Having trained real horses, why are we now training racehorse girls after time-traveling?

"I always feel that Miyu should continue to wait, wait for a trainer who truly belongs to Miyu... just like trainer Wada and Haogeju, and trainer Ikezoe and Jujō."

"Miyu feels that Miyu's destined trainer must be waiting for Miyu somewhere in this world, and Miyu will wait until he appears."

"Moreover, Mi Yu's current record is not impressive enough. If she joins the team, she will embarrass everyone in the team."

Mi Yu's words made Emperor and McQueen exchange glances, but they didn't refute it. After all, the Miracle Team members all had three or more GIs, while Mi Yu only had one GI championship. If Mi Yu thought that way, it might not be a problem.

But the next moment, Mi Yu's words stunned the Emperor and McQueen.

"Moreover... Miyu seems to be unable to continue running. Miyu has already decided to graduate and may not participate in active races of Uma Musume after this year."

Chapter 491: The Method to Overcome Rice Baths

"Ugh?!"

"Mi, Mi Yu?! You mean you can't run anymore?!"

However, Mi Yu's casual remark startled both McQueen and the Emperor. Before Mi Yu could react, McQueen and the Emperor immediately surrounded him. The Emperor pressed down on Mi Yu's shoulder, while McQueen immediately squatted down, observing the condition of Mi Yu's legs with a serious expression.

"Mi Yu! Were you injured during the previous competition or training?! You should have said so earlier if you were injured! Don't delay! Let's go to the infirmary now!" The Emperor said to Mi Yu with a worried expression.

“This is a serious matter.” McQueen was equally serious. She stared at Mi Yu’s legs and tried to reach out and pinch them. Instantly, a cute scream came from Mi Yu’s mouth.

"Ah—! McQueen?!" Mi Yu blushed, barely suppressing the instinctive urge to kick McQueen, and asked shyly, "Why, why did you suddenly touch my leg?!"

"Huh? I'm imitating my trainer, that's how he touches my bones..." Mi Yu's reaction confirmed that McQueen's imitation was obviously not up to par. Rather than touching bones, it was more like the behavior of the neighbor Chongye T, which would be misunderstood as harassment. She immediately stopped what she was doing.

But McQueen still asked with concern, "If you're injured, Mi Yu, you should take some time to rest and recuperate. My trainer always tells me not to give up my entire career for a temporary victory."

"If you're here to compete with me, then we can wait until you've recovered and compete in another match. But there's no need to gamble everything on one game, Mi Yu."

"Emperor...McQueen...Thank you for your concern."

After learning of McQueen and the Emperor's concern for him, Mi Yu smiled warmly. The poor but lovely child wiped away a tear of emotion from the corner of his eye and said, "But Mi Yu has already made up his mind. Don't worry, I'm not being stubborn. I just want to treat this Spring Emperor's Award as Mi Yu's last competition."

"Actually, Mi Yu had fractured her right foot before. After stabilizing for a while, she managed to hold on until the end of the year. However, during her check-up this year, the doctor told Mi Yu that there seemed to be signs of a relapse..."

"The doctor's advice is for Mi Yu to retire early. Mi Yu... may not be able to become a top-tier racehorse girl like the rest of the Miracle Team, but Mi Yu is still very happy. When running with Master, Mi Yu felt everyone's emotion and pride, and Mi Yu's misfortune was completely changed."

"Miyu no longer needs any more victories to prove that she is not an unfortunate child. So, no matter what the outcome of this Spring Emperor's Slam is, Miyu can rest contentedly as a racehorse girl. Miyu only hopes that she can have one last exciting race with everyone."

"Don't worry, Mi Yu has already consulted many doctors. Mi Yu's leg injury shouldn't relapse so quickly. It's enough to support Mi Yu to finish the Spring Emperor's Prize."

"Miyu is also very regretful. If possible, Miyu would like to run one last race with Master after the Takarazuka Memorial before retiring... But if Master knew that Miyu was playing with an injury, he would definitely be furious, right?"

"So after this Spring Emperor's Award, Mi Yu will choose to retire. If Mi Yu can win this match... Mi Yu might have some confidence and join the team with his head held high, becoming everyone's partner."

"Of course, even if Mi Yu loses, there will be no regrets. Mi Yu has done her best to let everyone see all the hope and dreams that Mi Yu can bring—that is enough."

