Hisao woke from a fitful slumber unpleasantly at the sound of his alarm. He lingered under the blanket for a few minutes as he gathered energy to rise up while making excuses for why he hadn't already.

Honestly, I wouldn't mind staying here all day, he reflected. School is surprisingly exhausting after a long pause, and the culture shock still has not faded, I think. Still, despite getting an impression that skipping class is easy here, I don't think they are going to let me get away that easily. And the nurse is bound to keep breathing down my neck with the talk of exercising as well.

He eventually rose up, swallowed his morning medications, and put on his old soccer clothing. Due to his condition, he was exempted from taking part in gym classes at Yamaku, so he didn't get issued with a gym outfit.

I'd order some to cover such a contingency, but wearing my old soccer clothes is kind of nostalgic, he decided. I can't use them for that anymore, so maybe they can get a new life this way. A bit like me. He sighed. Seems a bit stupid to me, really. But I suppose this way at least I can tell the nurse honestly that I'm doing something about my health. Not that I was ever much of a runner to begin with. Can't hurt to try, I guess.

As Hisao left the room, he saw Maru at the end of the hall, walking toward him.

"Hey," said Maru with a nod. "What's up?"

"Nothing," said Hisao. "Just thought I should go for a jog."

"That so?" Maru stroked his chin. "Well, good for you, then. Did a spot of reading, hear that sort of thing's good for ya."

Hisao raised an eyebrow. He may be wishing me well, but it still feels a bit patronizing, somehow. I'm also not sure how I feel about the fact that he's apparently researched my condition. "Yeah... Thanks." He walked past Maru.

"Hey, if it doesn't pan out," said Maru after him, "you ought try the exercycles sometime. Hell, I can come along and we can play cards or something." He paused. "Better check that with the nurse, though."

"I'll... keep that in mind," Hisao replied evenly as he walked on. Not in a million years.

A few minutes later, Hisao found himself at the track. He was surprised to discover that he wasn't the only one present.

Not just that, he thought, but it's a face I've seen before. The prosthetic-legged girl who had run into Maru yesterday is running on the track lithely, like a half-mechanical gazelle. What was her name again? It was a short one, but I can't remember.

She seemed to be running laps at a somewhat easy lope, her prosthetic legs clacking rhythmically on the hard track surface.

He found himself wondering what reason she had for running that early in the morning. Maybe it's something akin to mine, and the nurse is oppressing the poor girl to jog just like he is oppressing me. I certainly wouldn't be here if it weren't for my health, and his prompting me to do so. And even with things being like they are, it's only because I wanted to get it out of the way early.

There also was the happy accident that he would be less likely to encounter someone who would witness his pitiful attempts to get in shape. He was about to leave, but she noticed him on her last lap, and waved at him cheerfully as she jogged over.

"Good morning!" The girl grinned at him. "Your name is Hisao, right? You may not remember me."

He blinked as he tried to come up with her name.

"Emi?" She winked at him. "I ran into your friend in the hall yesterday."

"I remember," he said. "You didn't get hurt then, did you? You seemed to be in pain."

She giggled and rubbed the back of her head. "I'm fine, I just didn't expect to run into... whatever that was on his arm." She pouted slightly.

Hisao frowned. "So you were alright with the idea of running into someone?"

Emi's expression looked like she had swallowed something bitter. "It's not like that, jeez," she said before smiling again. "What about you? You were looking pretty bad after that."

"I'm fine," he replied automatically, the sudden topic change throwing him slightly.

She looked at him skeptically for a moment, then smiled. "That's great, then!"

He nodded, and then frowned as a realization came to him. "So the 'spy-consultant' the nurse was talking about... is that actually you?"

"That's right!" She grinned.

"Oh. I was expecting someone from the nursing staff, to be honest," he said with a shrug.

She raised her eyebrows at him. "What, are you saying I don't look like I could be a spy?"

"No," he said as he waved his hands defensively, "this is more like a relief. I was afraid he would have someone to watch my every move." He blinked. "Unless you are here to do exactly that."

She giggled. "No, I'm here for my own reasons, the nurse just asked me if I had seen 'a messy-haired transfer student who looks like he's kinda lost' around the track."

Hisao sighed. "So why are you down here?"

Emi struck a dramatic pose. "Training!"

He raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

She grinned. "Track!"

"Ahh, I see." He nodded. "You're on the track team, then?"

She nodded enthusiastically. "Yep! I'm one of the better runners, too!"

And modest about it, too, he thought.

She blinked and smiled at him. "Hey, you should join up! It's good exercise, you know.'

I think that much activity is probably out of the question for me, he thought with a frown. "Nah, I'm not even sure I really like running all that much. Plus I'm just not into organized sports, you know?" It's true. I never even really got that much into soccer. I mean I'd run around with my friends and all, but that was really the only reason I ever played. It wasn't for the glory to be found on the field, that's for sure.

She seemed to understand his meaning. "I see, I see." She nodded. "Not that into the whole organization thing." She smiled and winked. "But now that you're here, I guess we're going to run together, huh?"

"What?" He blinked. "Er, sure, I guess."

Emi seemed pleased. "Are you going to warm up?"

"Real men don't warm up," Hisao announced.

She frowned at him. "Oh no, you should always warm up! Bad Hisao!" After the enthusiastic scolding, she smiled and leaned closer. "I hate warming up too." She laughed suddenly. "Heck, and I don't even have to stretch my legs!" As if to confirm her statement she bounced up and down a couple times, giving a passing impression of standing on a pair of springs.

Her legblades seem to be quite elastic, he decided.

"Let's go!" She took off around the track.

He followed, but he could immediately see she wasn't lying about being good at running. She moved fluidly, throwing herself into the run with a sort of wild abandon. He found himself concentrating more on running properly.

Frankly, he thought, I don't remember if there's any particular form for running, but I can't help but feel like I'm doing it wrong, somehow. I feel awkward in comparison to Emi, who never seems to break stride. His breath was coming in ragged gasps. ...I don't think I want to do this any more. I'm really not feeling up to more than a couple laps today. He slowed to a walk pretty quickly.

Emi kept running, and didn't seem to notice he'd stopped until she passed him a second time. She quickly skidded to a halt, breathing steadily in contrast to his gasping demeanor. "Finished already?"

Hisao hung his head ruefully. "Heh, yeah. I'm not in very good shape right now."

She nodded, and then grinned at him again.

She seems to do a lot of smiling, he decided.

"Well, the important thing is that you started, right?" She smiled wide. "Next time, you just have to try to hold out longer, and then longer, and longer, and eventually you'll be great!"

"I'll keep that in mind," he said. "But I think right now I'm going to go get ready for class." He frowned. "Shouldn't you?"

She shrugged unconcernedly. "Nah, I've got plenty of time."

He noticed that she wasn't wearing a watch, and raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

Another careless shrug. "Not really... but I've got to finish my routine!" She smiled wide. "See you later, Hisao!"

"Er, yeah. See ya." He sighed and turned to leave. Apart from feeling more tired than before, I don't think I've accomplished anything today. I'm so out of shape it's embarrassing. The whole thing might have been a waste of time. I'll find some other way. For a brief moment, he entertained the thought of taking Maru up on the exercycling. ...Any other way but that.