By the ti they returned ho, it was actually quite late already, and the mont the car stopped, Flightline, visibly uncomfortable, seed intent on making a swift exit.
Although Gotham Song was sowhat curious about Flightline’s odd behavior, she ultimately had no intention of intervening or persuading her to stay—after all, Flightline ca and went as she pleased; there was no real reason to stop her.
But then, sothing unexpected happened: Donna, who had remained silently in the driver’s seat until just now, suddenly reached over, yanked Flightline right out of the car, and dragged her straight into the house. Gotham Song was so stunned by this bizarre scene that it took her several full seconds to react, finally trailing behind a cursing Flightline and stepping into the house herself.
"Donna...?"
"It’s nothing, Trainer. I just wanted to remind you not to forget sothing else."
Sothing else...? Wait, wait—why did Donna just call Trainer?!
Montarily baffled, Gotham Song looked questioningly toward jiro Ardan, who had evidently been waiting patiently, even thoughtfully placing a cup of tea in front of her. But strangely enough, her big-sister figure showed no hint of surprise.
It was as if she’d anticipated this exact scenario...?
Hey!
Did all of you secretly slip into so worldline that I know nothing about? This kind of joke isn’t funny at all, you know?!
However, perhaps because Gotham Song’s confusion was far too obvious, Flightline—still bristling indignantly, though easily restrained by Donna—begrudgingly mumbled out the reason behind the current situation.
Co to think of it, it was truly strange: Flightline, standing two ters tall, was sohow effortlessly subdued by Donna? Could it be that Donna was literally a "super-horse" in every sense of the word?
"Trainer," Flightline grumbled, "you rember, don’t you? Back at that company, you said both and this...muscle monster over here were Uma Musu on your team. Have you already forgotten, Miss Song?"
"Oh—oh, that. Wasn’t that just sothing we made up to fool her back then, Donna...?"
Wait, Donna doesn’t seriously want to join my team, right? That’s so weird!
Gotham Song couldn’t quite wrap her head around it, scratching her hair in confusion and looking over toward Donna, who still said nothing and continued firmly pinning Flightline. However, Neo Universe quietly ca up from the side, presenting a tablet screen displaying sothing Gotham Song had never imagined she’d see:
[Team: Eternal Beat]
[mbers: Gotham Song (Trainer), Vernal Equinox (Main), Donna (Uma Musu), Flightline (Uma Musu)]
...?
Eh? What’s going on here? Did I actually form a team? And my team has four people already? That’s really strange—why would sothing like this even happen?
Gotham Song fell silent, seriously considering if she might have developed sleepwalking habits and sohow done all this unconsciously.
Neo Universe seized this chance to quietly slip beside Gotham Song, revealing an ultra-secret chat log on the tablet screen.
[Secretariat-Never-Admits-Defeat]: Was it Miss Song who took Flightline and Miss Donna there? Ah, I see. Regarding this docunt and notification, please show it to Miss Gotham Song afterward, Miss Neo Universe.
[Secretariat-Never-Admits-Defeat]: She’ll definitely love it.
[The International Uma Musu Racing Committee has received and approved the application to form Team "Eternal Beat." Registered mbers: Vernal Equinox (Main), Flightline (Uma Musu), Donna (Uma Musu), Gotham Song (Trainer).]
[Approved by: Seabiscuit.]
[Secretariat-Never-Admits-Defeat]: No need to thank , Miss Song.
"No need to thank ?" "No need to thank ," your Three Goddesses’... afhiahsfqi!!
Gotham Song gritted her teeth—how could she still fail to see what’s going on here? Secretariat had clearly abused her powers to submit and approve the application directly!
If that isn’t abusing authority, what is?! It is abuse! Right? It’s totally abuse, isn’t it?! Old Bastard No. 2, I’m impeaching you!!
Wait, no—why is even Seabiscuit dragged into this ss? You...you...you’re Old Bastard No. 4!!
Gotham Song felt a headache coming on, but even with all this revealed, she still couldn’t quite grasp why Secretariat would do sothing like this. Was there really any need for it...? She rembered the team na clearly—it was the one and only song she’d perford during a Winner’s Concert. But why did Secretariat stuff Donna in as well?