At this moment, under the setting sun, a satisfied and joyful smile bloomed on Mi Yu's face. The sunset, like her career, slowly drew to a close. But at this moment, her angelic, satisfied, and gentle smile was deeply imprinted in the hearts of McQueen and the Emperor, just like the beautiful light of the sunset.

At that moment, in a daze, McQueen couldn't help but look at his palm. Gradually, he clenched his fist tightly, as if he had made up his mind.

……

"—So, what's your decision, McQueen?"

Inside the team room, as night fell, McQueen approached Jin Lang. After listening to McQueen's account of what had happened, Jin Lang had a general idea of ​​what McQueen's next decision would be, but he asked with a smile.

"...Mi Yu said that if she can win the Spring Emperor's Prize, she will choose to join our team." After a moment of silence, McQueen also quietly told Jin Lang his judgment:

"If Miyu wins this Spring Emperor's Prize and joins our team as she wishes... then Miyu can continue to work as our team's trainer assistant and continue her career as a professional involved in horse racing."

"And if Mi Yu had taken good care of herself, perhaps her career wouldn't have been interrupted..."

"—But, Mi Yu might not want you to go easy on me, McQueen." Jin Lang nodded in agreement, but still voiced his thoughts: "McQueen, don't you always say that going easy on your opponent is disrespectful?"

"If Mi Yu knew that you didn't go all out in the end, then even if she won, she wouldn't feel like she gained honor or won a victory, would she?"

"Therefore, we must find a way that satisfies both sides, trainer."

McQueen nodded solemnly upon hearing this. She had never considered the option of throwing the race. Throwing a race would be disrespectful to her opponent, and Mi Yu was a respectable opponent whom McQueen acknowledged. Now, with the intention of retiring after this race, she wanted to launch one last challenge against McQueen, simply to give it her all in one last race. How could McQueen not respond to Mi Yu's expectations?

Therefore, it was impossible to let her win, but McQueen did not want Miu's career to end like this—a racehorse like her should have more opportunities to shine, be loved by more people, and bring hope and dreams to more people.

"I need a reasonable tactic, trainer, a tactic that can not only help me win, but also prevent Mi Yu from completely ruining his career after this Spring Emperor's Prize."

"If I were to go all out against Mi Yu with my [Domain] ability, I wouldn't dare say I have an absolute chance of winning, but I'm 60% confident that I can wear Mi Yu down."

"But this would be too much of a burden for Mi Yu. If she really treats this Spring Emperor's Slam as her retirement match, then she will definitely give it her all without reservation. But if she does that, then her professional career may really come to an end here."

"I want to try, trainer, I want to try, to save this child's fate..."

"Can...you help me?"

Having spoken his mind, McQueen looked at his trainer with expectant eyes. She knew that her ideas were a bit too much to ask of Jin Lang. To achieve victory without making Mi Yu feel that he had held back, and to make Mi Yu give his all without putting too much strain on him—these requests did sound unrealistic.

However, just as McQueen was bracing himself for his trainer's sigh, he only saw a smile appear on Jin Lang's face as he softly said:

"You've grown, McQueen. Now you're truly a fully independent racehorse girl."

"...Let's take a look at the match footage of Miyu, McQueen. Analyze Miyu's tactics and [Area of ​​Power] carefully. Although we don't have much time, I think we might make some discoveries, right?"

“Trainer…” McQueen’s eyes brightened, filled with tears of gratitude for being recognized, and then he nodded solemnly and said:

"Yes, we will definitely do it."

Chapter 492: Jin Lang's Personal Opinion on the Average Game Play

"So, you've been studying the rice bath tactics all this time? But the Spring Emperor's Award is coming up very soon, isn't it? Is there still enough time to adjust the tactics in such a short period of time?"

"Senior Jinlang, should I let the master take the stage? She has recovered enough. If she can win this Spring Emperor's Prize, it won't matter if she doesn't participate in the Takarazuka Memorial."

As for the rice bath, it was naturally something that all three trainers needed to worry about. And today, in the izakaya, the three trainers reunited after a long time. Now that they are gradually getting back on track in life, they really rarely have the opportunity to drink together like this anymore.

