Sitting in the car leaving Mejiro Manor, Gotham Song found that even Symboli Rudolf, seated next to her, now appeared remarkably pleasant.
People truly are fickle, closing one door and opening another. Even if Rudolf had once betrayed her by reporting her whereabouts, compared to Mejiro Ramonu, she seemed positively angelic at the moment.
At least, Gotham felt safe now.
Leaning against the car door, she subtly glanced through the window at the tiny streak of white in her dark hair.
Thankfully, I stayed up late the night before I left, so I can still hide it for now... But no, I must keep an emergency bottle on me at all times from now on, just in case something like this happens again.
Resolving this silently, Gotham steadied her nerves and peeked into the rearview mirror.
Of course, Mejiro Ramonu wasn't in the car behind them. She'd cryptically mentioned preparing something, casting a very deliberate glance at Gotham Song, sending chills down her spine as she departed.
Instead, sitting quietly in the back seat beside a sulking Maruzensky was someone else entirely—
Mejiro Ryan, who had just returned from America.
Among all the Uma Musume at Mejiro Manor, Ryan was the strongest—at least physically—and the most reassuring to have around.
Physically strong indeed, because Gotham believed wholeheartedly that if this sister of hers landed even one punch on her, she'd probably end up hospitalized for at least a month.
Probably...?
Uncertainly pondering this thought, Gotham's gaze in the rearview mirror drew Ryan's attention, their eyes meeting through the reflection.
"Something troubling you, Gotham? If you talk about it, it might feel better, you know?"
"No, nothing important. Just some trivial thoughts. But thank you, Ryan-san."
Ryan clearly appreciated this, responding bashfully like the protagonist of a shounen manga—indeed, Mejiro Ryan truly was quite the handsome character, Gotham had to admit.
"All right then. Remember, you can always come to me if anything bothers you. I'll definitely help."
"I'll keep that in mind, thank you."
Ah, Ryan-nee, seeing you acting exactly like you used to makes me so happy. It's wonderful.
While Gotham sighed contentedly, Rudolf's ears flicked slightly, signaling their arrival as she pressed the ignition button to stop the car.
They had reached their destination.
But before Rudolf could speak, the passenger door beside her slammed shut. Under Rudolf's confused gaze, Gotham Song darted away at an impossible speed, sprinting swiftly across the grounds.
"I've got something to do, so I'll go first! See you later, President, Maruzen-nee, and Ryan-nee!"
Gotham's voice, startlingly swift and youthful, blended with the echo of her steps and vanished into the wind.
Watching Gotham's disappearing figure, Rudolf's eyes caught a flash of brilliant white shimmering in her flowing black hair, illuminated vividly by the sunlight.
Truly dazzling, she thought. Impossible to look away… Teio chose a wonderful rival. She's so much like that proud child from back then.
Rudolf clenched and unclenched her hand slowly, then glanced toward Ryan beside her, as if expecting something.
"President Rudolf," Ryan began quietly. "My sister asked me to inform you to prepare an empty dorm room for her. Preferably without—"
"I understand," Rudolf interrupted abruptly, smiling faintly as she realized exactly what Ramonu intended.
How could I not know what you're thinking, Ramonu? But my dear friend, tormenting yourself and someone else entirely because you cling to the past isn't right.
You've dreamed long enough. I'll watch over you personally.
...We both know she's already gone.
"I'll personally select a dorm room currently unoccupied for Mejiro Ramonu. Don't worry, Ryan-san. Anything else?"
Ryan shook her head, excused herself, and entered the academy—she wasn't here just to relay a message; she genuinely had business at the school.
Maruzensky approached Rudolf silently, awaiting an explanation for the earlier remarks. Clearly, Rudolf had realized something she herself didn't know.
"I did say 'currently unoccupied,' didn't I?" Rudolf confirmed.
"Mhm? And…?" Maruzensky prompted.
"Then, Maruzen, I'll have to trouble you to make another trip with me."
Returning swiftly to the driver's seat, Rudolf waited for Maruzensky to settle beside her.
Once the vice-president sat down, she turned expectantly toward Rudolf, awaiting their destination.
"My home."
"What for...?"
Rudolf pressed the gas pedal, accelerating so sharply that Maruzensky's fingers twitched with envy.
"To move out...?"
"Move out...? What do you mean?"
"I usually don't stay at school, right? Which means—my dorm room is quite spacious, isn't it?"
Rudolf smiled gently, leaving Maruzensky momentarily speechless.
Just stick to bad jokes, Rudolf. At least those don't stress me out this much.
