The mansion of Daiichi Ruby was exceedingly grand—so grand, in fact, that it barely paled in comparison even to Mejiro Manor.
This was understandable, after all, since the Mejiro family wasn't strictly noble; rather, they were more accurately termed a prestigious lineage.
A prestigious lineage of Uma Musume.
However, perhaps because she had lived at Mejiro Manor before, Gotham Song didn't feel particularly uncomfortable amid such grand architecture.
When the attendant opened the door, Gotham Song stepped gracefully onto the grounds, glancing around briefly at the surrounding gardens.
The courtyard was impeccably maintained, which was expected, since the appearance of one's residence was essentially a noble family's public face, making meticulous care essential.
Even a prestigious family like the Mejiro, who weren't excessively strict about such matters, employed dedicated gardeners for this task.
As for the Symboli family...
Well, Gotham Song had never actually visited, so she had no idea what it might look like.
In any case, the decor of Daiichi Ruby's home was somewhat more restrained and refined than Mejiro Manor.
If not for the expansive gardens, it might even seem a little ordinary.
But Gotham Song didn't linger too long in observation, because Daiichi Ruby herself had already lifted the hem of her skirt and begun descending the staircase.
It was at this moment that Sunday Silence, who had been tormented by Gotham Song's relentless questioning along the way, finally broke her silence.
[Um, as for not telling Cafe the truth, could I say I was just waiting to see when she'd figure it out? You know… because it sounded amusing?]
As expected from you, old troublemaker! Gotham Song thought dryly, but outwardly her attention was wholly fixed upon Daiichi Ruby.
In truth, this noble young lady's racing outfit skirt wasn't exactly short, but unexpectedly, her casual attire was even longer.
And rather than something somber and dignified, she had clearly prepared her finest dress for this private gathering.
She wore a long, brightly shimmering blue gown.
"Good day, Gotham Song-san. I'm delighted you could come as promised," Daiichi Ruby greeted elegantly.
"Well, we did make a promise, didn't we?"
Gotham Song hesitated slightly before extending her hand, exactly as Sunday Silence quietly coached her.
Palm up, back of the hand downward, Gotham Song offered Daiichi Ruby a subtle, charming smile.
"Yes, you're certainly one to keep your promises. But no matter how you put it, the honor is entirely Ruby's."
Holding one edge of her gown, Daiichi Ruby gently placed her other hand upon Gotham Song's open palm, allowing delicate fingers to lightly clasp the sides of Gotham's gloved hand.
Naturally, neither intended to linger outside in the chilly wind exchanging pleasantries, and soon they turned together toward the hall.
"There aren't any outsiders inside, just Ruby's family and some members from branch families. There's no need to feel tense, Song-san."
"Oh? Still, I should probably put on my best behavior, shouldn't I?"
For Gotham Song herself, losing face was unacceptable. And for Daiichi Ruby, it must have been even more so.
[Old prestigious families like these, huh... It's hard to imagine having all these genuine familial connections, isn't it?] Sunday Silence murmured thoughtfully.
You're not wrong, old fossil.
Entering through the grand doors, there weren't many people inside, but undeniably, Gotham Song drew nearly everyone's attention.
Daiichi Ruby herself was already the most brilliant star of the family, so naturally, every movement of the young lady was closely watched.
Furthermore, Gotham Song was undoubtedly the single most famous individual in Japan's entire horse racing world at the moment—
Her actions had completely upended the internationalization of the Yasuda Kinen and Takarazuka Kinen, causing an immense uproar.
Not to mention her recent announcement about competing in the Japan Cup, the pinnacle internationalized G1 race.
Indeed, the internationalization of the Takarazuka Kinen had been effectively obliterated. Just the day after that race, Secretariat had rallied nearly all legendary Uma Musume across the ocean to pass a unified proposal.
Given such circumstances, Japan's racing community had clearly recognized one undeniable fact:
Gotham Song's actions were likely backed by legends from across the globe. Meaning…
There was no alternative now but to confront her head-on with pure strength.
