So... just why did things turn out like this?
When Gotham Song woke up in Gentildonna’s arms the next morning, she still hadn’t fully processed everything. She kept replaying yesterday’s events—especially the details from last night—but after pondering for a long while without finding any good explanation, all she could do was let out a long, helpless sigh.
How could she describe her current feelings?
It was like her own child had finally grown up—that sort of strange, complicated mixture of emotions... Forget it, forget it. Donna-chan didn’t say anything wrong, exactly. To be fair, as long as her sleep quality didn’t drop, there shouldn’t be any real issue...
Who knew—maybe that girl’s sleep quality even improved!
Though... that’d be a bit too strange, wouldn’t it?
Gotham Song couldn’t understand. No matter how hard she tried, she simply couldn’t get it. Eventually giving up on these thoughts, she stared at the ceiling, waiting quietly for the Uma Musu beside her to wake up.
According to her original plan, she’d intended to wake up earlier to help Gentildonna with anything she might need.
But she never expected she’d wake up the next day wrapped snugly in her own team mber’s arms. Obviously, if she tried breaking free now, it’d wake Gentildonna up prematurely.
Not to ntion, going by what Gentildonna said yesterday, letting a currently competing Uma Musu handle support duties would count as trampling on her pride.
So, mutual understanding between people sotis wasn’t all that difficult. As long as they shared things they couldn’t tolerate, understanding ca naturally, didn’t it?
Despite knowing that logically, Gotham Song still felt deeply helpless—especially since she’d woken up so early.
Actually, even though her daily routine didn’t exactly seem diligent, that was only because she had nothing pressing the next day, leaving her subconscious deeply relaxed.
In truth, whenever she ntally prepared herself to wake early the next day, Gotham Song never worried about oversleeping—rather, her real concern was waking up too early, not getting enough sleep at all...!
Just like now, she was trapped in the room, firmly embraced by Gentildonna, stuck staring at the ceiling in a daze.
Wait, wasn’t sothing... not quite right?
When she fell asleep yesterday, wasn’t she clearly not in Gentildonna’s arms...? Gotham Song carefully thought back, confirming her suspicion.
She distinctly rembered that before closing her eyes yesterday, Gentildonna had only been holding onto her arm lightly, right...?
Yet, now that she’d co to, Gentildonna had her completely wrapped in her embrace, an arm even draped securely around her waist...
Seriously, why?! How had it turned out like this?! At this rate, the only Uma Musu she hadn’t shared a bed with were Vernal-chan and that idiot Flightline, right? This really was...
She felt vaguely uncomfortable about sothing, though she couldn’t quite place exactly what. Turning it over repeatedly in her mind and finding no clear answer, Gotham Song finally gave up thinking altogether.
Even though Gotham Song awoke very, very early, Gentildonna’s sleep didn’t last too long afterward.
Though the Japanese Oaks typically began in the afternoon—athletes didn’t even need to report until after 12:30, leaving plenty of ti for lunch—Gentildonna still woke up around nine o’clock.
Considering they’d gone to bed around nine the previous night, nearly twelve hours of sleep wasn’t just adequate—it was practically excessive.
Sleep wasn’t sothing that beca better the longer it lasted. In fact, once adequate rest had been achieved, excessive sleep should be avoided by Uma Musu, as it could negatively impact their carefully maintained athletic condition.
Avoiding late nights was right, but oversleeping definitely wasn’t!
They woke up, washed up, and Gotham Song made Gentildonna sit on the edge of the bed. Kneeling behind her team mber, she took a comb in hand, carefully gathering up that soft, reddish-brown hair.
Co to think of it, she’d wanted to do sothing like this for a long ti but had never found the right opportunity. Previously, whenever she’d raced, her own older sisters would always help her with these preparations—but now, was it finally her turn to assu the role of an elder and do the sa?
