Uma Musume Girl, I'll tell you about my Santa Hat special move too?

Chapter 204 (9K) (plus 26) BGM: Sword and Halberd Raging Waves

After sending Mi Yu back to her dormitory to rest, Stardust Illusion began her daily training until the agreed-upon time that night.

The players who had pre-booked the training match arrived as scheduled. Since everyone had already gotten to know each other, they formed small groups of two or three, chatting and warming up at the same time.

Only Orihime, who arrived last, stood silently in the corner of the training ground, stretching her body one last time, without any intention of interacting with anyone.

"Alright, it's almost time. How's everyone's preparation going?"

Holding a scoreboard and pen, and with a stopwatch slung over her shoulder, Higanbana Toyama walked to the center of the track and announced to the racehorse girls who were warming up in the training area:

"The current event is the 1600m training race, a right turn on the grass, with a total of 9 athletes participating..."

"Hahahaha! This time, Tower Pump will have to perform well in front of Master—Tower Pump Escape Engine is running at full throttle!!!"

Before Hikari Toyama could finish speaking, she was interrupted by a girl next to her who was making a whimpering noise.

This young girl had a set of uneven shark teeth, long blue twin ponytails, and a petite figure that exuded confidence and smugness.

"Master, please keep an eye on the tower pump later... Whoa!!!"

"Don't interrupt the other trainers—Double Turbo!" Necha covered his teammate's mouth, then bowed apologetically to the others.

"Rice Bath... Rice Bath will try its best too!"

The rice bath that inspired me this morning seems to have somewhat diminished my inner courage.

But she still clenched her fists in front of her chest, encouraging herself:

"Become a hero... even a rice bath can make you a hero!"

"Self-check status: Good, power reactor operating normally. Meipu Bourbon - ready to depart at any time."

Bourbon's tone was devoid of any emotion. He coldly walked towards the starting line, stood still, and assumed a starting stance, waiting for the training match to begin.

"Everyone, keep going! You can talk to me if you have any difficulties~" Super Stream, wearing a tracksuit, encouraged the other runners around her in a soft voice, making it impossible to tell that she was also an opponent who would start the race soon.

And on the left, there's Meguro McQueen, a noblewoman with long, light purple hair, talking to Narita Shirahito...

"..."

Aigumi looked at all the opponents on the field. Although there were only eight opponents, they covered almost the entire race stage of Uma Musume.

Rice Bath and Twin Turbine, which have not yet made their debut.

Miura Bourbon, who just participated in her debut battle.

Stardust and Narita Shirohito, who have already begun preparing for the classic year's triple crown, along with other excellent players from the same classic year.

Megumi McQueen, a veteran runner who is now aiming for a consecutive reign as the King of Runners.

And Super Stream, though retired, is a force to be reckoned with.

It's safe to say that he's absolutely qualified to be her opponent in terms of strength, and even those who admire Orihime are starting to look forward to seeing how much useful knowledge they can learn from this match...

"Hmm, not bad momentum, huh?"

The voice of Stardust Illusion suddenly came from beside her, waking her from her thoughts.

"So, are you satisfied with this training match?"

"I can tell that Orihime, you're a runner with top-tier talent, so I'm really looking forward to the result of this training match—"

As soon as Stardust Illusion uttered this seemingly casual remark, all the racehorse girls on the track suddenly turned their heads in unison, looking intently at Orihime, who adored him.

"How--"

This imposing aura startled even Ai-mu Orihime, causing her to take a half-step back. She then reacted, pursed her lips, and glared back at the other contestants defiantly.

Great, everyone's morale is excellent!

Although Stardust Illusion didn't understand the source of this atmosphere, she could sense the indomitable fighting spirit emanating from the runners in front of her, even as they genuinely felt the pain. She nodded to herself in approval.

"Running is the best way to convey messages, I've always believed that—Orihime, find the answer to your confusion in this training match."

"……I'll try."

Ai Musashi didn't respond to Stardust Illusion's comment. She said this in a cold tone, then turned and left, standing at the starting line of the simulated competition with the other contestants:

"Ready—this is a training match, but it's no joke."

Standing at the starting line, Hikari Toyama raised her right hand, holding the scoreboard, high and gave all the runners in front of her a wicked smile:

"Give it your all... and kill your opponents—begin!!!"

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A 1600m race... Compared to her usual training, this distance is neither too far nor too close, probably within her comfort zone.

