Three days after meeting Secretariat, Gotham Song clearly noticed something had changed.
Her popularity suddenly skyrocketed, spreading exponentially as though it had exploded overnight.
She'd done absolutely nothing herself, yet her status had leapt from merely a promising Uma Musume who'd just ended her newcomer year, a rival to Tokai Teio with decent acclaim, straight into the ranks of an undefeated genius considered equal to Teio herself.
Wait—no, hold on a second!
Sure, Gotham Song had gone undefeated in her newcomer year, but those were all minor races—how could she possibly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Tokai Teio?
Regardless, Gotham Song had undeniably shot from somewhat notable to outright famous overnight.
Even when she browsed the internet casually, her own name appeared embarrassingly often—especially in those wild, blush-inducing fan discussions involving other Uma Musume boldly riding her popularity wave.
Who exactly was behind all this?
Such a mysterious surge in fame had to have a mastermind—a hidden hand feverishly stoking the flames.
There was only one possible culprit:
Secretariat, the one she'd met the very day before her popularity exploded!
Chairwoman, please stop interfering like this—it's embarrassing!
Still, it wasn't entirely a bad thing. After Gotham Song achieved her goals, her reputation in Japan would inevitably become controversial; having substantial fan support would minimize the fallout when the time came.
Secretariat probably foresaw that and was deliberately building a fanbase for her.
Oh well. It's not really hurting anything, and it's not like I can stop her anyway. Might as well just roll with it.
With that resigned thought, Gotham Song gradually intensified her training regimen.
After all, with the newcomer year behind her, the first major stop on her racing calendar was swiftly approaching.
The Yasuda Kinen in June.
Counting from the start of the semester in March, she had less than three months to prepare.
Even as someone who once dominated an entire era, Gotham Song remained cautious—
She couldn't burst ahead recklessly at the start anymore; she had to pace herself carefully now.
Under these self-imposed limitations, even one careless mistake would humiliate her terribly.
Gotham Song decided her skin wasn't thick enough to endure such embarrassment, so she diligently ramped up her training.
Aside from race training, she'd also added another item to her schedule:
Practicing for the Winner's Stage.
Honestly, she wasn't particularly enthusiastic about Winner's Stage performances. But if it was for the Kikuka Sho, she thought she'd give it a shot.
She wanted to give Twilight Song's career a perfect send-off, accomplishing what she couldn't in her past life. With that goal in mind, she earnestly practiced singing and dancing.
And of course, her teachers were... Manhattan Cafe—accompanied by the ghostly Sunday Silence—and Mejiro Ardan, who had seemingly grown more attached and spent more and more of her free time by Gotham Song's side.
But...how should she put this…
She wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but whenever Mejiro Ardan helped her practice dancing, she always stood extremely close.
Far too close.
Just how close exactly?
"Don't move. You need to hold your posture here, or you'll lose balance. That wouldn't look good, would it?"
Gotham Song felt arms gently tightening around her waist from behind, pressing close as the other's warmth enveloped her back. She suddenly felt close to tears.
Most people might envy or even enjoy such a scenario, but after experiencing it several times, Gotham Song realized she truly couldn't handle it.
Help, Cafe-san, where did you go? Hurry back—I can't do this alone!
Thankfully, as if answering her desperate prayers, Manhattan Cafe finally appeared at the door, Sunday Silence floating alongside, laughing hysterically in mid-air.
Already too exhausted to argue with the old ghost, Gotham Song swiftly slipped forward, gracefully escaping Mejiro Ardan's attack range.
Finally finished with practice, the three left the studio together, heading toward the cafeteria along the school's main road.
But...somehow…
When Gotham Song snapped out of her daze, their original group of three had quietly grown larger.
Manhattan Cafe and Mejiro Ardan remained at her sides, but Oguri Cap had also joined, staring directly at her, and beside her was a somewhat downcast-looking Tokai Teio.
Even Twin Turbo occasionally darted around their group, popping up in various places along the way. And when they rounded the final corner, just a step away from the cafeteria, yet another figure joined their little procession:
Silence Suzuka.
How should she even describe this situation?
Gotham Song couldn't fathom it. She was just a regular Uma Musume, wasn't she? She wasn't some black hole that naturally attracted everyone around her. She could understand the Mejiro family members sticking close—but why was everyone else…
Are they all just souls trapped in my gravitational pull?!
Unable to solve this baffling mystery, Gotham Song instead vented all her frustration on lunch itself.
By the end of the meal, she was stuffed to the point of immobility, completely stranded at the table.
