Uma Musume: From Being Knocked Ten Meters Away

Chapter 432 Done
"Ah, so that's it..."

Slightly stunned, Yasui responded, unconsciously glancing ahead.

As soon as he turned his gaze, he saw the two horse racers who had inexplicably turned around earlier suddenly turn around and start talking at length about a few gashapon machines on the corner of the street.

"Oh my! Look, believer! This gashapon machine even has an ultra-rare commemorative edition with the concept of 'three values'!"

"Where? Really? Let me see... It's true!"

"Should we try our luck? I feel like I'm on a super lucky streak today, maybe I'll get the item on my first try!"

"Yeah, yeah! I think we're incredibly lucky too. Let's go try it together!"

They spoke in an extremely exaggerated manner, like two racehorse girls participating in a competition, and ran towards the gashapon machine on the street corner as if fleeing.

Speechless, Yasui Makoto stared at the Great Sun God and Meguro Zenshin, his gaze sweeping over their wildly wagging ears and tails. He sighed, thinking to himself with a mixture of helplessness and amusement:

"This is truly... a textbook example of trying to cover something up. So, they really did misunderstand..."

He accidentally saw the changing room in the store, his mind went blank, and he instinctively ran outside.

After trying his best to calm down, he gradually realized that something was wrong with the shopping trip.

If I'm not mistaken, the two horse girls in front, who are clearly overly enthusiastic, are probably not just doing it out of interest.

Instead, they misunderstood his relationship with the Northern Black Horse as that of a couple.

At the very least, they have mutual feelings for each other.

After making this judgment, his first reaction was not to rush to clarify, but to feel that this misunderstanding... didn't seem so bad.

After all, his feelings for the Northern Black Horse had already subtly changed through their daily interactions.

Considering his training, competitions, or rather, his career as the Northern Black Horse, he decided to keep these feelings hidden when confronted with them.

However, the hidden feelings did not disappear, so even though it was a misunderstanding, there was still a sense of secret joy.

He just didn't expect that, because of the misunderstanding of his seniors, the Northern Black Horse would address him that way.

Or, if she refers to herself that way, then it might not necessarily be a misunderstanding.

Does this mean that her feelings... are the same as mine?

Thinking of this, Yasui couldn't help but feel a little restless and subconsciously looked to his side.

Just then, a familiar, energetic voice, tinged with a hint of disappointment, rang out:

"Is it... really not appropriate?"

With its ears drooping, the Northern Black Horse also lowered its head.

Her tail swept weakly across the ground. She clenched her fist, finding it covered in sticky sweat, and said in an even lower voice:

"Then...then I'll just call you trainer..."

"Need not."

Clearly sensing the disappointment of the Northern Black Horse, Yasui Makoto shook his head without hesitation.

Seeing the girl suddenly look up, her familiar, flushed face filled with surprise, nervousness, and anticipation, he smiled gently:
"Let's call you that from now on. As for the occasion... it doesn't matter, but it's better to be more formal during training and matches."

"and……"

He paused, his cheeks involuntarily flushing, just as Beibu Xuanju had been feeling anxious and uncertain earlier, his gaze lingering for a moment.

Then he quickly turned back, met the surprised and delighted gaze, and smiled, "I... really like this nickname."

In an instant, his previously tense nerves completely relaxed, and as if a firework had exploded in his heart, Beifang Xuanju nodded vigorously:

"Yes! I like it too! I, I mean... the nickname 'Xiao Zhen'!"

Just then, as they were dramatically pretending to draw from a gashapon machine, Daitaku Taiyojin and Meguro Zenshin immediately noticed the subtle change in the atmosphere between the two.

After exchanging a glance, a knowing smile appeared in their eyes. They chuckled softly in unison, then spoke simultaneously without a word:

"Yes! Mission accomplished!!"

……

Just as Daitaku Sun God had predicted, Yasui Makoto and Kita Genkoto's condition underwent a subtle change during their subsequent shopping trip.

Compared to when they were in Shibuya and when they first arrived in Harajuku, the distance between the two seemed to have closed a little without them realizing it.

They used to maintain a half-arm social distance while walking, but occasionally their arms would lightly touch.

The two "masters of assists," Daitaku Sun God and Mejiro Zenshin, would naturally not let such a good opportunity pass them by.

As they continued to lead the group through the streets of Harajuku, introducing various novel and interesting shops, they would occasionally create small "accidents" to give Yasui Makoto and Kita Genko more opportunities to spend time alone together.

For example, in a dessert shop, Daitaku Taiyoshin said he suddenly remembered he had an important phone call to make, so he dragged Mejiro Zenshin outside the shop, leaving Yasui Makoto and Kita Genko to choose desserts inside.

For example, when visiting a jewelry store, two racehorse girls might deliberately pick out some matching couple items and ask what the store thinks.

Night fell before we knew it, and the city lights began to twinkle.

The streets of Harajuku appear even more bustling and vibrant under the lights.

After enjoying a sumptuous dinner at a family-run restaurant, it was time for the four of them to part ways.

"Thank you so much for taking us shopping today!" Beifang Xuanju stood on the side of the street and bowed to Daitaku Taiyoushin and Meguro Zenshin in gratitude.

"Haha, no need to be so polite, Xiao Bei. We had a lot of fun today too!" Da Tuo, the Sun God, waved his hand with a smile, his eyes glancing intentionally or unintentionally at Yasui Makoto and Beifang Xuanju:
"Moreover, we feel a great sense of accomplishment to see your relationship getting better and better."

“Yes, yes,” Megumi Zenshin nodded in agreement.

"Let's have another date like this sometime in the future."

Having understood the two racehorse girls' thoughts, Yasui Makoto didn't explain anything, but simply smiled, cleared his throat, and said:

"Indeed, thank you both for your help today. It's getting late, so we'll head back now. Please take care."

After bidding farewell to Daitaku Sun God and Mejiro Zenshin, Yasui Makoto accompanied Kita Genko back to the dormitory at Treson Academy.

All the way there, Kita Genko chatted enthusiastically about everything that had happened while shopping. He only let out a long sigh of relief when he reached the dormitory entrance, stopped, and turned to look at Yasui Makoto:
"Xiao Zhen, thank you for going shopping with me today. I'm really happy!"

“I’m happy too, Kobei. It’s getting late, you should go back and rest,” Yasui Makoto said with a smile.

"Okay! Well... goodnight in advance, goodbye Xiaozhen!"

Yasui Makoto stood there, watching Kita Genko's figure disappear into the dormitory corridor before turning and leaving.

Back in his rented apartment, Yasui Makoto habitually sat down at his desk, turned on his computer, and began organizing the upcoming training plan.

Recalling the chase, he browsed and studied the various data and characteristics of the WCT system.

During this routine workday, the various scenes from today's shopping trip, as well as the girl's changed and affectionate way of addressing him, kept surfacing in his mind and ears.

(End of this chapter)