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

The moment the singing reached their ears, Aili Digital froze in astonishment.

Simply because this song was definitely not any of the winner's live performances she had ever heard.

The contestant on stage had a clear but slightly husky voice that wasn't particularly outstanding, but it perfectly complemented the song's simple and cheerful style, as if the song was made for her.

Is this a new live performance?

Is this a theme song exclusive to Stardust Illusion?!

Countless lights lit up at this moment, transforming into a starlight-studded road that was evenly scattered on both sides of the singer.

Like a servant kneeling to welcome a king, she was led from the high platform in the center of the stage to the front.

"Look, you can hold it in your hand."

"That ticket to tomorrow that I once let go of!"

The entire stage was bathed in pale blue light, as if a gentle breeze was blowing, which eventually converged on her raised right hand.

As the song resounded, the large screen at the deepest part of the stage suddenly lit up.

The scene that flashes behind the stardust illusion is one that most viewers have never seen before.

That was a stardust illusion, something she had witnessed as a runner.

She has failed, she has suffered.

In a corner where no one was watching, tears flowed freely because of losing the game.

On the training field in the early morning, he collapsed and vomited because he couldn't hold on any longer in order to run one more 200m sprint.

In each race, he gradually ran faster and faster, letting the strong wind blow against his face, and regained victory.

At this moment, Aili Digital was absolutely certain that this was definitely not an ordinary live performance. The visuals and the singing were completely integrated; this was...

This is Stardust Illusion, a song proclaiming the existence of this runner, this runner who has failed yet grown stronger!

Alice Digital couldn't help but whisper out loud, wanting to vent the uncontrollable joy in her heart: "You're very unwilling to accept losing to the Emperor of the East Sea, aren't you?! That's why you're like this!"

"You've poured so much sweat into standing on the same field and stage as her again..."

"Run, sing... I want to compete with her once again for that winner's throne!"

"This is not a winner's stage at all."

"This is what you want to show all the spectators, all the racehorse girls, and the Emperor of the East Blue today... something uniquely yours, Stardust Illusion—"

"—A Revue of Confession!"

"I understand (Wagarimas)!"

----------------

"Is this... an original winner's stage?"

The Emperor of the East Sea stood closest to the audience, looking up at the stardust illusion on the stage.

But as the stage unfolded, her face gradually turned crimson, her ears began to sway back and forth, and her ponytail started to swing back and forth, unable to stay still.

Gazing at the stardust illusion unfolding before her and the scene behind her, the emperor's heart was deeply shaken:

"Stardust...? Is that me? And everyone, what does this all mean...?"

Her feelings became complicated at this moment, and she began to understand the meaning in that clear singing voice.

That was a stardust illusion accusing its former, failed self.

That was herself, the one who had lost to her in her debut battle.

As the images before him unfolded page by page, the emperor learned for the first time the feelings of his adversary.

So even she, who always seemed like nothing could break her, had cried because she lost a game?

Is that why she issued a challenge to herself after that winner's stage?

The song's mood isn't particularly uplifting, but it's certainly not sad either; it's more like an optimistic runner announcing that he'll continue to work hard tomorrow.

The Emperor of the East Sea could feel that sunny and confident feeling; only the emotions expressed from the heart by Stardust Illusion could make this song so moving.

She was showing everyone her most vulnerable side...

Stardust Illusion used this method to get everyone present to face her past failures, giving her the courage to take the first step towards tomorrow.

This is a song sung only for myself.

Stardust is telling herself through her song that she will stand on the stage of the classic triple crown and completely grasp the vast world that belongs to the winner!

She's challenging herself!

The Emperor of the East Sea thought to himself.

However, just as he was thinking this, the emperor noticed that his share of the image on the large screen was increasing.

Not only his own performance on the field, but everything that the Stardust Illusion saw was displayed to everyone.

You could even see that, running through the next two races, she kept thinking about the emperor who had once defeated her...

"This...this ...

With a whoosh, the Emperor of the East Sea's face flushed crimson, like a boiled shrimp.

