**Chapter 13: Kitano's Proposal**
The journey back was as smooth as the trip out. Pegasus stayed calm, and the transport went off without a hitch.
Though a little worn out, Pegasus was in good spirits, appetite unchanged, happily munching as usual.
For the rest of the week, Nishiken Ranch planned to let Pegasus graze and take it easy.
On the way to the stable, Masaru Ogawa finally started to relax. He filled Kitano in on the day's events.
As Mejiro Pegasus's stableman, Masaru had been up before dawn, accompanying his father to Tanaka Stable to handle Pegasus's transport. It had been a long, busy day.
Inside the stable, Masaru grabbed the apron off the wall and slipped it on. Noticing the cardboard box in Kitano's hands, he scratched his head, a bit sheepish.
"Mr. Kitano, you don't need to bring feed. It's already covered in the management fees. Plus, Pegasus is picky—it probably won't touch what you brought."
He assumed Kitano had brought food for the horse.
"It's hay," Kitano clarified.
Masaru shrugged. "Pegasus isn't big on hay. Won't even touch fresh pasture unless we mix in some apple chunks."
He paused, then added, "But it'd be a shame to waste it. Why don't you sell it to the ranch for whatever you paid? I'm sure we can use it."
Masaru figured Kitano, as Pegasus's owner, was just being thoughtful. Even if his dad might not go for it, Masaru didn't want the gesture to go to waste. Worst case, he'd cover it out of his own pocket.
"It's not for eating," Kitano said. "It's bedding hay, from a contact of mine."
Masaru blinked. He'd noticed Nishiken Ranch used wood shavings for bedding—cheap, absorbent, low-dust. They worked fine for a small operation like theirs, even if they needed frequent replacing.
But specialized, sterilized hay bedding? That was a different league, way beyond what most ranches like theirs could afford.
"Bedding?" Masaru's face froze as he processed it.
They stopped in front of Pegasus's stall. Masaru took the box from Kitano and peeked inside. One glance told him this hay was top-tier, far better than their wood shavings.
"This stuff's gotta be pricey, right?" he asked cautiously.
"It's just the cost price from my contact," Kitano said, dodging the real figure to spare Masaru the shock.
"Still sounds expensive," Masaru muttered, pulling out a handful of hay to inspect it. He looked almost jealous. Hay this good could pass as feed, let alone bedding. Even his dad probably hadn't worked with stuff like this often.
"I'll have two boxes like this delivered weekly," Kitano continued. "If there's extra—"
"No way!" Masaru cut him off, suddenly serious.
Kitano looked at him, surprised by the shift.
"We already charge you for bedding," Masaru said firmly. "It'd be wrong to let you cover it too."
Accepting a box or two as a gift was one thing, but having the horse owner pay for bedding? That was a hit to the ranch's pride, not to mention its reputation.
Kitano lowered his head, a little embarrassed. "I didn't think it through."
He realized his offer might've come off wrong.
"If you really want to cover the bedding, you'd need to amend the contract," Masaru added, still serious. "But that's my dad's call. You'd have to talk to him."
Masaru handled most of the ranch's day-to-day work, but he was still just an apprentice. Even if his dad owned the place, some things were above his pay grade.
That said, Masaru's tone lightened, a grin creeping in, "I'll lay this box down when Pegasus is out grazing. You'll see—it's gonna look amazing." He glanced at the hay, clearly excited to try it out.
Just then, Ogawa Jo, Masaru's father, appeared, drawn by the noise. "You shouting in here again, kid? You'll spook the horses!" he scolded, though his tone softened when he turned to Kitano. The quick shift in demeanor made Kitano do a double-take.
"I wasn't shouting!" Masaru shot back, then shrank a bit, pointing at Kitano. "Mr. Kitano's got something to discuss with you, Dad."
Ogawa Jo raised an eyebrow at Kitano, who took a moment to gather his thoughts before explaining his idea to cover Pegasus's bedding.
"Hmm." Ogawa Jo tapped his cane, looking troubled. "The thing is, the ranch's funds are tight. Even if we amend the contract, we couldn't refund you for the bedding fees anytime soon."
Nishiken Ranch had been stretched thin since February, burning through cash to secure top stallion resources. Kitano's one-million-yen management fee had helped, but it was barely enough to keep things running.
"No rush on the refund," Kitano said with a wave. "As long as it gets sorted eventually, I'm fine with it."
For him, improving Pegasus's comfort was worth it, money aside. As a veterinarian, he was used to delayed payments anyway.
Ogawa Jo let out a relieved breath and nodded with a smile. "Alright, then. We're good."
Masaru, standing nearby, clenched his fists, a little choked up. "Kitano… you're a real good guy."
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