The mares' pasture.
Koichi rarely came here. After all, this was where Aoe Ranch kept its broodmares.
Now, however, two of the horses here belonged to their ranch.
That was another change over the past year or so. Then he spotted Black North, now a few months old.
This was the liveliest stage of the colt's life.
As soon as Black North saw him approach, he ran over curiously.
What kind of new two-legged creature was this?
"Black North, this is our first time meeting, isn't it?"
Koichi crouched beside the fence.
Naturally, he didn't dare go inside. Sweetie was patrolling nearby.
She was bound to see him as a suspicious stranger. If he went in, there was a good chance the mare would attack him.
Black North looked left, then right.
Then he lost interest in Koichi.
This two-legged creature didn't seem any different from the others.
Clip-clop, clip-clop-
Then the colt trotted lightly off to find his mother and nurse.
He still liked Mirai better.
He didn't know Koichi at all.
"Congratulations on becoming a mother again."
Koichi also greeted Sweetie, who had Black North with her.
They had met a few times before, but she had been very wary back then. She seemed much the same now.
Seeing how happily Black North was living put him at ease.
The colt was one of their ranch's hopes for the future.
Neigh-
Sweetie gave a neigh, keeping her eyes fixed on Koichi as he stood back up.
Stay away from my territory.
Meanwhile, Black North peeked at him a few more times from behind his mother.
He was a little interested, but not very.
"You don't seem to be having much luck."
Megumi Mitsumori spoke as she approached from behind.
Sweetie now counted as hers. Outside of work, she