Uma Musume: From Being Knocked Ten Meters Away

Chapter 632 Picked up from next to the trash can?
The words "御果司" on the wooden signboard are a bit old, but the faint sweet aroma wafting from inside the shop indicates that the desserts here are of really good quality.

"This is it," Yasui Makoto said, getting out of the car first.

Beibu Xuanju immediately grabbed his notebook and documents, practically leaping off the car, his face still showing the tension and determination of a final sprint.

The others also got off the bus one after another, curiously looked around at the old shop, and followed Beibu Xuanju inside with amusement.

The store is small, but it is decorated in an elegant and cozy style, with a few empty seats by the window.

After sitting down in those seats, Beifang Xuanju immediately opened his notebook again without saying a word, his eyes falling on the dense notes, and he began to mutter to himself once more.

Seeing this, Almond and Spring and Autumn Fen flanked her, quietly quizzing her on concepts; Alice and Yamato Akaki also joined in with great interest, occasionally pointing out some key points.

Yasui Makoto watched them huddled together, a smile flashing in his eyes. He stood up and said, "Please sit down first, I'll go order some desserts."

He walked toward the old wooden counter, about to look at the menu, when out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of a familiar figure packing things up on the other side of the counter.

A simple kimono, hair neatly styled in a bun, and the way her ears and tail wag slightly when she sees a sweet she likes…

"Eh……?"

Yasui Makoto blurted out, his voice filled with disbelief and surprise:

"Mom...? What are you doing here?"

The figure turned around at the sound, revealing a well-maintained, beautiful face with features that bore a striking resemblance to Yasui.

When she saw Yasui Makoto, her eyes immediately curved into crescents, and she exclaimed with delight:

"Oh my, Xiaozhen! You're here so quickly? I thought you'd be a little later."

As she spoke, her gaze moved past Yasui Makoto's shoulder to the group of girls having a lively time at the table by the window, and a wider, more enthusiastic smile spread across her face:
"Oh my, these must be the friends Xiaozhen mentioned on the phone? What a lovely bunch of girls!"

Before Yasui Makoto could react, she had already walked over with light steps, her voice clear and gentle:

"Hello, I'm Misuzuki, Makoto's mother. Welcome to Nagoya!"

Although they were somewhat surprised by this chance encounter, the girls quickly stood up to greet him upon hearing this.

Northern Black Horse recognized the elder she had visited with during the New Year's rites last year at a glance. Before she even stood up, a bright smile appeared on her face:

"Aunt Meiling, it's been a long time!"

Almond-eyed bowed politely and greeted, "Hello, Aunt Meiling."

Alice and Yamato Akame had heard Yasui Makoto mention their mother before, but this was their first time meeting her in person, so they also greeted her politely.

Only Chunqiufen saw everyone stand up, and with a bewildered look on his face, he also stood up.

Meiling's gaze swept over the racehorse girls with joy and affection, responding to each of their greetings before finally settling on Kita Genko and Almond.

She deliberately feigned displeasure and gave a soft "humph":
"What do you mean 'Auntie'? You're making her sound old! Have you forgotten? You should call her 'Sister Meiling'!"

Northern Black Horse and Almond Eyes both paused for a moment, exchanged a glance, then couldn't help but chuckle, readily changing their tune with amusement in their voices:

"Yes! Meiling-neechan!"

Meiling smiled with satisfaction, her eyes curving into crescents, and looked at Alice and the others: "You all have to call me 'Meiling-neechan' too!"

Alice readily complied, glancing at Yasui Makoto who was still talking behind the counter, and said with a playful tone, "Understood, Meiling-neechan."

Yamato Akaki nodded with a smile, "Okay, Meiling-neechan." It wasn't until then that Chunqiufen suddenly realized what was going on.

Her ears and tail seemed to receive some signal, and they both perked up simultaneously. Then, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she confirmed in a slightly flustered voice:

"Eh...? So, this is... Trainer Yasui's mother? Mi-Misuzu... older sister?"

Her belatedly adorable reaction immediately made everyone laugh, and the atmosphere lightened considerably.

Meiling was amused and couldn't help but bend down and affectionately rub Chunqiufen's cheek:

"Oh my, what a lovely child!"

After rubbing her hands a couple of times, she seemed to have discovered something, her eyes widening slightly as her gaze swept back and forth between the Northern Black Horse and the Spring and Autumn Equinox.

"Hmm? Look closely, this child... looks just like Xiao Bei, those eyes, that feeling... he's practically a 'mini-Xiao Bei'!"

"Yes, yes!"

The Northern Black Steed nodded vigorously, its crimson eyes sparkling as if it had found a resonance:

"I had this feeling from the first time I met Xiaofen! I always felt a strange sense of closeness, and we do look a bit alike!"

As she spoke, she warmly embraced the still somewhat bewildered Chunqiu Fen. The two leaned against each other, and their similar hair color and eyebrows made the "similarity" even more obvious.

Everyone's eyes darted between the two, and they all smiled in agreement, making the atmosphere even more harmonious and warm.

Just then, Yasui Makoto walked over carrying a large tray full of desserts.

Seeing this, Alice's lips curled into a sly smile, and she joked with him:
"So... oh, no offense, I was just wondering, Yasui, are you really Meiling's child? How come Meiling is so easygoing and fun, but you always look so serious and mature?"

Taken aback by the sudden question, Yasui Makoto was caught off guard and before he could answer, Meiling beside him nodded emphatically, her face bearing a look of deep regret.

"That's right! Oh, by the way, Xiao Zhen, now that things have come to this, there's something I have to tell you..."

Yasui sighed helplessly, skillfully placing the red bean soup and rou-mochi from the tray in front of everyone, interrupting his mother without looking up:

"If you're trying to say I picked it up from a trash can on a street corner, forget it. I stopped believing that kind of thing more than ten years ago, and I'm even less likely to believe it now."

"Ugh--"

Meiling sighed dramatically, turned to Alice and the others who were looking amused, shrugged, and spread her hands, saying:

"You've all seen it, haven't you? My Xiaozhen is such an unlovable and humorless person. It must be really hard for you all to work hard."

The crowd chuckled again.

Amidst the laughter and banter, Meiling's gaze returned to the table, noticing the notebook and documents spread out in front of Beifang Xuanju.

She widened her eyes slightly in surprise: "Xiao Bei, you're... studying? You're so diligent! You even brought all this with you on your way out?"

Northern Black Horse scratched his cheek a little embarrassedly and explained:

"Well... it's because I wanted to try and see if I could become Ah-zhen's assistant and help him with some things."

"Ah Zhen said I could learn it first and then check what I had learned these past few days when I got home."

"Um... I haven't memorized it completely yet, so I want to take this opportunity to review it a little longer..."

(End of this chapter)