Chapter 38
After Kitasan Black's race, there were still five more events left on the day. Yasui Makoto didn't stay to watch them.
The live commentator and other spectators could tell this race was noticeably faster than similar events, and he knew it even more clearly.
The moment the race ended, he had already calculated that Kitasan Black's average speed was 0.4 meters per second faster than her debut. In the high-speed world of horse girl racing, that was a significant improvement.
Not only that, this race was 200 meters longer than her debut, so the stamina consumption was naturally much greater.
Although he knew his horse girl had an extraordinary physique, he was still worried. As soon as the race finished, he headed straight from the stands toward the medical area.
Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka came along with him.
The two of them had come specifically to cheer for Kitasan Black. With their rich experience, they could also sense that this race had likely taken a heavy toll on the junior.
However, when they reached the medical area, the three of them were surprised to find that Kitasan Black wasn't there.
While they were wondering where she had gone, a horse girl happened to walk out of the examination room.
"Daiwa-senpai? Vodka-senpai?"
She froze for a moment, then quickly bowed.
"Hello, senpais and this gentleman. I'm Satono Ibuki. Nice to meet you."
After greeting them, Satono Ibuki asked curiously, "Are the three of you here at the medical area for something?"
"So it's Ibuki. You ran a very good race earlier — that closing kick was quite sharp."
Vodka smiled first. "Honestly, it was a bit of a shame. If you had started accelerating a little earlier, you probably would have overtaken Kitasan Black."
"Kitasan… you mean Kitasan Black?"
Satono Ibuki looked surprised. She bit her lip, unconsciously clenched her hands, then quickly relaxed them.
"The three of you… are you looking for Kitasan Black?"
As she spoke, her gaze unconsciously drifted toward Yasui Makoto.
"Yes, I'm her trainer, Yasui Makoto. Nice to meet you."
Noticing Satono Ibuki's look, Yasui Makoto nodded. "Has Kitasan Black already finished her check-up?"
A flash of astonishment crossed Satono Ibuki's eyes.
So he really is Kitasan Black's trainer… He's just as young as Crown and Diamond said…
"…Yes. The doctor said her physical condition is very good. There are no issues at all."
Still slightly stunned, Satono Ibuki answered and unconsciously clenched her hands again, then quickly relaxed them. She raised her arm and pointed toward the rest area.
"After she came out, she received a phone call and headed in that direction.
"I still have some things to take care of, so please excuse me for not being able to guide you there.
"I'll take my leave."
After giving a polite and straightforward bow, Satono Ibuki left without hesitation.
Watching her back, Yasui Makoto thought for a moment and let out a soft sigh.
At the same time, two similar sighs came from beside him.
Exchanging glances with Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka, who had also sighed, he immediately understood they were probably thinking the same thing he was. He sighed once more, then said casually:
"Let's go. We'll head in that direction and take a look."
Without another word, the two horse girls nodded silently and walked with Yasui Makoto toward the rest area.
They thought they might have to search for a while once they arrived, but when they were still some distance from the entrance to the hall, the three of them heard a familiar, energetic voice.
"Ah— Matsuri ah— ah— Matsuri ah— ah— That festival of the bountiful harvest year— Hey ya hey ya hey ya—!"
Simple and rustic lyrics, a clear and youthful voice, combined with a powerful and rhythmic melody.
Normally, putting these three elements together might feel strange, but the singing they heard right now was filled with an uplifting, inspiring power.
It was naturally Kitasan Black's voice, and the song she was belting out was one of Japan's most famous songs — "Matsuri" (Festival).
Yasui Makoto was also very familiar with it. For more than ten years, whenever he watched Kohaku Uta Gassen with his parents during New Year's, this song was almost always part of the grand finale.
In a way, Kohaku Uta Gassen was like Japan's version of the Spring Festival Gala, and this song was undoubtedly comparable to "Nanban Konna Yoru" in cultural significance.
After Kitasan Black sang one line, the next line wasn't sung by her, but by an elderly man.
The old man looked to be in his seventies, but the power in his voice when he opened his mouth was nothing like what an elderly person should have.
If Kitasan Black's singing was as clear as a nightingale, the old man's voice was as resounding as an eagle.
Not only was his singing full of vigor, even someone who didn't understand music very well could feel that the old man's vocal technique completely overwhelmed hers in every aspect.
Yasui Makoto wasn't surprised, because the old man was none other than the original singer of "Matsuri" — the music legend who had appeared on Kohaku Uta Gassen for 50 consecutive years, Kitajima Saburo (North Island Saburo).
When Yasui Makoto recognized Kitajima Saburo, the two horse girls beside him recognized him as well.
"…Is that Kitasan Black's grandfather?"
Daiwa Scarlet said in surprise. "Why did he come here… Ah, right. During dinner, Kitasan Black mentioned that her grandfather would come to watch her race today."
"That's wonderful!"
Vodka said excitedly. "I used to only hear this old gentleman sing on TV. I never thought I'd get to hear him live today. How lucky!"
Hearing this, Yasui Makoto nodded silently as well.
When he had looked up Kitasan Black's information, he had also learned a bit about Kitajima Saburo.
Even if one didn't understand music well, it was hard not to respect this elderly man.
It was precisely because of him and many other musicians of his generation that "enka" — Japanese folk ballads — developed and spread across the world, and "Matsuri" was one of its representative works.
In addition, the old man's life story also deeply moved Yasui Makoto.
From interviews, it was clear that this man was born in a poor fishing village in Hokkaido. His family made a living by fishing.
He loved singing from a young age. After graduating high school, he left home alone for Tokyo to pursue his dreams.
He never gave up, and step by step, he reached where he was today.
The hardships behind those simple words were easy to imagine even if the interviews didn't go into detail.
In one interview, when asked about the secret to his success, talent, or genius, the old man replied:
"I've never thought of myself as having any special talent or genius. I'm not a prodigy.
"There are far too many people more talented than me. I've seen too many over the decades.
"Compared to those real geniuses, I just sang day after day, kept singing, and sang with all my might.
"Sometimes I felt resentful — resentful of why those more talented, more gifted, and with more energy and time were so lazy.
"Why couldn't they give me the things they wasted? Because I still have so many things I want to create through song.
"Then I realized that talent, gift, and genius are ultimately things you have to dig out for yourself, or they'll be buried.
"So I started singing again.
"Then, probably by chance, I looked back.
"My old friends and rivals had disappeared at some point.
"Only this old man was left, standing at the so-called peak of the Japanese music world.
"And a bunch of lazy, boring people were sitting at the foot of the mountain, pointing at me and saying:
'Well, that guy's a genius, after all.'
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