"So, you mean Vernal-chan's father seriously said some things to you that you couldn't understand at all?"
"Yeah. At the very end, when he stood up to leave and left us alone, he even bowed very solemnly and said... 'From now on, my daughter's life is entrusted to you, Gotham Song-san. My responsibility has been handed over.'"
Recalling everything that happened earlier at Vernal Equinox's home, Gotham Song suddenly felt something was very strange.
No matter how she looked at it—according to her general common sense, weren't those the words an old father would say to his daughter's fiancé at a wedding?!
Thinking about such a scenario felt incredibly weird!
The reason Gotham Song accepted the old father's words was partly because she did indeed have the resolve and courage to declare confidently that she could accomplish it. But on the other hand, a trainer's relationship with her assigned Uma Musume was indeed something that would last nearly an entire lifetime.
It was true—trainers and their trainees became so intimate that even if they didn't end up together romantically, they usually remained as close as family, comfortably spending the rest of their lives together.
But then again, the mere existence of "the rare minority of trainers and Uma Musume who can't end up together" was already surprising enough for Gotham Song, leaving her unsure how to even describe it.
Because aside from those few cases where someone's rival had swooped in, the majority ended up becoming lovers with their trainers!
The probability of trainers and Uma Musume getting together was absurdly high! In fact, when Gotham Song was preparing for her trainer certification, she'd even come across an entire chapter in a training manual dedicated to explaining how to choose one's trainee.
But rather than selecting a trainee, that entire section was essentially a marriage matchmaking guide!
This whole matter had always puzzled Gotham Song greatly.
Damn it—could it be the pairing between trainers and Uma Musume was actually done through something resembling a marriage bureau?!
On the other end of the phone, Ruby quietly covered her mouth, softly laughing.
She understood clearly why Gotham Song looked so confused by such a thing. Even separated by an ocean, Daiichi Ruby could vividly "see" what sort of expression Gotham Song would have right now.
Her ears would be twitching, her gaze lowered slightly, confusion and bewilderment written all over her adorable face, cheeks puffed up like a cute little creature, tempting anyone to reach out and pinch them—Gotham Song surely looked exactly like that at this moment, right?
After all, this was precisely the Gotham Song that Daiichi Ruby adored: sometimes awkward yet steadfast, often unsure whether to call her dense or simply lacking common sense, but occasionally becoming someone extraordinarily dependable, full of a reassuring sense of security.
"Then, Song, have you ever thought that the old gentleman might genuinely have had the feelings of entrusting his daughter to her beloved when saying those words?"
"Huh? Th—that's not likely, is it? Vernal-chan and I are just trainer and trainee. Besides, it was only our first meeting. No matter how you look at it, isn't that kind of weird?"
In any case, this whole thing was absolutely, definitely wrong, right?
In Gotham Song's worldview, entrusting your own daughter definitely couldn't be something that could happen overnight!
Let alone how many tests there would be, or some other complicated things—though, honestly, Gotham Song didn't have experience meeting others' parents before this—but wasn't that old gentleman's attitude a bit…too casual?
"Song always seems to show a side that completely lacks common sense sometimes… Let me see how I should explain it to you. Regarding our Uma Musume world's perspective—how most of us choose—"
"Often it's not about the parents testing the other person. Rather, if a trainer and her trainee really lean toward developing such a relationship, things actually do progress that quickly and decisively, you know? Just one meeting to formally hand over responsibilities and fulfill a normal ritual is actually quite common, you see?"
Ruby calmly stated this, as if explaining something totally obvious to Uma Musume. In reality, most Uma Musume indeed chose either their rivals or their trainers as lifelong partners—from lovers to family, transcending ordinary emotional bonds. Only a very few chose someone outside racing, either due to special childhood bonds or other unique fates.
For Uma Musume, this was common sense—even in America… Actually, over there, it might even be more open—!
To the point that even Daiichi Ruby, born into a prestigious family, felt too embarrassed to even mention how open it was.
Really strange. Why hadn't Song ever heard of something like this?
Was it because she'd never had a trainer of her own before? Ahh, she really had to thank the Three Goddesses for that one…
"No, no, no, I still think this is super weird. No matter how you look at it, this isn't quite right, r—right? Or is it actually common sense for Uma Musume…?"
Gotham Song's worldview seemed half-collapsed. Sitting numbly in her home in New York, she finally fell backward helplessly onto her bed, unable to formulate any coherent response.
According to normal human logic, this was absolutely unreasonable, but something Ruby said earlier struck Gotham Song deeply:
"For us Uma Musume…"
Ah, so that was it, huh? Different worlds, different cultures, different circumstances would naturally lead to different habits and common sense. Which meant something Gotham Song, as a formerly ordinary human, would find absurdly impulsive and unbelievable might actually…
Be completely normal in the emotional life of Uma Musume in this world?!
Oh no, oh no, I originally thought this was an isolated case, but now—
Did it turn out everyone in this world was basically Satono Diamond?!
Gotham Song's eyes went dark. She stared blankly at the ceiling, unsure how to respond to her own weird thoughts.
Of course, she wasn't completely stupid. Even if she was occasionally dense, she wouldn't still fail to understand the whole situation at a time like this.
It's fine if you're an Uma Musume too.
Actually, no—it's not fine at all…! Right, right, quickly find a time machine—
The urge to flee inevitably flashed through her mind, but in the next instant Gotham Song firmly pulled that thought from her brain, turning it into a violent punch against her mattress as she suddenly sat up.
