Chapter 28: PT Test

(Setting: Crystal Kingdom: High University- Track and Field)

(Scene: Baku and Savannah's friends appear outside for gym class)

*Princess Savannah, Lady Akamiko, and Halenday take a seat at the top row of the bleachers. The other students all congregated to where the gym teacher is eagerly waiting for them, at the ten yard mark of the football field.

[Mrs. Strong]: Alright, troopers! It's time for your PT test! Now, pair up with a partner and get ready for push ups!

[Baku Cree]: *Moaning* Man, this is gonna suck…

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: Let's go, Hero Boy.

[Baku Cree]: *Nervous* Wait, what!? Wh-What do you mean!?

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: You're going to help me train, don't you remember? Now come with me... We've got work to do...

[Baku Cree]: *Nervous* *Scared* No... Wait... Please... Somebody help me!!!

[Princess Savannah]: *Cheeringly* Have fun you two!

[Halenday Medellon]: Don't be too rough on him, sweet thing! I still need to study him, myself!

[Mitsune Akamiko]: Kick tons of ass, Yuri-chan!!

*Ayurielli drags Baku to the track and field to where the other students are doing warm-up stretches and finds a spot to participate in the test. It was still brisk outside, but it wasn't cold enough to quell the will the fiery spirited, spikey haired gym teacher in her red and blue jump suit.

[Mrs. Strong]: Alright, soldiers! You're each gonna have one minute to do as many pushups and sit ups as you can! Your partner will keep track of your progress! Remember to pace yourselves and not to overdo it!

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: I will never forgive you if you misscore me... So pay attention, Hero Boy.

[Baku Cree]: ... Um... Okay…

*Mrs. Strong blows her whistle and Ayurielli rapidly burns through her pushups and the minute goes by in a flash.

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: *Sigh* So, how'd I do?

[Baku Cree]: ......... Uhhh... 600?

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: *Hmph* Excellent. Now it's your turn. Get ready.

[Baku Cree]: *Cough* Um, okay... Here we go... One... two... three…

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: Geez, you're so slow…

[Baku Cree]: *Ugh* Wh-what do you mean?

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: Isn’t it obvious? You're twenty seconds into your test, and you're only at ten pushups...

[Baku Cree]: *Nervous* Well... I-I'm pacing myself…

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: How pathetic... I can already tell you're struggling for breath…

[Baku Cree]: *Pant* *pant* ... Gosh, sorry I'm not a warrior goddess like someone else I know...

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: *Shaking her head* You need to work on your stamina... Anyways, times up…

[Baku Cree]: *Pant* *pant* How'd I do?

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: You did 25 pushups... Which is barely passing, if you were a girl... Consider yourself lucky.

[Baku Cree]: *Pfft* ...Whatever…

[Mrs. Strong]: Alright, warriors! Get ready for your sit ups!

*Ayurielli gets into position and lies on the ground in front of Baku.

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: Hold my feet steady. Don't lose count of my progress, and don't you dare look down my shirt.

[Baku Cree]: *Blushing* I wasn't gonna!

*Mrs. Strong blows her whistle and Ayurielli tears through her sit ups and the time disappears instantaneously.

[Baku Cree]: ...... Congrats, you passed…

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: *Tch* Naturally... Now get on the floor.

*Baku lays on his back as Lady Yamabushi holds his feet down. He tries not to make eye contact with her.

[Baku Cree]: *Nervous* Alright... Here goes nothing... One... two... three...... Am I doing okay so far?

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: I can tell you don't do enough sit ups... You're struggling worse than you were with the pushups…

[Baku Cree]: *pant* What are you talking about? *pant* How can you tell?

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: Twenty five seconds into your test and you're only at 10... *Sigh* This is just embarrassing, I thought you were supposed to be the World Guardian... Is this what the Holy Goddess expected of you? I feel sorry for her…

[Baku Cree]: *Ugh* ...Oh, give me a break... Just because I'm supposed to save the world or whatever doesn't mean I'm a naturally born gladiator…

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: Well then you better figure out a way to reach that status or else you're gonna get yourself killed before you even get recognized as a hero.

[Baku Cree]: What does it matter to you anyways?

