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

Unfortunately, Stardust Illusion is not one for sweet talk.

Forget about saying anything fancy or polite; when it comes to competitions or training, this guy doesn't even bother with social niceties, acting completely clueless about the ways of the world.

For example, right now, if it were a stardust illusion, this is probably the only answer I would give myself:

"Ah, I'd like to ask Ryan and McQueen to run a training race with me. It would be even better if other people could join us."

As McQueen had expected, even the expression on Stardust Illusion's face was not far from what she had imagined, simply concerned with the training-related parts.

(Oh well... that's just her persona, right?)

At least in the areas that Stardust is interested in, the Megaku family has an unparalleled advantage, already far ahead of others.

Cheer up, McQueen!

He mentally fueled his emotions, but outwardly maintained an elegant smile.

"How about we schedule it around May 10th? That way the timing will be easier to coordinate... As for the specific personnel, I'll go back and discuss it with everyone before finalizing the details, what do you think?"

"May 10th might not be possible..."

Upon hearing McQueen's words, Stardust Illusion suddenly looked troubled.

She shook her head, then took a crumpled timetable from her bosom and smoothed it out on her lap:

“5月12日，我将会参加G1级的东京英里赛，所以训练赛时间最好能放在5月5日之前。”

"Because I promised Super Stream that I wouldn't let myself become completely exhausted within 7 days before the competition, so as not to affect my performance..."

"The Tokyo Mile?!"

McQueen was so shocked by this sudden and mysterious information that he shouted out loud, so loud that even the driver in front could hear him clearly and couldn't help but look up and glance in this direction through the rearview mirror.

Noticing the driver's gaze, McQueen quickly readjusted his posture, sitting upright in the most elegant manner.

"What's going on, Stardust? I never heard anything about you participating in the Tokyo Mile before the Japanese Derby!!!"

"Could it be Toyama? Coach Toyama's arranged another random match for you, hasn't he? Why don't you just ask Grandma to take her—"

"Calm down."

Seeing McQueen so flustered that he was almost rambling incoherently, Stardust Illusion had no choice but to grip the hand placed beside him tightly.

Seemingly sensing the force coming from his palm, McQueen immediately sat still, head down, without saying a word.

He had completely forgotten what he had just said.

A blush gradually rose to his cheeks, and McQueen opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but no words came out.

The two suddenly fell silent for a moment, seemingly realizing that the unusual atmosphere might attract the attention of the Mejiro family's driver ahead again. McQueen then cleared his throat:

"Ahem... No, I didn't say you could hold my hand..."

"Oh, then I'll let go."

"—?!"

Before McQueen could react, Stardust Illusion released his grip and continued:

“Choosing the Tokyo Mile was my own decision, so there’s no need to worry about the wear and tear from the race… McQueen has seen the intensity of my training, right?”

"..."

McQueen, still regretting that he had to say that, finally came to his senses.

Indeed, as Stardust Illusion said, McQueen understood just how powerful the underlying strength was, as demonstrated by her outrageous training intensity.

Unlike myself, who has exceptional endurance and can still feel completely at ease even after a 3200m race.

Stardust Illusion is the kind of performance where you can only run 1000m, but you can see her keep going: run 1000m, stop to catch her breath, then run another 1000m, catch her breath again... and so on until you start to suspect that she's deliberately acting.

"Are you really okay? If there's another reason why you want to participate, Stardust can tell me."

"Don't let factors outside the academy affect your performance in the Neon Derby, Stardust... Remember, it's a derby, you absolutely can't afford to be careless."

Even knowing she could afford it, McQueen still said so.

She didn't really want to persuade Stardust Illusion to avoid the battle, but rather wanted to give it another option.

If Stardust really has some inexplicable reason for increasing the density of the competition schedule to this extent, then perhaps she can think of a solution from the Meguro family's perspective.

but……

"No need, I'd love to compete as many times as possible."

Stardust Illusion waved its hand, decisively refusing.

“I will be playing a lot of matches from now on – I have to do this in order to keep getting stronger.”

"We can't just talk a good game to Twin Turbo and Northern Black Horse, but then let our guard down when it comes to ourselves, can we?"

Stardust Illusion didn't feel that his arrangement was forced, nor did he have any reason to care about things outside of the competition.

Trainer reputation, media attitude, JRA recommendations...

Why think so much?

Whether it's themselves, Toyama Hikari, Super Stream, or even Alice Hayako who just left the team and announced her comeback, they won't let such trivial factors affect their training schedules.

Stardust Illusion simply believes that as a racehorse girl, she should leave no regrets and run every race she wants to run...

As for what off-field impact this will have?

