Chapter 7 — Raise Your Hand
“Alright then. Which of you wants to stay here and race under Grandpa’s name? Raise your hand.”
So I decided to just ask the horses directly.
“…Saku, we’re horses. We can’t raise our hands.”
The bay colt closest to me sounded genuinely exasperated.
No, but, you know… like, metaphorically?
From the stall furthest back, a chestnut foal snorted and said,
“To be honest, I’m fine either way.”
Wait, really?
“Same here. I kinda want to go somewhere with lots of handsome horses.”
Another filly said dreamily.
“More importantly, what’s actually the advantage of staying here? Are we talking better food? Triple the pasture size? Any improved benefits package?”
Another foal asked coldly.
…You’re only one-year-old. Why are you already so cynical?
“Uh… well. The food stays about the same. Pasture too. But you do get showered with my love.”
“Don’t need it.”
“You answered instantly!?”
Hey, they’re way more cold-hearted than I expected!
“If the place I get sent to has tastier food, I’m going there.”
“Me too. If there’s a big pasture, I’m good with anywhere.”
“I kinda wanna try the fancy grass over at Gold Farm at least once.”
“I know, right? Those foals over there have shiny coats. They’re total celebrities.”
The foals started chatting like high schoolers discussing their future plans after graduation.
Come on. Where’s the emotional scene?
Something like “I don’t want to leave you, Saku!” or “I shall inherit the spirit of Sakurai Ranch!”
“…You guys are surprisingly cold. I’m kinda hurt.”
“What do you expect? Running is our job, right? Then naturally we’d aim for better facilities and a better environment.”
“Yeah, but…”
At that point, a small filly who’d been quietly nibbling on my sleeve finally spoke up.
“But having Saku around to scratch exactly the itchy spots is hard to give up.”
“Oh, yeah.”
“Yesterday when he brushed the back of my left shoulder, I seriously thought I’d died and gone to heaven.”
“That spot’s impossible to reach by yourself.”
“Saku’s technique there is basically divine.”
…..
Apparently, among the horses, my reputation had settled firmly as “Convenient guy who scratches itchy spots perfectly.”
“…So my true value is basically a backscratcher.”
The moment I muttered those words, I realized it.
“Guess that makes me a grandson scratcher. Heh.”
I say to myself, then waited hopefully for a reaction.
…Silence.
It felt like all I could hear was the cold wind sweeping across the vast ranchlands of Hokkaido.
“…How exactly are we supposed to react to that joke?”
“That pun’s too advanced for horses. Try telling humans next time. They’ll probably give you an awkward laugh.”
“Stop rubbing salt in the wound!”
I barely stopped myself from collapsing to my knees and cleared my throat.
“A-anyway! Nobody wants to stay?”
“…Then I’ll stay.”
“Oh?”
The one who spoke up was the dark bay colt Tenzan had put a price on yesterday.
“You sure? That super-important-looking owner seemed really interested in you.”
“Ehh… hmm. Then maybe I should rethink it.”
“Hey.”
“But nah, I’ll stay here. If everyone leaves, you and Grandpa would get lonely, right?”
The fact that a horse was worrying about my feelings…
◇
After finishing my work, I returned to the main house and reported everything to Grandpa.
“I see. Didn’t that one fetch a pretty high offer?”
“Well, yeah, but…”
Grandpa finally turned toward me, the wrinkles on his face softening just a little.
“Well, whatever. It’s your ranch. Do as you like.”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
Though there was still one more person I needed to report this to.
“Hello, this is Sakurai Ranch. May I speak with Mr. Tenzan?”
My heart was pounding.
…Is this what love feels like!?
“Oh? Calling about your answer regarding the foal from yesterday?”
Thank goodness he remembered.
“Yes. I’m very sorry, but we’ve decided to keep him here.”
“is it because of something I said?”
The response came instantly.
Had he already expected this?
“No. Because that colt said he wanted to stay with us.”
At the very least, I answered honestly.
“…………Interesting. Let’s talk again sometime.”
The way you’re phrasing it is terrifying. Seriously terrifying.
“I’m planning to put the other foals out at the auction, so if you’re interested, please take good care of them.”
“Hahaha. Do your best to make them look presentable first. Goodbye.”
Phew.
So he’s telling me to make them look beautiful, huh?
Don’t underestimate the power of the grandson backscratcher.