Manhattan Cafe, having had a restless night, found her cousin’s gaze especially odd today.
Nevertheless, the group still cheerfully celebrated Cafe’s significant victory at the Kikuka Sho.
The Kikuka Sho effectively signaled the nearing end of the racing year. At least in Japan, after the Kikuka Sho, the only major event left was the Arima Kinen.
If the Kikuka Sho was the whistle marking the closing stretch, the Arima Kinen was undoubtedly the final call.
Under these circumstances, Manhattan Cafe’s win essentially secured her a spot at the Arima Kinen, becoming another topic of excitent at their celebratory gathering.
Manhattan Cafe vs. jiro McQueen—it sounded completely absurd.
But then again, challenging the impossible was exactly what any determined Uma Musu would eagerly pursue, especially in racing.
Incidentally, Tokai Teio had also risen spectacularly in prominence due to her flawless rookie performance. She’d already been labeled as a "Genius New Star," the "Unbeatable Prodigy," and even the "Emperor’s Successor," becoming a leading candidate for next year’s Triple Crown, as well as a confird participant in the Arima Kinen.
After enjoying themselves for a while, the group dispersed, and Manhattan Cafe prepared to return to her daily training routine.
Just before leaving, though, she still felt Gotham Song’s gaze lingering on her strangely. However, seeing that asking yielded no results, she simply offered a gentle farewell and went ahead first.
Gotham Song hesitated, watching her cousin’s figure slowly disappear, but in the end, she couldn’t find the courage to speak, reluctantly giving up and turning to leave.
Yet just as she stepped out the door, she spotted soone unexpected waiting outside.
Why is Bright-san here?!
"My, what a coincidence, Song-chan~. Good afternoon."
"Good afternoon, Bright-san... Are you waiting for soone?"
Coincidence? Really? Standing by the entrance like that—it’s obvious she’s waiting for , right?
"Hmm—originally yes, but she suddenly ssaged saying she couldn’t make it. How unfortunate. In that case, Song-chan, would you mind accompanying back to school?"
"Ah... yes, I suppose I could."
’Suddenly ssaged,’ huh? More like you planned this from the start, Bright-san! I never realized before, but your tactics are truly terrifying!
Gotham Song obediently accepted. After all, they lived right next door; if she rejected Bright now, wouldn’t that only raise suspicions?
So, she’ll probably ask about seeing McQueen yesterday, right?
But to Gotham Song’s surprise, jiro Bright maintained her perfect lady-like composure throughout their journey, making only casual, entirely ordinary small talk.
It truly felt as though Bright had simply been stood up by soone and spontaneously decided to return to school alongside Gotham Song.
Was this even possible?
From the hotel entrance to the train station, from disembarking the train to reaching the dorm, from the first-floor entrance all the way to their floor’s corridor—
Bright didn’t ask or ntion a single suspicious thing!
Yet precisely because of this, Gotham Song was drenched in nervous sweat.
Bright-san, please stop toying with ! Just say what you want—I’m terrified you’ll suddenly stab in the back!
What was there for Gotham Song and jiro Bright to talk about, anyway?
Perhaps Bright initially arrived carrying jiro Ramonu’s intentions, but at the mont, this jiro family daughter undoubtedly had her own goals.
To Bright, Gotham Song was valuable mainly because of jiro McQueen. Thus, their interactions should’ve revolved around that subject from the start.
That’s exactly why Gotham Song had been so certain Bright was here to discuss yesterday’s encounter with McQueen.
Yet her neighbor’s avoidance of that topic entirely shattered Gotham Song’s carefully prepared defenses.
Or rather, her defenses felt more like the Maginot Line—
Effective, yet completely ineffective.
Even standing right outside their dorm rooms, Bright still hadn’t said a word.
This can’t be right... She’s about to ambush at my most vulnerable mont, isn’t she?!
As Gotham Song reached anxiously for her room’s doorknob...
"Ah, right—Song-chan."
Here it cos! Your next sentence will surely be...
"You saw our jiro family’s little McQueen yesterday, didn’t you?"
"Yesterday, I bought so delicious cakes. Would you like to share so with you?"
Eh?
Eh, eh, eh, eh?!
Bright-san, why aren’t you following the script?!
Now she was really thrown off...
"N-no, thank you, Bright-san."
"They really are tasty, you know. Don’t worry—I still have so unopened."
"N-no, thank you, really. Um, I’m on a diet, so I can’t have sweets."
A diet?
jiro Bright carefully examined Gotham Song’s small, delicate fra, montarily speechless.
As a forr racer herself, Bright would actually have recomnded Gotham Song gain weight instead. After all, proper weight was crucial for power and speed.
Yet for so inexplicable reason, Bright found herself thinking that Gotham Song was perfect precisely because she was so petite and delicate.
Maybe it’s even better this way?
This strange thought prevented Bright from giving her genuine racing advice. So, in the end, she simply nodded with understanding.
"Well then, I’ll return to my room first. Have a pleasant afternoon, Song-chan."
Bright promptly opened her door and slipped into her room without hesitation—without even giving Gotham Song a mont to react.
Gotham Song had genuinely thought Bright would land one final attack at the last second.
Ugh... why does Bright-san seem even harder to handle than Ramonu-san? How did I never notice that before...?
Still thoroughly confused, Gotham Song helplessly returned to her room. Inside, Neo Universe was already waiting, holding up a brightly lit tablet and waving it excitedly in front of her.
Was sothing especially important going on?
Trusting Neo Universe completely, Gotham Song stepped closer for a look—
And felt her world co crashing down again.
[Q: Tokai Teio-san, who do you consider your rival?]
[A: Of course, that would be Gotham Song.]
Gotham Song...? Who’s that supposed to be?
She can’t possibly an , right?
I’m Tokai Teio’s rival...?
Huh?!
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