She only knew one thing—

Only the brilliance of Top Star is unique.

Chapter 251 Sky Palace

The next morning.

Draco's training ground.

Having completed the warm-up of four daily slope practice sessions, Stardust Illusion raises his hand to report:

"I want to try a 3000m or 3200m race simulation, so I request to temporarily remove my weighted suit."

One look of shock, then another... everyone was shocked.

"Stardust, are you alright? Why did you suddenly want to run a long distance?"

Hikari Toyama rolled her eyes.

"Didn't we agree that we wouldn't consider any long-distance races before the Chrysanthemum Festival and would focus on mile to middle-distance races?"

She muttered to herself as she got off the balance bike, carefully examining Stardust Illusion's face, only to find that it was not joking at all.

"..."

"You wouldn't have... watched McQueen's Springtime Showdown and suddenly want to have a long-distance race with her, would you?"

Hearing Toyama's speculation, Super Stream had no choice but to speak up and offer some advice:

"Long-distance races and middle-distance races may seem to differ by only a few hundred meters, but in reality, they have vastly different requirements for runners' endurance."

"To achieve something in this field, you need to practice physical exertion and cultivate awareness in a specific way."

"Just like Megumi McQueen, who focuses on middle and long distance races, or even long distances, while also taking on some middle distance G1 races, it would be too much of a stretch to suddenly start venturing into races over 3000m."

Superstream was indeed not very impressed with Stardust Illusion's expression.

As one of the top three in the Heisei era who is arguably the best at races over 3000m, she certainly knows the true difficulty involved.

Back then, during the Chrysanthemum Appreciation, Yae Musou kept a close eye on her from start to finish. When she reached the bend where she created the "Arc Artist" at the end, she almost fainted on the track due to mental exhaustion. She completed the entire race almost entirely by willpower.

To be honest, Super Stream thinks Stardust Illusion is not suitable for getting involved in long-distance races too early.

Her final leg and escape will face unprecedented challenges when facing a distance of over 3000m.

However, Super Stream, who always prioritizes the feelings of others, is unable to bring herself to directly refuse or order Stardust Illusion not to overthink things.

Sometimes, standing beside Scarlet Toyama, watching Stardust Illusion give it their all on the training field, never stopping until they were completely exhausted, she could always see a reflection of her former self.

She would recall the moments she spent with her trainer, Fumino Nase, before that chrysanthemum appreciation event, when she was still a budding flower.

She endured countless negative comments and even ridicule from the media, honing her running technique day after day for months, and finally... blossomed brilliantly on the track.

In fact, Superstream, which was always known for its "glass legs," also considered giving up.

Even though she barely managed to participate in the Kikuka Sho race, no one thought that a racehorse girl with such an obvious leg defect could finish the 3000m race of the Kikuka Sho.

Even Superstream itself is unsure.

However, Trainer Fumino firmly believed in this and encouraged her countless times.

In the end, she seized victory, making both Trainer Fumino and Super Stream household names.

For Super Stream right now, Stardust Illusion has the willingness to try new content, and regardless of the outcome, this willingness is commendable.

As her trainer, what I should do is definitely not deny or refuse, but rather—

"How about this, before we finish training, we take 20 minutes to do this long-distance simulation, okay?"

Super Stream, meeting Toyama Scarlet's surprised gaze, took the initiative to offer a suggestion.

"I'll run Stardust Illusion with you then. If you want to try a long distance, it would be best if you could learn some techniques from me."

After 2 hours.

Stardust Illusion, like a dead fish, was carried on Bourbon's shoulder with one hand, along with Superstream and Rice Bath, towards the rest area.

She no longer had the strength to move, and could only gasp for breath as she summarized her experience:

"I felt that in the 3000m simulation race just now, the beginning was actually okay, but when I entered the last 600m... I felt like I completely exhausted my stamina, and my running rhythm was also problematic. My last foot started too early, which caused me to lose speed completely."

"Brother... you're already amazing!"

I cheered Mi Yu, who came in second to last in the 3000m simulation race, with a fist bump.

"It's okay, it's just my first time running such a long distance."

Super Stream, who won first place, thought the result was quite normal. She had long seen that if the team were ranked by endurance and long-distance talent, Bourbon would be first, Mi Bath second, and Stardust Illusion would be last.

"The running strategies for long distances are completely different from those for medium-distance and long-distance runs, and the running methods also need to be changed. How can you master them all from the start?"

"Stardust seems to habitually choose to launch his first final push when there are a little over 700m of race time remaining... This is indeed a good position for medium distances, but it will consume an extra amount of already surprisingly high stamina in long-distance races."