Visit After the Second Banquet

It was eight o'clock in the evening after the second banquet ended.

"Well then, it was about time to head out."

After saying that, he rose from the tatami, and Trainer Yoshida across the table stood up as well.

This was the occasion for the year-crossing shrine visit, something possible only on this one day at the end of the year.

A year-crossing shrine visit referred to visiting a shrine or temple for the New Year, usually from New Year's Eve through midnight and into New Year's Day.

Avoiding Tokyo's overcrowded popular shrines and Katsuma Shrine, which was frequented by people in the racing industry, they ultimately chose Asama Shrine near Miho Tracen as their destination.

Although it shared its name with the famous horse bearing the Mejiro prefix, the two actually had little connection.

Asama Shrine enshrined Konohanasakuya-hime, the source of Sakuya's name.

She was also commonly known as the Asama Deity.

If they were still in Hokkaido, Minowa Shrine near Nishiken Farm would have been enough for a visit.

But—

Since this was a rare opportunity, it seemed better to make the occasion a little more solemn.

Before leaving, he briefly checked the route between the two places on his phone's map app. By train, they could arrive near the shrine just before midnight.

However, since Trainer Yoshida was accompanying him, they had no choice but to forgo the train and take a taxi instead.

After getting in, he placed his coat, which had grown warm under the heater, over his lap and began chatting with the trainer seated beside him in the back.

Though they initially talked about matters unrelated to racing, such as the weather, cars, and baseball, the conversation somehow drifted back to horse racing.

"Though I've already said it, congratulations, President. Today truly was