Setting Out Toward Dusk

The sun had long since set, and the sky beyond twilight gradually turned blue.

The shadow of North Barn's newly built windbreak shelter stretched long, crossing the asphalt road and falling at their feet.

The sky overhead was about to be stained by night, while the wind brushing against their cheeks carried the scent of winter.

It was the evening of the Dōei Memorial.

Before leaving, they checked the pasture and found that Moon Radiance's activity track, as shown by the positioning system, seemed to have noticeably declined—compared with when he had been turned out with Traveler.

Perhaps due to his father's influence, even though the weather had clearly turned colder, his winter coat showed no sign of coming in.

Although that could indicate a vigorous metabolism, they still put a winter blanket on him early, just as they had for several broodmares.

Though after only a few days, the blanket would look as grimy and wrinkled as if he had worn it for ages.

"BOSS, I'm ready over here!"

Zepp waved from the driver's seat of the horse transport after lowering the window.

"Let's go—"

He quickened his pace and slipped into the passenger seat, where the blast of heat immediately made his face feel hot.

The route via Yushun Romance Street and the Hidaka Expressway would take more than an hour and a half even without traffic or snow.

And at year's end, both were likely to be present at once. Even leaving at this hour, they would probably only make it in time to catch the Dōei Memorial.

—That was why they had to set off so early.

"I heard Mejiro Gozen is coming to our place. Once the news was announced, the farm's website suddenly received a whole lot of congratulatory messages."

As he started the