Thump—! echoed from the bed, venting away her depressed feelings. Gotham Song breathed deeply, forcing herself to calm down completely before deciding clearly what she had to do.
Since she had already promised Vernal Equinox's father, and promised Vernal Equinox herself that she would become the one who brought lifelong happiness, it was absolutely impossible to renege on it only a few days after making that vow, right?
There was no such thing as turning back, not in this lifetime!
Though still somewhat unaccustomed to such a swift progression, Gotham Song at least understood clearly she had only one option—face the situation positively.
However, Gotham Song herself didn't notice how her ears were happily flicking, clearly displaying the unique sign of an Uma Musume in an extremely good mood.
After quickly calming down, listening to the soft breathing on the other end of the phone, Gotham Song suddenly recalled another matter related to the current situation.
Speaking of which, Ruby hadn't hidden the fact she'd been openly "pursuing" her since long ago, right?
If that was the case, wasn't Ruby now actually helping… her love rival?
Gotham Song felt a little strange. Unable to make sense of this development, she opened her mouth again, sounding more confused than ever.
"Um, Ruby…?"
"Hmm? Is there something else you'd like to know, Song?"
"I mean, that is... back in Paris, you were, um, confessing to me, weren't you? Is it really alright for you to say all this stuff helping Vernal-chan now?"
"Ah, so that's what you're worried about. Indeed, strictly speaking, Vernal-chan would be my rival in love, wouldn't she?"
Ruby admitted openly, so frankly it left Gotham Song speechless, unsure how to continue asking.
"But if I lacked even the courage to face my rival openly and honestly, I wouldn't deserve to call myself the Daiichi Ruby, right? Courage to face challenges head-on—I've never lacked that."
A jewel should always sparkle brilliantly. If it were hidden away forever beneath the sun out of fear of losing its radiance, wouldn't it ironically shine less brightly?
Far more dazzling than sunlight itself was Ruby's own brilliance, forever gleaming steadily from darkness into the light.
"And besides, Song, my beloved, if I didn't tell you about Uma Musume common sense and you ended up snatched away by someone else—that would be the greater loss, wouldn't it?"
"I—I—I—I…!"
"Alright, alright. Anyway, Song, everything I said back in Paris was exactly how I felt. But perhaps now I need to add just one more thing…"
"I suppose I should say: Song, you're truly the greatest Uma Musume. At least, in my heart, you completely deserve that title. So actually, from the moment we traveled together until now, I've always clearly known one thing—"
Ruby's voice was very soft, carrying profound emotion.
Right now, just what was she doing?
She gently embraced Gotham Song in tenderness, quietly conveying her feelings.
Not forceful, not intense, not absolute—yet so gentle it made one long to sink into it, this warmth belonging uniquely to Daiichi Ruby.
"For an Uma Musume like you, Song, monopolizing you would be very, very difficult—perhaps impossible, really. Especially since the one I fell for is a gentle idiot who lacks common sense and unknowingly draws others close without even realizing."
"But thinking carefully… Although the initial spark might've been family demands and obligations, the real reason I accepted these feelings, the reason I willingly chased after you on this reckless road…was probably because of precisely those qualities, wasn't it? You know, whenever I'm by your side, I always feel incredibly secure."
Ruby's voice had even taken on a hint of cheerfulness. Usually calm and collected, right now she wasn't holding back her feelings in the slightest.
She wanted to take this opportunity to lay her whole heart bare…to let Song, the one she loved, clearly know!
"I love the feeling of security I get being with you, and that gentleness you have. Actually, I've been envious of Teio-san before—you know, she could openly enjoy your embrace in front of everyone, running away together romantically—but even so, it was only envy. Because I know if it had been me in her place, Song, you wouldn't have hesitated even a moment, would you?"
"You're exactly this kind of gentle, passionate, clumsy Uma Musume. Knowing you so well, I also clearly understand there's no way you could have just me by your side. Having only one person's name next to yours—that would be too difficult, too selfish. So…"
"So, if it's a cute girl like Vernal-chan, I certainly don't believe I'll lose. At least, in terms of time spent by your side, the support I've given, and all sorts of other things… Daiichi Ruby won't accept a defeat like that. I couldn't face that kind of failure."
"So, my dear, do I really have any reason to be jealous or worried? I'll become the most important person at your side—I have the confidence. As for anything else… I wouldn't selfishly ask you for it."
"Because aside from me, there are always many, many others you can't put aside. And likewise, you always appear right in front of me when I need you. Isn't that right?"
"Maybe, sometimes, I can only silently complain in my heart that I've fallen for such a charming Uma Musume whom the entire world could easily love."
"But even such a complaint is filled with happiness, isn't it? Because the Uma Musume whom everyone loves has eyes that reflect my figure—isn't that so, Song?"
Ruby stopped speaking, but Gotham Song found herself unable to say a single word. Once again, this was completely beyond her understanding. She took a long while to recover, feeling dizzy, yet before her mind could fully recover, her subconscious had already brought her response to the tip of her tongue.
"Ru–Ruby…"
"Yes, I'm here, Song."
Wait for me… Wait, saying something like that… Ahhh, no no no, Gotham Song!
Gotham Song…!
Faced with such a line from Daiichi Ruby, if she were to reject her now, wouldn't that be an utterly heartbreaking escape?
In the end, Ruby's confession back in Paris—Gotham Song's answer hadn't really been a refusal; it had simply been asking for space to think, right? So now, after so much time had passed, what exactly should she say?
"Ruby, listen to me. After I get back, could we…arrange another dance?"
"I think, this time, I definitely won't step on your feet. When I return from New York…I promise."