Faced with Ikezoe's proposal, both Iwanami and Wada shook their heads. Iwanami patted Ikezoe on the shoulder and said softly, "I appreciate your kindness, Ikezoe-kun, but you and the Golden Master have more important things to do than this. Don't let this matter waste your dreams."

"The problem with the rice bath won't be too big. The performance of the rice bath at the Emperor's Spring Festival will indeed be tricky, but in any case, we don't need to be as worried as we were when we faced the Silent Suzuka."

"After this Spring Emperor's Slam, no matter the outcome, Mi Yu will choose to retire. If she doesn't participate in the Takarazuka Memorial, then the worst-case scenario we were hoping for won't happen, regardless of the result of this competition."

Jinlang's words made Wada and Ikezoe nod solemnly. Miyu's matter was something they cared about a lot. After all, Miyu's goal was to win the Spring Emperor's Award and then join the Miracle Team with that result. As for Miyu, everyone in the Miracle Team welcomed her joining. After all, which of these three trainers who knew Miyu's story didn't like her?

Even if Mi Yu really doesn't continue being a horse racer in the future, she is already content. Therefore, no matter whether Mi Yu wins or loses, the ending is good for Mi Yu personally. However, Jin Lang and McQueen both wish for Mi Yu's ending to be a little later and even better.

McQueen wanted Mi Yu to keep running instead of burning out after this race, while Jin Lang felt he should let the kid keep running because of something Mi Yu had said earlier.

“Mi Yu said she’s waiting for a trainer who is truly her own… If I’m not mistaken, Mi Yu is probably more or less affected by horse racing now, and has more memories of the past.”

"If I'm not mistaken... Mi Yu is probably waiting for that guy who averages [his] points per game, right?"

When the current wave slowly opened his mouth, Wada and Ikezoe both nodded approvingly. After all, in their impression, if Miyu really had to wait for someone who could truly be called a trainer, Ikezoe and Wada couldn't think of anyone else besides [name of trainer].

However, from Imanami's tone, Wada and Ikezoe seemed to detect a hint of displeasure with his opponent's average performance.

"Senior Jinlang, don't you like the average number of games?" Wada asked cautiously.

"...I wouldn't say I dislike him, but I haven't had much contact with Madoka." Upon hearing this, Imamura fell silent for a moment, then took a swig of shochu strong enough to send Wada away before speaking in a low voice:

"I've only heard about some of his training methods back then... In order to make Mi Yu able to defeat McQueen, he used many cruel training methods on Mi Yu. He was clearly just a jockey at the time, a partner fighting alongside the racehorse, yet he planned such cruel training that might have had irreversible effects on the racehorse..."

“I know he said at the time that they couldn’t beat McQueen if they didn’t do it this way, but to subject Michelle to such brutal training for a single victory… I don’t approve of that kind of training method.”

Upon hearing this, Jin Lang sighed deeply and said in a somewhat somber mood, "I was actually against him becoming a horse trainer after retiring from racing. I could tell he wasn't cut out for it, and what he did in the past... I simply couldn't forgive him."

"Jinlang-senpai's average points... were also due to unavoidable circumstances back then."

When these things were brought up, Wada and Ikezoe exchanged a glance, and it was the more senior Ikezoe who took the initiative to comfort Imanami, saying, "If Masaru hadn't done that back then, Miyu would never have been able to beat McQueen, and he would never have gained the recognition of the company—that was a medal that Miyu earned with all his might."

"Without that victory, Yone probably wouldn't have been recognized in the next Spring Emperor's Award. Matoba also regrets it; he really likes Yone."

"If it were possible for Mi Yu to retire and enjoy good treatment after retirement, I would have supported Mi Yu's retirement long ago. However, at that time, Mi Yu did not achieve good results in middle-distance races and could not enjoy the best resources, so the team allowed Mi Yu to continue running."

"This kind of thing is not something that Matoba-kun can control with his own will, so, Imai-senpai, there is no need to be so angry."

"I understand... I understand." Jin Lang gently touched his forehead with his fingers, looking quite troubled, but still muttered to himself, "I'm just... a little excited."

Why was Jin Lang so agitated? He and Mi Yu hadn't had much contact with each other on the field. But for a veteran who loved horse racing and had dedicated almost half his life to the industry, Jin Lang knew all too well how devastating it was to lose a racehorse that the team considered their pride and their child.

