Translation of this story by Nyaasu available below:
The rehabilitation unit at the hospital.
Kotetsu is gripping the handrails of an aerobic machine similar to a treadmill with steps attached and he is working away at top speed. To his side is Barnaby, who is sitting on a balance ball. Neither one has fully recovered yet.
“Phew! 170 in one minute, that's a new record!”
As Barnaby looks on, stunned, Kotetsu pumps his fist into the air.
“With moves like these, I bet I'm just about done with rehab!”
“Quite a statement from someone with injuries as bad as yours,” Barnaby points out, glancing at Kotetsu as he bounces on his balance ball.
“Well, how's your training going, Bunny? Fun?”
“This works the core without putting strain on the arms and legs,” Barnaby replies, while continuing to bounce lightly. “Generally speaking, rehabilitation is not a matter of either fun or boredom.”
Kotetsu had been grumbling, but suddenly his face brightens. “Say, I have a great idea!” he says, as his face breaks into a wide grin and he drums on the handles of the exercise machine. “We'll make it a challenge! We'll find out which one of us can do the most reps in one minute!”
“I'm not going to participate in something so childish,” Barnaby replies bluntly in immediate defiance, as Kotetsu leans in toward him.
“But this is all so boring!” complains Kotetsu. “Even rehab needs a bit of sport every now and then!”
“Right now, I only want to focus on healing my body,” Barnaby replies calmly.
“Oh I get it. You just hate the thought of losing, huh?” says Kotetsu, in a provocative tone.
Barnaby lets his guard down, just slightly. “Don't be ridiculous!” he replies. He turns his back on Kotetsu, who gives chase and digs in even farther.
“I think a stair-stepper competition would be more fun than a balance ball competition!”
“If you win, I'll treat you to some juice!”
“Okay, okay, next time we go out, we'll eat wherever you like.”
It seems that even Kotetsu is powerless against Barnaby's repeated and stubborn refusals, and he hangs his head defeatedly. “Aw, I just hoped I could set some kind of new record with you, Bunny,” he sighs, scratching the back of his head as he leaves the rehabilitation unit.
Left to himself, Barnaby's eyes stray to the machine Kotetsu had been going on about.
“Whoops, I forgot my towel!”
Kotetsu hurries back to the rehabilitation unit and there he finds Barnaby, gripping the handrails of the stair-stepper and pumping the steps rapidly. As Barnaby watches the clock, his face breaks into a satisfied grin.
“Huh, 179 in one minute. That's about what I thought,” he mutters. Then he suddenly notices Kotetsu standing stock-still in awe.
“Oh!” he gasps, still gripping the handrails tightly and quite surprised to see Kotetsu back so soon. “I wasn't doing anything!”
Barnaby begins talking loudly and rapidly in order to cut Kotetsu off.
“This is just independent training! I need to recover as quickly as possible and get back to hero work!”
Kotetsu can't help but laugh at Barnaby's failed attempt to deceive him. “It's true, Bunny,” he says. “You absolutely hate to lose.”
“I'm just trying to recover and get out of this hospital as quickly as I can, old man.”
“Sure, sure. Well then, I guess it's back to rehab, with a bit of a wild flair. ...Although that 'old man' quip was a bit uncalled for.”
“I was only speaking the truth.”
“Does this mean you're taking me up on that challenge?”
“I already told you I'm not doing that.”
“No, no, you already did it!”
“I'm telling you, that had nothing to do with it.”
In the end, neither one concedes, and the two continue on like this for quite some time...
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