Uma Musume: From Being Knocked Ten Meters Away

Chapter 623 The First Team Activity of the New Year

After a moment's thought, the various issues he had recently considered and encountered came to mind. He took a deep breath and spoke frankly:
"To be honest, my team and I are indeed facing some problems right now."

"First and foremost is the sentiment of domestic fans. Xiao Bei is currently very popular. She is the 'Autumn Triple Crown' racehorse girl and carries the expectations of many people."

“Going overseas under these circumstances will inevitably mean being out of the sight of her domestic fans for a long time, and some of her supporters may feel disappointed.”

After a pause, Yasui Makoto spoke again, his tone tinged with helplessness:
"Secondly, there are considerations regarding sponsors."

"Many sponsors have been supporting us, and these are mostly Japanese companies. Naturally, they hope that Xiaobei can appear more often in Japanese competitions to maintain and increase her popularity."

"Overseas expeditions involve huge investments and have unpredictable results; the commercial returns in the short term may not be so direct or significant."

"Then... Ohno Trading Company is also helpless about this, or rather... it's in a bit of a dilemma."

He laid out all his troubles, partly out of trust in Kitajima Saburo, and partly because he genuinely hoped to gain the understanding and support of this elder.

He even secretly hoped that Saburo Kitajima might be able to help resolve these problems.

Kitajima Saburo was silent for a moment, then cast his gaze to the dark shadows of the trees deep in the courtyard, and slowly said:
"As you can probably tell, I'm the kind of person who, to put it nicely, is traditional and nostalgic, but actually..."

He smiled kindly and shook his head:

"It's just an old relic."

"So to be honest, as a grandfather, I certainly hope that Xiaobei can stay in Japan more often, so that I can see her running around more often, in a place where I can still see her frequently."

"but……"

He changed the subject, his gaze becoming increasingly gentle yet firm, as he looked at Yasui Makoto:
"I've been a fan of the Shining Series for decades, and I know better than anyone that the real racehorses belong on a much wider track."

"I cannot, and will never, hold Xiaobei back from pursuing her dreams because of my own selfish desires."

"She wants to see a wider world and challenge stronger opponents, which is a good thing and a remarkable ambition! As her grandfather... I must support her!"

He patted Yasui Makoto's shoulder firmly, the force steady and carrying an undeniable sense of support:
"So, Yasui-kun, go ahead and make your plans with confidence, be bold and meticulous in your planning!"
"Don't worry about the sponsors, I'll personally speak to them."

"Supporting Xiaobei to go global is the best investment, and I believe they understand that."

"As for the fans..."

Kitajima Saburo smiled slightly:
"I am also a singer, and I have many fans."

"So I know that true fans will cheer for every challenge she takes, no matter where she runs."

What we need to do is to properly convey her story and her determination.

"And besides these, what other problems are hindering..."

He paused, his tone calm:
"Come find me directly."

"I'm already preparing to retire, but I still have some influence, so I should be able to help you clear up some problems."

These words, though not impassioned, carried a calm composure born of experience and an undeniable power.

Yasui felt a sudden surge of relief.

He felt not only support, but also a deep understanding and entrustment.

He nodded solemnly, meeting Kitajima Saburo's gaze: "I understand. Thank you very much for your understanding and support, Mr. Kitajima. With your words, Xiao Bei and I have no worries. We will definitely formulate the most perfect plan and live up to your expectations and trust."

……

When Yasui Makoto consulted with Kitajima Saburo, the atmosphere in an elegantly furnished Japanese-style room in the mansion was much more relaxed and cheerful.

Under the warm lights, Beibu Xuanju excitedly spread out the playing cards, and several girls quickly gathered around, having a great time. The clear recitation and the laughter of grabbing cards filled the air.

Alice was surprisingly good at this game. Often, as soon as the card was called out, she would accurately hit the correct card. Her speed and accuracy were so great that it was almost like a precise experiment of nerve reflexes.

"Senior Suko...you're amazing!" Hokuto Genko exclaimed in disbelief, "You're always the first to draw the correct card!"

Yamato Akaki also shook his head with a smile: "Such a reaction speed, truly worthy of being called Souko-senpai."

Spring and Autumn Equinoxes gazed at Alice with adoration, whispering in admiration, "So strong..."

Alice herself remained nonchalant, as if it were no big deal: "It's just a simple optimization of the stimulus-response process, much simpler than adjusting experimental parameters."

After several rounds of games, the atmosphere became more relaxed, and everyone chatted about their New Year holiday plans while tidying up the scattered song cards.

During this moment of respite, Almond-shaped eyes suddenly let out a soft "Ah":
"By the way, speaking of the Lunar New Year... will the trainers go back to their hometowns for a few days after the New Year, just like this year?"

"This one……"

As Kita Genko tidied up the scattered cards, a thought struck him. "Probably... I remember Makoto saying that he's been like this for the past two or three years since he came to Tokyo..."

"W-Is that so...?" Chunqiu Fen paused for a moment, then whispered with a hint of frustration, "What...what should we do...?"

Sitting right next to Chunqiufen, Beibu Xuanju immediately looked over and asked, "What's wrong, Xiaofen? Is something bothering you?"

"Oh? Well, no, that's not the case..."

He subconsciously shook his head, then bit his lip and hesitated for a moment before scratching his head and pouting.
"Okay, so... I told my parents about the agreement, and they were really happy. They've been wanting to discuss it with the trainer..."

"But after contacting them several times, the trainer always said they were in a meeting or busy and hung up quickly..."

"I was just... just wondering if the trainer... has changed his mind...?"

Her voice grew softer and softer as she spoke, and her head lowered slightly.

Seeing this, Beibu Xuanju immediately put down the cards in his hand, turned around, and said with great certainty:
"How could that be? Xiao Fen, don't overthink it. Zhen is just really busy lately, I promise you!"

Alice had already arranged the cards, and upon hearing this, she chuckled softly:
"Kukuku...that's right. He's been 'outwitting' various forces lately, working hard to pave the way for our ambitious plan next year. He's not deliberately ignoring the phone."

"Is that so...? Then, I misunderstood..."

Startled, Chunqiu Fen relaxed, but then her curiosity returned, and she blinked and asked:
"So... what's Yasui's hometown like? Have any of you seniors ever been there...?"

"No, not at all... Oh right!"

After instinctively shaking his head, Beibu Xuanju's eyes lit up, and he almost blurted out, "Then let's go take a look, it just so happens that I..."

As soon as the words left her mouth, she suddenly realized that she had accidentally voiced her true thoughts, and quickly and abruptly changed them:
"I...we can all go take a look! Everyone's free after the New Year! And we can also discuss the agreement with Xiaofen, just consider it...um! Let's consider it the first team activity of the New Year! Yes, a team activity!"

(End of this chapter)