Chapter 96. Christmas Gifts
When Shuta An and Berno Light returned home, they discovered Oguri Cap standing in the kitchen wearing an apron. In one hand she held a phone, seriously researching how to fry an egg. Fortunately, it seemed she had not yet figured out how to crack the egg itself.
Fearing the gray-haired Uma Musume might accidentally blow up the kitchen, Berno Light rushed forward and snatched the spatula away.
"Oguri! Let me do it! Don't mess with that!"
Oguri Cap puffed out her cheeks, looking slightly aggrieved.
"When I woke up, Ann and Berno were both gone…"
"I already bought breakfast for you," Shuta An said from the side. "If you woke up and couldn't find me, you could've just called me on LINE."
"Too hungry. Forgot," Oguri replied simply.
The young man's lips twitched. For a moment, he had no idea how to respond.
After the three of them finished breakfast, Berno rested for a while before grabbing the car keys, preparing to take Oguri out to pick Christmas gifts.
"Ann, do you want us to help pick Christmas presents for the Uma Musume on the team?" Berno Light asked her lover, who was leaning on the sofa watching the morning news.
"No need. I've already prepared them," Shuta An waved his hand casually.
"Prepared them?" Berno Light blinked in surprise. "When did you do that? I never saw you preparing anything."
"I think the day after tomorrow—both you and Oguri will really like the gifts I prepared," Shuta An replied calmly.
"Alright," Berno Light said, seeing he clearly didn't intend to explain further.
Oguri Cap wrinkled her nose slightly. She had a vague feeling that the gift her man had prepared was probably something he himself found quite extraordinary.
After the two Uma Musume left, Shuta An picked up his phone and muttered quietly.
"Miss Grace…I wonder if the gifts I asked you to prepare can live up to the praise you gave them."
Although he had not yet seen the physical items, he had personally decided what to purchase when assigning the task to Assistant Grace, so he felt fairly confident.
Still, after finishing the task, Grace had specifically come to claim credit, insisting that the "ladies" would definitely be extremely satisfied this time.
"That would be even better," Shuta An murmured as he lifted his head and continued watching the news.
—
That afternoon, Berno Light and Oguri Cap returned home.
Shuta An was in his room at the time.
Although he had taken leave recently, the plans for next year still needed to be arranged in advance. After all, the previous night he had promised the Uma Musume of Team Sadalsuud that he would announce everyone's plans for the first half of next year during the New Year's party.
Speaking of next year—
If nothing unexpected happened during the first half of the season, Shuta An even intended to start drafting second-half plans ahead of time.
For Kurofune, who clearly would not reach full racing form next year, Shuta An only intended to let her focus entirely on training throughout the year. Although the attribute viewer had given Kurofune an astonishing evaluation, the young man intended to be even stricter with her.
He had no intention of letting a rare talent be ruined by careless training.
As for Tokai Teio, Shuta An faintly felt she was already approaching the stage of full maturation. However, concrete plans for the latter half of the year would still have to wait until that moment truly arrived.
Mejiro Dober's schedule for next year was essentially set:
Oka Sho — Japanese Oaks — Yorkshire Oaks — Shuka Sho.
For the remaining race, Shuta An's current idea was the Japan Cup.
And if her condition allowed it, he was also considering adding the Hong Kong Cup afterward.
Everything ultimately depended on Mejiro Dober's condition at the time.
As for Silence Suzuka, now that their relationship had deepened, Shuta An naturally placed safety first.
Using the Dubai Turf as her comeback race posed no problem. After that, he was leaning toward sending her on a long-term expedition to Australia.
Compared with the relatively limited turf G1 options in the United States, Australia and New Zealand hosted many Turf Twinkle Series races. Of course, although the Melbourne Cup was a legendary race capable of halting the entire country for a day, its extreme distance placed it completely outside Suzuka's range.
By now, Shuta An had fully determined Suzuka's optimal distance:
1800 meters to 2000 meters.
She could handle 2200 meters, but her performance there clearly declined.
Fortunately, Australian racing featured many races within the 1800–2000 meter range, so there would be no shortage of suitable targets.
"Besides, Australian Uma Musume often race frequently," Shuta An thought. "That actually offsets Suzuka's stamina consumption from her running style."
The more he considered it, the more convinced he became that sending Silence Suzuka to Australia next year was the correct decision.
"And there's barely any time difference from Japan," he added inwardly. "Flying back and forth won't disrupt my biological clock."
That was another reason he preferred Australia over America.
—
Time passed.
Soon it was Christmas Eve morning.
As usual, Shuta An woke up first in the house.
He glanced at the two Uma Musume still sleeping peacefully beside him before quietly getting up, washing up, and putting on his winter clothes.
Before going to sleep the night before, the diligent Miss Grace had already informed him that the Christmas gifts he ordered were ready for pickup this morning.