As for the tragedy of Mi Yu... it cannot be said that it was caused by the average number of players in the game. It can only be said that in that era, at that time, many things were beyond our control and could not be changed by one person's will.

However, what Ryou heard from McQueen was that Miyu, who seemed to have just regained some memories of the past, actually said that she wanted to join the Miracles team, not to become anyone's racehorse girl, but because she felt that in the Miracles team, she might be able to meet the person she was waiting for more quickly.

Based on only a few hazy memories, this girl was willing to wait for the average appearance of the trainer, even though she had never found her own trainer, and even though she had already retired and had no chance to receive guidance from the trainer in her heart, she was still willing to wait here.

The purity and beauty of rice bath, compared to what Jin Lang himself remembered doing back then... it's hard for Jin Lang not to be angry.

Seeing Jinlang's unusually melancholic expression, Ikezoe and Wada knew what he was thinking and made the same decision in their hearts.

—If that kid really did travel through time, I'd beat him up even if it was just for the sake of rice baths.

"Should we still let Mi Yu join the team?"

"Of course." When it came to this matter, Jin Lang was very determined. Not for any other reason, but just to take care of Mi Yu before the team's arrival, even if it was uncertain, and to let her enjoy better treatment, he was determined to get Mi Yu to join the team.

As McQueen said, the biggest obstacle is that Mi Yu will undoubtedly go all out this time. If they want to protect Mi Yu's career while also making her feel that she is being let off easy, they must have a thorough understanding of Mi Yu's tactics.

Mi Yu's "Domain" is one of her most powerful abilities. To defeat Mi Yu, one must analyze whether there are any weaknesses in Mi Yu's "Domain" that everyone has overlooked. Only then can one have a chance to make Mi Yu not over-drive her "Domain", so that this match does not become her retirement match, and can still allow her to achieve her goal.

"Ah, your average per game, if you really have the chance to come to this world, you'd better thank this old man properly..." Jin Lang thought to himself. This was the first time he had done something that, strictly speaking, had nothing to do with him, but was entirely for the good of others.

Regardless of the circumstances, whether it's for the sake of the rice bath or for the uncertain future of the game, Jinlang and McQueen must be fully prepared to meet this challenge.

The Spring Emperor's Slam, a 3200-meter track, is not only related to McQueen's consecutive Spring and Autumn Emperor's Slam titles, but also to the fate of this little black hero. If it can be changed... then Jinlang will do everything in its power to change it.

Chapter 493: The Unattainable Back View of Mipu Bourbon

Time always slips away unnoticed. While Jinlang and McQueen were still studying the tactics of the rice bath, and Ikezoe was preparing for the Takarazuka Memorial and the upcoming Arc de Triomphe Grand Prix, the Spring Emperor's Prize was drawing ever closer.

Finally, at the end of April, with all preparations complete, everyone arrived at Kyoto Racecourse to present their performance for the long-awaited Spring Emperor's Sho.

"It's finally here."

In the rest room at Kyoto Racecourse, Megumi McQueen, who had been eagerly anticipating this day, had already changed into his final outfit. However, this time, Megumi McQueen's final outfit had undergone a huge change from the previous one. It had become a pure white long dress that looked more luxurious and more in line with McQueen's current temperament, along with a short shirt that revealed his belly and white shorts. The whole outfit was very luxurious and exquisite, yet it still had a lot of youthful vitality. Although his long legs and navel were exposed, it still did not give people the slightest feeling of offense.

This final outfit is the second one that the Megumi family ordered from McQueen long ago. McQueen's first final outfit was custom-made by the school, and although it was expensive, it didn't offer any special advantages to McQueen and was obviously no longer suitable.

This final battle suit, like the two final battle suits worn by the Emperor of the East Sea, provides special enhancements to McQueen. The old lady of the Meguro family specially commissioned this final battle suit to complement McQueen's domain, "Pure White Rhythm." Testing showed it significantly improved McQueen's endurance, and perhaps it was just a feeling, but this final battle suit seemed to allow McQueen to unleash his domain more freely.

In terms of quality, McQueen's final costume is on par with the Emperor's two costumes—because this is the best that the best Japanese costume makers can achieve so far, and it is the best treatment they can enjoy.

McQueen adapted to his new decisive outfit, suppressing his unease, and muttered to himself: