But before heading out to meet Mejiro McQueen, Gotham Song had one important matter to settle.
After all, she was about to meet McQueen—someone whose phantom companion was still very much around.
Gotham Song hadn't forgotten what happened at the Kikuka Sho: even from far away, without meeting face-to-face, McQueen had seen right through her. If she showed up now without preparation, her identity might instantly blow wide open.
Then it wouldn't just be "entering Mejiro Manor."
It would be:
Entering Mejiro Manor!
Thus, the morning after she'd agreed to accompany Mejiro Bright, Gotham Song immediately went to see Manhattan Cafe—
Or rather, Sunday Silence.
The old ghost seemed to have anticipated this and readily agreed to help when the time came.
Satisfied, Gotham Song then spent some leisure time running alongside Cafe before leaving.
But as Gotham Song left, Manhattan Cafe stood deep in thought, a troubled look clouding her face.
"My friend, why do I have this odd feeling…that Gotham didn't actually come here to see me?"
Under Sunday Silence's amused yet sympathetic gaze, Cafe's confusion gradually mixed with a hint of sour melancholy.
Although, as her best friend, Sunday Silence probably shouldn't indulge such complicated feelings, but…
Wouldn't it be interesting if Cafe really did develop those feelings for Gotham?
Sorry, Cafe. I'll explain everything clearly later, okay?
Sunday Silence stayed silent, quietly holding in laughter as Cafe puzzled over her conflicted emotions. Meanwhile, Gotham Song was completely unaware, busy moving through her own packed schedule.
A week passed quickly for Uma Musume, and Gotham Song continued her days alternating between training and rest, until the Ruka Stakes results finally arrived.
Once again, the global and Japanese Uma Musume communities erupted into chaos.
Unbelievably, Mejiro McQueen had won the Ruka Stakes with a Great Escape strategy, earning herself the highest honor in that running style.
It stunned everyone—particularly those who had watched both this race and the final edition of the Gotham Stakes. They witnessed a shocking realization:
Mejiro McQueen had almost flawlessly replicated Twilight Song's running style.
More precisely, she mimicked Twilight Song's habits and skills nearly perfectly.
Nearly—because a perfect replica was impossible due to physical differences.
The height gap, specifically.
The mature Mejiro McQueen was nearly twenty centimeters taller than Twilight Song. Twilight Song's small stature allowed her to lower her center of gravity drastically, running as though flying along the ground, enabling impossible acceleration through curves.
McQueen simply couldn't reproduce that aspect physically.
Thus, she was an almost-perfect copy, rather than an exact replica.
Still, McQueen winning the Ruka Stakes with a Great Escape was shocking enough on its own.
Ever since Twilight Song's time, the entire Uma Musume world tacitly agreed: whoever won the Ruka Stakes with a Great Escape became the reigning queen of front runners.
Now—
A horse girl who had never competed seriously with escape tactics suddenly seized the title of escape queen, doing so by perfectly imitating the Goddess of Escape herself?
Moreover, she was Twilight Song's own sister by blood?!
Every front runner-type Uma Musume worldwide suddenly questioned their sanity, not knowing whether they should envy her, envy her more, or envy her endlessly.
But none of that mattered to Mejiro Manor.
The day after the Ruka Stakes concluded, Gotham Song woke early, traveling with Mejiro Bright to Tokyo International Airport to welcome McQueen home.
Accompanying them was Mejiro Ardan. In late March, the weather was warm enough for the three horse girls to have changed out of their winter clothes into lighter garments.
Gotham Song's hair was neatly decorated by a soft blue ribbon—another thoughtful "gift" from Mejiro Ardan.
Incidentally, Mejiro Bright had tried giving her a similar white ribbon, suggesting she tie it on the opposite side.
Would that count as a fashion statement?
Gotham Song had no idea.
Officially, it was just the three of them greeting McQueen. For the first time in a long while, Gotham Song also enjoyed a ride in the luxurious Mejiro family limousine.
She even put on a little act, showing carefully faked curiosity and awe at seeing such a limousine for the first time—
[You have zero acting talent.]
And promptly received Sunday Silence's merciless critique.
Indeed, their three-person squad had secretly become four—a rather nice tradition at this point.
Gotham Song cursed the old ghost silently while being gently led into the limousine by Mejiro Ardan.
Yet Mejiro Bright merely smiled softly, seemingly pleased with Gotham Song's adorable, if slightly awkward, performance.
The limousine soon approached the airport, and Bright casually posed one final question to Gotham Song:
"After we pick up McQueen today, will you join us at Mejiro Manor for a visit, Gotham?"
"Ah…"
Although Gotham Song had prepared mentally to revisit Mejiro Manor, wasn't this a bit soon?
"Um…will Ardan-san also be coming?"
She struggled lightly, thinking Ardan's presence would at least guarantee safety.
"Hmm…if Ramonu-nee isn't there, I suppose I can go home."
