What does she mean, "I won't allow it"? Is my earlier idea really unacceptable?
Gotham Song pondered this deeply for a long, long while. She stayed silent, pressed into Mejiro Ramonu's embrace until she eventually drifted off—and even then…
She continued mulling over the question in her dreams, but right up until the very end, she still hadn't reached any conclusions.
The next morning, when Gotham Song opened her eyes and sat up, she found herself alone in bed. However, a note was resting atop the cabinet next to her.
Think it through carefully. Although, if I were you, I wouldn't ask anyone else about this—some answers are only meaningful if you find them yourself.
What the heck…! Isn't this kind of response just a bit too sly?
Gotham Song lightly bit the tip of her tongue, carefully folded the note, and tucked it into her diary.
Ramonu-neechan is seriously terrible. And the absolute worst part is—
When I really want to glare at her, she's nowhere to be found!
So cunning, honestly!
Gotham Song gritted her teeth in frustration. She had finally summoned all her courage to say something like, "I don't care what happens to me."
And yet, she was bluntly rejected.
Ugh, next time, I definitely won't say anything like that again. Absolutely not! You meanie, Ramonu-neechan!
Thinking this way, Gotham Song sulkily sat down by the table and opened her diary.
---
I really don't Mejiro—I mean, I really don't understand! According to all logic, shouldn't the normal response just be a nod and acceptance, saying something like, "Let's live happily ever after together"? Isn't that how it should usually go, or at least how everyone wants it to?
But Ramonu-neechan, why would you reject my apology like that? Anyway, there definitely won't be a next time. I absolutely won't say something like that to you ever again. I'm mad at you now! Bleh! Hope you get super frustrated. You'll regret this someday!
!!!!
---
Gotham Song even deliberately added four exclamation points as emphasis. Still not satisfied, she flipped to the diary's title page and scribbled her original name right under Mejiro Ramonu's signature.
This is my diary, dummy Ramonu-neechan!
Though the cover is something you made…
Anyway! After completing her revenge-like act, Gotham Song calmed down—or rather, regained her composure—and suddenly became painfully aware of what she'd just done.
The more I look at this, the more childish it seems… Aaaah!
No, no, no way! I absolutely can't let anyone else see this. It'd be way too embarrassing!
[Then, why not hide it on the bookshelf?]
Ah, yes, that's right, the bookshelf—wait, who's talking?!
Gotham Song jumped to her feet, only to see a chaotic black phantom, literally doubled over, twisting uncontrollably in the air from laughter.
Sunday Silence was laughing so hard it genuinely hurt. For the first time in a long while, she felt as if laughter could truly revive her.
How could she possibly describe her current mood?
"Hmm... Delicious~ thanks for the treat, yummy little girl!"
If something this entertaining happened around this person every day, Sunday Silence figured she might even abandon Manhattan Cafe and settle here permanently!
Seeing Sunday Silence's disgraceful appearance, Gotham Song froze in horror upon realizing her entire embarrassing episode had just been witnessed. Yet even with her brain completely offline, her body moved automatically.
Standing up, she swiftly shoved the diary into a cabinet. After double-checking that it wasn't conspicuous, Gotham Song turned towards the black phantom. Raising her fist and crouching slightly, she drew a deep breath—
And punched ferociously!
The moment her fist tore through the air, flames and a roaring gust surged forth. Under this intense strike, the black phantom's form crumbled instantly into dust, dispersing entirely into oblivion.
However, Gotham Song was painfully aware the old geezer number one was just messing with her.
How could you even kill a ghost, anyway?
Besides, how could a ghost who'd already died continue laughing?
[Oh my, you sure can't take a joke, huh? Fine, fine, my bad.]
But I definitely won't apologize.
Sunday Silence was still snickering nastily. Of course, she wasn't going to say sorry—the only reason she admitted fault at all was to get Gotham Song to calm down.