Who eventually helped her stagger back to her dorm?
Neo Universe, who'd silently appeared behind the group without anyone noticing.
As Gotham Song's roommate, Neo Universe naturally had exclusive rights to perform such a task. No one else could object.
Thus, after being surrounded for so long, Gotham Song finally had a moment to breathe freely again.
Oh, and about physical contact when Neo Universe helped her upstairs?
Laughable.
How could that compare to their usual late-night intimacy beneath their blankets?
It wasn't even close!
They ascended the stairs easily; the excellent physique of Uma Musume allowed them to climb four flights without the slightest fatigue.
Yet upon opening their dormitory door—
They unexpectedly found someone already waiting inside, calmly seated on Neo Universe's bed, flipping through a book.
Clearly, she'd been waiting for them to return.
And who was this visitor?
None other than their next-door neighbor:
Mejiro Bright.
Neo Universe promptly released Gotham Song, quietly walking away and picking up a book herself, leaving the conversation entirely to the two of them.
After exchanging a glance, Mejiro Bright calmly stated her purpose.
She had come to ask if Gotham Song had considered her earlier proposal.
That same offer she'd made after the Kikuka Sho.
Honestly, Gotham Song hadn't really thought much about it afterward, since her immediate reaction had always been a definite refusal.
Putting aside any danger involved, wasn't it basically volunteering to become her own replacement?
She'd rather storm Mejiro Manor herself and reveal her identity openly.
Therefore, when Mejiro Bright asked again, Gotham Song's answer was a gentle but firm shake of her head.
Still—
Mejiro Manor was something she inevitably had to confront. Previously, she hadn't found the right opportunity, but now, using Mejiro McQueen's situation as an entry point seemed perfect.
Gotham Song refused to become anyone's replacement, but if she went from the start not as a substitute, that was different, wasn't it?
"I won't be anyone's replacement. But if you're simply asking me to keep McQueen-san company...then I could consider it."
Gotham Song put it this way.
Besides, Mejiro McQueen wouldn't mistake her current self for her past self anyway, right?
They'd met previously beneath the Winner's Stage at the Kikuka Sho. McQueen hadn't shown the slightest confusion then; she'd very deliberately treated Gotham Song as an entirely separate person.
That meant McQueen clearly understood Twilight Song was gone—no living person could ever be her again.
Although perhaps that clarity came precisely because McQueen saw Twilight Song's phantom every waking moment.
Mejiro Bright, still reeling slightly from Gotham Song's earlier rejection, took a moment to react before nodding thoughtfully.
Perhaps this was even better. If McQueen felt someone was clearly substituting for Twilight Song, with her current state of mind, who knew how violently she'd react? A gentler approach might indeed be wiser.
"So, Bright-san, can you tell me precisely what changes happened with Mejiro McQueen?"
Taking advantage of the mood, Gotham Song pressed forward, probing for information for the first time—intel that even Neo Universe had failed to obtain clearly.
Mejiro Bright recounted the events slowly. The summary was simple:
After Twilight Song's tragic end at the Arc, Mejiro Manor had changed entirely.
Initially, everyone grieved normally—until external attacks on Twilight Song's reputation flooded in like a tidal wave.
Truthfully, everyone at Mejiro knew Twilight Song was merely a catalyst, not the root cause. But swept up in the turmoil, Mejiro Manor fiercely—and sometimes excessively—countered those insulting accusations.
Then…
Mejiro Manor itself became the target of further malicious attacks, used purely as emotional outlets.
During this chaos, Mejiro McQueen "awakened."
She grew distant, training relentlessly alone, withdrawing deeply into herself, growing overwhelmingly powerful.
She resolved to recreate Twilight Song's achievements precisely, then crush the Japanese Uma Musume community on the grandest stage as vengeance.
Yet such revenge was pointless. McQueen would only hurt herself further, while anonymous attackers faced no consequences at all.
Thus, Bright privately sought out Gotham Song, hoping desperately to save that beloved sweets-loving girl from self-destruction.
After listening, Gotham Song felt helplessly bitter.
She herself had been the spark igniting the entire ordeal—her reputation destroyed by those who attacked her out of frustration and impotence.
But she had a chance at revenge—not McQueen, but herself. She could do it openly, punishing them on a global stage.
A country without international races can hardly boast about its Uma Musume, right?
"So...next week, let's go pick McQueen up from New York," Gotham Song finally suggested gently.
Mejiro Bright nodded gratefully, hopeful at last.
Wait just a little longer, Mejiro Manor. I'll be back soon.