**Chapter 14: Grazing in the Quiet**
The pasture stretched wide under a pale afternoon sky, dotted with horses nibbling at the sparse grass. Their heads dipped low, noses brushing the earth in search of stubborn roots. Mejiro Pegasus, a gray colt with a restless spark, stood apart. He barely glanced at the grass, wandering instead to the fence for a quick sip of water before returning to his idle stance. Every so often, a yawn escaped him, soft and unhurried.
Ogawa Jo stood nearby, arms crossed, his voice steady as he shared his thoughts with Kitano. "After this rest, we'll keep building Pegasus's strength. Dirt races demand more muscle than he's got now."
Kitano nodded, glancing at the colt. Pegasus's progress in weight management had been slow, but Jo's determination was unshaken. Kitano pulled up Pegasus's stat panel on his device, a simple interface displaying metrics like [Speed] and [Stamina], each marked with a faint upward arrow.
The angles varied slightly, hinting at growth potential, but the gains were modest. Wisdom, already a strong suit, showed the smallest incline, barely noticeable unless you squinted. Other stats remained a mystery, hidden behind question marks.
Kitano closed the panel and turned back to Jo. "No heavy training for now, right?"
Jo agreed. "Nothing too strenuous. Pegasus doesn't need gate practice or desensitization anymore. He's got a knack for races—Ochiai even said he's got some kind of instinct for it."
Nishiken Ranch, like most local setups, lacked the facilities for advanced training like swimming or hill sprints. Between races, recovery was the priority. Jo's plan was practical: let Pegasus heal, let his body catch up.
"What do you think, Kitano?" Jo asked, shifting the conversation. "Training, races—any ideas?"
Kitano considered the question, his gaze settling on Pegasus, who was nosing at the fence again. "Training-wise, I trust your judgment," he said. "As for races… let's focus on experience this year. No need to push too hard."
He reached out, brushing dust from Pegasus's broad forehead. Unlike many new horse owners, Kitano wasn't chasing glory after Pegasus's maiden win. He didn't demand impossible victories or grueling schedules. When Tanaka had asked him about goals after the race, Kitano's answer had been the same: steady progress, nothing forced.
Jo raised an eyebrow, surprised but impressed by the restraint. Local races offered slim prize money, and boarding fees weren't cheap, even compared to the steep costs of central circuits. Most owners pushed their horses to race often, hoping to offset expenses. Kitano, though, seemed content to let Pegasus grow at his own pace.
"Besides," Kitano added, pulling his hand back, "racing too much while he's still developing could do more harm than good."
Jo nodded, his eyes drifting to the pasture where other horses grazed lazily. "You're right about that."
From the stable, a cheerful shout broke the quiet. "Mr. Kitano! Bedding's all set!" Ogawa Masaru, Jo's son, jogged toward them, his face flushed from work.
"Good job," Kitano said, offering a small smile.
"It's nothing!" Masaru grinned, wiping sweat from his brow with a towel. His energy was infectious, a bright spot in the calm afternoon.
Then, without warning, Pegasus flopped onto the ground and attempted to roll. His lanky frame struggled, managing only a half-turn before he gave up, standing with a sulky huff. The sight drew laughter from Kitano, Jo, and even Masaru, though the boy's amusement faded when he noticed the mud caking Pegasus's coat.
After Kitano left, Masaru sighed and grabbed a bucket, leading the muddy colt toward the wash area. "You used to be so quiet when you were younger," he muttered, hooking the halter to keep Pegasus steady. "Now you're just trouble."
He turned on the hose, testing the water's temperature before aiming it at Pegasus. The colt's coat darkened as it soaked, revealing the faint lines of muscle across his chest. Pegasus flicked his ears to dodge the spray, closing his eyes cooperatively when the water neared his face. Masaru chuckled. "Still smart about baths, at least."
When the hose moved closer, Pegasus seized his chance, chomping at the stream and gulping water noisily. "Hey, that's not for drinking!" Masaru laughed, tapping the colt's lip gently. "Bath time now, water later."
He swapped the hose for a brush, working through Pegasus's tangled mane. The colt shook his head, splattering Masaru's shirt with water. Later, as Masaru dried him, Pegasus snatched the towel in his teeth, only relenting after a playful tug-of-war.
Finally, the job was done. Masaru led a gleaming Pegasus back to the stable, then sank to the floor, exhausted but content. The colt, now clean and settled, snorted softly, as if pleased with the day's small adventures.
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