The young filly slowly withdrew her fist, giving a soft huff as she watched Sunday Silence reassemble herself—this time deliberately distorting her appearance, as if to provoke curiosity. It was truly bizarre…
In short, her facial features were all jumbled: ears above her eyes, limbs swapped around. Gotham Song averted her gaze, unable to bear it.
Old hag number one, you must really want another punch, don't you!
[Hey, hey, hey! Don't, don't! I wasn't thinking anything like that—I already admitted my mistake, didn't I?!]
That tone… it's way too familiar. Isn't that exactly what I said last night?! Sunday Silence, you copycat!
[Oh, not at all. If it were Song, I'd…]
I refuse to accept this nonsense!!
Gotham Song raised her fist again, and Sunday Silence instantly reverted to normal, genuinely raising her hands in surrender.
In this moment, a traitor appeared among these two American Uma Musume. But truthfully, Sunday Silence didn't want to push it any further.
After all, Gotham Song was already bristling. If she pushed any harder, she'd genuinely stop talking to her.
She's so adorable! Yet terrifying when angered! A pity she couldn't tease her more right now.
Heh. Next time, then.
[Alright, alright. Looks like you really don't get it—the reason Mejiro Ramonu rejected you.]
How could I possibly get something like that? I already mustered up all my resolve—wouldn't it be normal for Ramonu-neechan to just accept?
[Pfft. That's exactly why you still have a lot to learn. Let me ask you just one thing. Do you think…]
[Does Mejiro Ramonu want Twilight Song to return to her side, or…]
[Does she want the sister she finally found again to go back to the life she should've had in the first place?]
What's that supposed to mean… Hey?
[I'm not going to say anything else. This kind of thing only counts when you realize it yourself.]
[And when you finally do… Haha.]
That'll be entertaining.
If you really understood, wouldn't you also see clearly what's going on around you right now?
Ah, little fool, when will you realize?
Uma Musume… are creatures driven purely by emotions.
And you… you're becoming especially delicious.
Hehe.
With those words, Sunday Silence vanished before Gotham Song's eyes, leaving no chance for further questioning. The frustrated little filly could only stomp in irritation before mumbling to herself and heading to the washroom to tidy up.
Wash face, brush teeth, change clothes, inspect hair, trim off stray white strands, flush them away—
Once finished, Gotham Song stepped out of her room, only to find Gentildonna already waiting there.
"Good morning, Miss Song. Will you be training again today?"
"Mm. Just some basic training."
Just enough to maintain form. No need to overdo it.
After all, the Japan Cup was approaching soon.
She'd already booked accommodations near the Japan Cup's racecourse. Once this week ended, she'd head over to prepare for the final stretch.
However, Gentildonna didn't immediately follow Gotham Song to the training grounds today. Instead, a phone call stopped them in their tracks.
Surprisingly, the caller was Dancing Brave—and who had she called about?
Of course, it was Gotham Song, who was surely with Gentildonna right now.
Yet the words Dancing Brave spoke over the phone truly startled Gotham Song.
She quickly brought Gentildonna downstairs, just in time to see a little foreign filly missile flying straight at her.
No joke—it really was flying.
After a long absence, Treve completely wrapped herself around Gotham Song, clinging tightly like a sloth refusing to let go.
"Song-neechan, I finally found you!"
"Treve! Let go already!"
Following closely behind was Found, looking thoroughly exasperated.
Only once the elders finally peeled Treve off did Gotham Song recover from her confusion.
"Oh! Found-senpai, Madame Haya, and even Treve, Haya Of Stars, and little Van Gogh—it's been so long!"
So who exactly had come?
After landing at the airport one after another, both the Haya family and Found's mentor-apprentice duo decided to visit Mejiro Manor.
At this moment, behind Haya City, Van Gogh remained mischievous as ever, Haya Of Stars looked so delighted her gaze had turned dreamy, while the lively little filly Treve's eyes glittered eagerly. And then—
Two helpless guardians: Urban Sea and Found.
