A Master of Time Management

"Golden Masterpiece's older brother, Dream Journey, is at the ranch too?"

"Yes, both brothers have the same jockey. If you do well, you might get a chance to check out One-Way Passage, the yearling that arrived recently."

Hitachi Yosuke was willing to share some inside information too.

A jockey certainly wouldn't ride just one horse. After all, every horse needed some time to rest after a race, or rather, a spell out at pasture to recuperate.

Time was money.

Winning a race meant earning a share of the prize money.

So Koichi still dreamed of becoming a master of time management.

"All right, Masterpiece. Let me towel you off, and then you can head home."

Hitachi Yosuke picked up a large white towel from nearby.

Neigh-

Golden Masterpiece hadn't expected to have such an easy time today.

Normally, at this hour, he would still have been doing his daily training.

"He looks pretty happy."

Koichi patted Golden Masterpiece's sturdy foreleg.

The powerful muscles were plain to see. He really was a racehorse with epic-tier attributes in everything except brains.

"That's just how Masterpiece is. Oh, and if you run into other horses in the future, it's best to steer clear. Masterpiece is pretty fond of bullying other racehorses."

Hitachi Yosuke suddenly remembered something important.

Golden Masterpiece might not have looked very big, but he was a repeat offender in that department.

If the other horse got scared, he would push even harder. If he couldn't intimidate them, though, he certainly wouldn't keep bothering them.

Simply put, he was a classic bully who picked on the weak and feared the strong.

"Don't worry. I'll keep that in mind."

Koichi naturally appreciated his advice.

After all, once a racehorse started getting results, the Stablehand was among those who benefited.

"Koichi, over here."

"My uncle's calling me. I'll get going, then."

"Sure. See you tomorrow."

Neigh-

Golden Masterpiece also glanced at Koichi, then nodded.

He rather approved of this two-legged creature.

Koichi glanced back at his uncle, who was waving to him, and said goodbye to the Stablehand.

He was a pretty decent guy.

And the two of them got along well.

"Uncle."

"Come on. I'll show you around some more. Today was far too dangerous."

When he saw Koichi, Ayumu Kusakawa swallowed the words he had been about to say.

Children had to step out from under their elders' protection eventually.

Of course, Koichi's performance today had also exceeded his expectations.

"Okay. Let's go take another look around the ranch."

Koichi Sasaki was still quite curious about Aoe Ranch and its racehorses.

"Sure. I'll show you around, then we'll go to the staff cafeteria."

Ayumu Kusakawa naturally had no objections.

As long as his nephew managed a top-five finish in his next race, his future would surely be bright.

Neigh-

They had only walked a short distance when someone riding a racehorse passed them.

Of course, they merely passed each other without exchanging greetings.

"Who was that?"

Koichi asked quietly.

The jockey on horseback seemed to have been watching him the whole time, or at least had kept his gaze on him for five or six seconds.

But he didn't know the man.

"That was Golden Masterpiece and Dream Journey's original jockey."

Ayumu Kusakawa hadn't expected the two of them to meet so soon.

They really couldn't avoid running into each other.

"So that's who he was. No wonder he kept staring at me."

Koichi Sasaki understood now.

He had suddenly taken the man's job, so it was perfectly normal for him to feel some resentment toward Koichi.

Although Golden Masterpiece had lost his last race, everyone still acknowledged his ability.

Koichi had considerable respect for anyone who could serve as Dream Journey's jockey.

Dream Journey was very capable, but his temper was even worse than that of Golden Masterpiece, the tyrant.

"That's how the Racehorse industry works. As long as you get results, there's not much the other guy can do about you."

Ayumu Kusakawa continued.

That was exactly how Koichi had suddenly gotten his chance today.

"Got it."

Koichi nodded.

Better someone else lose out than him. He understood that principle well enough.

"By the way, that new Stablehand just now..."

As they walked, Ayumu Kusakawa also explained some of the situation at the ranch.

That included the relationships between jockeys, as well as those between racehorse trainers.

"Mm."

Koichi Sasaki could certainly feel how much his uncle cared about him.

He went over everything Koichi needed to watch out for.

After a simple lunch at the staff dormitory, Koichi rode his bicycle back to his family's ranch.

He had gained quite a lot that morning.

Hokkai Ranch.

"Young Master Koichi, how did it go?"

Miku Kuchiki, who had been waiting by the gate since noon, hurried forward when she heard his bicycle.

If the young master hadn't succeeded, she would have to comfort him properly!

"How long have you been waiting here? Your hands are red from the cold. Didn't you think to put on some gloves?"

In an excellent mood, Koichi reached out and rubbed her flushed little cheeks.

They felt wonderfully soft and plump.

"Wah..."

Miku Kuchiki immediately felt aggrieved.

She had thought Koichi would come home for lunch, but she had waited so long without any sign of him.

Huff-

Huff-

Koichi breathed twice onto her little hands to warm them, then turned his head and said:

"Let's go inside. The temperature's going to drop again tonight. I've already found a job."

He would get everything packed that afternoon, then head to Clear River Ranch for work tomorrow.

"Really? That's our young master!"

Miku Kuchiki instantly turned into an adoring fangirl, countless little stars sparkling in her eyes.

When the old ranch owner was still around, he had always said the young master had tremendous talent as a jockey.

The young master is amazing!

"It was mostly thanks to my uncle today. Without his help, it wouldn't have gone so smoothly. I'll be able to race next January."

Koichi was a little modest about it.

Luck had played a large part today too. He would definitely have to deliver a good result in his debut race next year.

After all, he still had a mission to finish in the top three in his debut race.

The reward was much like the beginner's gift pack: another ten chances to draw.

But the items available were clearly much better than those in the first draw.

He wished he could redeem those advanced jockey skills right away.

"Then we absolutely have to celebrate tonight!"

Last night's welcome party had been so subdued. Today, they had to celebrate properly.

"Let's skip it today. There's no need to bother everyone. We can just have dinner as usual."

Koichi Sasaki shook his head.

Everyone was actually in rather low spirits right now, and he didn't think there was any need to trouble them all just for his sake.

Their daily work was tiring enough already.

Neigh-

Neigh-

Not far away, the gray-coated Gold Ship, wearing a blanket, was frolicking in the snow.

The white blanket paired with his gray coat looked quite nice from a distance.

Rolling around, pawing at the snow with his front hooves, lifting his legs high.

Little Gold Ship had turned the once-smooth snow into all sorts of strange shapes.

He was at his most energetic age.

At that moment, he still had no idea that a trainer was about to enter his life.

(End of chapter)