After leaving the shrine, Hayakawa received a phone call.
After saying something to the person on the other end, she turned to look at Kazuo beside her.
Hanging up the phone, she showed an apologetic expression and said, "I'm so sorry, Maruzensky-classmate called and said she wanted to invite me to Shibuya, so…"
"It's fine, it's almost time to go back anyway. Let's part ways here, I can find my way."
Kazuo didn't mind; it was clear that the two of them had a very good relationship. Kazuo also happened to be planning to return to Odaiba, and it was no problem for him to take the train back by himself.
"I'm really sorry."
Hayakawa apologized again.
Kazuo smiled and said, "It's nothing, Hayakawa-san, I'm very happy that you invited me to watch the Horse Racing. I hope we'll have another chance to talk about races in the future."
Hearing this, Hayakawa also smiled knowingly and said, "Mm! I'm also very happy to have watched the race with Asama-kun. Next time, I know a very good bar for Horse Racing fans to gather, we can go there and enjoy the race then!"
"Mm, thank you for the trouble, then… goodbye?"
"Mm, see you later, Happy Holidays, and good luck with your exam revision!"
Saying this, Hayakawa made an encouraging gesture, and Kazuo also smiled and replied, "Mm, thank you. And Happy Holidays."
.
After Hayakawa left in the opposite direction, Kazuo also turned and walked towards the station.
At dusk, walking on the reddened streets gave him an indescribable sense of peace and leisure. While reminiscing about everything that had happened today, Kazuo looked at the contrails in the sky with a hint of emotion, their paths stretching into long lines. Leisurely and light-footed, the clouds were low, as if he could reach out and touch them.
He exhaled slowly, as if to clear his mind.
As he walked to a riverbank, Kazuo suddenly heard a beautiful and melodious tune. The a cappella voice came from not far away, the clear music echoing by the riverbank. It made Kazuo stop and listen.
The singing voice, enough to cleanse the soul, gave rise to endless imagination. It made Kazuo curious about who possessed such a beautiful voice.
Kazuo followed the source of the sound, and as he walked down the steps of the riverbank levee, he saw a girl in front of the bridge arch.
Her back to Kazuo, she sang the melody while dancing with light steps.
Twilight is also known in ancient language as the 'hour of meeting demons.' On the deserted riverbank levee, without any costume or makeup, and even without an audience.
This looked like a street performance, but also like a girl's impromptu show… However, in this place… it seemed no one would believe it was a concert, but even so—
On this stage of unclear meaning, with no audience whatsoever, she performed with such effort.
Even Kazuo couldn't help but be moved by her singing and her dancing.
It was a pure joy, a soaring emotion welling up in his heart.
She executed a graceful turn with her dance steps. Even without an audience, her full-hearted performance, illuminated by the afterglow of the setting sun, looked so dazzling.
As she turned around, Kazuo was able to see her face clearly.
Although he had found her back familiar earlier, it was only when he saw her face that Kazuo's expression showed a sudden realization.
The Uma Musume with twin ponytails was dressed in a loose pink knitted sweater, a knee-length short skirt, and small leather boots. The girl wasn't dressed as brightly and glamorously as an idol, but she exuded an indescribable sense of approachability. Her lovely face, that smile capable of giving strength, her slightly closed eyes as if enjoying her own singing, as if enjoying her own dance steps.
She danced lightly, like a forest fairy from a fairy tale, making people stop and watch, feeling a sense of beauty.
"I didn't expect... it was her..."
Kazuo murmured softly, the girl's figure overlapping with another. He hadn't expected to encounter the girl named Feiying Zi in this place.
"Ah..."
Upon noticing someone, the girl named Feiying Zi first froze for a moment, but then immediately smiled again, giving Kazuo a 'V' sign with her clear, refreshing, and healing sunny smile.
This was like an acknowledgment of support during an idol activity.
Perhaps taking him for a fan, Kazuo had stopped not because he was tired, nor for any particular purpose.
He was simply captivated by the girl. Whether it was her singing, her smile, or her dance steps, it felt as if he could draw strength from them, finding solace for both body and mind.
Just like the previous live concert, Feiying Zi was doing something similar.
How amazing... Could she also be a formidable Horse Racing competitor?
Her talent and composure were on par with, if not superior to, the girls in those idol groups.
Under the twilight, Kazuo unknowingly stood and watched the girl. The two of them, in the atmosphere of her song, experienced pure joy and a sense of spiritual emptiness... The only regret was that Kazuo had already promised Aoi to return early. So, he couldn't stay there indefinitely to enjoy this relaxing atmosphere.
However, for the girl, Kazuo sincerely offered his applause.
This was the spiritual strength he had gained from her, the spiritual solace he had received from her, the encouragement derived from her song and her dance.
For this, Kazuo had no other way to respond except to return applause in support.
But this feedback yielded results.
When the girl received the applause, she seemed encouraged, and her smile grew even brighter. Seeing her like this, Kazuo, as if infected, also smiled.
They say a smile can be contagious, they say a smile can uplift people's spirits.
The girl interpreted all of this with her song, her dance, and her smile.
Though they were strangers, perhaps just passing acquaintances.
This child could give encouragement and a smile to a passing stranger—
To avoid disturbing her further, Kazuo quietly left. Behind him, he could still hear that beautiful singing—
"Let's try a little harder..."
Kazuo looked up at the sky, a smile involuntarily appearing on his face.
Thinking this, Kazuo couldn't help but pull out the custom-made, inexpensive support badge he kept in his pocket.
Though cheap, he wore it on his left chest as if it were a precious item.
As if he could draw encouragement from it.
"Feiying Zi, huh...?"
How amazing... Kazuo, marveling like this, was clearly unaware that from this moment on, their paths were gradually converging
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