Mejiro Ramonu clearly wanted to say more, but a completely different voice suddenly rang from the doorway—
Both girls turned towards the sound and saw Mejiro Palmer standing there, acting as if she had no idea what was going on.
Ramonu, apparently in high spirits, stood up and smoothed out her skirt before addressing her.
"What is it, Palmer?"
"Bright was looking for you, Ramonu-nee."
With an acknowledging hum, Ramonu glanced briefly at Gotham Song before leaving.
Only after the tall, elegant older sister departed did Gotham Song finally breathe a deep sigh of relief, feeling as though she'd just escaped certain doom.
Turning gratefully toward Palmer at the doorway, Gotham gave her a quick wink.
Palmer paused momentarily, surprised, then responded cheerfully with her own playful wink. They exchanged a smile, and as the door quietly shut, Gotham Song was officially out of immediate danger.
She was safe—for now.
[Hmph, you actually got away. Too bad.]
You old ghost, always here just to watch the drama. Still… thanks.
[No need to thank me. But that little girl from just now…]
Sunday Silence hesitated, suddenly curious. Would a normal person be so thrilled by getting winked at by a near-stranger that she'd run off covering her blushing face?
Truly, Mejiro Manor was full of strange and wonderful characters, and the one beside her was no exception.
"What is it?"
[Nothing important. I'm just curious what she's normally like.]
"Palmer-nee? She used to be quite reserved, actually, but now it seems she's suddenly turned into… well…"
A gyaru type?
But it's cute, reassuring even.
Gotham Song openly shared her impressions, earning a muted, contemplative hum from Sunday Silence.
Clearly, both knew their current conversation wasn't addressing the main issue.
With a sigh, Gotham Song fell back onto the luxurious bed, her hair and gown spilling elegantly around her like ink blooming across the sheets.
"You…don't have anything to ask?"
[Would you answer if I asked?]
Obviously I would, you idiot. Don't pretend you're not good at reading people—wait, Sunday Silence, you're bullying me on purpose again!
Irritated, Gotham Song nearly sat up in frustration—until she found Sunday Silence staring straight into her eyes from the ceiling above, upside-down.
Startled by the ghost's unnatural stance, Gotham stubbornly held onto her dignity—at least her glare would never waver!
[Fine, fine. Seriously now, what exactly are your thoughts on all this?]
Sunday Silence spoke with rare seriousness. Her tone was flat, deep, almost solemn, devoid of the usual teasing edge.
At that moment, Gotham Song was reminded once more that this ghostly Uma Musume, who'd merged with her countless times, wasn't merely the Horse King. She was also exceptionally good at maintaining relationships—
"It's my fault."
[Of course it's your fault. Would I really be asking about that?]
How could it not be Twilight Song's fault? Regardless of how noble the intentions, the damage caused by hiding the truth was undeniable. That was precisely why, just moments ago, Twilight Song couldn't utter any false, self-serving reply.
This was something she had to face, had to bear responsibility for. If, out of fear of a heavy track, she kept this painful thorn lodged deeply in Ramonu's heart…
Even Gotham Song would despise herself for that.
But if it wasn't about this, then what else was there to ask?
[I'm asking what you plan to do next. That's the important part.]
Sunday Silence didn't actually care about blame. As an outsider, after learning Twilight Song's story, she couldn't judge anyway—it was simple logic.
If Sunday Silence had been in that position, as an Uma Musume, as someone who'd tasted glory, who'd borne the heavy, obsessive expectations placed upon her…
Could she have chosen retirement, quietly awaiting death?
No. She couldn't do it. Therefore, she had no right to criticize Gotham Song's decisions either.
If even Mejiro Ramonu refused to resent her sister, what more could Sunday Silence say?
Thus, the only thing Sunday Silence, now Gotham Song's other half, could do was to ask her clearly what she intended to do.
"I haven't found a way yet. But I'll keep trying. At the very least, I'll face it head-on. No more running away."
No more fleeing—never again.
Twilight Song might have been the world's strongest runner in terms of escapes, but that was on the racetrack, not in life.
If she ran through life like a race, wouldn't she end up lonely, leaving everyone else far behind?
Life had no finish line. Constantly fleeing would just push her endlessly toward an early grave.
Besides, wasn't it nauseatingly irresponsible to flee from one's own duties?
Not knowing how was one thing. Whether to try or not was quite another.
Honestly, if she'd been afraid of the heavy track from the start, Gotham Song had already had a much easier choice:
She could've simply never returned to Japan in her second life.
That would've been the simplest, safest choice.
Yet Neo Universe had confirmed one thing clearly:
Every Gotham Song, one after another, had chosen without hesitation to return immediately to where everything began.
None had chosen escape.
This was the determination Twilight Song had solidified within herself the moment she made her choice.
[Mmm. True, finding a way is tough, especially with no room for mistakes.]
Gotham nodded quietly. She reached out, and a ghostly hand gently clasped hers.
[At least you have the courage to face it, right?]
"Having courage alone is hardly praiseworthy."
Exhaling softly, Gotham Song felt a lingering frustration over her inability to do more. Perhaps that was why she'd so decisively accepted Bright's invitation to Mejiro Manor.
[Enough for tonight. If you can't think of a way, stop trying for now. It's late. You should rest, little one.]
"But… what if—"
[There's no "what if." Just sleep. I'm here.]
I'll protect you.
After carefully meeting Sunday Silence's gaze, Gotham Song rolled over, drew the covers up, and closed her eyes.
