Uma Musume: From Being Knocked Ten Meters Away

Chapter 467 Praying for Success in the Math Exam
Upon learning of the East Sea Emperor's expectations and true intentions, Yasui Makoto was naturally excited, but he did not act rashly.

He had previously considered overseas options for the Northern Black Horse and even the Almond Eye, which was also necessary for their training and development.

That's why he specifically took two female racehorses to Dubai for study and exchange.

However, unlike the preparation for the competition, he was responsible for the overseas aspects at that time.

Now, judging from the account relayed by the Emperor of the East Sea, it seems it's time to discuss this together.

After all, no matter how much guidance we try, the ones competing on the racetrack in the future will still be the female racehorses.

Their thoughts and wishes undoubtedly play a crucial role, especially for the Northern Black Horse, whose understanding of the race has changed dramatically.

So, from the winner's stage until the rest day after the Takarazuka Memorial, Yasui Makoto did not rush to discuss the arrangements for the subsequent matches.

He simply told Kita Genko to rest well and to take Ange with him to prepare for the spring semester's final exams.

During this time, he was not idle. After dealing with trivial but unavoidable tasks such as publicity and business orders, he started to handle training and competition-related work early on.

From fine-tuning the training plan to communicating with the competition organizers, and then to my own ideas regarding the overseas portion...

Once everything felt arranged, he met with Beifang Xuanju in early July to discuss the follow-up arrangements.

Summer has arrived, and everywhere is filled with the chirping of cicadas and the heat of summer.

Carrying a shoulder bag full of training plans, Yasui Makoto squeezed into the center line with the crowd and quickly noticed that the in-car TV was showing summer festivals such as fireworks displays.

The occasional chatter overheard in the carriage was mostly about where they were going to travel or go on vacation, or what they would wear on TV shows.

"Summer is here again, and next... it'll be time for a training camp."

Holding onto the handrail on the tram, swaying to the rhythm of the vehicle's movement, he couldn't help but feel a little emotional:
"Sometimes I think about it, Xiao Bei and the others... have worked really hard."

"It's fine during normal times, but even during summer vacation, there are still training and competitions..."

I couldn't help but start thinking about whether I should take my racehorse girl somewhere to play before and after the training camp. After getting off the train and leaving the station, a wave of heat, along with the aroma of various foods, hit me.

Just like the training camp I had with Genkoma Kita before, this time we were going to Kichijoji Street, which was also a very lively place.

Presumably in anticipation of various summer events, colorful paper ribbons and brightly colored posters can be seen hanging everywhere outside shop windows along the street.

Shops selling yukatas were particularly bustling, with many customers going in empty-handed and coming out carrying various bags, probably in preparation for events like fireworks displays.

As Yasui Makoto pushed his way through the crowd and crossed a street adorned with lanterns, he caught a glimpse of a wagashi (Japanese confectionery) shop around the corner.

A faint scent of herbs and plants wafted from the shop. Neatly arranged bamboo-wrapped cypress cakes were displayed in the glass cabinet, and the shop assistant was placing white jade dumplings sprinkled with soybean powder onto a wooden tray.

After thinking for a moment, he went inside, and when he came out, he had a bag with a picture of a magpie bridge printed on it.

Turn the corner and you'll immediately see a family-run restaurant.

After confirming that the name on the neon sign was the one he had arranged, he went inside carrying his bag.

It wasn't mealtime yet, so there weren't many customers in the restaurant.

The walls are covered with hand-drawn sticky notes and "Welcome" collages made of colorful washi tape.

In one of the nearest booths, string lights cast dappled patterns of light on the table, where several girls who looked like high school students were taking pictures of the ice cream on the table with their phones.

He had just glanced around when he heard a familiar voice:

"Ah Zhen! Here, here!"

Following the familiar voice, I saw Beifang Xuanju waving excitedly from the booth by the window.

Beside her, Almond-eyed was intently focused on something, fiddling with it. Hearing Kita Genko's voice, she looked over and also raised her hand to wave.

Unable to suppress a smile, Yasui Makoto took two steps in that direction before suddenly pausing.

Northern Black Horse and Almond Eyes were facing this direction, while two female racehorses sat on seats facing away from them.

Just looking at the back, Yasui Makoto felt that it looked somewhat familiar.

At this moment, as Kita Genko and the others turned their heads, he immediately recognized them as Alice and Yamato Akaki.

"What are those two doing here too?"

Puzzled, he walked over and casually glanced at the table.

There were many paper decorations on the table, mostly colorful origami cranes, as well as banners, paper dolls, and several stacks of square pieces of paper.

Several of the racehorse girls were still holding half-folded paper cranes in their hands.

"What a coincidence, Dr. Hayako, Senior Yamato."

Having exchanged brief greetings with Alice and Yamato Akaki, Yasui Makoto sat down in the seat that Kita Genko had given him.

"Are you... here to go shopping too?"

Alice spoke first:

"Yes, I happened to be on vacation, and Yamato asked me to come out and buy things for the Qixi Festival, so I came."

While explaining, her gaze was mostly fixed on the origami crane she had folded in half, and she would occasionally frown, as if she was not satisfied with her work.

"The Qiqiao Festival... Oh, I see."

Suddenly realizing something, Yasui Makoto glanced at the Magpie Bridge design on the cover of the bag in his hand, and as he placed it on the table, he couldn't help but laugh at himself:

"I think I saw some kind of festival event when I came here..."

The Qixi Festival is also known as the Double Seventh Festival. He has a deeper impression of the latter name than the former.

This festival, which originated from the legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, has little to do with the love story in Japan. Instead, it is more about praying for a bountiful autumn harvest, warding off evil spirits, and asking the gods to bless oneself and improve one's skills.

The meaning of this latter intention is "Qiqiao" (乞巧), which literally means "begging for skill" or "praying for skill".

"Huh? So Ah Zhen didn't know?"

After sitting down, Beifang Xuanju picked up a half-folded paper crane from the table and said with a surprised look:

"I thought you must have known about this already."

"It's not that I don't know, it's just... I don't pay much attention to holidays and such, otherwise I would have remembered it right away."

After explaining honestly, Yasui Makoto became interested:
"So, you came to Kichijoji specifically to buy origami?"

"Yeah, the final exams are next week, I..."

The folding motion paused, and Beifang Xuanju's face suddenly fell:
"I... well... I'm not very good at math, and the teacher said the exam might be a bit difficult this time, so I asked Anzu to come here with me. After all, a lot of people say the monks at Kichijoji Temple are very powerful..."

After speaking hesitantly, she quickly looked at Yasui Makoto and added:

"But I've been studying hard all along! And I've been asking Crown-chan and the others for help with my lessons lately, and Xiao Xingmu has been helping me too!"

"So for the final exam, math... I'm sure I'll pass!"
"Ah Zhen, you have to believe me!"

(End of this chapter)