Hokkai Ranch

Hokkai Ranch.

Ring, ring, ring-

To the ringing of her alarm, Miku Kuchiki yawned, then quickly got up and washed.

Although Koichi was away, Gold Ship's morning training still had to continue, so she had to wake Gold Ship on time every day.

After a quick wash, she hurried toward the stables.

"Mirai, you're up early!"

"Yes, Ship should be waking up soon too."

Miku Kuchiki exchanged a brief greeting with the ranch staff.

Although animals had no clocks, they had a very strong sense of time.

After entering the stables, she greeted the Shire Horses first, then arrived outside Gold Ship's stall.

"Still sleeping, just as I thought."

Miku Kuchiki smiled faintly at Gold Ship's strange sleeping posture.

Then she turned to fetch Ship's breakfast. Once that was ready, she would need to change the water too.

After that, it would be time for grooming.

After Koichi's training, he now said her grooming skills were noticeably better than before.

Cleaning the Stable and such fell to the other ranch employees.

Every time Gold Ship returned, she would find a fresh, clean Stable.

Neigh, neigh-

Hearing the sounds outside, Gold Ship quickly stood up and shook off all the straw.

Another day of work.

Gold Ship had grown accustomed to this life, but fortunately, the morning training wasn't too demanding.

"Good morning, Ship. I'll groom you in a little while."

Miku Kuchiki looked back with a smile as she added feed.

Lately, Ship's coat had been growing grayer and grayer. Ship really was turning gray at an astonishing rate.

She had worried about it for quite some time.

Neigh, neigh-

Gold Ship walked over and nuzzled her with that muzzle.

Got to keep on good terms with my Stablehand every day.

"Ship, stop it! That tickles! Hahaha!"

Laughing, Miku Kuchiki pushed Ship's head aside.

Push.

I'm coming back.

Push-

I'm coming back again.

After fooling around for a while, Ship began drinking.

During the grooming that followed, Ship was much quieter.

"Ship, no mischief today. The young master's race should be coming up soon..."

As she brushed, Miku Kuchiki's thoughts drifted away.

I wonder how the young master's doing. Is he having a hard time out there?

Neigh, neigh-!

Gold Ship's whinny snapped Miku Kuchiki out of her thoughts.

We might get along well, but you can't do that to my mane.

Of course, Gold Ship only lifted those legs high a few times.

"Ah-sorry, Ship. I got distracted just now."

Miku Kuchiki hurriedly stroked Gold Ship.

Fortunately, nothing serious had happened.

Neigh, neigh-!

Seeing her approach, Gold Ship immediately took a step back.

No carrot, no forgiveness!

The woman and horse went back and forth for a while longer.

"All right, I'll get you another carrot. But there really aren't many left of the ones the young master gave us."

In the end, victory belonged to Gold Ship.

Miku Kuchiki could only shake her head helplessly, then go and fetch Ship a carrot.

Ship really never let an opportunity slip by.

The young master had left them some extra carrots, but Ship had eaten those too.

Neigh, neigh-

As soon as Miku Kuchiki left, Gold Ship stuck that head out.

After watching Mirai walk outside, Gold Ship drew back in satisfaction.

Operation successful.

While Miku Kuchiki was fetching things, Gold Ship began eating breakfast.

Fill up first. Work won't be easy later.

"Mirai, we're done here. Come take Ship back for a bath."

Megumi Mitsumori jumped down from Gold Ship's back.

She had been on edge the whole time, afraid Ship would pull some stunt on her.

Snort-!

Snort-!

Seeing Miku Kuchiki arrive to collect Gold Ship noticeably improved the horse's mood.

After training, Ship's muscles were visibly pumped, making the horse look even more handsome.

Neigh, neigh~

"All right, all right. I can't grab the reins with you doing that."

Miku Kuchiki spoke as she watched Ship tossing that head around.

It seemed Ship was in a very good mood after today's training. She had also sent Koichi the training video from earlier.

The young master simply hadn't watched it yet.

"Be careful on the way back. Gold Ship really is a little excited today."

Megumi Mitsumori offered a reminder as she took off her protective gear.

Lately, Ship's condition had been improving steadily, and the horse's weight had dropped too.

Five hundred jin was still a little too heavy for a two-year-old debutant.

"I'll be careful."

Watching Ship prance on the spot, Miku Kuchiki nodded in agreement.

She took Ship straight off for a bath.

"Want some more?"

While bathing Gold Ship, Miku Kuchiki aimed the hose straight at the horse's mouth.

Gold Ship thoroughly enjoyed the drink, especially with all that sweat getting rinsed away too.

"Behave yourself."

Every bath for Ship used up a lot of shampoo.

Caring for a racehorse was quite difficult, given how large they were.

But compared with the other expenses, shampoo cost very little.

Neigh, neigh-

"Almost done, almost done. Just wait a little longer."

After doing this for so long, Miku Kuchiki had become much faster.

Lately, she had also been asking Yosuke questions in her spare time. He was generous with his knowledge and shared a great deal.

Of course, Yosuke rather envied Mirai. At least Gold Ship was much easier to handle than Golden Masterpiece.

"Once I've scraped the water off, we can head back."

After another rinse, Miku Kuchiki fetched a sweat scraper and scraped the water off Gold Ship's body.

Finally, she dried the horse with a large towel.

Neigh, neigh-

Once released, Gold Ship ran straight toward her Stable.

Time to head back and rest~

"Ship, wait for me! The door isn't open yet!"

Before she had even finished putting everything away, Miku Kuchiki ran after the horse.

Fortunately, Ship stopped outside the stall rather than trying to force through the door.

"Honestly, couldn't you wait for me...?"

Catching up, Miku Kuchiki took a few breaths, then opened the door for Ship.

Since becoming Ship's Stablehand, her stamina had kept improving, and even her reactions had become much faster.

Her potential had been developed to the fullest.

Neigh, neigh-

Gold Ship glanced at her Stablehand, then began circling inside her Stable.

It was certainly much fresher than when the horse had left that morning.

"Now be good and rest here. I'll finish the rest of my work, then come back to see you."

After checking everything once more, Miku Kuchiki turned and headed outside.

She still hadn't cleaned up the mess out there.

She had to stay alert when looking after Ship. If the horse got loose, no one would be able to catch up.

Fortunately, that had never happened.

(End of chapter)