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: You're the first World Guardian to live in the last fifteen years... I'll be damned if I knew of a warrior who was to be held as a high regard as yourself and allowed myself not to bring upon their true strength. It would be a disservice to you and the royal family in which my clan protects.

[Baku Cree]: *Struggling* Well, I'm flattered... But you don't have to trouble yourself, I'll be fine…

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: I don't believe in you... You're weak and have poor stamina in terms of physical training. You are proving to be a poor example of a hero, and an embarrassment to the legacy of the previous World Guardians…

[Baku Cree]: I didn't ask to be a hero! I even tried to get out of doing it, twice!

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: I suppose that defines your character then... Disgraceful…

[Baku Cree]: *Ugghh* I don't care about what anyone thinks of me! Your opinion doesn't matter and trust me when I say it won't shape me as a World Guardian! If you want to take my place, by all means... Go ahead!

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: At this rate, I might as well... You're clearly weak minded, cowardly, and unmotivated… You’re definitely going to be the worst and weakest World Guardian to ever give the planet the displeasure of having to rely on, and more likely than not end up getting destroyed… How utterly pitiful...

[Baku Cree]: *Angrily* *Grrr!!!* Now you listen here, Lady Yamabushi! -- *ppprrrttt* ...... *Eyes widen*

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: *Blushing* *Embarrassed* ............... W-We're done...

[Baku Cree]: *Embarrassed* B-but I still have 15 seconds left!

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: I SAID WE'RE DONE!!!

[Mrs. Strong]: Alright, marauders! Line up for the mile and a half run!

*The students line up for their run.

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: I order you to keep up with me, Hero Boy.

[Baku Cree]: *Annoyed* You know that's not going to happen, so why would you even ask that of me?

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: Because I'm challenging you, isn't it obvious?

[Baku Cree]: What the hell for?

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: You should expect to be challenged by many warriors and fighters all around the living planet. As the newest World Guardian in the last fifteen years, everybody’s gonna want a piece of you or a shot at taking you on.

[Baku Cree]: So, I'm gonna be challenged to foot races?

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: *Annoyed* You idiot! That's not the point I was trying to make!

[Mrs. Strong]: Alright, you buncha barbarians! Remember to pace yourselves, don't overdo it... Aanndd *WHISTLE!!!*

*Ayurielli immediately rockets past all of the students leaving everybody in the dust as they try to pace themselves. As the run goes on, Baku begins to slowly drain in energy, meanwhile Ayurielli maintains a massive lead on the rest of the class. The wind on her back charges her forward like a wild yet majestic mustang through an open prairie. Her goal, victory at any means necessary.

[Baku Cree]: *Thinking to himself* *Uuugghh* ... Geez... what in the world is her deal? Why does she insist on being incomparable to anybody? *pant* *pant* ... As much as I hate to admit it, Yuri's right... I don't know how I'm supposed to get better and become more fitting for a hero title... Damn it... This sucks!

[Mrs. Strong]: Is everybody done running!? Excellent, line up for your scores! Ahh, Lady Yamabushi, you scored perfectly in all three test! Congratulations, you'll make a stellar warrior in your future!

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: *Bows* Thank you, Mrs. Strong…

[Princess Savannah]: *Smiling* That was quite impressive, Yuri!

[Mitsune Akamiko]: Congrats on your fourth perfect PT test score in a row! I feel stronger just standing near you! But don’t stand too close, sweetie, you’re all sweaty!

[Halenday Medellon]: You truly are a spectacle to admire.

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: Thanks... However, it was undeserved... Considering passing grades for females are drastically less than the males... It's unfair and almost insulting for both genders…

[Mitsune Akamiko]: *Mockingly* Uh-oh... Watch out guys, Yuri's getting philosophical on us again…

[Halenday Medellon]: I love it when she gets all serious. She's so cute!

[Princess Savannah]: I know right? I just wanna hug and kiss her!

[Ayurielli Yamabushi]: *Blushing* ... You guys are idiots…

[Mrs. Strong]: *Shouting* Baku! How did you only manage 25 push ups, 15 sit ups and a run time of 13:46!? You passed by barely a hair if we were going off of female standards! I thought you were supposed to be the World Guardian, not the World Slacker!

[Baku Cree]: *Out of breath* ... *Wheezing* ... I ... Don't care…