So days passed uneventfully.
Gotham Song’s daily routine had grown rather predictable—regular training sessions, running alongside Neo Universe and Oguri Cap, analyzing various racing techniques, and, of course...
Being dragged by Neo Universe to KTV to practice the Winner’s Stage.
She also endured frequent teasing from Sunday Silence, along with Manhattan Cafe’s gentle yet incessant worry.
Her dear cousin might appear aloof and dignified, but deep down she was a kindhearted person—well, with an occasional exception when facing her roommate, Agnes Tachyon.
Though she’s not yet the mad scientist version of Agnes Tachyon... should I drop her a hint about the Phantom Triple Crown becoming reality?
The Phantom Triple Crown was a title given to those Uma Musu who were widely expected to win the Triple Crown yet, for various reasons, could not participate in the third race.
It wasn’t that they lost the final leg; rather, they never even had the chance to compete, despite everyone being convinced they could have easily secured victory.
Incidentally, the most prominent Phantom Triple Crown candidate worldwide under this criterion was undoubtedly Twilight Song.
After all, she really had missed the Kikuka Sho, yet everyone believed she would have unquestionably dominated the race if she’d participated.
It was, after all, Twilight Song’s Kikuka Sho.
However, Japan’s perception was rather different—even though every Uma Musu agreed on Twilight Song’s guaranteed victory, so stubborn critics insisted Japan had plenty of strong contenders that year. They argued fiercely that Uma Musu like Oguri Cap could have posed a serious challenge, making the outco uncertain.
In short, pure stubbornness.
This controversy sparked considerable debate between Uma Musu professionals and human analysts. It even reached the point that many young Japanese fillies born after Twilight Song’s generation wholeheartedly believed these critics’ claims.
Hearing this, Gotham Song couldn’t help but twitch the corners of her mouth.
Wait, so I’m the King of Gotham, but you lot are the real clowns here?
But after further thought, Gotham Song realized an uncomfortable truth—she couldn’t stop Agnes Tachyon from chasing after victory. In fact, if Agnes Tachyon ever lost her passion for racing, she simply wouldn’t be Agnes Tachyon anymore.
When she asked Neo Universe about it, she discovered her counterparts in other parallel worlds had also tried—and failed—to dissuade Agnes Tachyon. Without exception, Tachyon always ended up burning herself out on the racetrack.
In the end, Gotham Song had no choice but to respect that.
When a warrior knows death awaits yet still chooses to wield their sword, your duty isn’t to grab them by the shoulder and shout, "Don’t go!"
No, it’s to watch silently as their mont of glory unfolds, fully respecting their choice and resolve.
In a way, Gotham Song understood this ntality all too well—after all, hadn’t she herself done sothing similar?
With that thought, Gotham Song decided against eting Agnes Tachyon too often, though she wouldn’t mind occasionally stopping by for so of her delicious tea.
Days passed quickly, and having finally settled into life at Central Tracen Academy, Gotham Song now felt comfortable enough to venture out on her own from ti to ti.
And today, she encountered soone completely unexpected.
Just outside the gates of Japan Central Tracen Academy—a school populated entirely by teenage girls and bustling with youthful energy—there was a massive shopping street, fully equipped with everything from cafés and bookstores to snack stands and general stores.
Of course, the self-service buffet attracted Uma Musu the most, each one proudly boasting signs reading: "Enough to satisfy even Oguri Cap!"
Oguri Cap’s reputation really precedes her everywhere, huh?
But that wasn’t the main point right now. Instead, it was the Uma Musu sitting quietly at a café table on the sidewalk, her pale-blue hair shining softly under the sunlight.
It was jiro Ardan.
Truthfully, Gotham Song had contemplated returning to jiro Manor countless tis. She’d even repeatedly asked Neo Universe about the current state of the jiro family.
But to her frustration, she never received a satisfactory answer.
Neo Universe only replied vaguely, insisting that it would cause more harm than good if Gotham Song knew the truth at this mont.
Consequently, Gotham Song’s plans were stuck in theoretical limbo. Without concrete information, further speculation was pointless.
Thus, she shelved those thoughts temporarily and focused on her imdiate plans—keeping an eye on jiro McQueen’s developnts and occasionally browsing online for clues about the jiro family’s situation.
Sadly, her efforts yielded little—though perhaps today would bring an unexpected breakthrough?
Ardan-san should be the easiest to approach in the jiro family, especially if I introduce myself as a stranger.
Then again, the jiros are notoriously insular...
With these thoughts in mind, Gotham Song approached and quietly took a seat next to jiro Ardan, ordering the exact sa coffee as her. When Ardan turned her gaze towards her, curiosity flickering in her gentle eyes, Gotham Song gave a polite smile.
"It might be a bit too bitter for your taste, you know," Ardan cautioned softly.
"No worries," Gotham Song replied confidently. "I’m an Arican Uma Musu."
Understanding flickered across Ardan’s face, and she nodded slowly. After all, a plain Aricano wasn’t for everyone—Ardan herself only chose it because, once upon a ti, a certain little filly she adored couldn’t stand its bitterness. The rare occasions she tried it would leave her making the most adorable faces.
Since then, whenever jiro Ardan found herself idle and uncertain of how to pass the ti, she’d sit here with that sa bitter coffee, watching the lively crowd of young Uma Musu passing by.
It was as if, through them, she could see the shadow of soone dearly missed from her past.
But Ardan didn’t realize that Gotham Song was currently breaking into a cold sweat.
Uh-oh... I was so caught up in copying Ardan-san’s order, I forgot she sotis drinks plain Aricano! What is her taste made of—steel?!
Thinking she was discreet, Gotham Song subtly pursed her lips in discomfort. Seeing this small action, jiro Ardan chuckled softly, feeling a sudden, nostalgic familiarity. Rising gracefully, she approached the counter and retrieved two sugar packets before returning to her seat.
"Would you tell your na? You seem remarkably familiar to ."
"Ah, my na is Gotham Song. Just call Song."
Ardan nodded gently, her eyes lingering openly on the filly before her as she let out a soft, wistful sigh.
If I didn’t know better, I might really have mistaken her for that person. She looks so incredibly similar... if only her hair color matched as well, she’d truly be the girl from my mories.
Not just in appearance, but even her deanor seed eerily alike. Yet Ardan, like all the jiros, never indulged in self-deception—they considered such fantasies beneath their dignity.
Having thus abandoned any futile hope, jiro Ardan engaged Gotham Song in easy conversation until the filly’s coffee finally arrived.
Clearly, Gotham Song differed slightly from her mories—she wore her feelings openly, unable to hide the visible dread at the sight of the unsweetened Aricano.
Back then, Twilight Song forced herself halfway through the bitter coffee before scrunching up her face adorably and sticking out her tongue... Yes, they’re not the sa.
With these thoughts, Ardan gently stopped Gotham Song just as the stubborn filly was about to bravely down her coffee, sugarless.
"Don’t force yourself. After all, it’s much easier to handle with sugar... Actually, I add sugar too, you know?"
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