Chapter 19: Training Commences (1)

The next morning, Ken was even more motivated to get out of bed. It was amazing how much having a training partner could assist in that regard. He almost skipped down the stairs, saying goodbye to his mother and heading out the door enthusiastically. Yuki told him to take care as usual, feeling a little dazed at his change of attitude. Usually her son was a zombie reincarnate as he forced himself out the door in the mornings for his run. However, this morning he seemed as if he was on his way to meet his sweetheart. "Is he going to see a girl this morning?" She muttered quietly, taking a sip of her coffee. Ken, blissfully unaware of his mothers musings, warmed his muscles up as he jogged towards the corner up the street. He breathed a sigh of relief after seeing Daichi already waiting for him, looking half asleep with his hair still messy. "Morning sunshine!" He said with a bright smile, jogging over to his friend. "M-Morning" Daichi replied, fighting back a yawn. "Okay, we're going to try and run 10km this morning. I'll set the pace, just let me know if you can't keep up." Ken directed, jogging on the spot. After almost a week of running 10km a day, he felt a little more confident about not making a fool of himself in front of his best friend. Daichi paled after hearing the words 10 kilometers, yet he still nodded along. The two began their run at a moderate pace, yet it wasn't long before Ken began to feel the sweat pour out of him. He could still hear the rhythmic breathing of Daichi behind him, so he did not turn around to check. By the time they had hit the 5km mark, Ken decided to slow down a little and check on his friend. He turned around to see what he could only describe as a shriveled husk, shuffling his feet towards him. It was an odd thing to see someone who was so clearly dehydrated, be so wet. Daichi seemed as if he had just gotten out of the Tokyo river after taking a dip with how drenched he was in sweat. Ken stifled a laugh before suggesting to take a break. "Did you want some water? I brought enough coins for the vending machine." He asked, catching his breath. Daichi could only nod enthusiastically. The two drank their fill and his friend seemed to look a lot better afterwards. "I need to run another 5km, but you can head home if you like." Ken suggested, jogging on the spot to keep his muscles warm. Every fiber of Daichi's body was screaming at him to agree and head home, however he shook his head in the end. "N-No, I said I would train with you. There's no way I'm going back half-way." He said, his tone sounding full of resolution, even if his expression looked pale. Ken flashed a smile, choosing not to say a word. He didn't want to poke fun at Daichi who was obviously trying his best. True friends would hold each other up, motivating one another to achieve much more. They continued for the remaining 5km, after which they were both spent. Before they completely cooled down, Ken took them to a park where he went through the flexibility and yoga regime from the system. Daichi originally felt a little reluctant to join in on the yoga, however mid-way through he suddenly felt his sore and tired muscles begin to relax, filling him with shock. By the time they had finished, it was already 6:45. "Head home and have a hot shower. Meet me at my house in 30 minutes" Ken said with a smile. Daichi agreed, taking his exhausted self back home. "I'm home!" Ken said enthusiastically, greeting his mom in the kitchen. "Welcome home. How was your run?" Yuki asked, turning away from the eggs which were cooking in the pan. "It was great, Daichi joined me this morning." He replied, taking his shoes off at the door. "Oh, would you mind making some extra breakfast this morning? I already invited Daichi over before school. Oh and did you pack me more lunch like I asked?" Yuki heard the demands and shook her head in exasperation yet there was a grin on her face. "Yes yes. Just hurry up and go clean up and get ready for school." "Thanks mom you're the best!" Hearing confirmation, Ken all but skipped up the stairs and did as he was told. While he was getting ready, he paused to open up the Major League System. It was currently the last day of the week-long mission, which meant he only had the sit-ups and push-ups remaining until it was completed. He had thought about completing it this morning, however he was in no rush. Even if he did, there would be little time to explore the rewards that he was given, so he decided to complete them after school. Even so, this past week of working out left him feeling as if he had made some progress in his fitness. Therefore he wanted to check if the system also reflected the changes. PHYSICAL FITNESS: (Avg. D+) Balance and Coordination: D Agility: D Strength: C- Stamina: C-