Aru's Follow-Up Visit

The day after the competition ended, Kitano got up a little earlier than usual.

It was not because he was bitter about the loss or feeling down.

He simply had a house call scheduled for the morning.

Grandma Takamura's farm, like Nishiken Farm, lay somewhat closer to Urakawa.

As he drove across Minowa Bridge, lush greenery stretched out on both sides.

Near the intersection, Kitano slowly reduced his speed.

Beneath the red torii stood the figure of an elderly woman.

"Grandma Takamura?"

He stopped the vehicle and called out through the window, somewhat uncertainly.

"Oh! Mr. Kitano—"

Stepping carefully over the roadside ditch, Grandma Takamura covered her mouth in embarrassment.

"I'm so sorry. I thought you would come a little later."

"It's all right. Please get in."

Kitano unfastened his seat belt and opened the front passenger door for Grandma Takamura.

Without needing any help, the elderly woman easily climbed into the pickup, though it looked like something of a struggle for her.

"Did you come to pray for Aru?"

Kitano asked on the road.

"Yes. I know Yagokoro-Omoikane-no-Mikoto doesn't handle that sort of thing, so I'm sorry for making a fool of myself in front of you."

In the rearview mirror, the red torii gradually receded into the distance.

Minowa Shrine enshrined Omoikane-no-Kami, also known as Yagokoro-Omoikane-no-Kami, a deity who governed wisdom and learning.

"And when the ones who actually put in the effort were you and Mr. Shimura, I really am getting senile."

Grandma Takamura patted her forehead, her expression looking somewhat haggard.

"Not at all. Mr. Shimura and I merely did what we were supposed to do."

Mr. Shimura was an experienced farrier. Kitano had briefly run into him a few times at Nishiken Farm.

He was also the one responsible for trimming and correcting Aru's diseased hooves.

After arriving at the farm, Grandma Takamura led Kitano to the stable.

The stall at the very end had bedding spread much thicker than usual.

Apparently hearing the commotion, the chestnut horse lying on her side slowly got to her feet.

Aru looked listlessly at the visitor before her.

"Please, I'm counting on you!"

Grandma Takamura bowed deeply, then stepped back and watched nervously from a distance.

Kitano walked straight up to Aru and set down his bag.

In her normal standing posture, the chestnut horse's forelegs were slightly extended forward, while her hind legs remained stretched beneath her abdomen, as though she were stretching her body.

This was a typical laminitis stance.

He reached out and felt both front hooves.

Though they were still faintly warm, the digital pulse had become quite difficult to detect.

Kitano let out a breath of relief.

"It should have entered the subacute stage."

He turned to explain to Grandma Takamura.

If the digital pulse was no longer obvious forty-eight hours after treatment ended, it meant the laminitis might have progressed from the acute stage to the subacute stage.

At this stage, the damaged tissues in the horse's hooves slowly healed themselves, so it could also be regarded as the recovery phase of laminitis.

The condition had passed its most dangerous period.

"Still, to be safe, we should get an X-ray taken at Mr. Arakawa's place."

Kitano said as he put down the hoof tester.

"All right, all right!"

Grandma Takamura nodded repeatedly.

Mr. Arakawa was the head of the Hidaka Central Branch of the Veterinary Association and had studied equine illnesses for many years.

Aru's reaction to pressure on the toe was no longer as sensitive as before. She only struggled slightly before ceasing to resist.

However, this simple test could not guarantee complete accuracy. Whether the laminitis had truly improved still depended on the state of the coffin bone displacement.

But judging from her current condition, Aru had at least improved.

"Once the X-ray results are confirmed, the rest will be much easier."

Putting away his tools, Kitano clapped his hands and stood up.

Mr. Shimura's trimming of the diseased hooves had been timely and professional, which had also greatly aided her recovery.

"Grandma Takamura, do you remember what I told you?"

Kitano asked after prescribing medicine for Aru.

"Of course I do. My memory is still quite good."

Grandma Takamura counted on her fingers earnestly. "A low-sugar, high-fiber diet, supplements taken on schedule, and ice packs three times a day for twenty minutes each... See? I still remember it all!"

"That's right. Even if her condition seems to be improving, you still need to keep it up... Though there's no need to apply ice packs every day anymore."

"Also, if the coffin bone displacement has indeed stopped, you can occasionally take her out for some appropriate walks."

Kitano said, patting Aru on the head.

The duration of the subacute stage of laminitis varied enormously between individuals.

For a few lucky horses, it would only be a seventy-two-hour ordeal in their lives.

But for some unfortunate horses, the threat of laminitis might remain with them for life.

Even after entering the subacute stage, they could not let down their guard.

"Thank you so, so much."

Grandma Takamura bowed again, her eyes faintly reddening.

Aru gently rubbed her huge head against the elderly woman's face, making soft snorting sounds.

"Look, Aru is thanking you too."

Grandma Takamura said as she gently patted the chestnut horse's cheek.

"Well then, goodbye, you two."

"I hope you recover soon, Aru."

Kitano bent down and waved goodbye to Aru.

"You too, Grandma Takamura."

He added immediately afterward.

Only after returning to the car did Kitano open the system panel.

[Health Management: B+ → A-]

His ability had improved during the examination.

But given the circumstances at the time, Kitano had not had much attention to spare for it.

After only giving it a hurried glance, he closed the panel and continued examining the horse's hooves.

[Improve personal abilities ten times: 10/10 (Completed)]

[Reward: Silver Amulet ×1]

He had also completed another task in the process.

"When will these Bronze Omamori and Silver Amulets... actually come in handy?"

He scratched his head in frustration.

By now, he had accumulated a certain number of Bronze Omamori, and had even obtained two of the higher-tier Silver Amulets.

Yet the items in the shop were still limited to the few things that could be bought with Green Omamori.

As for exchanging higher-tier omamori for cash, Kitano rejected that option without a second thought.

At least, he would not consider it until he was reduced to eating nothing but bean sprouts.

So he could only keep saving them for now.

"In this northern land... even splashed water turns to frost..."

On the way back to the clinic, he hummed an off-key enka tune.

The July sunlight of Hokkaido fell across his fingertips like butter slowly melting in a stone pot.

Kitano seemed delighted by everything before him.

Perhaps it was because he had saved another life.