Hokubu Genkoma Wanted to Take the Initiative

"Mm, some of it was about those things."

Yasui Makoto didn't hide anything, but his reply was still delivered in his usual calm, concise manner.

But Hokubu Genkoma keenly sensed that beneath his even voice lay a burden he didn't need to spell out.

She immediately remembered when she'd first started racing. Back then, Yasui Makoto had seemed relatively "free," but over the past few months, he'd clearly become busier and busier.

Then the image of Chunqiu Fen's worried little face on the day of the family banquet came to mind.

At the time, she'd confidently patted her chest and promised, "Absolutely not! Makoto's just too busy!" Now that she thought about it, the pressure behind that "too busy" was probably far greater than she'd imagined.

Her thoughts drifted further back, to the evening after the family banquet, when she'd gone with her family to pray for good fortune in the new year.

Grandpa had rarely called her into the Study Room with such a serious expression. Instead of asking, as he usually did, whether she'd enjoyed herself or gotten tired while she was out, he took a sip of tea and looked at her steadily.

"Xiao Bei, have you been feeling like the burden on your shoulders has gotten a little heavier lately?"

At first, she hadn't understood why Grandpa was asking. She'd instinctively replied, "I'm fine," before realizing that he was concerned about her future in the Shining Series.

"Are you really sure you're fine? Or, to put it another way, worries about how your performances will go, sponsors' expectations, the fans' enthusiasm, all those eyes watching you from the outside... Grandpa's been through all of that, too."

After saying this, Kitajima Saburo smiled gently, his voice warm but full of strength.

"Listen, Xiao Bei. I'm telling you