Training

The next Monday, they finally came back to school. Shirotsuka Sanae was explaining about the roles. She chose to do this because it would be better for them to experience it themselves first before she explained it.

After all, without knowing how it works in real life, it would be hard for them to picture it in their heads with her explanation.

"When you're in the outside world, you'll usually go with a group of five. Each of you will have a role in the group: Vanguard, scout, support, and attackers.

"As a vanguard, do not think about taking the magical beasts' attacks alone. You can dodge the magical beasts' attacks, and you shouldn't spend much energy when fighting a magical beast. And if possible, you should also attack the magical beasts.

"As for scouts, although your main responsibility is to search for magical beasts nearby, there are two other jobs for you to do. Firstly, you need to scout for other monsters nearby. After all, if your group were to attract another group of magical beasts to your position, things may turn to the worst.

"So you need to keep track of your position, your team, and other magical beasts. The other thing you need to do is make an ambush toward the magical beasts that your group is currently fighting. You should not let your position get found out easily.

"As for supports… I don't have much to say. You should know that as a support, you need to support your entire team. You are the one who needs to have the perfect timing the most. Helping the vanguard in dealing with the magical beasts' attacks and assisting your team's attackers so the magical beasts wouldn't be able to block their attacks are a few examples of your duties.

"And lastly, attackers… All you need to do is to attack. Make sure you kill the magical beasts as soon as possible. And if possible, you shouldn't make a big move from the very beginning, as it might give away your group position and attract the magical beasts," Shirotsuka Sanae explained.

Everyone was taking notes. With all these categories, Ayaka glanced at Kai. He had performed everything, from vanguard, scout, to attacker. She then tried to recall how she fought, and it turned out that she only performed the role of attacker and support. Even her support role was only because of Kai's orders.

She began to contemplate. She was thinking, if she were to take that role, how would she do it? She might be able to pass with flying colors as an attacker, but for the other roles, she realized that she was pretty lacking.

She could fly if she had to scout the area, but she would most likely get spotted by the magical beasts since she pretty much had to be in the open when she did that.

She could act as a vanguard with her fire armor, but it was also pretty hard for her to do that. Fortunately, she might be able to become a support as she would only need to practice her timing.

Shirotsuka Sanae glanced at Kai when she was explaining all of this. Kai was an enigma. She couldn't understand him nor his actions. But she had a nostalgic feeling when she looked at him. She didn't know why, but this guy had a deep secret.

The class continued that way, and obviously, Katsuragi Takaki was glancing toward Ayaka and Kai from time to time. Kai didn't pay any attention to him.

A few more days of the theoretical class passed, and they once again arrived at the end of Thursday. They knew they would have a practical class once again.

"For tomorrow's practical class, we're not going to kill monsters again," Sanae told.

Everyone was astonished to hear that. They thought they were going to challenge those monsters again, and the students were pretty eager for their comebacks.

"For tomorrow, we'll still come to the gym. But instead of using the practice tubes, we'll train your physical bodies. Your bodies aren't developed yet, and when you fight in the outside world, you'll fight with your real bodies.

"Even if your minds are capable of killing the magical beasts, it would be a shame if your bodies can't keep up with you. So you will all train your bodies tomorrow. And we will do this every month. So every month, you will use practical tubes, then the second week, you will train your bodies. And the third week, you will use the practical tubes, while you will experience the outside world in the fourth week."

And finally, when Friday came, the youths also bloomed. Inside the gym, the women were wearing bloomers, which became a very pleasing sight for the guys.

Shirotsuka Sanae immediately explained it again, "Today, you'll partner up with your previous partner again. Although you won't need a group for today, it might be better to deepen your relationships with your partners since they'll be your partner for a year. All right, start with stretching. Ask your partner to help you with stretching."

When Katsuragi Takaki heard that, he couldn't believe it. He thought that he would be able to have some time together with Ayaka. Unfortunately, he wouldn't be able to get it because she would be too occupied with Kai.

Kai helped her do her warm-ups. Seeing the two perfect peaks under the pure white 'snow' and the bloomers that enhanced her attractiveness by several levels, Kai only looked at her with a casual face.

And she also helped him do his warm-ups. There were too many 'skinship' in these warm-ups, making Ayaka's face flush red.

Well, he wasn't a perverted guy who wanted to experience that kind of 'blessing', nor was he someone like Katsuragi Takaki, who was obsessed with her.

Kai treated her like a friend… maybe a closer one after that experience inside the practice tube.

"This will be our menu for today," Shirotsuka Sanae said while manipulating the wind with her magic. She used her wind magic to make a banner float in mid-air.

100-kilometer run

500 push-ups

500 sit-ups

500 pull-ups

5-kilometer run (With weight and without magic)

2 hours of continuous usage of magic

When everyone saw that, they were dumbfounded. They were wondering if this teacher wanted to kill them.

Looking at their dumbfounded looks, Sanae immediately explained. "You can use your magic power to help you with the runs, so I'm sure you'll be able to finish it within two or three hours. The time limit is four hours. You can rest if you manage to do it before the time limit is up.

"And those push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups will finish before you know it. After that, you'll run with a weight and without the support of your magic power. So, in this course, you need to rely on your physical abilities. Don't worry, I'll be lenient and let you off with twenty kilograms of weight.

"Back in my days, we needed to run with a fifty-kilogram weight. Since all of your bodies have yet to develop, I'll let you off with twenty kilograms. You should normally be able to finish this in one hour.

"And lastly, you'll need to use your magic for two consecutive hours. Don't worry, this training menu was made considering your ages and bodies. This isn't torture, but training to let you develop your ability.

"If you manage to do it every month… I won't give you a spoiler, so you can work hard to anticipate the result."

They facepalmed when they heard about the result. They cursed the teacher because of her explanation.

Ayaka looked at Kai and asked, "Should we compe-"

But before she finished her words, she suddenly remembered what she had promised to herself. She quickly corrected herself, "I mean, should we finish it together? It might improve our teamwork for next week."

Kai thought for a bit and nodded his head.

But suddenly, Katsuragi Takaki came once again. "Well, how about we compete in this class?"

He thought Ayaka would come once again and accepted it. With that, he would have a chance to have some time with Ayaka. Unfortunately, his expectation was betrayed.

After experiencing that harsh world, Ayaka had matured a bit. She didn't reply like how she did a week ago. Instead, she replied, "Competing is good, but too much competition is bad. The purpose of this class is for us to train our bodies, not to compete."

He was shocked by Ayaka's reply. He immediately tried to come up with a reason, "But a little competition like this might improve our motivation."

"Our motivation is good enough. If we're too eager to see who'll win or lose, we might end up doing too much and it will affect the result of the training. This training menu must have been made after a lot of considerations, so it wouldn't be good to do more," Ayaka replied.

"Wha-!" He couldn't believe what he heard. Ayaka kept denying his claims. He gritted his teeth while looking at Kai hatefully.

He wanted to taunt him, but he knew that it was a bad idea for him to do that. After all, it might affect Tasha Carter's impression of him.

He went away with rage. He didn't show it on his face, though. Shirotsuka Sanae glanced at Kai before looking at everyone, and announced out loud, "All right. We are starting now. First, a 100-kilometer run. You only need to run around the school for twenty times and come back to this place. Now, GO!"

With that signal, the class started running outside the gym. Ayaka looked at Kai and said, "Let's go."

Kai nodded, and both of them started running together.