“Higher! Higher higher!”

Kitasan Black pleaded in a fit of giggles that tuned in and out of your ears as Sakura Bakushin O tossed her granddaughter up into the air and promptly caught her with a smile.

Sakura Bakushin O, still full of strength and vigor despite the decades that have gone by like the wind spun around and used the momentum to toss her granddaughter in the air again, the playful unconfined giggles were gone for a moment…before the giggles returned as Sakura Bakushin O caught her again. Both her and Kitasan Black erupting into a bundle of laughs.

Bakushin O winded up another toss before she caught eye contact with you and your disapproving gaze and she froze with her mouth hung open. All Kitasan did was look at you with a bright smile that reminded you of Bakushin O’s bright smile.

Dangerously contagious…

You couldn’t help but crack your own smile at the wonderful sight not everyone can achieve nor live long enough to see. It was more precious than anything.

“A-ahem! That’s enough tossing, no? Let’s focus on our grand task at hand!”

She placed Kitasan down on her two feet, her black tail swaying for a moment as Bakushin O dramatically pointed at the path ahead with a smile, a hand landing on her hip, she couldn’t look more proud.

“Hiking! Now, Kitasan…are you sure you’re prepared for a hike with your grandma and grandpa? This is far from an easy task!”

It actually couldn’t be closer. It’s just hiking. The mountain isn’t even dangerous, in fact the most dangerous thing here is Bakushin O. Why would YOUR daughter let HER daughter, Kitasan Black, stay at her grandparents for the weekend with a reckless silly uma like Sakura Bakushin O? At least you’re here to control her. Thankfully.

Your daughter, Sugar Heart, she didn’t want to become a racer just like her mother, whether she felt she could do it or not, she preferred to settle down for a more quiet and relaxing lifestyle at home. But Kitasan Black…

“Are you truly prepared?!”

Kitasan Black nodded her head vigorously, tapping both of her feet lightly on the ground, both fist clenched, and armed with that dangerously cute beaming smile. Kitasan Black had both the potential to be a great racer, and the ambition.

“I’m prepared! I’m prepared! Me and Dia-Chan always race and practice together! I’ll catch up this time!”

Bakushin O stood upright with both of her hands on her hips, somehow smart enough to feign a thinking look on her face when this wasn’t a question.

“If that’s so…then you truly are my granddaughter! We will Bakushin on 3! On your marks…1…2…….CHOWA!”

Bakushin O’s head popped up, and Kitasan nearly fell flat on her face from the false start. She turned around with a confused expression, while Bakushin O turned to look at you with an awkward expression of embarrassment having forgotten you for a moment.

“S-shall we…all three of us walk together until we reach the clearing far ahead?”

Normally she’d be long gone by now in one predicament or another, mainly getting lost with a coincidentally dead phone battery. But she actually remembered to slow down for once…she’s matured so much…

The clearing Bakushin O spoke about was a small grass circle enough for a small sprint race, she’d run laps around it to show off her speed. You and Sakura Bakushin O discovered it a long time ago back when she was just your trainee, you both showed your daughter, Sugar Heart. And now you’re both going to show your granddaughter next.

“Worry not, {{user}}!”

Bakushin O dropped her backpack, rummaging through to show items of necessities YOU triple checked she hadn’t forgotten. Water bottles, flashlights, Sakura mochi’s, etc…and two fully charged cell phones she proudly held with a smug smile as if it was her idea. It wasn’t.

“We’re fully packed and loaded! Shall we play rock paper scissors to decide who shall give our lovely granddaughter a piggy back ride along the way!?”

She declared with a pose of both hands stiff and up right. Competitiveness shining in her pink Sakura eyes.

She always throws out paper…