Gentildonna’s hair felt wonderful. Though Gotham Song usually didn’t pay close attention to the hair of the Uma Musu around her—and especially showed open disdain when it ca to managing her own long silver hair—after being a pretty Uma Musu for so long, she could clearly discern good-quality hair.
Incidentally, the reason Gotham Song constantly complained about her troubleso silver hair yet still hadn’t cut it short wasn’t because she was being so kind of tsundere. It was actually because certain people thought it would be a waste and took turns helping her maintain it.
Those people were, of course, jiro Ardan, jiro Ramonu, Manhattan Cafe—and occasionally jiro Bright joining in—forming an unstoppable Big Sister Corps.
In any case, Gotham Song greatly enjoyed Gentildonna’s soft, silky hair. But after a brief mont of appreciation, she earnestly returned to the task at hand, carefully combing the slightly curled reddish-brown strands back to their usual elegant state.
"This shouldn’t involve any issues about pride or honor now, right, Donna-chan?"
"Indeed... But please let handle your hair as well, Trainer-sama."
Ah... fine, it looked like the army devoted to preserving Gotham Song’s long hair had just gained another powerful recruit.
This really was quite strange. Gotham Song had originally accompanied Gentildonna precisely to support her, yet sohow she’d beco the Uma Musu being taken care of instead... But now that things had reached this point, Gotham Song didn’t trouble herself any further and cheerfully accepted Gentildonna’s suggestion, swapping positions to sit facing away from her.
After taking care of the typical morning rituals between girls, their remaining tasks were quite simple: eat a light breakfast, then change into athletic wear and head outside to jog briefly around the nearby streets—
In truth, Gotham Song would never normally do sothing like this. According to her own habits, she’d prefer to spend the final monts before the race reviewing detailed information about opponents.
But Gentildonna liked taking a short, carefree run before competitions. Since today’s protagonist preferred it this way, Gotham Song naturally chose to go along obediently.
Besides, the primary opponents in the Oaks were two familiar faces anyway!
Their casual jog didn’t last too long, nor was it rushed. They simply wandered aimlessly under the morning sunlight, jogging through streets until they felt like turning back.
Perhaps an hour passed? Anyway, they returned to the hotel around 10:30. After Gentildonna quickly washed up again, the ti finally arrived to prepare for the race.
Then, what was the most important step in Gentildonna’s race preparation?
It was...
"D-Donna-chan...? What are you doing...?"
Gotham Song stared blankly at Gentildonna, who’d just stepped out of the bathroom wrapped only in a bath towel, montarily unsure of what to say.
She had ntally prepared herself for sothing like this potentially happening, but actually seeing it unfold before her eyes made the whole scene far more... troubleso than she’d ever imagined.
Though the Japanese Oaks lacked international renown, it was still Japan’s own Triple Tiara—a dostic Grade 1 race! In other words, the Uma Musu who entered this race earned the glorious right to wear their Racing Outfits.
Everyone knew that, blessed by the Three Goddesses, these Racing Outfits fit extrely snugly, eliminating any need for additional inner garnts.
So... before putting on their Racing Outfits, Uma Musu didn’t usually wear extra clothes. Gentildonna’s current state—stepping straight out of the bath to begin preparations—was actually the norm among most competitors.
But then, why exactly did Gotham Song feel that sothing was terribly wrong?
Of course there’s sothing wrong! Gentildonna was standing right in front of her, openly, without hiding anything...!
Having spent this long together, Gotham Song was now fully aware of just what kind of Uma Musu Gentildonna was. This girl, if Gotham Song herself even hinted at doing sothing questionable, would absolutely, unquestionably, not refuse...!
Wouldn’t that make this whole situation even worse?!
Anyway, amidst Gotham Song’s jumbled thoughts, Gentildonna had calmly taken a seat right before her, openly revealing her flawless, snow-white skin, making it easy for her dear Trainer-sama to see everything clearly.
Looking helplessly at Gentildonna, Gotham Song sighed inwardly—what else could she do? Just as she had thoroughly understood Gentildonna, this Uma Musu had also thoroughly understood Gotham Song.
