**Chapter 4: A Flash of Inspiration**
"Nii- san, how many times do I have to tell you not to leave the carrots in the stable?" The girl's voice cut through the crisp morning air, sharp but familiar, like a song played too often.
"What's the big deal? I'll take them over eventually," the boy shot back, his tone lazy but edged with defiance. "Besides, Kana- chan not gonna steal them again."
"Your white hair is stealing *my* patience," she snapped. "It's disgusting."
"Huh? You're calling *me* disgusting, Landmine Girl?"
"Enough!" The old man's voice boomed, rough with exasperation. Ogawa Jō rubbed his temple, his short silver hair catching the sunlight as he glared at the two bickering behind him. "You two are giving me a headache."
"It's his fault," the girl muttered, barely audible.
"You started it," the boy hissed back, undeterred.
Ogawa Jō sighed, his cane tapping the ground as he turned to face them. "When Mr. Arakawa's guests arrive, You will behave. No disrespect, Understand? We can't afford to upset the Light Horse Association."
The boy, Ogawa Katsu, scoffed, his white crew cut gleaming like a beacon of rebellion. "Tch, just some newbie horse owner. You're overthinking it, Dad."
Ogawa Jō's cane found his son's head with a swift thwack. "Idiot! Offend them, and we'll lose our breeding grounds next year." He looked older in that moment, the weight of the ranch pressing down on his shoulders.
Meanwhile, a few kilometers away, Kitano stood in front of a weathered sign that read "Nishiken Ranch." The gravel crunched under his boots as he double-checked the address, uncertainty flickering in his chest. This was it, wasn't it?
It was late April, and he'd finally cleared the hurdle of registering as an individual horse owner with the Hokkaido Racing Association.
The process had drained his reserves of green amulets, earned through weeks of daily tasks. The money they'd converted into wasn't just sitting in his account—it was his ticket to a dream. A racehorse of his own. The agricultural cooperative had been willing to front a small loan, one he'd repay slowly, but it was enough to get him here, standing on the edge of something new.
He parked his silver pickup in a lot marked with a faded "P" and stepped out, the cool air carrying the faint scent of hay and earth. Ogawa Jō approached, leaning on his cane, his silver hair neatly combed and a smile that was warm, if a touch theatrical. "Welcome, Mr. Kitano."
"Mr. Ogawa," Kitano said, bowing slightly. "Thank you for having me."
His gaze drifted past the older man to the two figures trailing behind. The boy, Ogawa Katsu, sported a yakuza-like white crew cut and a scowl that said he'd rather be anywhere else. He made a faint "tsk" sound, turning his head away. The girl beside him was quieter, her long black hair framing a pale face. Her black dress and choker gave her an air of deliberate defiance, like someone who'd stepped out of an urban subculture and into the rural heart of Hokkaido.
Kitano's veterinary instincts kicked in, cataloging her appearance almost automatically: healthy hair, no visible parasites, even skin tone, no signs of physical distress. She stood straight, her posture confident, but her outfit screamed trouble—or at least the kind of trouble that thrived on attention.
"This is my son, Ogawa Katsu," Ogawa Jō said, his smile strained as he prodded Katsu's foot with his cane. "He helps out at the ranch. Say hello."
Katsu exhaled sharply, his voice flat. "Hi, Mr. Kitano."
"And this is my daughter, Kana," Ogawa continued, his tone softening. Kana nodded, her voice soft but clear. "Hello, Mr. Kitano."
Kitano returned the greetings, his mind wandering. The ranch felt less like a pastoral haven and more like a stage for clashing personalities. He pushed the thought aside—it wasn't his place to judge.
Ogawa led him toward the grazing grounds, the path lined with newish facilities that gleamed under the morning sun.
Noticing Kitano's curiosity, Ogawa offered an explanation. "We're a young operation. It only opened a few years ago. Our horses started racing last year."
His voice carried a hint of embarrassment, and Kitano didn't press for details about their results. He could guess they weren't impressive.
"This isn't a formal auction," Ogawa said, gesturing to the field. "These are two-year-olds, already in early training. Their pedigrees aren't the best, but they're solid for beginners. Affordable, too."
Kitano nodded, but his attention was elsewhere. Among the grazing horses, one stood out—a black deer-haired colt, its coat glossy under the sunlight. Its muscles were well-defined, its limbs symmetrical, its gait steady. No signs of parasites, swelling, or lameness. From a veterinary perspective, it was a picture of health.
Kitano's breath caught as the colt trotted toward him, moving with the playful grace of a fawn. For a moment, he forgot the system, the ranch, the bickering siblings—there was only the horse.
Beside him, Katsu crossed his arms, his lip curling. Kitano could feel the boy's judgment. Another city dreamer, chasing a whim, destined to crash and burn. Katsu's eyes said it all: 'You'll quit, and your horse will suffer for it.' Kitano couldn't blame him for the skepticism.
He'd seen it himself—new owners who treated racing like a hobby, only to abandon it when the costs piled up.
Before Katsu could voice his thoughts, a sharp snap cut through the air. Kitano's hand stung from where he'd slapped his own cheek, the burn snapping him out of his daze. Ogawa Jō blinked, startled. "Mr. Kitano, are you alright?"
"Just a mosquito," Kitano said calmly, though his heart raced. He'd nearly forgotten how low his [Inspiration] stat was—a pitiful E-rank. He'd been swept up in the moment, clinging to a spark of hope. Shaking his head, he opened the system panel and, with a mix of skepticism and curiosity, activated the [Detector] on the colt.
*[Dance Steps 2023 (Unnamed)]*
*[Male]* [Black Deer Hair]*
*[Distance Suitability: ?]*
*[Race Suitability: ?]*
*[Foot Quality: ?]* [Growth Type: ?]*
*[Aura: ?]* [Personality: ?]*
*[Speed: G-]* [Stamina: ?]*
*[Winning Attribute: ?]*
*[Instantaneous Power: ?]*
*[Strength: ?]* [Health: ?]*
*[Virtue: ?]* [Spirit: ?]*
*[Mental Strength: ?]* [Flexibility: ?]*
Kitano stared at the panel, a wry smile tugging at his lips. A [G-] in speed. Was this luck or a cosmic joke? He closed the panel, the spark of hope dimming but not gone. He wasn't ready to give up—not yet.
Ogawa watched him, his expression unreadable. Katsu's scowl deepened, but Kana's gaze lingered, curious, as if she saw something in Kitano worth studying.
The colt nudged his hand, warm and alive, and for the first time that day, Kitano felt something shift inside him. Maybe this was what inspiration felt like—a quiet, stubborn refusal to let go.
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