What do you think, Xiao Bei...?"

Outside, the even and light breathing continued, without any change. However, Yasui Makoto seemed to be hallucinating, and suddenly felt his cheeks burning. He couldn't help but turn to the side.

Then he lay face down on the bed, grabbed a pillow and blanket, and put them over his head to cover his whole body.

"...Why are you acting like a little boy who's never been in a relationship before...Go to sleep..."

(End of this chapter)