Ardan received a reassuring nod from Bright.
Thus, Gotham Song could only reluctantly nod along.
Well, as long as Mejiro Ramonu didn't suddenly appear, nothing disastrous should happen…right?
She thought quietly: check the current situation at Mejiro Manor, then slip away at night without staying over.
Because…well…
The room reserved for her current self at Mejiro Manor made her extremely uneasy.
The limousine stopped shortly after. Gotham Song followed the two Mejiro sisters towards the arrivals gate.
It was all familiar—ignoring how frequently she'd visited here in her previous life, she'd also come through here not long ago after flying in from America.
Shortly after, Mejiro McQueen and Mejiro Palmer emerged with luggage, immediately welcomed warmly by the Mejiro sisters.
Well, "sisters" referred mainly to Bright, Palmer, and Ardan. Palmer even hugged Ardan enthusiastically, leaving McQueen—the youngest—to stand aloofly aside.
McQueen greeted everyone politely before immediately fixing her intense gaze on Gotham Song's face.
Um…didn't we meet already, McQueen? Your stare right now is incredibly scary!
"Um, McQueen…san?"
"Mm."
Mmm?! Say something more! Please don't just 'Mm' me!
Sunday Silence was already laughing hysterically, leaving Gotham Song frozen awkwardly in place.
"Er, McQueen-san, could you please speak normally?"
"What do you mean?"
How am I supposed to continue this conversation?! Are you really McQueen?!
Gotham Song gave up entirely.
Fortunately, Mejiro Bright quickly noticed and interrupted Ardan and Palmer's conversation, saving Gotham Song from this awkward stand-off.
They returned to the limousine, heading calmly toward Mejiro Manor. Unseen by the others, Sunday Silence wrapped an arm around Gotham Song, lending comfort. The mischievous old ghost even daringly poked McQueen's cheek—fortunately, as a ghost, she went entirely unnoticed.
Gotham Song slowly relaxed, leaning back into her seat, desperately trying to ignore McQueen's unwavering stare.
McQueen hadn't shifted her gaze away even slightly since they'd reunited!
Thankfully, McQueen did nothing else; the car quietly advanced toward Mejiro Manor.
What exactly was McQueen thinking about?
She was thinking about Gotham Song, indeed. Internally, she was having a conversation with Phantom Ruka.
[Come on, McQueen, didn't you already see her clearly at the Kikuka Sho? Why act surprised now?]
It's different. I didn't see clearly that night, and it was noisy.
That night beneath the Winner's Stage, with its chaos, noise, and poor lighting, McQueen couldn't fully appreciate how utterly similar Gotham Song looked to Twilight Song.
But now…
It wasn't just ordinary resemblance. Time had passed, but McQueen remembered Twilight Song's face perfectly.
It was normal for people to look similar, sure, but this…this was uncanny.
Even though she knew Gotham Song couldn't possibly be Twilight Song, McQueen couldn't help staring, searching through her familiar features for someone long gone.
I know she isn't her, but she looks so much like her… That was McQueen's mindset.
But Phantom Ruka was now thoroughly irritated.
Impossible. That girl absolutely isn't Twilight Song. If Twilight Song herself stood before me, I'd recognize her instantly.
No one understood Twilight Song better than Phantom Ruka herself.
She glared angrily at Gotham Song, kicking around helplessly in McQueen's mind—futilely.
Unlike the hidden ghosts squabbling silently inside their respective "hosts," the five living horse girls maintained outward harmony.
Eventually, the limousine—actually carrying seven passengers—pulled into Mejiro Manor.
Gotham Song exited first, desperate to escape McQueen's nerve-wracking stare.
Standing firmly on familiar ground, she gazed nostalgically at the grand manor.
She recalled her first arrival:
Back then, she'd embarrassingly rushed upstairs and thrown up in Ramonu's room.
But now…
She moved with calm grace, every action exuding the poise and dignity of someone from Mejiro Manor.
"Miss Gotham?"
"Ahh!"
[Hahahaha!]
Startled, Gotham Song jumped back, realizing Mejiro Palmer had playfully leaned close.
"Geez, Palmer-nee, you almost scared me to death."
"Ehehe, everyone else went inside, so I came to call you. Come on, I'll show you around Mejiro Manor properly later."
"Ah, okay. Thank you, Palmer…san?"
"You can call me Palmer-nee, like you just did."
"Ah, okay…Palmer-nee."
Wait, did I just instinctively call her Palmer-nee earlier? Damn it, that was a complete slip-up!
Palmer cheerfully held Gotham's hand, smiling contentedly as she guided her inside.
Meanwhile, Gotham Song mentally sighed in relief:
Good thing everyone else already went inside. I have to be more careful, or it'll be a disaster if someone like Ramonu suddenly hears me call her like that…
Gotham Song's instincts warned her strongly about that particular danger.