In the end, Gotham Song admitted defeat and exchanged contact details with Mejiro Ardan, each returning to their daily lives soon after.
Well, that's more normal, isn't it? Even if I know Mejiro Ardan, as strangers now, it'd be bizarre if we became too close too quickly.
But during their conversation, Mejiro Ardan had said something strange—apparently, she was currently living in the dormitories of Japan Central Tracen Academy rather than at Mejiro Manor.
Now, that was unusual. Members of the Mejiro family always resided in Mejiro Manor. Even if the Academy provided dorm rooms, those usually stayed empty.
Just what kind of conflict could have driven Ardan-san away from Mejiro Manor, forcing her to live at school?
Something very serious must have happened.
Gotham Song wasn't naïve; she wouldn't deceive herself by pretending not to notice the obvious answer staring her in the face.
Why would Ardan-san clash with the Mejiro family?
There was only one plausible reason:
It had to be because she'd helped conceal Twilight Song's illness.
In her previous life, her condition should have been exposed during medical examinations, but Ardan-san had shielded her from that fate. More accurately speaking…
Ardan-san had essentially given her a second life—the very reason Gotham Song could stand here today.
So, whatever happened, Gotham Song was determined to help Ardan-san return to Mejiro Manor.
However, this was a delicate matter requiring careful planning. Neo Universe's advice explicitly stated that things were safe enough if she avoided mentioning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe around Ardan-san—but Mejiro Ramonu…
Pure, utter danger!
I guess I have no choice but to take things slow.
Staring at the new contact on her phone, Gotham Song suddenly had another thought.
Hmm. Although helping Ardan-san return to Mejiro Manor has to wait, surely visiting her occasionally to keep her spirits up would be acceptable?
Even if it is a bit improper.
Sorry, Ramonu-san. You'll have to wait a little longer before I come back to you.
And so, Gotham Song began her first year as a newly debuted Uma Musume.
March: OP race, late push, controlling her pace, a narrow head victory.
Mid-March: another OP race, same strategy—a calculated late burst, winning by a head once more.
Throughout the entire month, Gotham Song deliberately avoided standing out, modestly hiding her real abilities, quietly claiming prize money in two minor OP races.
In her free time, she generally trained and gorged on food alongside Oguri Cap, discussed future plans with Neo Universe, chatted casually with Manhattan Cafe and Mejiro Ardan, occasionally teased Sunday Silence, and then was thoroughly teased in turn by Agnes Tachyon.
There wasn't much Gotham Song could do about Agnes Tachyon—at least, not until she turned into a full-blown mad scientist. Her eccentric roommate's logic was simply beyond control. If it weren't for Gotham Song's cousin occasionally smacking Tachyon down—literally—to preserve what little dignity Gotham Song had left, she'd undoubtedly have lost much more severely.
Yet, all these carefree days eventually reached a turning point.
As March passed into April, Gotham Song claimed just one additional OP victory in early April before stopping entirely. Her sole goal had been accumulating enough winnings to qualify for the Kikuka Sho during her Classic year.
After all, it's the only major race I missed last time around. Even if nobody would recognize that Twilight Song was no longer the Phantom Triple Crown, it would still be a satisfying personal achievement.
Once her winnings were sufficient, Gotham Song had more leisure to explore other interests.
Such as going to watch this year's Satsuki Sho.
Or casually observing Tokai Teio, who randomly appeared around campus.
But Gotham Song had no intention of approaching her—particularly since Symboli Rudolf was nearly always hovering protectively close by.
Isn't Rudolf-san a bit too cautious about Teio? She's always around, as if constantly worried something terrible might happen.
Ah, forget it. I've seen it too often, anyway.
On April 20th, the day of the Satsuki Sho arrived. To everyone's disappointment, the elegant Mejiro McQueen withdrew due to illness. And to Gotham Song's personal regret, her cousin Manhattan Cafe was unable to qualify.
A bit funny, really. Cafe missed out because she hadn't earned enough prize money, so now we're both stuck watching from the stands.
Gotham Song shot a provocative glance at the impatiently drifting Sunday Silence, her expression conveying a clear message.
Hey, Sunday Silence, didn't you mess this one up a bit?
The black phantom was clearly annoyed but couldn't do anything about it—not in front of Cafe. Huffing indignantly, she vanished, as though even ghosts could short-circuit from sheer frustration.
But why exactly were the two cousins here?
Simple: one of the participants was someone they both knew well.
It was Agnes Tachyon's first Classic race—the Satsuki Sho.
The Phantom Triple Crown hopeful. To be given such a title, Agnes Tachyon naturally had to be a leading contender. Indeed, she was the overwhelming favorite, and the race itself unfolded precisely as expected.
Tachyon secured a resounding victory, yet Gotham Song's worst fears soon became reality.
This time, no miracle occurred to save Agnes Tachyon. Immediately after crossing the finish line, she was rushed to the hospital without even a chance to step onto the Winner's Stage.
Of course, Gotham Song and Manhattan Cafe rushed to visit her immediately. But when Tachyon sent Cafe away on an errand, leaving only Gotham Song beside her bed, Tachyon's playful facade faded away, replaced by quiet seriousness.
"You've been hesitating to talk to me about something for a long time, haven't you?"
So, she noticed after all…
Gotham Song had agonized about whether or not she should have warned Agnes Tachyon earlier—about the Phantom Triple Crown, about her potential injury.
Had she waited too long?
"Tachyon-nee, tell me honestly—if someone had warned you in advance that this would happen, would you still have pushed yourself so hard in the Satsuki Sho?"
Would I? Isn't the answer obvious?
"Of course I would," Tachyon answered immediately, without hesitation. "If anything, knowing that would've made me run even harder."
"Even if it cost you your career?"
"I wouldn't believe in something that hadn't happened yet anyway. And besides, Song—remember this clearly."
Agnes Tachyon stared quietly up at the ceiling. Losing her career was undeniably painful, but even so, she'd never regret the choice she'd made.
"If you're scared of the failures that come from running, you don't deserve to call yourself an Uma Musume. When Twilight Song ran the Arc de Triomphe, do you honestly think she wasn't aware she might die on the track?"
"And yet she won magnificently anyway."