Koichi's Pep Talk

"Megumi, is your hometown in Kyoto?"

"Yes. I lived in Kyoto until high school."

Megumi Mitsumori glanced around the place where she would be working.

Kyoto was neither particularly good nor bad. You could call it a blend of city and countryside.

No wonder Sasaki had only wanted to come back and inherit the family business. If she had a business like this waiting for her, she really wouldn't need to work hard either.

It might not make anyone fabulously wealthy, but making a lifelong living here would certainly be no problem.

"That's Gold Ship."

Miku Kuchiki took on the role of tour guide.

After spending some time with her, she had found that the trainer the young master had hired was quite easy to get along with.

"That's quite a build. Only a little over a year old, right?"

Seeing Gold Ship in person really did surprise Megumi Mitsumori.

The sheer size was striking.

The horse was also in the process of graying out, with quite a few gray hairs already showing.

With age, that gray coat would gradually turn white.

In horse racing, horses with white or gray coats were a tiny minority.

"Ship, let me introduce you. This is the teacher the young master found for you."

Miku Kuchiki waved to Gold Ship, who was eating hay.

Throughout Ship's racing career, Megumi would surely be in charge.

Of course, the best part for Koichi was that Megumi Mitsumori would be working at their ranch from now on. That way, she wouldn't have to leave the ranch to work elsewhere.

Munch, munch, munch-

Gold Ship glanced back at the two women, then went on eating.

Having been ignored at noon, the horse was in a foul mood.

"Ship, I look forward to working with you."

Megumi Mitsumori also hoped to make a good impression on Gold Ship.

Clever horses were far from rare.

Ship gave her an eye roll, making it clear that there was no interest in acknowledging her.

As far as this stranger was concerned, Gold Ship felt no need to show any reaction.

Today's goal was to eat those two out of house and home!

Hmph, hmph-

Suddenly, Gold Ship thought of a better idea.

The horse promptly faked a fall and started rolling on the ground.

Before long, dirt covered that clean coat.

Gold Ship kicked out while rolling, too.

"Ship-!!"

Miku Kuchiki felt her blood pressure shoot up.

She had only just brought their guest over, and Ship was already pulling a stunt like this.

"Haha. This horse really is adorable."

Megumi Mitsumori covered her mouth and laughed.

Clearly, this was a deliberate performance for the two of them.

Had something happened before she arrived?

It seemed her future workplace would be quite interesting.

"Megumi, Ship isn't usually like this... Ship, get up!"

Miku Kuchiki hurriedly patted the railing.

It was like a parent inviting a teacher over to visit, only for the teacher to catch their student slacking off.

"It's fine. It's perfectly normal for racehorses to enjoy rolling around. We can just give Ship a wash later."

Megumi Mitsumori felt she ought to reassure the young stablehand.

To her, a lack of experience wasn't a problem. They could build it up gradually.

"Megumi, let's go find the young master. He's in that building up ahead."

Miku Kuchiki promptly changed the subject.

Her job was to pick their guest up and bring her to the young master.

"You didn't lose your luggage, did you? You came all the way to Hokkaido and somehow couldn't find your way here."

Koichi rubbed his eyes after his nap and asked.

When they traveled for races in the future, he really would have to keep her with him at all times. If she got lost, he would have no idea where to look.

"I kept my luggage with me the whole time, of course. As for anything else, I can just buy it now that I'm here."

Once inside, Megumi Mitsumori spoke with some embarrassment.

Before leaving, she had confidently assured Koichi that she could find the entrance to Hokkai Ranch herself.

Instead, after going around Sapporo a few times, she had lost her way.

"All right, then. Miku, go give that room I mentioned earlier a quick sweep."

"Of course."

Miku Kuchiki nodded and went out.

She could handle things like that!

Koichi poured himself a glass of water, then asked:

"Did you get a look?"

"A promising youngster, and quite clever by the look of things, though a little mischievous. As for anything specific we need to watch out for, I'll need to spend some time with Ship before I can tell."

Megumi Mitsumori thought for a moment before answering.

As first impressions went, she really did like Ship.

She hadn't expected the very first racehorse she would train to be worth two hundred million yen.

Many racehorses were born in Japan every year. After all, a single stallion could sire over a hundred foals a year.

Yet very few horses in all of Japan managed to reach Grade 1 races each year.

"Then I'll leave Ship in your hands for the next six months or so."

Since Koichi knew Ship's general capabilities, he had already drawn up a simple training plan.

The trainer would handle the rest of the training.

"I'll do my best."

Megumi Mitsumori replied.

This would mark a new beginning in her life. Naturally, she would give her first job everything she had.

"Get some proper rest today. We'll throw you a welcome party tonight. Our ranch might not be big, but our stables and training facilities aren't far behind anyone else's."

Naturally, Koichi couldn't insist that she produce results immediately.

Megumi Mitsumori really was his best choice.

As a boss hoping to get something for nothing, he needed to dish out a little motivational talk.

"Don't worry. Now that I'm here, I fully intend to make something of myself."

Megumi Mitsumori gave a dismissive snort.

Sasaki was seriously underestimating her. Did she look like someone who couldn't handle hard work?

"All right. Get everything ready today, then, and we'll start training tomorrow. I'll be able to give you a little help over the next few days, too."

Although Golden Masterpiece was still their main racehorse, there would certainly be no problem with him taking a break for a while.

Koichi had high hopes for both of the golden brothers.

"So, has the next race been decided?"

Megumi Mitsumori was quite curious about the plans for Golden Masterpiece.

If Gold Ship had Golden Masterpiece's terrifying finishing kick, she felt she could easily make her name in a single race.

"Of course it has. It's still confidential for now. They'll announce it online when the time is right."

Naturally, Koichi couldn't simply reveal their upcoming plans.

He had signed a confidentiality agreement, after all.

"Grade 3 or Grade 2?"

Given Golden Masterpiece's current prize money, those really were their only two options.

"Grade 2."

"Then that Miss Aoe really is ambitious. She's aiming straight for Grade 1."

Megumi Mitsumori's eyes lit up.

She really did want to meet this woman.

(End of chapter)