Oh, right—and Flightline! That’s your foster daughter, Old Bastard No. 3! Even tigers don’t eat their own cubs!
You’re even crueler than a tiger, damn it!
"It’s pretty easy to understand, right, Song? Did you forget? Miss Donna certainly didn’t start calling you Trainer only after seeing this ssage, right?"
Beside her, jiro Ardan smiled helplessly yet indulgently, gently pinching her little sister’s cheek as she explained why all this had happened.
So that ans...?
"That ans you must’ve already said sothing back there, didn’t you?"
"About your relationship with these two."
Manhattan Cafe, leisurely sipping her coffee, joined in smoothly, snatching away Ardan’s right to continue the explanation. It was hard to say if this counted as friendly rivalry or subtle scheming.
"So why do you think this happened, Song?"
"W-well obviously, it’s because..."
Only after jiro Ardan released her cheek did Gotham Song truly realize—team information was publicly searchable?!
In other words, Secretariat had anticipated exactly this sort of situation and conveniently patched it up ahead of ti.
Secretariat, you bastard... You really thought of everything, didn’t you!
Gotham Song was left speechless. Indeed, if so staff mber randomly checked later on and discovered Donna and Flightline were actually unrelated strangers, it would beco awkward to explain. Thus, Secretariat’s move had actually helped her out. Thinking of this made Gotham Song sigh deeply. Putting her own feelings aside, there was still another matter she needed to handle first.
"Oh, I see. Well, Donna, and Flightline-san, this is probably just temporary anyway. After everything settles down later, if either of you wants to leave the team, that’s totally fine—"
"I won’t be leaving the team."
Yet as soon as Gotham Song finished speaking, Donna imdiately expressed her stance, firm and resolute, leaving Gotham Song once again stunned by the swiftness and decisiveness of it all.
Then Donna calmly stated her reason—
"I can’t imagine what a Uma Musu stronger than you would even look like, Miss Song. Just like I can’t imagine a Trainer more capable or experienced than you. So please—let remain on your team."
Please, let stay beside you, who stands at the pinnacle.
Ah...so Donna was like this, huh? After a brief pause, Gotham Song had no choice but to nod gently in resignation, conveying her acceptance. How should she describe it, though?
"I understand, Donna. Rest assured—I’ll always be the strongest."
Whether as an Uma Musu or a Trainer, if your feelings shine so brightly, then I, too, should sparkle like a jewel, shouldn’t I?
"So, what about your opinion, Flightline-san?"
"At least for now...I won’t quit. Tsk. Secretariat probably anticipated all of this the mont she told ."
Who knows, Secretariat might have submitted the application days ago already...! That manipulative lunatic who’s always plotting sothing.
Yet Flightline had to admit, there was genuinely no way she’d back out. After all, it was her own choice to witness it all firsthand. Joining Gotham Song’s team might irk her sowhat, but—
But objectively speaking, this choice was inevitable, undeniable—a shaful yet openly plotted sche by Secretariat, once again targeting her directly.
And besides...what kind of Trainer was Gotham Song really like? She seed pretty strong. Perhaps staying might help her achieve the pure, ultimate speed she sought. Maybe unexpectedly possible?
Flightline didn’t know why she’d even thought of that, but compared to that vague notion, another feeling was much clearer in her mind:
From today onward, I’ll be an Uma Musu with a team and a Trainer. And since you’ve agreed to let join, Miss Gotham Song, surely you don’t think I’d easily quit when you no longer need , right?
I’m going to correct that bizarre perception of yours—as if your whole understanding of Uma Musu is completely off!
I, Flightline, have joined your team. There’s no logic in soone else kicking out!
The atmosphere reached a surprising unanimity. Gotham Song noticed Flightline’s ears shifting from gentle swaying to violent flicking, before sharply pinning back, as if she’d made so important decision.
Unable to decipher Flightline’s ear radar at all, Gotham Song could only try hard to understand. But Vernal Equinox, standing quietly beside them, seed to grasp sothing instantly. She hopped slightly, tiptoed to hug Donna softly, then hugged Flightline as well.
Uh... Under Gotham Song’s attentive gaze, Flightline, who had looked so angry monts before, visibly wilted. But Vernal Equinox’s combo attack wasn’t over yet; stopping in front of Flightline, she bowed deeply, earnestly:
"Please guide well from now on, Flightline-senpai."
