Side Story: Training Experience Edition
The morning after returning from the underworld, at 4:50 a.m., I stretched outside my house, prepping for training. Sumr camp was over, but strength cos from daily effort.
Beside , Buchou and Asia stretched too, used to training with since moving in. Their movents—let's just say—were a feast for the eyes. Morning blessings! Thank you!
Feeling energized, I stretched my hips when sothing soft pressed against my back.
"Ufufu, Issei-kun, care to join my stretches?" Akeno-san pressed closer, her presence undeniable through her tracksuit. Heavenly!
"Of course, Akeno-san!" I'd stretch with her anyti!
As I got excited, soone grabbed my right hand. Koneko-chan, blushing and fidgeting, looked up. "Can I… join too?"
Too cute! Since sumr camp, Koneko-chan's been different—sitting on my lap on the train, even sleeping on this morning in cat-ear mode, purring "Nyan♪." Unreal cuteness!
"Absolutely!" I bead.
"Thank you, Issei-senpai," she smiled, nearly giving a nosebleed.
Miu, Asia, and now Koneko-chan—my ultimate healers!
"Muu… First Vice-President Akeno, now Koneko? Tough competition," Xenovia muttered, stretching behind .
"Issei-kun conquers hearts without even trying," Reyna added.
Conquers? What?
"Haha, classic Issei-kun," Kiba laughed.
"Amazing, Issei-senpai!" Gasper chid in.
I don't get it.
Whatever. Helping Akeno-san and Koneko-chan stretch, I glanced at my watch. They should be here soon…
"Hey, Hyoudou!" Saji waved, approaching with several girls.
"Yo, Saji… and President?"
The entire student council was with him. I'd invited Saji to train in the hospital, but the whole crew?
"I ntioned training with you, and President wanted to try," Saji said with a wry smile.
"After our last ga, I realized our shortcomings," Sona explained. "I thought this could inform our future training. Sorry for coming unannounced. Is it okay?"
Classic President—turning defeat into growth. She'll win next ti.
"No problem! Let's make this a joint Gremory-Sitri morning training."
Gremory and Sitri mbers lined up outside my house, with and a yawning Miu at the front.
"Alright, let's start. Today, you'll experience part of my training routine. That cool?" I'd planned to train Saji, but when I told Buchou, everyone wanted in. Sa with the Sitri crew.
Kiba and Saji I could push hard, but the girls? I hesitated.
"Sounds good," Buchou nodded.
No choice then.
"Okay," I sighed, explaining. "My training doesn't start with techniques. No matter how skilled you are, without stamina, it's useless. So, you're running ten kiloters to the next town."
Everyone looked surprised.
Sitri's guri raised her hand. "That's just normal training, right? That's your regin? Kinda unexpected."
Everyone nodded.
"It's not just running," I clarified. "You'll do it with added resistance."
"Resistance?"
"Yep. That's why I got Miu up early."
Only Miu could pull this off.
"Miu, sorry to wake you, but let's do it."
"Yawn Okay. How much?"
"First ti, and since you're all demons… ten tis gravity? Except Gasper and Asia—they wouldn't handle it."
"Ten tis, got it." Miu's magic circle flared and vanished.
"Ugh!"
"My body… so heavy!"
Sweat beaded on everyone's faces; so dropped to their knees.
"Hyoudou, what's this?" Sona asked, breathing hard.
"You're all under ten tis gravity."
Shock rippled through them.
"You trained like this!?" Saji gasped.
"Yeah. Said it'd kill a hundred tis, didn't I? Nearly died starting out. My master showed no rcy."
mories of being kicked off cliffs and tanking attacks in this state flooded back. Pure hell.
They looked rough. Too intense?
"If it's too much, say so—except Saji. Don't want anyone breaking."
"You're fine breaking !?" Saji yelled.
"Push through with grit."
"You demon!"
Yep, demon through and through.
"Miu, hit with thirty tis. I'm running too."
"Got it."
Her magic circle activated, and the weight slamd . My shoes sank into the ground. Brutal, but familiar.
"Let's go!"
"Sorry, we give up!" the girls cried in unison.
With the girls out, it was just , Kiba, and Saji running.
The others trained in my basent gym.
I glanced at them, drenched in sweat, dragging their heavy bodies forward.
"You guys okay?"
"Does this look okay!?" Saji panted.
"Honestly… I'm nearing my limit," Kiba wheezed.
Exhausted already. First ti's tough.
"Rest soon?"
"How soon?" Saji asked.
"Four kiloters?"
"You're insane! I'll die!"
"We've only gone one kiloter!"
Saji gaped, and Kiba slumped, hands on the ground. Felt like looking at my past self.
"You're fine with three tis our load," Saji muttered.
"Been through it. Plus, I'm boosting with Renkan Keikikou."
Not cheating—just part of the training.
"Saji, less talking, more moving. Talking wastes energy."
"Damn it, I know!"
We reached the next town past noon. Good thing it's Sunday—weekdays, we'd be late.
Miu's gravity spell lifted as we arrived, my body light as a feather. I practiced katas, keeping loose.
Kiba and Saji collapsed on a park bench, utterly spent. Kiba's charm was ruined.
"No surprise. That training's brutal. They can't handle it yet. You did, though—back when you were just human," my partner remarked.
Just had more grit than most.
Our stomachs growled. Lunchti.
"Ti to head back. Mom's probably got lunch ready."
"Yeah…" Kiba mumbled.
"So hungry…" Saji groaned.
"Eat at my place. You earned it."
"I'll take you up on that. No energy to cook," Kiba said with a weak smile.
"Let's dash back. Food'll get cold!"
The two slumped again.
"Run again?" Saji whined.
"No gravity now. Should be easy."
"My legs are jelly!"
"Grit it out."
"Here we go again…"
We ran ho, wrapping up the training experience.
The next day, Kiba and Saji were wrecked with muscle pain, barely able to move. Ten tis gravity was too much.
I'll coach them again tomorrow, but maybe ease up a bit…
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