The screen flashed a picture of her communicating with the Stardust Illusion in the hospital room.

Immediately, the emperor's mind involuntarily began to recall the picture book that Alice Digital had mysteriously shown her after the Stardust Illusion left...

No way?!

Could Stardust really be—

"What is she doing! Idiot! Why is she keeping showing me images!?"

"Don't look! Don't... let everyone see me again!"

----------------

Chapter 53 Position Zero!

At this moment, Stardust Illusion, standing on the stage, is unaware that, due to her unfamiliarity with the stage setup, the images flashing through her mind are being projected page by page on the large screen behind her.

She remained immersed in the performance.

"As I stepped out of the station, the setting sun came into view."

The orange afterglow blurred my vision, silently illuminating the tears that streamed down my face...

“There’s always a voice in my heart telling me that this is where I belong.”

The voice in my heart advising me that giving up is the right thing to do, the voice in my mind telling me that stopping will make things easier.

"Running among the crowd, striving upwards and forwards."

"I've realized that I've been putting on a brave face all along, without even realizing it."

Stardust illusions murmur softly, as memories of the past flow endlessly.

From her debut battle onwards, those scenes of her journey are a testament to her relentless pursuit of victory, even if it means putting on a brave face... her own silhouette.

She slowly retreated, facing the audience, step by step returning to the original platform, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, as if gathering immense power, and even the lights gradually dimmed...

"As long as we can run away—"

"—Look, you can hold it in your hand!"

"That ticket to tomorrow that we once missed!"

The next moment, all the stage lights suddenly blazed on, and beams of multicolored light gathered in the girl's hand, then blossomed into the most dazzling and beautiful flower:

"Let's start from here and begin again!"

"To achieve what I desire, let's reset once again!"

As she sang the Stardust Illusion with all her might, she suddenly felt her hair sway slightly, and the cloak behind her began to shake.

From who knows where, a wind began to blow on this stage that belonged only to her.

The headwind blowing in my face seemed to be trying to blow the stardust illusion off the steps.

But she was completely unaffected, scattering the flowers formed from the light in her hands onto the audience. She stepped firmly up the steps, one after another, and then stood in the center of the highest stage.

This is her spot, the center position of the one and only winner.

Now, Stardust Illusion has only one thing to do: sing out loud, pouring all her emotions into her song, so that everyone may know her true intentions.

Alice Digital wasn't mistaken; at this moment, she wasn't performing for others as the winner.

Stardust Illusion is a racehorse girl who tells everyone who sees her everything!

This is her, a confession!

----------------

Below the stands, Rudolf symbolizes watching the young girl singing on stage with admiration.

The lights changed constantly in accordance with the intentions of the stardust illusion, and the stage rose and fell in sync with the atmosphere of the song.

She had assumed the other party's performance might go wrong like Oguri Hat or Special Week, since there had never been any information about Stardust Illusion undergoing any stage training.

However, seeing her so engrossed in her performance, Rudolf couldn't help but chuckle silently, feeling somewhat helpless about his earlier worries.

Yes, as long as you are willing to express yourself, how could a Uma Musume standing on the winner's stage not shine?

Unlike other Uma Musume (horse racers) who focus on singing and dancing and perform like idols.

Stardust Illusion was the most adept performer Rudolf had ever seen in using stage equipment.

Everything on this stage seemed to become an aid for her to express herself.

The song, originally not particularly outstanding, was rendered by Stardust Illusion, as if a gentle breeze were caressing the faces of every listener, making them unconsciously immerse themselves in the song.

In Rudolph's eyes, she could clearly see every expression on the Stardust Illusion's face on the stage.

Even while singing and sharing her past failures with everyone, there was no confusion in her eyes. It was a burning gaze that appeared because she fully understood what she was now longing for.

This song is neither particularly cheerful nor particularly energetic, but it is precisely this feeling of jogging in the open field, with a gentle breeze on your face, fresh air all around, and the sound of birdsong that makes even Rudolf slightly intoxicated.