The next afternoon.
"You work at Aoe Ranch, young man?"
"No, I work at Hokkai Ranch next door. I've just come back from a business trip."
Sitting in the back seat of the taxi, Koichi gave a wry smile as he answered.
After getting off the plane, he had taken the train home, then called a taxi once he reached his stop.
Compared with the giant operation next door, his family's ranch really was tiny.
"Oh, I heard a horse from Aoe Ranch won the Tokyo Satsuki Sho yesterday."
The driver this time was quite talkative.
He wasn't much of a racing fan, but he had heard about yesterday's race on the radio.
"Yes, I saw that too. It even made the papers."
Koichi played along.
On his way back today, he had also taken a look at the news coverage.
It was pretty ridiculous, anyway.
A dazzling new star among jockeys, the biggest scandal in racing history-all sorts of things.
"We're here, young man."
"I'll pay by card, then."
After paying, Koichi pulled his small suitcase toward his house.
Hokkai Ranch.
Looking at the familiar little sign, he lowered his head and walked inside.
He was finally back.
Neigh-
Neigh-
The moment he stepped inside, Koichi heard a whole chorus of horses neighing.
"Oh, right. This is the right place."
Hearing so many voices had left him momentarily stunned.
Only then did he remember that quite a few horses from Aoe Ranch had moved here.
Neigh-?
A little farther along, Koichi spotted Gold Ship out grazing.
Gold Ship noticed him too.
Gold Ship trotted over and rested his head on the fence.
The carrot dispenser was back?
"Ship, long time no see! Did you miss me?"
Koichi walked straight over to Gold Ship.
Gold Ship hadn't changed all that