Precisely because of this, the "Gotham Song Threat Theory" had spread rapidly and fervently.
The URA hoped that by circulating such stories, Gotham Song's momentum would be halted by a courageous hero arising from nowhere.
After all, wasn't she the villain of the racetrack?
And a villain must be defeated by a hero.
Right?
...Right?
Because of all the widespread publicity, Gotham Song had completely become the center of attention throughout Japan.
Even Tokai Teio, whose fame initially propelled Gotham Song into the spotlight, was no longer the hottest topic around.
But truthfully, no matter how much slander circulated, for the families behind the Uma Musume—especially the Daiichi family—such notoriety meant only one thing:
It was proof of the powerful bloodline that Gotham Song represented.
Thus, surprisingly, this abruptly appearing, widely maligned demon lord received a remarkably friendly welcome.
Gotham Song's response was simple enough. After entering, she just lightly squeezed Daiichi Ruby's hand as a casual greeting.
After all, it was merely a private ball. There was no need to make such a fuss, was there?
Moreover, walking in hand-in-hand with Daiichi Ruby delivered a clearer message than anything else could:
Even if nothing definitive happened tonight, their young lady had already taken the lead. If anyone else had any other ideas, they'd have to wait for another chance.
Clearly, everyone else was sensible enough not to make unnecessary moves. Thus, Gotham Song, quite relaxed, was able to comfortably sit down beside Daiichi Ruby at a modestly located table.
Actually, hand-holding could be considered rather intimate, but within the context of ballroom dancing practice, it wasn't really worth noting.
Gotham Song finally voiced the question she'd been wanting to ask Daiichi Ruby for a long time.
"So, Ruby, was the invitation at Takarazuka Kinen something you'd planned from the start, or was it more spontaneous?"
"Ah, about that—it was probably a bit of both. After all, for children from families like ours, this is something we always have to consider carefully."
If that was the case, naturally she would have been paying attention from the start. Having observed Gotham Song herself, it made perfect sense to issue the invitation immediately.
After all, wasn't personally selecting a powerful Uma Musume she'd witnessed firsthand preferable to relying solely on those the family or trainers recommended?
This was one of the very few areas in which Daiichi Ruby truly had any choice.
"And what if you don't get my answer? Or rather, the answer your family wants?"
"Ruby simply extended an invitation. As for whether it'll be accepted, it's still too early to tell, isn't it?"
Indeed, both were still active Uma Musume, so perhaps it really was too soon to consider such things.
Gotham Song found herself agreeing with this line of thinking.
Come to think of it, could Daiichi Ruby be considered the first girl to indirectly confess to her?
If we're talking about a clear confession, this really was the first time, wasn't it?
Therefore, even without a deep emotional foundation, Gotham Song vividly remembered their conversation following the race. And after spending more time together…
How could she put it?
Was there anything about Daiichi Ruby that wasn't wonderful?
The answer, of course, was absolutely nothing.
Still, Gotham Song didn't say anything more, simply engaging in casual small talk with Daiichi Ruby as they waited for everyone to arrive so the ball could begin.
Finally, after about ten minutes, the small gathering—no more than thirty or forty people—officially commenced.
So, what was the first thing to do at a ball?
Gotham Song led Daiichi Ruby to the very center of the dance floor, the two standing face-to-face.
As the eldest daughter of the Daiichi family and her chosen partner, they naturally took the spotlight.
Then—
Under Daiichi Ruby's supportive, encouraging gaze, Gotham Song placed one hand on the waist of Ruby's gown, raising their clasped hands slightly to one side.
And then they danced gracefully to the rhythm of the music.
Well, calling it "graceful" might not have been entirely accurate.
At least, from Daiichi Ruby's perspective, Gotham Song's dancing was…obviously in desperate need of more practice.
Yet Daiichi Ruby felt not the slightest bit unhappy.
Because she could sense just how earnestly the person before her was trying to get every step right.
Honestly, when Daiichi Ruby had first heard about Gotham Song—or rather, when she first realized her family had an interest in Gotham Song—she had felt considerable fear and anxiety.
