Boot Camp

"You're going WHERE?"
'Here's the bridge, now to cross it...'
"It's not for me! She accepted helping my friends out with magic, and I guess I need to be there."
"Yeah, he's going to be their emotional support!"
"Hm, I see..."

She stays silent for a while.
"So can we go?"
"Ok, I'll come with you."
"Huh?"
"Well I'll definitely want to check it out too, and I especially need to make sure SHE doesn't go overboard."
"Wow, drowning in your trust right now."
"In any case I'll come with, and I'll bring some food along!"

'Oh, I hadn't thought of that, that's not so bad.'

"Alright people, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

...

Just like that we start following Gaia towards where she'll do her boot camp with the club, and soon we arrive.
'...You can't be serious.'
"The school? Are you just going to use the gymnasium again?"
"Well if it ain't broke, besides, I still don't want to risk using the official HQ training grounds, so for now I'll be training your friends here."

We get inside the gymnasium, Tarou and Shin are already waiting for us.
'Hiro isn't here... Probably late, if he comes at all.'

"Hm, two out of three, I'll take that, there's always at least one quitter."
"Oh, Hiro sent a message, he overslept but that he'll 'Be there when I get there'."
'He's definitely only going to be spectating.'
"Well, we'll sit on the side as you guys train."

Gaia then proceeds to spend the first half of the day training them, Hiro arrived an hour late and immediately went to sit with us, already having given up.
Her training seemed tough, but every time Gaia would get too strict mom would be sure to remind her to go easier on them. I could tell Gaia would get more annoyed each time she did that.
Throughout I could tell Tarou really did show promise, it was cool to see him actually show this much promise, meanwhile Shin still needed to put in more work and practice.

Soon it was lunch time.
"Alright, that's enough, let's go check in with our spectators and rest a bit."
"Finally."
"Damn, I was finally getting the hang of it..."

'Tarou really seems to be a quick learner. Shin however is still trying the ball of snow thing, I think he managed a tiny pebble of snow once.
He definitely needs more practice.'
"Good job you two."
"Yeah, was fun to watch."
As soon as Hiro finishes saying that, Tarou immediately speaks up.
"I still can't believe you already gave up!"
"Well, it can't be that surprising."
"...I guess, but still."
"Ok everyone, I brought a bunch of food!"
"YES."
"Thanks a bunch!"
'Now's probably a good time to ask.'
"So how are they looking?"
Everyone suddenly turns to Gaia, waiting for her answer.
"Honestly? I don't know about the tall one."
"Damn, I really am trying! But it's so rough."
"But leader boy does have a lot of potential, honestly if you keep up training, and start learning and mastering whichever magic speaks to you, then you do have a chance at being a hero, heck, I could eventually put in a good word for you to join HQ's 'Little Heroes', you'd only be doing basic stuff, but helping is helping."
"I... could?"

His eyes glimmer as a wide smile appears on his face.
"I will do my best! Ah, but that might mean less club time."
"Yeah, though if you don't want t-"
"I DO. Shin, when I become a hero, you'll be club leader in my place!"
"Everyone already thinks I'll fail don't they..."
'Damn, that's kind of sad...'
"Yeah sure, I don't mind being leader! That might fit me more too."

'Tarou being a hero huh? To imagine I could eventually start spectating his fights, that's something I never would have guessed...'

"Alright, lunch time over, back to training!"
"Already?"
"Yes coach!"

They once again begin as mom leans over to me.
"Can you imagine if your friend Tarou actually makes it? I worry it might be dangerous, but at the same time, he really seems excited about it!"
"Yeah, he sure does. I'm happy for him."

They continue their training for the rest of the day, Gaia really seems to be giving her all to the training, with mom from time to time still interjecting and telling her to go easier on them, though overtime I notice her doing it less and less, clearly also getting into seeing their progress and ability rise. Shin is slow going, but Tarou's progress is unbelievable.

It soon becomes evening.
'It sure is getting late.'
"Ok you two, I think that's enough for today."
"Aw, really?"
"You're still wanting more Tarou? I'm exhausted..."
"As much as I admire your determination, you do need rest, you can't save anybody when you're half asleep, but I can definitely say with confidence that I'll be seeing you more leader boy."
"THANK YOU COACH!"
"As for you-"
"No need to say more, I think this is way too tough for me, I'll happily remain a spectator."
"...What."
"I mean, a civilian! I will not put anyone in danger, I'll just call HQ and get myself to safety, promise!"
'He almost got himself in trouble.'
"Hm, ok, I'll accept that. Though you might want to consider switching paths to becoming a part of dispatch."
"Huh... That could work..."
Now go home you three. Bye for now."
"BYE COACH!"
"Bye bye."
"Cya."

We all head home after that.
"Your friends are quite something."
"Thanks."
"I think you went too hard on them."
"They won't learn otherwise, I keep telling you. Although... You COULD help me train Tarou, if you wa-"
"No, that's ok. Though I'm surprised by him, he's got real potential."
'He sure does.'
"That's true, he might actually become quite strong, though it's still unfortunate the other one won't.
...I won't even talk about the quitter."
'Ah, I don't think she likes quitters.'

...

We arrive home, and I head to my room.
Ping!
'A message from the club.'
"TRAINING WAS AWESOME"
"Yours was, I was barely able to do that ball of energy she taught..."
"I think your future as a hero might be doomed Shin."
'Hiro might be right.'
"Oh well, I kinda like Gaia's idea, at least I can be the scout telling Tarou of all the fights that are happening, isn't that right?"
"Heh, I don't know about that..."
'Heh, how humble.'
"Look at you trying to be humble. Tarou, an actual hero, I'll look forward to that one day!"
'Quite literally.'
"Yeah me too!"
"That would be cool to see."
"You guys... ARE AWESOME."