The next morning, Gotham Song was still recovering from Oguri Cap's unexpected declaration the previous day, yet today's new trouble arrived without delay.
How to put it…
She had long anticipated this particular issue, but now, faced directly with it, she still felt overwhelmed.
Tilting her head curiously, Gotham Song stared at her reflection in the mirror.
The black-and-white-haired girl staring back tilted her head in the exact same way.
Indeed, while still undergoing her Maturation, Gotham Song's hair was black—but afterward, it would inevitably become completely white.
Simply put—
Once her Maturation concluded, Twilight Song would fully reappear in this world.
However, realistically speaking, the reappearance of Twilight Song wasn't exactly possible.
Because the very day her Maturation completed might well be the day Gotham Song got dragged straight into Mejiro Manor's dungeon.
The resemblance was far too uncanny—even Gotham Song herself had to admit it was identical.
Before full Maturation, she could still use her hair color and style to differentiate herself.
But afterward?
With hair color, face, and build identical, even changing hairstyles would do nothing to conceal the truth.
Panicking, Gotham Song skipped even washing up, rushing to her wardrobe to find a solution.
Should I really just dye my hair?
Opening the wardrobe door, Gotham Song took out the hooded coat she'd prepared specifically for this scenario. Before she could put it on, a sudden knock sounded at her door.
Confused, Gotham Song hesitated briefly before putting on the coat, just as she always did before answering the door.
At this time, it's probably Teio again, right?
Open the door? But what if it's Mejiro Bright?!
Gotham Song cautiously called out, only to hear a completely unexpected voice.
It was Agnes Tachyon.
…
"You mean, you're still in the process of Maturation?"
"Yeah."
"And after you complete Maturation, you'll look exactly like that legendary Uma Musume?"
"Yeah."
"And you don't want to get dragged off to Mejiro Manor, so you're planning to dye your hair?"
"Exactly."
Agnes Tachyon tapped her chin thoughtfully as she circled Gotham Song, who sat stiffly upright in a chair.
She tentatively decided—
To believe her.
After all, as Uma Musume, we must pursue science! Scientific horseracing, you know? Scientific horseracing!
Reincarnation or whatnot was utterly absurd—it had to be nothing more than a simple coincidence, just an extraordinary resemblance… right?
Tachyon reasoned such coincidences could exist. No matter how small the probability, it still wasn't zero percent.
But actual reincarnation?
Impossible! More absurd than Manhattan Cafe's mysterious "friend."
"So, do you have a plan?"
Agnes Tachyon broke the silence first, sitting across from Gotham Song as a bright idea suddenly struck her.
Unaware of the strange thoughts brewing in Tachyon's mind, Gotham Song earnestly offered the solution she thought most practical:
"Uh… maybe sneak out now and get my hair dyed?"
"Oh~? And what if you're seen?"
Agnes Tachyon hit precisely on Gotham Song's greatest fear.
Indeed—what if she got spotted while dyeing her hair?
Even worse—
What if the place she went happened to belong to the Mejiro family?
Just imagining that scenario made her shiver.
"In that case, why not consider my method instead?"
Gotham Song stared warily at Agnes Tachyon, feeling goosebumps rising all over.
Wait… at this point, Tachyon shouldn't have turned into that yet, right?
She—she hadn't, had she?
Gotham Song clung desperately to that faint hope, following Agnes Tachyon all the way to her lab until the hope vanished instantly.
The moment she saw the room filled with scientific equipment, Gotham Song understood clearly:
This was no longer Agnes Tachyon—it was the infamous "Mad Scientist Agnes Tachyon."
"Tachyon… nee-san? Why are we here, exactly?"
"To solve your hair-color issue, naturally. What else?"
"Solve…my hair-color issue? Here?"
"Dyeing takes too long, it's uncertain and unreliable. Why not try my method instead? Much faster, more effective, I promise."
Gotham Song's lips twitched slightly.
R-Really…?
Despite her lingering doubts, the sight of Tachyon confidently preparing a vial of liquid with impressive ease convinced Gotham Song—at least slightly. Such practiced skill seemed trustworthy enough.
After repeated assurances from Agnes Tachyon that the potion was harmless, with no severe side-effects beyond temporary drowsiness, which would disappear after getting used to it, Gotham Song found herself leaning toward acceptance.
There was also another reason—Neo Universe had never said she couldn't do this. The hair-color issue must be something every version of herself faced across universes, right?
With that thought, Gotham Song finally closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and swallowed the potion in one gulp.
"Guh—! It tastes absolutely disgusting!"
She yelled loudly, slamming the bottle onto the table before frantically searching for water to rinse her mouth. With a peculiar smile, Agnes Tachyon handed her a prepared cup of black tea.
Hehe. Look here, Cafe—your precious cousin's drinking black tea, not coffee.
Watching Gotham Song drink desperately, Agnes Tachyon marked down a little victory in her heart.
Even if nobody else ever learned about it, she still considered it a significant personal win.
Now, once Song finished the tea, she'd collapse, her hair gradually changing color… countdown?
Ten, nine…
After finally placing the cup down, Gotham Song caught her breath and glanced into the mirror—but saw no change whatsoever. She cast a confused look at Agnes Tachyon.
"Relax. It'll take effect shortly."
"What do you mean—?"
Three, two, one…
"Just wait a moment lon—"
Gotham Song suddenly collapsed onto the floor, sound asleep.
Agnes Tachyon scooped the small Uma Musume into her arms, placing her carefully onto the bed.
Sleep now. When you wake up, it'll all be solved.
Watching Gotham Song's sleeping face, Tachyon thought idly to herself.
Hmm… She's cute enough awake, but how can she look even cuter when she's asleep?
Under the bright morning sunlight, Tachyon decided she might as well give up resisting temptation.
Removing her white lab coat and hanging it on the wall, Agnes Tachyon quietly climbed into the small bed next to Gotham Song.
She decided, happily, that a leisurely nap together was the perfect way to start this lazy morning.