But Gotham Song was blissfully unaware of the drama behind her. After racing all the way upstairs to the dormitory, she finally slowed, turning to face Sunday Silence, who now blocked her path.
The two stood quietly near a rarely-used staircase at the far end of the dormitory corridor.
"So, did I forget something—?"
"No, not forgot. Rather—have you forgotten what you need to do?"
What's she talking about? What else could I possibly need to do besides hurry back and take my medication—wait, huh...?
Under Gotham's bewildered stare, Sunday Silence silently pointed at herself.
You…? What could I possibly forget involving you? Unless—
Tamamo's tail! You don't mean—!
"You mean I forgot to return you…?"
Returning Sunday Silence—meaning sending the troublesome ghost back to Manhattan Cafe, the one she normally stayed with.
Gotham Song clearly remembered doing this once before, and that it required a kiss on the cheek—yet now, was she expected to repeat that?!
But Gotham noticed a glaring inconsistency:
"Wait!"
She glared sharply at Sunday Silence, chin in hand, eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"According to your explanation, every transfer requires that kiss, correct? Then why didn't you need it when you transferred into me this time?"
Indeed, when Gotham had gone to meet Cafe, she'd mentally prepared herself for another embarrassing kiss from her cousin.
Yet, without any such event, Sunday Silence had simply appeared inside her consciousness, startling Gotham so much that Cafe had worried something was seriously wrong.
If the transfer in didn't require such intimacy, logically the transfer out shouldn't either, right?
Is this old ghost… deliberately tricking me again?
Sunday Silence innocently blinked, entirely unbothered, remaining silent as Gotham stared accusingly.
Eventually, the ghost chuckled softly.
"To borrow your own words—it's easier to summon a spirit than send one away, isn't it? Besides, how exactly would you verify my claim?"
Indeed, Sunday Silence appeared utterly confident. Gotham couldn't verify whether a kiss was truly necessary or not.
Gotham could only speculate helplessly, whereas Sunday Silence—she could just overturn the board if she didn't get her way.
Ah, suddenly I really want to drag those ghosts out from the Afterlife again, just to see Sunday Silence squirm for once.
But still, that old saying was true—spirits were easy to summon, difficult to banish. Sunday Silence was anything but cute in this regard…
Gotham involuntarily imagined Sunday Silence acting adorable and shuddered violently.
Forget it! Too terrifying!
"You win, fine. But what exactly do you gain by doing this?"
"Gain? Amusement, obviously. Why else would I always linger around you?"
Inwardly, Sunday Silence was actually annoyed. Gotham had clearly realized one crucial thing: possession never actually required kissing; it was simply Sunday Silence's mischievous way of satisfying her own whims.
Thus, the matter had shifted from necessity to a voluntary act of compensation and gratitude.
Guess I can't use this trick to boost Cafe's favorability with the kid anymore. How boring.
After a silent stare-off without resolution, Sunday Silence eventually clicked her tongue irritably and disappeared.
Victorious, Gotham cheerfully dispersed the ghost's lingering traces and ascended the stairs.
But just as one crisis ended, another inevitably began—
Upon reaching her floor, before taking a single step, Gotham froze in surprise at an utterly unexpected sight:
Her own cousin, Manhattan Cafe, stood waiting silently outside Gotham's dorm room, clearly having been there quite some time.
"Good morning, Gotham. Where were you yesterday?"
"Oh, just at a friend's house all day."
Probably counts as a friend, right? Gotham wasn't entirely sure, but she gave the answer anyway, awaiting Cafe's response anxiously.
Cafe nodded quietly, scanning the area around Gotham carefully, as if searching for something unsettling or disruptive.
Such behavior piqued Gotham's curiosity.
"Hmm… Gotham, have you noticed anything strange happening recently?"
"Strange? Like what?"
"For instance, objects being moved, or accidents as if pranked by someone invisible…?"
"No, not at all…?"
Gotham Song quickly realized Cafe was suspicious—wondering if a certain ghost had switched hosts and begun causing trouble elsewhere.
[Interrupt her thoughts. Don't let her figure it out.]
You owe me again, old ghost!
"Why ask suddenly, Cafe-nee?"
"Just worried about you. As long as you're safe, it's fine. But if anything strange happens, you must tell me immediately."
Cafe-nee is so kind…
"Definitely! If anything happens, I'll come straight to you."
"Good…but if I ever act strange, run away immediately. Understand?"
Cafe-nee acting strange...? Way too late. Can't someone please come take this scheming ghost away permanently?!
[Excuse you?]
"Understood, Cafe-nee. I'll absolutely tell you everything next time."
This will be the last unexpected incident, Cafe-nee. I promise.