Chapter 10 (1/2)

「W~e are the lively ACE troops♪」

「…」

「What’s up with your weak voices, yell a little louder!」

「「「We are the lively ACE troops!」」」

「Yosh, running from morning till evening♪」

「「「 Running from morning till evening!」」」

Running in desperation were the D-cla.s.s students, singing marching songs often heard in movies. Behind them was Ooma, who chased them from behind as they lightly circled the sports ground.

All those who were in sports clubs during middle school were somehow able to keep up with Ooma, while those who were in liberal arts clubs quickly tired out.

「I can’t run anymore…」

「I-I almost died…」

Itsuki, whose lack of stamina could be seen at a glance, and Kanna were both breathing heavily and collapsed in succession, turning the sports ground into a corpse-littered field.

「Gentlemen, although I don’t mind even if you stop running, I won’t let you return to the cla.s.sroom until you’ve finished 50 laps. Don’t worry, sensei will keep you company till night」

「…!?」

Hearing Ooma’s heartless words, the ones who collapsed screamed, regretting their lack of stamina before getting back on their feet and continuing to walk.

「T-This Gorilla is a demon…」

Since Eisuke still had some spare stamina thanks to being a member of the tennis club (which he entered to become more popular with girls), he muttered a complaint. Naturally, it entered the so-called demon coach’s ears.

「Since you still have room for more, I’ll add 10 more laps just for you」

「HIIIIiiiii!? Please forgive me, Neanderthal-sensei!」

「Yoosh, I’ll give you 30 more laps for free」

「Bleergh—-!」

Looking at Eisuke who raised such a strange voice, the rest of the cla.s.s was thinking the same thing.

Is that guy an M?

——— Or.

While he performed such an act, the students who were former sports club members somehow managed to finished their quota.

「The last lap is a das.h.!.+」

「「「HIIIIIIII!」」」

While screaming, they were forced to endure a dash for their last lap, as if there were whips las.h.i.+ng at their sore legs.

「Good, you did it, now make sure you keep yourselves hydrated」

Ooma showed his appreciation to the students who were still running by offering a kettle filled with water, still looking as if he could keep running for longer.

「Such monstrous stamina…」

「He is a monste~r…」

Slumping on the ground, Hinata and Kokoa couldn’t even walk anymore.

「Speaking of monsters, then THAT guy too」

Looking over with stunned expressions, they watched the two people who were lapping the rest of the cla.s.s.

They were Eisuke, who got an extra 30 laps despite looking out of breath already, and his friend Souji who kept him company, wearing a normal expression that didn’t show signs of exhaustion or breathlessness at all.

「You… how can… you’re still that calm…?」

「Because I’m used to this」

Whether it was helping with his family’s field, or spear training with his grandfather, or playing in the mountain with the neighbourhood kids.

Except for the times when he had to study for school, Souji was constantly moving his body. This kind of running wasn’t even enough for a warm up.

「But, this training is very light, isn’t it」

「…Are you sane?」

Though Eisuke was grimacing when he said that joke, Souji answered him with a serious look on his face.

「As a soldier in training, your way of thinking is too weak」

「Well, that’s true…」

Though the 50 laps a.s.signed by Ooma was too severe for students without stamina, it’s not that hard for students originally from a sports club.

If they were running on unleveled marshlands or forests, it surely would have been an endurance contest that’d make them vomit blood.

As training for a soldier who’ll be sent to the battlefield, this was indeed even sweeter than candy.

「Though that’s true, how can you call this training sweet!」

Eisuke, who rebuked in an frustrated tone, had forgotten about his anger and pointed to the side of the school building.

With its sections covered by verdant green lush, there were only level, bright brown colored drylands.

There, were the students of A-cla.s.s who were currently enjoying themselves, happily playing futsal.

「GO, Otome!」

「Kyaa~, my kick isn’t that strong」