Water and Oil Night

On the last Monday of January, that evening.

At the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel near Shibuya Station.

After leaving Shibuya Station's South Exit, he passed through the skyscrapers that sliced the city sky into fragments, then crossed the pedestrian crossing.

He glanced at the giant electronic billboard looping horse racing G1 footage, tightened the tie at his chest slightly, and entered the building before him.

The venue for the 2028 JRA Awards ceremony.

"As expected of President Kitano. Welcome."

Before he even got close, the JRA staff member assigned to greet guests at the entrance had recognized him.

As he wondered how the other party had recognized him from so far away, the rear door of an old Mercedes sedan in front of the valet area suddenly opened.

"Oh, Kou!"

A white-haired old man called out loudly as he climbed out of the car.

Shadai Farm's representative, Teruya Yoshida.

"Good evening, Mr. Yoshida."

He responded with a slight nod, then they each stepped forward and shook hands in Western fashion.

The next moment, it seemed as though all the gazes around them had converged on this spot.

Of course, there was no tense confrontation.

"Come to think of it, it's that season again—"

"That's right. Even small farms like ours have become busy."

Anna, whose due date had originally been in mid-January, had, as expected, delivered her first foal a little late.

That meant two consecutive births awaited them in early February, an extraordinary challenge for a new farm already short on manpower and lacking much foaling experience.

They walked side by side toward the interior of the hotel, discussing horse breeding as they went.

Quite a few trainers and jockeys came over to strike up conversations along the way, but most merely exchanged brief greetings before leaving.

"That Moon