She truly couldn't do anything more now anyway. Besides sleeping, what else could she possibly accomplish tonight?
The room gradually quieted. Sunday Silence sat gracefully at the head of Gotham's bed, legs folded to the side—a rare, gentle posture for her.
There were perks to being a ghost, after all.
She could softly stroke Gotham Song's hair without causing physical disturbance.
Watching Gotham's sleeping face, a faint smile tugged at Sunday Silence's lips.
There will be a happy ending eventually…right? Well, either way, things are definitely getting interesting. The world around you never ceases to entertain me…
Hehe.
She sat silently all night, feeling no fatigue in her ghostly form. But by the time sunlight filled the room the next morning, Sunday Silence had vanished.
Yawning, Gotham Song adjusted the ivory-white shoulder strap slipping down her arm, shuffled sleepily across the fluffy rug, and began her morning routine.
Stepping outside after freshening up, she saw a familiar yet unfamiliar figure standing at the door.
Familiar because they'd briefly met yesterday, yet unfamiliar because…
This was perhaps the one person Gotham Song knew the least in all Mejiro Manor.
Correction—Mejiro McQueen was now the second-youngest sister. The youngest was this small, somewhat... aloof-looking Uma Musume before her.
Brown hair, purple eyes, shorter even than Gotham Song. Truthfully, she looked far more adorable than McQueen had at that age.
What was her name again?
"Hmm? Little Dober, is something the matter?"
Gotham did her best to seem friendly. Unfortunately, the cool aura she'd acquired from her cousin was apparently too intimidating for a timid child pretending to be cold.
Nervously gripping her skirt, Mejiro Dober shyly met Gotham's eyes.
Maybe I went a bit overboard?
Crouching slightly to appear less intimidating, Gotham encouraged her to calm down.
After a pause, Dober finally recovered, and Gotham breathed a sigh of relief.
Had she frightened the filly into tears on their first conversation, her older-sister reputation would've been doomed from the start!
Thankfully, little Dober, being a true Mejiro, quickly regained her composure.
Raising her small face, she announced timidly:
"Ramonu-nee asked me to ask you if you'd like to move your belongings from Tracen over here… How should I reply?"
Huh? Move my stuff—
She wants me to move into Mejiro Manor permanently?!
Gah!! She's definitely plotting something!
Biting her tongue lightly, Gotham Song quickly closed the door, glanced around cautiously, and replied softly:
"I'll talk to Ramonu-san myself, Little Dober. You can go back to your own things."
Little Dober nodded obediently, explained briefly how to find Ramonu, and then hurried off down the hallway.
Cute.
Silencing the urge to cuddle her new sister, Gotham rushed off to find Mejiro Ramonu.
She found the eldest sister sitting quietly on a sofa in the main hall, calmly flipping through the pages of a book.
Uncertain how to interrupt, Gotham Song approached quietly instead, deciding she'd cross that bridge when she got to it.
"You're here?" Ramonu asked without looking up.
"I'm here," Gotham confirmed stiffly.
"Excellent. So, when do you plan to move your things?"
"Hold—hold on! I never agreed to any of this, did I?"
Gotham immediately rattled off a series of excuses, trying to fend off Ramonu's assertive suggestion. She mentioned her good relationship with her roommate, not wanting to trouble them by occupying space unnecessarily—after all, she wasn't part of Mejiro Manor…
After Gotham's long and detailed explanation, Ramonu finally turned, meeting her gaze calmly before delivering a straightforward counter:
"Firstly, if you're worried about your roommate, Neo Universe can move here too."
What?!
"Secondly, regarding space—Gotham-san, do you truly think two extra people would strain Mejiro Manor's capacity?"
Oi!!!
"Thirdly, concerning your surname—isn't it something easily changed? Even without using Mejiro influence, you could still join the family properly, right?"
You…!
Gotham Song stared at Ramonu as if she were looking at a stranger, stepping backward in genuine shock.
How—how should I put this…?
Ramonu-nee, since when did you have such a terrifying side to you?!
This was completely unfair—no room left for refusal at all.
Gotham Song realized clearly in that moment that whatever excuses she gave, Ramonu would counter each effortlessly until she was trapped inside Mejiro Manor.
Ugh, completely cornered…
What do I do, what do I do? If I stay any longer, I'll truly become Mejiro Gotham!
"What's happening here?"
While Gotham frantically searched for an escape, an unexpected voice drifted down from the hall—
Symboli Rudolf, who just yesterday seemed on the verge of death, was now descending the stairs, basking majestically in the morning sunlight like a savior.
"Gotham? You're here too—good timing. Are you returning to school with me later? Teio will be anxious if you're late."
Perfect!Oh, glorious Teio, magnificent Emperor, thank you! I adore you both!
Gotham Song nodded furiously, almost desperately, toward Rudolf, pleading silently for rescue.
Ramonu glanced between Gotham and Rudolf, and after a brief silence beneath the Emperor's puzzled stare, decided not to press further—for now.
There was plenty of time, after all. Perhaps once she'd wrapped up a few things, she could even move to Tracen Academy herself.
After all, Ramonu saw no reason to force Gotham's decision. If Gotham wouldn't willingly return to Mejiro Manor…
Then Mejiro Manor would simply have to come to her.
"Fine. You two are heading back, right? If that's the case, take McQueen along with you."
She ought to return to school as well, especially now that the Ruka Stakes had concluded.
"Oh, and Rudolf—"
"Yes?"
"You aren't letting Maruzensky drive again, are you…?"
"…Thank you for reminding me. She won't be allowed near the driver's seat."