Chapter 5 — No Rest for the Hero

Hello everyone, I’m Haruto Kisaragi. Right now, I’m sprawled out on my bed, staring blankly at the sky through the dorm window.My whole body feels wrecked from yesterday’s training. God… Is there no massage therapist in this world? Or maybe a good ol’ bone-cracking snap that goes crack?

Suddenly, Lucas barged into my room without knocking.

“Oh my dear friend, Haruto Kisaragi.

The sun has risen.

The roosters have crowed.

The birds have chirped.

The wind is blowing.

The plants in the garden are photosynthesizing.

Tell me, my friend, what have you done this fine morning?

Come, let’s sweat together under this beautiful morning sun!”

I sighed and replied,

“Oh my dear friend, Lucas Cyrus.

You speak of the rising sun, the crowing roosters, and chirping birds…

But do you know?

I couldn’t care less.

Because what I need right now isn’t the sound of birdsong…

It’s ten more minutes hugging my beloved bed.”

“Alright, ten more minutes.”

“Thank you.”

Or at least, that’s what I thought. But the moment I said ‘thank you’ and rolled over, Lucas snapped his fingers. Suddenly, Roland came in and hoisted me up like a sack of rice. I was too tired to even protest, so I just accepted my fate.

---

We arrived at the training grounds where Leo, Alex, and Selena were already waiting.

“We’re here,” Lucas announced.

“You’re fifteen minutes late!” Selena barked.

“Forgive us, vice-captain! Roland and I simply fulfilled Haruto’s request earlier,” Lucas answered with a straight face.

“And what request was that?” Selena asked, raising an eyebrow.

“To let him laze around for ten minutes,” Lucas said seriously.

“Wait! I didn’t even get to laze around because you told Roland to carry me here!” I protested.

“Both of you, run laps!” Selena ordered, menacingly showing her magic.

“Y-Yes, ma’am!”

Lucas and I scrambled off in a panic.

I started running, still struggling, but then I remembered Roland’s advice about running yesterday.

“Inhale through your nose… exhale through your mouth, right?” I muttered.

I tried it a few times and—wow, it actually worked! I didn’t feel as exhausted. So, naturally… I sped up way too much.

---

After finishing all 50 laps, I collapsed on the ground, drenched in sweat.

Roland calmly walked over. “You’ve improved for just one day.”

“Improved? You lied to me!” I glared. “You said to breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth! I’m still dead tired!”

“Did you immediately sprint as soon as you felt better?”

“…Maybe?”

“No wonder… You should’ve taken it slow.”

Before I could respond, Leo called us over. “Alright! Breakfast time!”

---

In the dining room, Selena the vice-captain was setting dishes on the table while Alex, the team captain, seemed to be finishing up some cooking. Not long after, Alex joined us.

“Let’s eat!” we all said in unison.

“Oh right,” Leo spoke up, “Tomorrow you’ll all train Skystride again. Alex, you’ll help Haruto. You’re the only one who can teach him Dark Magic.”

“Got it,” Alex replied casually.

“Now hurry up and finish eating. Training resumes after this!” Leo barked.

“Yes, sir!” we all replied together.

“Hey! Lucas, why’d you take mine?! I was saving that for last!” I complained.

“Vice-captain still has plenty, so I was helping her finish it off,” Lucas said shamelessly.

Selena narrowed her eyes and let her magic flare.

“I-I’m sorry!” Lucas panicked instantly.

The rest of us couldn’t help but laugh at the scene.