#personal showcase

Sports Field

Deuce: ... Goal! You did it Jack. You reduced your time for the 50 meter by 0,3 seconds.

Jack: I noticed my starting dash is not quite right. Let’s try again.

Idia: Uh-huh. By bending slightly forward and swinging a fixed elbow like a pendulum... The femoral muscles can be made of a flexible material... If I need elasticity, the calves can be made of springs...

Ruggie: Huh, Idia, you sittin’ in the shade of that tree? What’re you doin’ there?

Idia: Aargh! R-R-Ruggie...!

Ruggie: Why so flustered? How shady, are you plannin’ something sinister?

Idia: Nonononono...

Ruggie: You can tell me anything... huh, what’s this? A sketch of Jack and a pile of notes...

Idia: T-T-That’s, that’s...

Ruggie: Are you a stalker... that ain’t good...

Idia: Y-Y-You’re mistaken! I-I-I, I j-just... wanted to observe... Jack’s running form...

Ruggie: Sounds like what a stalker would say.

Idia: Y-You’re... wrong.... and we have class...! The teacher.... this close distance...

Ruggie: Huh, what? Sorry, you’re too quiet, so I can’t understand you.

Idia: ... Ugh. I just wanted to know about the knickknacks of short distance running for class! I’m not a stalker.

Ruggie: Ah! Y-You don’t have to come that close, I can read it. So about short distance runnin’...is it for PE? To think the Ignihyde students were so serious about working out.

Idia: “You’re never doing your best! If you can’t show hard proof of your endeavors, you’ll have to follow special supplementary lessons!” .... Is what Vargas.... said. I, I really don’t want to do supplementary training... I want to learn the tricks by watching the people who are good at running.

Ruggie: I see. So that’s why you had your eye on Jack. To start by approachin’ from theory really seems like somethin’ a guy that’s shit at PE would do.

Idia: How cruel...

Ruggie: ... Well, I understand why, though. Jack doesn’t like associatin’ with humans. Shshshs.

Idia: P-, Please keep this confidential... Someone like me has no other method than this...!

Ruggie: I wanted to check somethin’. Idia, you’re from that famous Shroud family, aren’t you?

Idia: ... Famous... well. You know... the Shrouds of the Isle of Lamentation.

Ruggie: I knew it! So you’re from that noble family~

Idia: Being from a noble family isn’t really that great. And what business do you have with our family...

Ruggie: Calm down, please. I’ll keep quiet about this! Please watch Jack to your heart’s content.

Idia: Huh. Y-You’ll overlook this...!? Ah, ah, Ruggie... this is incredible...!

Ruggie: Hey, hey, I never said I was gonna do that for free! This is just an investment in the young master of the Shroud family. Please don’t forget about this favor when you inherit the household.

Idia: ... I don’t think there’s a single good thing about investing in us, though...

Ruggie: Who cares! Let’s get along from now on. Shshsh.

A few days later

2nd period PE

Vargas: Okay, let’s test your short distance sprints! As I said before, everyone with terrible times will have to attend supplementary lessons. But I’m sure everything will be fine. There will be no problem if you received the perfect me’s perfect lessons. So line up on the start line... Shroud?

Idia: Yes. 

Vargas: Why are you sitting on your younger brother’s back?

Ortho: Hello Mr. Ashton Vargas!

Idia: U-Uhm... T-Today I did something to Ortho! I-, I installed a special gimmick...

Vargas: Gimmick?

Idia: Ah, uhm... I-I have a cheat sheet in my pocket... Ah there. “ By using Jack Howl’s muscles as reference for the lower body half, I installed him with alloy fibres, to mimic the supple movement of muscles. Furthermore, I implanted special springs in the calves and heels, so he can reach a speed he has never reached before.”

Ortho: As expected of my brother! I have a lot of high-powered features.

Idia: ... Hehe... what do you think? With this I’ll definitely be number one at today’s short distance race... 

Vargas: These little tricks... I won’t allow it! What were you thinking!?

Idia: B-B-B-But, I, especially prepared for this today... I-I! Did! My! Best!

Vargas: You’re just cutting corners, this is a blasphemy towards muscles! Apologize to your quadriceps! And to your triceps. The wonderful me shall beautifully correct this character of yours. You will have special supplemental training after school tomorrow, be grateful!

Idia: Sigh~.. And there goes my hope. I never understand the essence of things. I’m so useless. The goal is to “Quickly get to the goal” right? Does that mean we can only run with our body?

Vargas: Oh... you’re talking back. I see, I understand. Besides my special supplemental training, I shall also add morning training!