She patiently dried Gentildonna’s hair, carefully prepared every piece of her Racing Outfit, handed it over, adjusted each accessory with a slight lift onto her tiptoes, and zipped up everything properly, turning her beloved Uma Musu from a freshly bathed state into a majestic warrior brimming with the courage and determination to seize victory.
Then Gentildonna stood up and turned around slowly, both for a final inspection and to show everything to Gotham Song for approval—well, these things were always done in the sa manner, weren’t they?
"How is it, Trainer-sama?"
"Perfect... Just looking at you makes feel an overwhelming, unstoppable aura."
That wasn’t an exaggeration at all. Gentildonna’s condition today was so extraordinary it bordered on excessive. Initially, Gotham Song had worried whether last night’s situation might have negatively impacted today’s race condition.
But now, seeing Gentildonna so vigorous—as if she’d experienced so incredible stroke of fortune, ready to march confidently onto the track and crush any opponent in her path...
Could it be that sleeping with was a necessary buff condition? That can’t be... no matter how I think about it, that’s just way too strange.
"This is all thanks to you, Trainer-sama."
"...? Well, it’s my job after all, though I don’t think I did anything particu— ahem, anyway, Donna-chan, you’re confident in claiming the Triple Tiara, aren’t you?"
Gentildonna nodded, saying nothing else.
She didn’t need to elaborate. Such a thing had to be proven through actions—or perhaps it didn’t even need proving, because the Triple Tiara was sothing destined to belong to her.
Gentildonna was strong, brilliant. She must show the world her strength and brilliance—and in doing so, also prove her Trainer’s strength and brilliance. Above all, she must demonstrate...
...that she was worthy of chasing after Trainer-sama’s own incredible strength and brilliance. From every possible angle, Gentildonna couldn’t even imagine herself failing.
She would absolutely, absolutely seize victory. The glory of the Triple Tiara should rightfully belong in her grasp...!
"I will win. The Japanese Oaks—I’ll trample both Almond Eye and Verxina underfoot."
Verxina was one thing, but Almond Eye... if you wish to challenge Trainer-sama, you’d better defeat first before even dreaming of such nonsense!
Gotham Song, seeing Gentildonna’s presence surpassing re confidence and approaching majestic dominance, lightly nodded. Then she turned aside, retrieved her backpack, and took out a small box, carefully opening it.
"Originally, I’d wondered when would be a good ti to tell you all about this. But now that Donna-chan has already debuted and is about to claim the Triple Tiara, I’ll do it now—sharing both this thought and gift with you first."
Inside the small box was a silver necklace, set with delicate gemstones. At its core—held by a slender silver chain—was a reddish-brown gemstone crafted into the shape of a half-note.
"I prepared these necklaces for everyone in our team. Donna-chan’s is the half-note; Flightline’s will probably be a quarter-note, and Vernal-chan an eighth-note."
"Oh, and I have one too—though mine is a whole note."
Like revealing a pleasant surprise, Gotham Song pulled out an identical necklace from beneath her clothes, just below her collarbone. Holding it up, she gave Gentildonna a playful wink.
"This is proof of our Eternal Beat team—our bond, our symbol, right? At least, that’s how I imagined it. How does Donna-chan feel about it?"
How do I feel...? Of course, that’s...
Gentildonna said nothing, only quietly gazing at the necklace, before taking a deep, steady breath.
"Then, since it’s such a precious gift... could Trainer-sama please put it on personally?"
"Put it on you personally? Of course."
Gotham Song inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Gentildonna seed to genuinely like it. If so...
With gentle care, Gotham Song lifted Gentildonna’s silky hair aside, looping Eternal Beat’s symbol carefully around her neck.
Only after Gotham Song had stepped back did Gentildonna raise her head. She didn’t even reach up to touch the necklace, only firmly nodding in appreciation.
"Then, I’ll be going, Song-sama."
"Yes—I look forward to your triumphant return."
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