Incidentally, Astronomer had heard Gotham Song was currently at Mejiro Manor, so she hadn't dared join them this time.
And honestly, she shouldn't dare to.
In short, once Dancing Brave also joined them, under Mejiro Ardan's gentle watch over Treve, the group exchanged greetings and settled onto various positions on the sofa.
Well, Treve had been completely separated—even pushed to sit squeezed tightly next to Found—while the obedient Haya Of Stars was warmly welcomed by Mejiro Ardan, permitted to sit next to Gotham Song.
For some reason, everyone tacitly cooperated on this matter—even Gentildonna naturally joined in.
Perhaps this was just part of the duties and obligations of a caretaker Uma Musume.
Anyway, Treve was deeply unhappy, while Haya Of Stars was positively delighted.
Treve had given her all, pushing hard (thirteen seconds flat!), yet still lost; Haya Of Stars did nothing at all and won effortlessly.
"It really has been a while. Our Treve seems overly... enthusiastic? Anyway, Miss Song, thank goodness you don't mind."
As Found spoke these words, she mercilessly flicked Treve's forehead. The pained filly finally yielded, remaining silently sulky.
Seeing this, Gotham Song could only shake her head helplessly, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
Truthfully, she didn't mind at all. Treve was simply an affectionate child she hadn't seen in ages—adorable and harmless, merely surprising her briefly earlier.
But now that she thought about it, compared to Treve bluntly blurting out "I like you" the moment they met, this was already quite gentle, wasn't it?
Gotham Song winked playfully at Treve, instantly reviving the filly, who started to eagerly squirm again.
"Ahem. Anyway, Madame Haya, Miss Found, you're here to watch the Japan Cup, right?"
"Yes. Though, after the Japan Cup ends, there are other matters requiring our attendance… But that's for later."
Found spoke vaguely, given two contenders for the Japan Cup were sitting right in Mejiro Manor. Being too explicit wouldn't be polite.
Haya City took the opportunity to clarify their plans.
"So we'll be staying in Japan for now, possibly lingering after the race concludes."
In any case, the younger fillies from both families were around their debut season, free from scheduling conflicts.
Letting them witness firsthand two legendary Uma Musume competing for the title of Augustus was a good experience, wasn't it?
Besides, Japan's famed Oguri Cap would be racing as well.
Eventually, Haya City, Found, Dancing Brave, and Mejiro Ardan continued chatting warmly, while the younger fillies…
…Were conveniently entrusted by Mejiro Ardan to the just-passing-by Mejiro Dober.
Seeing her youngest sister's stunned and overwhelmed expression, Gotham Song silently offered her condolences.
Hang in there, Dober.
She could clearly tell Treve and Haya Of Stars wished she'd accompany them instead, but as an elder sister hoping Dober would make new friends, she chose to pretend ignorance.
Ah, what lovely weather today… Wait, indoors there's no sky visible.
Calling Gentildonna, Gotham Song began her routine training.
By evening, when Gotham Song returned indoors, Haya City and the others had already left, apparently settling temporarily near the racecourse, eagerly anticipating the Japan Cup.
"By the way, Song, you seem rather close with that filly named Treve."
That night, after dinner, during a leisurely stroll with her dear Ardan-neechan, Gotham Song suddenly heard these words.
For some reason, Ardan-neechan's voice sounded oddly cold.
Uh, probably just the weather—it was already November, after all. Even Tokyo was cooling down.
Gotham Song vividly recalled that Ardan-neechan didn't know about her first encounter with Treve.
"Well, I guess so… But even I wonder about it. From the moment I met her, she's liked me a lot."
Gotham Song wore a troubled expression.
"You know too, right, Ardan-neechan? There's no way I'd met her before."
"Is that so… Well then, Song, maybe when you have a chance later—"
"You could ask little Treve exactly why she's so enthusiastic about you."
Temporarily suppressing her own feelings, Mejiro Ardan offered calm, sensible advice.
Rather than unleashing the surging tsunami currently raging within her heart.