Every muscle in his body screamed in protest as Tanaka Masao dragged himself out of bed.
The 6:00 AM alarm was like a cruel joke. His first instinct was to abandon the whole idea of a morning run.
He was sore, exhausted and his bed had never felt more inviting.
But then an image of Yukinoshita Yukino flashed in his mind. With a grimace, he pushed through the pain, got ready, and made his way to school.
—
The campus was quiet at this hour. After changing into his gym clothes in the restroom near the track, he stepped onto the field.
With five minutes to spare before seven, he easily spotted her: a solitary, elegant figure standing by the edge of the track.
He walked over, his own footsteps feeling heavy.
"Good morning, Yukinoshita-san."
She acknowledged him with a slight nod. "Good morning, Masao-kun. You made it."
"Barely," he admitted with a wry smile. "I think my legs might actually fall off."
"That would be a significant setback. We'll have to hope they remain attached for today's session," she replied, her tone dry but not unkind.
"Are you ready to begin?"
"As I'll ever be."
After the brief exchange, Masao began a slow jog around the crimson track.
Yukinoshita, knowing her own limited stamina, didn't join him. Instead, she found a bench and sat down to observe, her posture perfectly straight.
Five minutes later, he was back where he started, already breathing heavily.
Yukinoshita glanced at her watch.
"One lap in five minutes. You continue to defy expectations, Masao-kun. Do you know how long it takes an average man to walk a kilometer?"
Huffing, he managed, "No, how long?"
"Ten minutes. This track is four hundred meters. Your running pace is slower than a leisurely walk."
"That can't be right!" he protested, his eyes widening.
He knew he was out of shape, but the comparison was humiliating.
She ignored his shock and continued.
"For now, speed is irrelevant. Your only goal is continuous movement for one hour. Even if you end up walking the entire time."
Nodding, Masao set off again.
Despite her words, a stubborn part of him made him push a little harder, trying to quicken his pace. The burst of speed was short-lived; within moments, he was forced back to a sluggish jog, then a fast walk.
Yukinoshita noted the brief, futile effort.
She said nothing, but a trace of approval softened her expression.
'He's weak, sure, but he has the will to improve. Not bad.'
—
By the twenty-minute mark, sweat plastered Masao's hair to his forehead, and his breath came in ragged gasps. Running was no longer an option; he had settled into a determined, plodding walk.
Another twenty minutes passed, and his legs transformed into leaden weights. Each step was a conscious, painful effort. His pace slowed to a trudge.
In the final twenty minutes, he barely managed to complete a single, agonizing lap.
When he finally stumbled to a halt, he looked spent.
Yukinoshita approached. "Good, that's enough for today. Go clean up."
"It's... finally over?" he wheezed, collapsing onto the cool grass in a heap.
Relief washed over him as he gulped down the morning air. He wiped his soaked face with his sleeve and had to remove his glasses, revealing the ordinary, slightly narrow eyes they usually hid.
They were still bloodshot from days of poor sleep, a lingering testament to his old habits.
Yukinoshita waited patiently for his breathing to steady.
"Don't lie there for too long. Your muscles will stiffen. Up you get." She paused as if remembering something. "You typically eat lunch alone, correct?"
Using his arms for leverage, Masao pushed himself up.
"Yeah. I do."
"From now on, have your lunch in the Service Club room. It's quiet, and it will allow me to supervise your diet."
The suggestion was practical, and the clubroom was a peaceful haven. He agreed without hesitation.
After a quick change back into his uniform in the restroom, he emerged to see Yukinoshita's retreating back in the distance.
She had waited for him. A genuine feeling of warmth spread through his chest.
'She acts so aloof, but she's incredibly kind-hearted. She's taking this request seriously.'
"I can't let her down," he muttered to himself, feeling a renewed surge of motivation.
Having someone to hold him accountable made all the difference.
—
Back in the classroom, with thirty minutes still until homeroom, the room was only half-full.
Masao sank into his chair, leaning back with a deep sigh. The simple act of sitting still felt like a luxury.
The accumulated fatigue from two days of intense exertion settled over him like a heavy blanket.
Just before the bell rang, the girl who sat in front of him, Kawasaki Saki, hurried in, yawning behind her hand. Dark circles shadowed her eyes.
'She has it tough, too,' Masao thought, watching her slump into her seat.
He knew she juggled caring for her younger siblings and a part-time job after school. She wasn't just working for pocket money; she was saving for cram school, fighting for a chance at a good university.
She was probably studying late into the night every day.
Someone that diligent must have excellent grades.
The thought led him to reflect on his own academic standing.
The "old" Masao, burdened by bullying and apathy, had largely given up on school and studies.
He'd only barely scraped into Soabu High, his admission owing more to luck than effort.
If memory served, his overall ranking was dead last in his year level. The only subject where he wasn't at the very bottom was math; in all others, he proudly held the title of last place.
He found he didn't care much about his ranking.
His previous life's experiences had already given him a full education. In this one, with his new... circumstances, he would listen in class, but he wouldn't stress over the results.
He'd let his grades fall where they may.
The morning's four classes passed uneventfully.
To his surprise, he discovered he could follow the lessons in math and English without much trouble. It was the history class that lost him completely; the names and dates felt alien and unmoored.
___
__
[email protected]/Raven_scroll (30+ Advance Chapters)