The Reincarnation of a Commoner Couple - Episode 6

I went to school feeling nervous.
And after school, we’d hole up at one of our houses cramming like crazy.
Then, when I got home, I’d read horse racing books.

“Keita. Take this. More is better, right?”
“You’re a lifesaver. I was worried I wouldn’t have much to bet after train fare.”
“In exchange, you’d better make a good profit, okay?”
“Don’t worry, I won’t lose.”

Days like that flew by, and suddenly it was the weekend.
The Saturday before the races, Azusa gave me all the pocket money she could scrape together while we were studying at my place. After train fare, this gave me a solid 10,000 yen bill to play with.
Time to rake it in.

“See you later!”
I said goodbye quietly and left the house.
Mom only has Sundays off work, and she was still asleep. I was leaving early because I wanted to see the paddock before Race 1.

I rode my bike to the nearest station.
In less than an hour by train, I was at Tokyo Racecourse.

“Please don’t let me get caught. Please don’t let me get caught.”

I’d tried to pick clothes that made me look older, but I still felt like a bit of a country bumpkin.
If I win big today, I should buy some decent clothes. Though figuring out where to hide them is a problem. Buying expensive stuff out of the blue would definitely make Mom suspicious.

“First checkpoint cleared!”
Once I got off at the station nearest Tokyo Racecourse, my first stop was the convenience store.
There, I succeeded in buying my long-awaited cigarettes.
I’d snuck a few of Mom’s when she was asleep before, but since the brand was different, I never got that satisfying hit.
Yours truly: Officially a smokin’ addict.

“But the brand I smoked in the future isn’t on sale yet. This Marlboro Menthol is still better than Mom’s, though.”
I think Marlboro Ice Blast came out around my first year of high school. Guess I’m stuck with Marlboro Menthol for another year. More than that, I was shocked by how cheap cigarettes were. They were still in the 300-yen range back then. In the future, they were getting close to costing a whole bill.

I stood puffing away at the convenience store’s smoking area. A bunch of old guys were there too, glaring intently at their newspapers while we shared the space. They’re probably heading to the track too.
I, of course, had already bought my own newspaper.

After rejuvenating myself with a smoke, it was time to enter.
I walked confidently, trying not to let my inner nervousness show. Luckily, no one seemed to pay me any attention, so getting caught seemed unlikely. Thank goodness I’m taller than average.

“Alright, alright… will my racing skills pay off?”
Clutching a stack of betting slips, I headed for the paddock.
Even though it was just maiden races, the place was packed. The G1 race being held today probably had a lot to do with that.

I stood a bit apart, muttering to myself as I compared the newspaper to the horses in the paddock.
People everywhere were agonizing over their choices just like me, so no one paid my mumbling any mind.

“I want to build up my war chest before the main race, but if I blow it all before then, it’d be a disaster. I know I can win the main race. I should probably hold off on betting unless it’s to test my skill or I’m absolutely certain.”
The bl00d of a racing tipster was stirring inside me.
But here… I gotta resist. Resist like crazy.
If I can just tough it out today, I won’t have to worry about betting money next time. My patience is being tested.

“But still… I just can’t shake the feeling that  horse is going to win. Like a gut instinct. It just zinged me.”
Huh? Wait, isn’t that the favorite?
Hmm… But I should probably pass. I couldn’t be sure if this instinct was real.
Level 5 skill should be pretty amazing, right? Still, my war chest is just one lonely 10,000 yen bill.

And then Race 1.
Just as I’d felt, the favorite I’d gotten that zing from came in first.
Classic gambler’s regret syndrome hit me hard. I should’ve bet. But it couldn’t be helped.

“Was that my skill being right? Or was it just the favorite winning like everyone expected?”
For Races 2 and 3, the zing also came from the favorites.
I almost started thinking this skill was just telling me who the favorite was.
And because I wasn’t sure, I kept passing… and every single one of them won. My I-should’ve-bet syndrome just kept getting worse.

Then came Race 4.
Finally, a different reaction hit me.

“Oho? The zing is coming from the third favorite!”
At last, a horse that wasn’t the favorite felt like a winner. If this third favorite actually came in first, I’d trust the skill and bet next time.

“Though… I’m getting another reaction. Not as strong as the top pick, but it’s there.”
It’s the favorite.
Could my skill be picking up the second-place finisher too? This new sensation threw me off a little.
But I needed to pay attention to this feeling. It might be crucial when I place my next bet.

And then, the fateful Race 4.
Just as my instinct predicted, the third favorite won, and the favorite took second place.

“This has gotta be the real deal. Every horse that gave me that zing so far has won!”
I should definitely bet on the next race, Race 5.
Thinking that, I practically charged towards the paddock, breathing heavily and full of anticipation…
…only to hit a wall.

“No zing. No reaction at all.”
So this can happen too.
Well, duh. If I knew the winner every single time, it’d be way too easy. Though it’s already pretty OP as it is.
If Level 5 is like this, would Level 10 let me know every time?
But I need to make a lot more money to level it up.