Uma Musume: From Being Knocked Ten Meters Away

Chapter 624 A New Year's Shrine Visit with Only Two People?

After talking in the courtyard, Yasui Makoto and Kitajima Saburo returned to the restaurant. After a brief inquiry, they learned that Kita Genko and the others were playing games in another room. The two of them naturally headed over there.

The two walked through the corridor one after the other. Before they even reached the door of the Japanese-style room, they could hear the crisp sound of clapping and the light laughter of the girls coming from inside.

The paper door was pulled open slightly, and warm light and excited sounds poured out.

There sat Kita Genko, cross-legged on the tatami mat, holding a karuta card in his hand, gesturing animatedly at the almond-eyed and spring-auspicious-bunt surrounded by them:

"...Then I heard the sound of 'snow,' and just like that! That's how I managed to avoid being snatched by Senior Hayako!"

She mimicked the swift attack, causing Xingmu to cover her mouth and chuckle, while Chunqiufen opened her eyes wide in amazement.

"Kukuku, I was careless for a moment..."

It seems like they lost a round. Alice smiled lazily and said, "But... well, Kita's reaction speed in that round was really outstanding."

"Hehe, thank you, senior!"

With a silly grin, Beibu Xuanju was about to continue speaking when he caught a glimpse of a figure at the paper door out of the corner of his eye.

"Ah, Zhen! You and Grandpa are here!"

She stood up excitedly, about to approach, when suddenly an idea struck her.

The thought of "wanting to visit Yasui Makoto's hometown" popped up again without warning, making her cheeks unconsciously flush slightly.

She subconsciously glanced quickly at her companions, only to find that everyone's eyes were naturally drawn to the two who had entered, and no one noticed her momentary unease.

Then she saw that her grandfather and Yasui Makoto were both smiling in response, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. That sudden panic was like a pebble thrown into a lake, the ripples quickly dissipated, leaving only a warm and comforting feeling.

They played several more rounds of Hanafuda (flower cards) in a lively atmosphere, and even invited Yasui Makoto and Kitajima Saburo to join in. Time passed quietly.

As the night deepened outside the window, Yasui Makoto took his leave at the opportune moment.

The Kitajima family warmly saw them off at the door, and Kita Genko rushed forward a few steps to escort Yasui Makoto and the others to the gate on behalf of his grandfather.

As she walked, she kept excitedly talking about the New Year's shrine visit she had mentioned earlier:
"It's a deal then! Let's all go to Hatsumode together during the New Year! I know several shrines that are very efficacious!"

Yasui Makoto smiled and nodded upon hearing this, Alice Soko shrugged noncommittally, and Yamato Akaki agreed with a smile: "Alright, then we'll have to rely on you, Kita, to lead the way."

Almond and Spring Awakening nodded obediently and stood up, saying, "Yes! We will prepare kimonos for the New Year."

The words of farewell blended into the night as the vehicle slowly drove away.

Northern Genko stood there watching the taillights disappear into the road, already looking forward to the upcoming New Year's shrine visit.

……

Time flies, and festive decorations are everywhere in the streets and alleys, enveloping the entire city in a rich New Year atmosphere.

For racehorse girls like Hokuho Genko, who are extremely popular, the New Year's schedule is always packed full, like one mini-festival after another.

She first held a solemn and warm New Year's Day shrine visit with her family.

Afterwards, as promised, I went again with Yasui Makoto, Yamato Akaki and other team members in a lively atmosphere.

Immediately following was a gathering with close friends such as Satomi Kozo and Satomi Kouou...

It was only then that she belatedly realized she had so many friends, each one eager to share the joy of the New Year with her.

Often, they would return from a shrine with one group of people today, and the next day or not long after, they would enthusiastically embark on another pilgrimage with another group of friends.

That day, she returned from the bustling shrine with a group of senior friends.

As the excitement subsided, she returned to her living room and collapsed onto the tatami mat without any regard for appearances. She let out a long sigh, her chest rising and falling slightly, as if she had just finished an Arima Memorial event. "Ha... I should... have gone with everyone I made plans with..." she muttered to herself, gazing at the ceiling, her voice carrying a hint of exhaustion and satisfaction after a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

After resting for a moment, she rolled over and sat up cross-legged with a "whoosh," scratching her short black hair while carefully counting on her fingers:

"Once with my grandparents, parents, and me, once with Ah Zhen and the others, once with Emperor and McQueen, once with Little Diamond and Crown, and once with Adventurer, King Jin, and Dong Shang... um!"

She nodded emphatically, as if confirming the completion of a major task:

"That's right, everyone made plans! The New Year's shrine visit... a complete success!"

Thinking about it this way, she immediately felt relaxed and fulfilled.

However, as the excitement subsided, a thought that had been briefly put aside quietly surfaced.

It was that suggestion that slipped out of my mouth when I was in a high mood during the family dinner:
I want to visit Ah Zhen's hometown.

That place she had never been to, only heard snippets of conversation from Yasui Makoto during their occasional chats.

For example, the camellia tree in the old family courtyard that is said to be older than my grandfather, or the breakfast shop on the nearby street corner that always smells of grilled fish, and the aroma of oden and ramen in the evening...

Unconsciously recalling the past, a series of blurry yet warm images came to mind:

Yasui Makoto was sitting under a tree reading a book when a few leaves fell on his head. He shook his head and flicked the leaves away...

I rushed out of the house early in the morning, passed by a breakfast shop, rushed in, and came out with a golden and crispy grilled fish in my mouth...

When you get home in the evening, or go out with friends, you can eat stew or ramen at a small street-side shop...

"Hey hey hey..."

She suddenly chuckled a few times, inexplicably feeling that those scenes she had never witnessed, or perhaps only imagined, were now...

Exceptionally attractive.

The feeling wasn't particularly intense, but it was like a soft feather occasionally scratching at the heart, bringing a slightly itchy, unusual sensation.

"But……"

Unconsciously muttering to himself, Beifang Xuanju subconsciously touched his slightly flushed cheeks:
"If I were the one to suggest going to Ah-zhen's house... it feels... so weird..."

She couldn't help but imagine the scene, and her heart suddenly started racing for no reason.

A sense of unease, like the fear of being caught after secretly playing a prank, quietly spread, just like...

That's how I felt when I hid behind a display case in the student council office and "eavesdropped" on the conversation between Yasui Makoto, Tokai no Teio, and Mejiro McQueen.

Then, another discovery made her gasp slightly.

Yes, although she went to the shrine with Yasui Makoto for New Year's greetings both this year and last year.

But each time, they were surrounded by a large number of friends.

Looking back now, she was shocked to realize that the time she and Yasui Makoto truly spent alone together, though it existed, could be counted on one hand.

"That……"

An idea sprouted uncontrollably, and with a hint of excited anticipation, she murmured to herself:

"The shrine visit is over... but the New Year isn't completely over yet... should we... go again just the two of us, A-Zhen?"

(End of this chapter)