After leaving Shinjuku and driving past the southern side of the Imperial Palace, Shuta An reached Ginza in about fourteen minutes, successfully avoiding Tokyo's worst rush hour.
Ginza—the most luxurious district in Tokyo.
An area almost every foreign tourist wanted to visit.
And today, it was also the place where Shuta An would collect the Christmas gifts he had ordered.
"Two stores—I'll go to the closer one first."
After parking the car, he glanced at the Ginza parking fees and felt a faint sting. But there was nothing he could do about it.
"As expected of Ginza—310 yen for half an hour," he muttered while stepping out of the parking lot. "Let's grab the gifts quickly."
With that thought, he began jogging lightly.
It was still Tokyo's morning rush hour, yet most luxury boutiques in Ginza were still closed. Their regular hours usually began around noon. But less than thirty seconds after Shuta An started jogging, one storefront unexpectedly began preparing to open.
At the entrance, a few curious tourists noticed the activity and attempted to enter.
They were immediately stopped by the staff, who bowed repeatedly while apologizing.
"It is not business hours yet," they kept repeating.
Hearing this, Shuta An raised his head and looked at the store sign.
Yes.
It was indeed Chanel Ginza.
"Then I didn't come to the wrong place."
He walked up the steps.
The tourists arguing outside also noticed his movement.
And then—Shuta An walked straight into the store without any obstruction.
At the same moment, the staff quietly stepped back inside, closed the door, and locked out the would-be customers who had just been arguing outside.
The Chanel Ginza store opens five floors to the public. The first floor displays handbags, watches, and accessories. The second-floor features high-end ready-to-wear, jewelry, and shoes. The third floor is reserved for haute couture. The fourth floor no longer sells goods; instead, it houses a concert hall called Chanel Nexus Hall, established to commemorate the founder's long-standing support for the arts. Above that, from the fifth to the ninth floors at the top of the building, is a restaurant jointly created by Chanel and Ducasse Paris.
Although Shuta An had come to pick up Christmas gifts for Oguri and the others, he noticed that the staff member leading him did not stop on the second floor where the jewelry was sold. Instead, they continued upward until reaching the fourth floor, stopping near the entrance of Chanel Nexus Hall.
The woman in front turned around and bowed deeply.
"Hello, sir. I am Koyama, a senior shopping consultant at the Chanel Ginza store. First, please allow me to apologize on behalf of CEO Alain Wertheimer. A client of your status should ideally be served by a senior consultant from our headquarters. However, due to time constraints, our headquarters consultants are currently handling urgent matters. Therefore, I—who previously worked in Chanel's headquarters' fine jewelry department—will be assisting you today. I hope for your understanding."
"It's nothing," Shuta An replied calmly. These formalities didn't concern him. Right now, he simply wanted to retrieve the two gifts he had ordered.
"What would you like to drink? Perhaps your favorite sparkling water?" Koyama asked carefully.
The moment Shuta An entered the store, she had already recognized who this distinguished client was. As a passionate fan of Oguri Cap, she instinctively assumed that all the exquisite items he had purchased must be intended for her idol. Because of that, she was determined to deliver flawless service. Even his drink preference had been learned from an interview Oguri Cap once gave.
"No problem," Shuta An nodded. He had no strong preferences; he simply wanted to see the gifts as soon as possible.
After placing the prepared drink beside him, Koyama returned to the display counter. She wiped her hands carefully with a handkerchief, then put on a pair of white gloves.
"Sir, the two pieces of jewelry you ordered are inside these gift boxes. They belong to the 1932 Collection, a series of seventy-seven pieces paying tribute to our founder Gabrielle Chanel. Please allow me to briefly introduce them after unveiling them."
She blinked slightly.
"I believe such an explanation may also help you convey your intentions to their future mistresses."
"That would be helpful," Shuta An replied without objection.
Koyama gently opened the first box.
"Allow me to present the Allure Céleste necklace. It is the pinnacle piece of the 1932 Collection. The design symbolizes a journey guided by light. In the vast universe, starlight illuminates and connects distant constellations."
At the center of the necklace rested a cluster of brilliant diamonds. Surrounding them was an oval sapphire weighing 55.55 carats, its deep color radiating quiet majesty. Beside it was an 8.05-carat pear-cut D-Flawless Type IIa diamond, shining with extraordinary brilliance.
"Although its future mistress is not present," Koyama continued softly, "I believe that when this necklace rests upon her chest, her own brilliance will surpass even this magnificent sapphire."
"I think so too."
Shuta An closed his eyes briefly, imagining Berno Light wearing the necklace. After a moment, he nodded in agreement.
Seeing his reaction, Koyama quietly breathed a sigh of relief. She then moved on to the second gift.
"The next piece belongs to the 'Stars' sub-collection of 1932," she said while opening the second box.
"Our founder once said: I want to adorn women with a constellation of stars—stars everywhere, great and small."
"This necklace represents the most dazzling star of that constellation."
Inside the box lay a design built around two radiant diamonds.
