Tests were, from Suzaku's experience, something that was done at a desk, alone, in silence, surrounded by other silently frustrated students.
Apparently, that wasn't always true.
"Pedal faster, Suzaku-kun!" Lloyd cackled manically. "Now, class, as you can see, the kinetic energy is powering the circuit in direct relation to how hard Suzaku-kun works. Now, someone define 'work' for me!"
"What we used to do in school," Suzaku muttered under his breath as he ramped up his speed (not velocity since he wasn't going anywhere) on the stationary bike. Lloyd ignored him.
"Force over distance," some brownnoser piped up.
Lloyd nodded. "Exactly! And the units?"
"Joules!" Three or four people chorused at once.
"Alright, now. Biology!" Lloyd continued. "I want three body organ systems that Suzaku-kun is using right now!"
"Heart."
"Lungs!"
"…legs?"
"Certainly not my brain," Suzaku grunted. What was the point of even coming to school?
"Musculoskeletal."
"Good! Except for the legs comment." Lloyd shook his head. "Unimpressive. But speaking of legs, what is building up in Suzaku-kun's legs right now?"
"Oxygen?" A tentative voice called out.
"Nope! He's using that up far too quickly for it to build up. But that's a hint…" No further answers were forthcoming. "Another hint! Suzaku-kun, how do your legs feel?"
"…fine," Suzaku answered. They did.
Lloyd frowned. "You've been peddling for the better part of half an hour. Don't they feel heavy and burning?"
"…not really." Suzaku could have kept going for hours at this rate.
Lloyd looked genuinely curious. "Well. I guess we could phase into psychology and how that's crazy."
"That's ableist!"
"This is Britannia. Get used to it." Lloyd didn't look away from Suzaku for a moment. "What is your endurance, Suzaku-kun?"
Suzaku shrugged. "I dunno. I don't get tired easily, so I outlast most people I'm tested on." Honestly, this was a poor test – he was sitting down for goodness sakes! How tired could he get?
"Interesting…" Lloyd hummed. "Are you on any sports teams?"
"Is this really appropriate for the middle of the classroom?" Suzaku asked, gulping when Lloyd's eyes narrowed. "Um. No. They don't let Honorary Britannians compete. Something about their innate inferiority leading to an increased incidence of cheating. Sir."
"Damn shame." Lloyd sighed. "Ah, well, that means I have you all to myself. Now, pedal, Suzaku-kun!"
He was. Suzaku bit back a retort and pedaled faster.
"Now, class. If Suzaku-kun was a normal human being and not some kind of amped up superathlete, what would be building up in his legs as he exercises away his oxygen and has to rely on anaerobic energy?"
"Oh! Lactic acid!"
"Very good! If you need help remembering that, just remember than acid burns." Lloyd scowled cheerfully (somehow) at Suzaku. "At least usually."
Suzaku kept his head down and just kept going as Lloyd fired off question after question at the other students. The period finally ended and Suzaku sighed in relief and got off the bike. He'd actually learned a lot, more from the errors (legs were not an organ system; good to know) than from the correct answers. He could feel the tingle of used muscles, but nothing like the burning that Lloyd had implied was 'normal'.
Suzaku had always known that he wasn't quite typical. There was a part of him that wanted to be 'normal'. But there was a much bigger part that was a little smug at being different and especially at being better. And then there was the whole thing that Suzaku was fully aware of, that 'normal' boys didn't have crushes on their rather significantly older male neighbours or kiss them or sleep with them.
No, Suzaku was more than happy being something other than 'normal', thank you very much. If his love for Lelouch was the price of being normal, then he was completely and utterly unwilling to pay that price.
Suzaku put away his books, left out on his desk when Lloyd had insisted he man the stationary bicycle, and grabbed a change of clothes.
After all, gym class was next, and Suzaku hardly wanted to be late for that.