After Hokubu Genkoma's race, there were still five events left, so Yasui Makoto did not stay to watch.
He could tell even more clearly than the commentators and other spectators that this race had been noticeably faster than similar events.
The moment the race ended, he had calculated that compared with her Debut Race, Hokubu Genkoma had completed this one at a speed 0.4 meters per second faster. In the high-speed competitions of the Uma Musume, that was already a considerable increase.
Not only that, but this course was 200 meters longer than the Debut Race, which naturally consumed more energy.
Although he knew his Uma Musume had an extraordinary constitution, concern drove him straight from the stands to the Infirmary as soon as the race ended.
Yamato Akagi and Vodka went with him.
The two had come specifically to cheer for Hokubu Genkoma, and their wealth of experience let them realize that the younger girl's race had probably taken a great deal out of her.
However, when the three reached the Infirmary, they were surprised to discover that Hokubu Genkoma was not there.
Just as they were growing puzzled, an Uma Musume happened to walk out of the medical examination room.
"Yamato-senpai? Vodka-senpai?"
After a moment of stunned hesitation, she hurriedly bowed.
"Hello, both senpais, and hello to you as well, sir. I'm Satono Diamond. It's a pleasure to meet you."
After greeting them, Satono Diamond asked in confusion, "The three of you came to the Infirmary... Is there something I can help you with?"
"So you're Satono Diamond. That was a great race just now. Your Final Speed was incredibly sharp."
Vodka smiled first. "Honestly, it's a little unfortunate. If you'd accelerated a bit earlier, you probably could have overtaken Xiao Bei."
"Xiao Bei... Hokubu Genkoma?"
Satono Diamond was startled. She bit her lip, unconsciously clenched both hands, then quickly relaxed them again.
"Are the three of you... here to see Hokubu Genkoma?"
As she asked, her gaze unconsciously shifted toward Yasui Makoto.
"Yes, I'm her Trainer, Yasui Makoto. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Noticing Satono Diamond's gaze, Yasui Makoto nodded. "Has Xiao Bei finished her examination?"
A flash of astonishment crossed Satono Diamond's eyes.
So he's Hokubu Genkoma's Trainer... He's really as young as Crown and Light Diamond said?
"...Yes. The doctor said her physical condition was excellent. There wasn't any problem at all."
Answering with astonishment still in her voice, Satono Diamond unconsciously clenched her hands again, then quickly relaxed them. Afterward, she raised an arm and pointed toward the lounge.
"She took a phone call after coming out, then went in that direction.
"I still have some matters to attend to, so please forgive me for not being able to lead you there.
"Excuse me."
After giving them a poised bow, the Uma Musume left briskly.
Watching her back, Yasui Makoto fell into thought for a moment, then sighed softly.
At the same time, two sighs came from beside him.
He exchanged glances with Yamato Akagi and Vodka, who had sighed alongside him, and immediately understood that the two of them had probably thought of the same thing he had. He sighed once more, then casually said:
"Come on. Let's take a look in that direction."
Without saying anything, the two Uma Musume silently nodded and walked with Yasui Makoto toward the lounge.
They had expected to spend some time searching once they arrived, but while they were still some distance from the lounge doors, the three of them heard a familiar, clear, and exuberant voice.
"Ah—the festival—ah—the festival—ah—the festival of a bountiful year—heiya, heiya, heiya—"
The lyrics were plain and simple, the voice clear and youthful, and the melody sonorous and powerful.
Ordinarily, putting those three things together would have sounded strange, but the song they heard now was filled with stirring strength.
It was naturally Hokubu Genkoma's voice, and the song she was singing could be called Japan's most famous song, "Festival."
Yasui Makoto was very familiar with it too. Throughout the more than ten years from his childhood onward, whenever he watched the Kohaku Uta Gassen with his parents during New Year's, this song was always among the closing performances.
In a sense, the Kohaku Uta Gassen was rather like Japan's Spring Festival Gala, while this song was undoubtedly comparable to "Can't Forget Tonight."
After Hokubu Genkoma sang one line, the next did not come from her, but from an elderly man.
The old man looked to be in his seventies, yet the power revealed the moment he opened his mouth was nothing like what one would expect from an elderly man.
If Hokubu Genkoma's singing was as crisp as an oriole's, the old man's voice was as ringing as an eagle's cry.
And it was not merely a full-bodied singing style. Even without knowing much about music, Yasui Makoto could tell that the latter's vocal skill overwhelmed Hokubu Genkoma's from every angle. She was nowhere near his level.
He was not particularly surprised, because the old man was none other than the original singer of "Festival," a grand master of the music world who had appeared on the Kohaku Uta Gassen for fifty consecutive years: Kitajima Saburo.
When Yasui Makoto recognized Kitajima Saburo, the two Uma Musume beside him recognized him as well.
"...Xiao Bei's grandpa?"
Yamato Akagi stared blankly. "Why would he come here... Ah, right. Xiao Bei mentioned during lunch that her grandpa was coming to watch her race today."
"This is incredible!"
Vodka exclaimed excitedly, "I could only hear this old gentleman sing on television before. I never imagined I'd get to hear him live today. I'm so lucky!"
Hearing this, Yasui Makoto nodded silently as well.
While checking Hokubu Genkoma's information, he had also looked into Kitajima Saburo.
He had to admit that even without knowing much about music, he could not help but respect the old man.
It was because of this old man and the many musicians of his generation that Enka developed as a form of Japanese folk music and spread throughout the world. "Festival" was one of its representative works.
Aside from that, the old man's life story had also affected Yasui Makoto deeply.
According to interviews, the old man had been born in a poor fishing village in Hokkaido, where his family made a living from fishing.
He had loved singing since childhood. To pursue his dream, he had gone to Tokyo alone after graduating from high school.
He had never given up, and had eventually reached where he was today, one step at a time.
Even if the interviews did not describe the details, it was easy to imagine how difficult the journey had been.
In one interview, when asked about the secrets behind his success, talent, and gifts, the old man had said:
"Me? I've never thought I had any special talent or gifts, and I'm certainly no genius.
"There are far too many people more talented and gifted than me. Over the decades, I've met countless of them.
"Compared with those true geniuses, all I did was sing day after day, sing without stopping, sing with all my might.
"Sometimes I felt bitter—bitter that those with greater talent, gifts, energy, and time could be so lazy.
"Why couldn't they give those wasted things to me? There were still so many things I wanted to create through song!
"Then I realized that talent, gifts, and genius were ultimately all dug out bit by bit by oneself. Otherwise, even if they existed, they would be buried.
"So I started singing again.
"Then, perhaps by pure chance, I looked back.
"Friends from the past, rivals from the past—I didn't know when they had disappeared.
"All that remained was this old man, standing atop the so-called summit of Japan's music world.
"And a bunch of bored, lazy people sat at the foot of the mountain, pointing at me and muttering:
"'What can you expect? That person is a genius.'"
(Xiao Bei singing with all her might. The game's special-move animation should be based on her owner's story.)
Before you continue