Battle of the Brave - Chapter 2

[iridesenescence]

Location: School Route

Tsumugi: Ow, ow, ow~

Natsume: Senpai, stop groaning like thaT. The passers-by are all giving us strange lookS!

Tsumugi: After just one training exercise, I’m so tired that it feels like even just walking will make my body fall apart…

Natsume: Senpai, even if you collapse onto the roaD, I’m not helping you uP.

Tsumugi: You’re so heartless, Natsume-kun. If I collapse here as a car comes by and I’m so exhausted that I can’t move out of the way in time…

Wah, there really is something ahead! A black shadow is running this way!

Natsume: ThiS… This looks like Baru-kun’s doG. What was his name agaiN…

But this means that Baru-kun must be nearby toO…

Tsumugi: Wah, Daikichi, don’t pounce on me. I’ve got no energy right now, so you’ll knock me over~

Oh, that’s right. Just like your owner, you like shiny things.

Natsume: You are so uselesS, Senpai. A little push from him is already enough to leave you on the grounD.

LooK, in comparisoN, even this little one may be stronger than yoU. (picks up Daikichi)

Tsumugi: Thank you for getting Daikichi off of me, but, uu… Comparing me to Daikichi makes me rather sad. (dusts himself off)

Subaru: Oi Daikichi, wait up, you lil’ rascal! Running so fast at this time of the night is dangerous~

Ohh?! If it isn’t Natsume and Blue-senpai? What a coincidence this is, meeting you guys at night~

Natsume: Good eveninG, Baru-kun~

Tsumugi: Good evening, but I’ve already told you several times, please stop referring to me like a colour on a traffic light…

Akehoshi-kun, what are you doing out here so late?

Subaru: I was taking Daikichi out for a walk! For some reason, he keeps wanting to go out and play today.

Maybe it’s cos it’s cool out tonight, or something else…

So I ended up bringing him out. I don’t know what got into him, but he suddenly broke free and ran off on his own…

Well, now I’m pretty sure that he ran over cos he picked up your scent and thought of the shiny stuff hanging off of your bag, Blue-senpai.

Come to think of it, it’s late, but were you guys in the middle of something? How come Yellow Kid isn’t with you?

Blue-senpai looks absolutely exhausted too; don’t tell me that you guys are doing some kind of secret special training~ ♪

Natsume: It’s not anything speciaL, we’re just trying to build Senpai’s staminA. The training was lasting til too latE, so I had Sora go home earlY.

Subaru: Stamina-building? That sounds interesting! What kind of training are you doing~?

Natsume: Look at mE. Do you really think it’s interestinG?

Subaru: Are you facing some kind of problem?

Natsume: SigH. It’s a long storY. All I can say is that Senpai iS, as alwayS, a piece of trasH…

Tsumugi: It’s all my fault…

Because I’m like this, we decided that I should build my stamina.

Natsume-kun painstakingly selected all sorts of exercises for me, but I couldn’t do any of them…

Initially I was supposed to jog, but the Track and Field Club was training at the running track so we had to temporarily give up on that.

Then we noticed some rope and tyres that someone else had used and put aside, so Natsume-kun had me train by pulling the tyre…

Apparently this exercise is a really good workout, and it helps to build muscle strength, so I tried it out first…

I don’t know if I was doing it wrong or if I had just pushed myself beyond my limits, but…

But well, that’s basically how I ended up like this; my whole body is sore and aching…

Uu… It’s all my fault for being so useless. I even ended up wasting Natsume-kun’s time…

Subaru: Ah, I see. No wonder Blue-senpai’s dead tired.

But y’know, I think that the problem here might be the method you’re using. It’s true that pulling tyres helps to increase stamina, but…

Just look at him! Blue-senpai’s way too skinny, of course he can’t handle that level of training.

Natsume: Hm, how surprising for Baru-kun to make good observations and deductionS.

Subaru: Natsume, that wasn’t you praising me, was it?! I can tell, y’know!

Actually, based on some of the specialised programmes I watched on TV, mountain climbing is supposed to be a better method for stamina training.

The programme also said that not only does mountain climbing give you a workout, it also helps you relax your body and mind. I think it suits both of you since you’re also busy with both idol and fortune-telling work, Natsume~ ♪

Besides, I can be your guide and show you guys around~

How’s that! Not only am I good at deduction, I’m also thoughtful! Hehe~☆

Natsume: Mountain climbinG, hM? That doesn’t sound too baD. What do you saY, Senpai?

Tsumugi: Well, it sounds more relaxing than pulling tyres~

Natsume: In that casE, I’ll keep it in minD.

AlsO, constantly acting so lifeless is terribly embarrassinG, Senpai. Come oN, pull yourself togetheR!

Subaru: Hehehe~ Looks like Blue-senpai prefers my suggestion, too~☆

Chapter 1 || Chapter 3