"All pieces in the Stars collection interpret shooting stars through round-cut diamonds. This necklace, however, is the most significant one. It features two diamonds, each weighing 19.32 carats."
The symbolism perfectly echoed the collection's name.
"A shower of brilliant diamonds forms a celestial arc around the wearer's neck. Compared with the previous necklace, this one carries a slightly more understated elegance."
Shuta An had a different thought. After all, the owners of the two necklaces were not the same person. But he did agree with part of her statement—this cooler, quieter brilliance would suit Silence Suzuka's elegant temperament perfectly.
"It seems Miss Grace really understands how to match things," he thought. "She hasn't even met Berno or Suzuka…yet she chose such fitting combinations just from photos."
He recalled the request he had made regarding Oguri Cap's gift.
"Too bad that one isn't here," he murmured.
"Are you satisfied with these two items, sir?" Koyama asked.
Shuta An looked up with a pleased smile.
"I like them very much. I believe their future owners will too."
"I'm glad to hear that."
Koyama carefully closed and wrapped the boxes before handing them over.
Carrying the shopping bag, Shuta An left the Chanel Ginza store. However, instead of returning to the parking lot, he continued walking deeper into Ginza.
There was still one more gift he needed to collect.
Unlike Chanel, the Harry Winston Ginza boutique normally opened at eleven in the morning. Yet just like before, the store had opened early for Shuta An.
As soon as he entered, he glanced at the staff and muttered to himself.
"Why are these the same people who just turned away at Chanel?"
The thought vanished quickly. He followed the consultant upstairs to the VIP lounge.
In the jewelry world, pieces are generally divided into three tiers: Fashion Jewelry, Fine Jewelry, and Haute Joaillerie.
For most buyers, Fine Jewelry is already the limit. But in Shuta An's view, a gift for Oguri Cap had to be something absolutely unique.
When he commissioned Miss Grace to purchase Christmas gifts, he had written a simple requirement for Oguri's present:
One-of-a-kind.
When Grace saw that request, a single term immediately came to mind—Haute Joaillerie.
High jewelry pieces are almost always unique. Even if a design is repeated, the gemstones used can never be perfectly replicated. And among luxury houses, Harry Winston—the famed "Jeweler to the Stars"—was the obvious choice.
The item prepared for Oguri Cap was not a ring but a necklace, currently resting inside the display box before him.
The consultant, Ms. Sano, introduced herself and offered an apology on behalf of CEO Nayla Hayek. With the Academy Awards only three months away, Hayek was busy arranging jewelry for Hollywood actresses and could not travel to Japan personally.
"That's fine," Shuta An said calmly. "Please introduce the piece to me. My commissioner told me it would suit the person I intend to give it to, but I haven't seen it yet."
"I'm a little nervous," he added with a smile, "and a little excited."
Sano bowed before opening the box.
"Allow me to introduce the Paraiba Tourmaline and Diamond Necklace from our high jewelry series, The Incredibles Collection."
She explained how Harry Winston designs begin with the study of exceptional gemstones. From these rare stones, designers and artisans collaborate to craft masterpieces worthy of the word incredible.
"This necklace is one of the highlights of the collection," she continued.
She briefly mentioned two legendary pieces from the same line: The Winston Pink Legacy, an 18.96-carat vivid pink diamond ring auctioned for $50.4 million, and The Rockefeller-Winston emerald, once owned by John D. Rockefeller Jr.
But Shuta An's attention was fixed entirely on the necklace before him.
"The centerpiece," Sano said, "is an oval-cut Paraiba tourmaline weighing over 135 carats. Its color saturation, clarity, and size make it truly exceptional."
"Exceptional…" Shuta An murmured.
"Yes," she replied. "A necklace like this should belong only to someone who is equally one-of-a-kind."
Shuta An understood the unspoken meaning.
He nodded slowly.
"That's right. It suits her perfectly."
He leaned forward slightly, imagining the necklace resting around Oguri Cap's neck.
"So beautiful," he murmured.
Then he looked up.
"Please wrap it."
"Of course," Ms. Sano said with a deep bow.
—
After collecting all three gifts, Shuta An returned to the parking lot, got into his car, paid the fee, and drove away in one smooth motion. Circling past the Imperial Palace once more, he headed back home.
Inside the house, Berno Light was busy in the kitchen. It was Christmas Eve, and tonight Oguri Cap certainly wouldn't hold back her appetite.
Shuta An greeted her briefly before heading upstairs to place the three gifts in his study.
"Tonight, I'll deliver Suzuka's gift first," he thought. "After that, I'll give Oguri and Berno theirs when I come back."
With the plan set, he changed into comfortable clothes and went downstairs to help Berno prepare ingredients.
Meanwhile, Oguri Cap was still fast asleep.
"Still want to eat~" she mumbled softly in her dream.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For anyone interested, or just want to support me. Hit the membership button to my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ModerateCitizens