After the training race started, Aiko Orihime was momentarily distracted.

It's already 7 p.m., and the sky is quite dark.

In that dark sky, starlight twinkled.

And among them, a very special star gradually began to shimmer with a unique light...

The runners around her gradually formed running groups, just like in many of the training races she usually participated in.

Although there are many players who have participated in the competition, the pace is no different from the usual training matches...?

No, we must not be so careless.

With a thought, everything on the entire arena appeared in Orihime's mind in perfect detail, like a holographic overview of a map.

This is one of her special talents.

From a young age, he admired Orihime and would often enter this special state while running.

Without needing to observe deliberately, relying solely on peripheral vision, hearing, the sense of smell, the tactile sensation of her opponent's wind-blown attack, and even the subtle guidance that seemed to be guiding her... all these elements combined to imprint the entire match's events into Orihime's mind in this way.

Or rather, when running at full speed, her perspective inexplicably shifts from the ground to the air, as if she were suspended in the sky, gaining a comprehensive view of the race.

He admired Orihime and knew that this was... a special ability she had given him.

[Golden Skill: Knowing One's Fate, activated!]

When no one was watching, her pale purple eyes began to glow, the light flickering in a strange sync with the rhythm of a star in the sky…

Stardust Illusion is already a formidable runner. Although she may not take training races too seriously, her monstrous strength is undeniable.

Moreover, their opponents include Mejiro McQueen, Super Stream, Excellent Quality, and Miura Bourbon, among others...

(Did the runners Excellent Quality, Megumi McQueen, and Super Stream choose the lead-out running style?)

Ai Musashi calmly assessed the situation in the early stages of the match, analyzing the characteristics of each opponent.

Then there's the girl named Miyu. She's following behind Megumi McQueen, is she preparing to gather strength in the center?

But this match... no, there are too few people—they're here!

Sensing the unusual affection for Orihime, he suddenly shifted his gaze to the front of the group:

"Hahahaha—the tower pump is in superb condition!!!"

He was laughing wildly and shouting wildly.

With that childlike, high-pitched voice, he announced to everyone that he was the first runner to appear. The Twin Turbo took the lead and broke away from the runners' group to rush forward!

[Golden skill guarantees victory with the first strike, already activated!]

Behind her, Stardust Illusion and Miura Bourbon seemed to have worked together in perfect harmony, forming a leading group one after the other.

The two were led by Stardust Illusion Windbreaker, with Miura Bourbon close behind.

The synchronization between the two movements was almost off the charts, full of mechanical rhythmic beauty.

Like a Shinkansen bullet train speeding along the railway, it roared straight after that twin-turbocharged one—

A mass exodus?

Or is it a duo escape?

No, neither!

In this nine-person race, three runners have resolutely chosen to escape!

----------

As expected of Stardust Illusion, that overlord suddenly doesn't care at all that someone is eating his tail, and directly uses a great escape to deal with all enemies?!

And there's that little guy who went ahead even before Stardust Illusion, his name is Twin Turbo, right?

Unexpectedly, her strength was so formidable. Before anyone else even realized it, the Twin Turbines had already detected Stardust Illusion's intentions and activated them in advance, suppressing her.

This is terrifying! Is this the intensity of their usual training?!

Ai Mu was somewhat taken aback by the intense competition before her, but she didn't show much fear.

From the very beginning, I should have focused on how much I could learn rather than on winning this training match.

And even with such a powerful opponent... does her love for Orihime really mean she has no chance of winning?

Now! Charge forward!

This time, she not only wants to gain something from the training matches, but she also cannot let victory slip by.

Because she had already sworn to that dazzling star that she would win the game all by herself!

--------

Super Stream, who participated in this competition as a trainer, observed all the runners from the start.

At that moment, she instantly realized Orihime's plan. Even when faced with such an absurd situation, Orihime still managed to identify the opportunity in a very short time.

Ai Mu Zhi Ji suddenly exerted her strength from the back, instantly leaving Mi Yu behind, and charged towards the three-person team that had advanced first.

(I hope she'll be alright?)

Super Stream was somewhat worried about Orihime's condition; she could tell that the runner's mind wasn't entirely on the race.

It was as if she were fighting against something unseen; the look in Orihime's eyes conveyed that message.

These runners are often the most dangerous on the track, as they may cause irreversible falls or even collisions at any time due to neglecting something.