As the current generation's most outstanding Uma Musume of her family, such responsibilities inevitably fell upon her shoulders. So when she thought about confronting that terrifying demon lord on the track, Daiichi Ruby's initial reaction had been trembling fear.
It couldn't be helped—Gotham Song's track record alone was astonishing enough, not to mention the arrogant, deliberately provocative actions just before crossing the finish line.
And at the Takarazuka Kinen, even after making up her mind, Daiichi Ruby still couldn't completely suppress her anxiety when finally seeing Gotham Song in person.
Even more bitter was the realization that despite being her family's finest Uma Musume, she didn't even have the strength to chase Gotham Song's shadow on the track.
She hadn't even seen the exact moment Gotham Song crossed the finish line!
At that moment, Daiichi Ruby understood Gotham Song's true strength all too clearly. So, despite the implications for her family's interests, she decisively and resolutely offered Gotham Song the brooch she'd kept exclusively for herself since childhood.
Then came the breakfast they shared the following morning.
Perhaps because Gotham Song had been so terrifying on the track, Daiichi Ruby found herself almost overwhelmed when treated gently and kindly afterward.
In fact, she distinctly felt one thing—
From that moment onward, her feelings toward Gotham Song were no longer purely about family obligations or interests. She genuinely found herself attracted to this Uma Musume.
And as Gotham Song revealed more of her gentle nature and clumsy everyday side, this attraction steadily grew stronger.
Well, how should she describe it?
Daiichi Ruby couldn't quite understand her own emotions. Wasn't this sort of reaction abnormal?
Maybe it stemmed from the psychological shock caused by Gotham Song's overwhelming dominance and chilling ruthlessness on the track, contrasted sharply against her gentle, approachable demeanor in everyday life?
Yes, perhaps these feelings were somewhat unhealthy, tinged with a certain abnormality.
Daiichi Ruby didn't know. But ultimately, once attraction took root, was it really something that could be easily dispelled?
Moreover…
Was developing genuine feelings really such a bad thing for Daiichi Ruby?
The dance ended quickly enough. Under the disappointed gazes of those watching, Gotham Song practically dragged Daiichi Ruby away from the crowd like someone escaping prison.
Those few short minutes had been more exhausting than an actual race. No, facing Dancing Brave ten times would be preferable to repeating this dance even once!
Gotham Song felt she had reached the absolute limit of her skills just to avoid stepping on Ruby's feet.
Sorry, I really am that hopeless at this!
When she finally stopped and turned around, Gotham Song caught sight of the faint smile on Daiichi Ruby's lips.
Gentle, warm, delighted… But this reaction completely confused Gotham Song.
Had something special just happened?
"Nothing," Daiichi Ruby smiled softly, "it's just that off the track, Song-san is unexpectedly gentle—and clumsy."
Is she happy about that…? Well, gentle and clumsy—she's actually right about that.
Unable to argue, Gotham Song raised her hands in surrender.
Amidst the laughter of the ever-amused Sunday Silence, Daiichi Ruby chose not to dwell on it. Instead, she moved to Gotham Song's other side, resting both hands on the railing as she gazed out at the night scenery, making up her mind.
"Song-san, you must already know what sort of relationship my family wants between us."
"Yes, but… I'm not ready to accept that yet, Ruby."
Daiichi Ruby's smile only deepened.
"I don't want you to accept it right away either, Song-san. After all, we haven't known each other that long yet, have we?"
Ruby gazed intently at Gotham Song, her expression brimming with determination.
Hesitation meant defeat. Now that her mind was made up, she needed to clearly state her intentions.
Say precisely what she intended to do.
"So I'll do my utmost to make you accept me—to make it so that you won't feel even the slightest resistance, and will instead be the one to say these words back to me."
Daiichi Ruby wasn't arrogant, but she had never lacked confidence or resolve.
Would she proactively confess her feelings to Gotham Song?
No.
When the true confession finally came, Daiichi Ruby would spare no effort to ensure that Gotham Song was the one who said it to her.