Then she repeated the sa action toward Donna.
Donna, clearly long accustod to Vernal-chan’s affection, showed no reaction—but Flightline fell straight into a confused debuff caused by the small Uma Musu’s devastatingly cute attack.
Gotham Song secretly snickered, giving Vernal-chan a big thumbs-up in her heart. As expected of my favorite little Uma.
Neo Universe quietly observed, waiting until Flightline’s fighting spirit had been completely extinguished by this spring breeze, before sliding her tablet to the next screen, showing yet another issue:
"Then, Song. The Dubai World Cup has sent you an invitation, hoping you can participate this year as one of the top favorites."
"Huh...? Dubai World Cup? ?"
Gotham Song was puzzled—but not by the invitation itself. Rather—
Dubai World Cup? What’s that?
"The Dubai World Cup is probably the most famous race in the world, Song. Or rather, it’s Dubai World Cup day—a series of prestigious races held around that ti."
"Oh, is that right...? Which specific race invited ?"
Neo Universe hesitated, unsure how to answer clearly.
"All of them."
"All of them?!"
"Yes, all of them. The organizers’ aning is...as long as it’s you, Miss Song, you’re welco to freely choose whichever race you’d like."
...?
Am I actually that famous? For the first ti, Gotham Song clearly understood the advantages of popularity, though she quickly fell into a mont of hesitation. Should she go and participate or not?
"You want to compete in the Breeders’ Cup, don’t you, Song? If that’s the case, the Dubai World Cup has the most suitable prize money. In other words, you can treat it as a preparatory battle for the Breeders’ Cup."
Eh...? So it was like that? Then it sounded pretty worthwhile indeed.
"Also, Song—"
This ti it wasn’t Neo Universe who spoke, but Manhattan Cafe, who calmly added:
"That child, Vernal-chan, also ntioned wanting the Voice of the People award, didn’t she? Then the Dubai World Cup would beco a necessary challenge."
In other words, if Gotham Song participated, it would grant Vernal Equinox a unique, unparalleled advantage that other Trainers absolutely couldn’t match:
"My Trainer really participated in the Dubai World Cup—and she even won!"
Ugh!
Gotham Song could already picture Vernal-chan casually stating this terrifying fact without a hint of boasting, calm as always.
Fine. Looks like there’s no way around it now. Regardless of the reason, I have no choice but to...
Fight!
Gotham Song rubbed Vernal Equinox’s little head gently, then nodded decisively to Neo Universe.
"All right. It seems now I have no choice but to head out. Send a reply to them, Neo—tell them that wherever the stakes are highest, Gotham Song will dominate the track."
Heh. Actually feels pretty good.
Neo Universe nodded, then swiped again on the screen.
There’s still more?!
"One more thing, Song."
"W-what now?"
How many things could possibly happen in a single day?!
"This happened yesterday afternoon. Miss Seabiscuit told you about it, right? Regarding that silver-haired ’Song’ from yesterday afternoon—I’ve found the relevant footage."
As expected of Neo Universe, Gotham Song thought. The information-gathering ability was impeccable; the video displayed on the tablet was crystal-clear. After watching for a mont, even Gotham Song had to admit sothing:
The person on-screen really looked exactly like her. If one ignored slight differences in size and body shape, they’d practically be identical!
Still, that Uma Musu wearing Gotham Song’s racing outfit only resembled her closely in mannerisms—there were subtle physical differences, after all—
"See? It’s clearly soone else. Definitely not —just a really accurate cosplayer, right?"
Gotham Song quickly made this judgnt. Neo Universe completely agreed, nodding deeply.
If this was a cosplay of Twilight Song, then it was truly perfect—so perfect it might even pressure the original. But if it were Gotham Song herself—
Then it was true that only their mannerisms matched perfectly. Physically, they absolutely did not—
On this one point, Neo Universe was confident she wouldn’t lose to anyone.
That woman—
Is definitely, absolutely, unquestionably not Gotham Song. Their figures aren’t remotely alike. It’s completely impossible.
Neo Universe had already thoroughly checked every inch!!
Absolutely not...!!
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