Shangri La Pt. 1

126: Cheerful

"W-Where are we?" 

"The stables." 

"W-Well I kinda knew that, b-but why are we here?" Izumi asked as she could only follow the blond towards the place filled with horses. When she looked before her, she wasn't expecting to watch Katsuki lift his hand up to one of the horses. 

"You remember this one, right?" Katsuki asked, making Izumi become cautious. 

But after staring at the horse Katsuki was petting, she started to recognize the horse's snout in particular and how there were scars on its snout. 

"T-That's... Is that the horse we rode here?" 

"Yup. I got him a little bit before the war happened thanks to Yu." 

"Your sister?" 

"Yeah, she gave him to me as a gift right after I became an official Knight." 

"Then you must treasure him a lot." 

"Yeah, I do." 

"T-Then does this mean... we're going somewhere... with your horse?" 

"We are, but not just my horse." 

"C-Come again?"

"Wait right here, I got just the perfect ride for you." 

"R-Ride?" 

Neigh~ 

"Eh?" 

As she was wondering what exactly the blond went to get, she was not expecting to watch the blond come out of the stables with a much smaller horse in all white. 

"Oh wow~" 

"This is your ride." 

"Oh~ Oh? Wait– Are you saying I... ride that horse... alone?" 

"Yeah? Did you think I was gonna ride with you on this one? Nah– She's too small for me, but she's good for you. And you won't feel so tall when you're on her." 

"Y-Yes but, I-I have to ride her... b-by myself?" 

"Yeah, I've already said that." 

"B-But I don't know how to do that!" 

"You will, cause I'm gonna teach you." 

"E-Eh?"

So while she was still trying to process all of this, Katsuki got both horses set up with saddles and reins before they were to go on their little journey for the day. And as she was still in deep thought about all of this, Katsuki decided to take the initiative and get her all set up. 

'I've never done something like this before, so will I really be okay doing this? I'm so scared of falling off that I don't know if I should really– Huh?' 

Her mind suddenly went blank as what she thought was a blanket appeared over her head and wrapped around her body. 

"Ah– What is–" 

"Can't have people following us to where we're goin'." Katsuki stated as he tied the cloth around her neck, making her realize that he didn't give her a blanket, but a cloak. 

"O-Oh, b-but I was already going to disguise my hair so no one recognizes me." 

"Yeah, but that doesn't stop people from wanting to look at who you are, especially me." 

"I see."

"So, you ready?" 

"Hm? R-Ready for what?"