Chapter 62 – I’ll Probably Never Get Used to Owners’ Parties

Somewhere in Tokyo.

I stood before the ballroom of what was probably an extremely expensive hotel, fiddling with my tie.

“My stomach hurts…”

It wasn’t because the tie was too tight.

Yayoi-chan had adjusted it perfectly while warning, “Any tighter and you’ll die.”

In other words, my clothes weren’t the cause.

It was the room I was about to enter.

The year-end horse owners’ party.

I’d attended last year too.

But even I understood that my position was different now.

This year, I was the owner of an undefeated Triple Crown winner who had also won the Arima Kinen.

Thinking about it calmly could drive a man insane.

And precisely because of that, there was no escape.

The moment I entered, several owners approached me.

“Good evening, Sakurai-san.”

“Congratulations.”

“Sakurai Rudolf is an extraordinary horse.”

“Now that he’s taken the Arima Kinen, what are your plans for next year?”

“Considering his value as a stallion, deciding how long to race him must be difficult.”

People had spoken to me last year as well.

But this was clearly different.

Everyone was smiling.

And yet their feelings came through with frightening clarity.

-How frustrating.

-I’m jealous.

-I won’t lose next year.

-Next year is my turn.

-Our horse will end his undefeated streak.

In short, they were terrifying.

I nodded and offered a harmless reply.

“Thank you. Okabe-san, Jockey Chloe, and Rudolf all worked very hard.”

“How nice to be able to say that.”

“Is it?”

“The only owner who can reduce it to ‘Rudolf worked hard’ is the owner of Sakurai Rudolf, don’t you think?”

For a moment, I couldn’t answer.

I see.

Was that how it sounded?

The man left with a laugh.

His mouth was smiling, but his eyes weren’t.

Next time, I won’t lose, was clearly written across his face.

“Scary…”

Fortunately, I didn’t think anyone heard my honest reaction.

No, this was probably the kind of place where people pretended not to hear even when they did.

“You!”

As I thought that, someone crept up beside me.

I knew that presence by now.

“Kanemochi.”

Kanemochi remained Kanemochi.

“Well?”

“Well what?”

“Everyone looks at you differently now!”

Why were you so proud?

“Compared with last year, they see you as an enemy!”

“You could phrase that more kindly.”

“But it is true!”

Well, yes.

“Rudolf won a lot this year.”

“Indeed! Rudolf was strong this year!”

Kanemochi nodded with immense satisfaction.

“However! You and Rudolf!”

“Yes?”

“Beer and I!”

“Yes.”

“Will absolutely, positively defeat you!”

“Wow. Straight to the point.”

He was almost too direct.

The owners around us laughed.

“They’re young.”

“Isn’t that nice?”

“When it’s that easy to understand, it’s almost refreshing.”

“We can’t afford to lose either.”

Yes.

This man was strangely soothing.

“Tell Rudolf this: We will not lose before autumn!”

“Why autumn?”

I assumed Beer would race in spring too.

“Beer will return in Dubai this spring!”

“Oh, that’s impressive.”

But was he allowed to announce that here?

Would his butler strike him later?

“The final reckoning will come in autumn!”

He truly did speak in lines from a manga.

I was a little jealous.

“How is Beer?”

At my question, Kanemochi’s expression softened slightly.

“He’s well. The injury was never serious.”

“That’s good.”

“However, he has no intention of accepting defeat to Rudolf.”

“Beer finished second in both the King George and the Arc, though.”

That was honestly incredible.

You could argue he’d already proven himself Rudolf’s equal through those results.

“That is separate! This is this!”

“I understand.”

I really did.

“Beer cannot end his career having lost to Rudolf!”

“Rudolf will be happy to hear that.”

“Naturally!”

Kanemochi laughed with obvious delight.

“Rivals are no fun unless they’re strong!”

“Perhaps you’re right.”

I laughed too.

I would tell Rudolf when I returned.

◇

I made my way through the crowd toward the food tables.

I wasn’t fleeing.

This was a strategic relocation.

Then a quiet voice addressed me.

“Have you grown a little more accustomed to these gatherings?”

Tenzan-san.

As always, he looked impeccable.

This man probably didn’t have a single hair out of place even upon waking.

“Tenzan-san. Compared with last year… well, I feel as though everyone is watching me.”

He nodded slightly.

“You are no longer merely the lovable underdog.”

“You say frightening things.”

“But aren’t you happy?”

“…A little.”

That was also true.

I was happy that Stone, Crown, Tenzan Sakura, and Rudolf all seemed to have been recognized.

Tenzan-san narrowed his eyes slightly.

“I’ll have to work hard not to lose to you.”

A chill ran down my back.

“Could you please stop saying such frightening things?”

“Frightening?”

“Very.”

“How rude.”

He laughed, but he clearly wasn’t offended.

“Still, it is true.”

Tenzan-san looked toward the far end of the ballroom.

“When an undefeated Triple Crown winner also takes the Arima Kinen, it stirs something in you.”

His voice was gentle.

But the passion beneath it was genuine.

“However…”

His tone became faintly amused.

“Without horses like that, this world would be boring.”

“…I’m honored.”

Tenzan-san nodded slightly.

“Every one of us is eager to see how far your emperor will go next year.”

“So am I.”

“And every one of us is thinking, I’ll be the one to defeat him.”

“Which is it?”

“Both.”

He answered so naturally that I laughed.

These people truly loved horses.

They wanted to win.

Losing was frustrating.

But the emergence of a powerful horse was fascinating all the same.

“Still, worrying on an empty stomach accomplishes nothing. Shall we eat something delicious?”

He suddenly relaxed and smiled at me.

“Yes, gladly.”

The heat hidden inside him hadn’t changed.

Even so, I thought it was admirable that he could show consideration like this.

“…By the way, what is that?”

Accepting his offer, I pointed to a meat-like dish that had been bothering me for some time.

“To tell you the truth, I don’t know either.”

“You don’t?”

Seriously?

“It doesn’t matter as long as it’s delicious. That transparent dish was excellent too.”

“Oh, then I’ll try it.”

It was delicious.

No matter how nervous you were, you still became hungry.

And the food here was excellent.

That much would probably never change, no matter how many owners’ parties I attended.