Chapter eight: Fitness test. Will we be able to match the others?

Everyone is dressed in athletic wear and are in a large area.

After all today is the fitness test. A day that some seem to have been especially working towards.

"All you have to do is your best." Maka informs those not of this world vas they stand with her all also dressed for this. "They record our athletic abilities here."

Those standing with her glance around at the different areas where different tests are happening. They spot some running, shotput, and high jump as a few examples. They also notice that there are some students working to keep record of how everyone does. They watch a few who are doing their tests so far.

Two men who are running are going pretty fast and they get professional runner times.

A girl is over doing her shotput and she tosses it an almost unbelievable distance.

Next is Tsubaki doing the high jump. She runs up and easily clears a pretty high up bar easily.

Matsuda can't help swallowing harshly at the sight of this. "Are you sure that we won't make fools of ourselves?" He questions turning his attention to Maka who smiles in an assuring way.

"You don't need to worry. There are other newer students that aren't able to do the same as some others." Maka informs them. "I know those that have a high athletic ability can make it seem daunting. Even though it really isn't. No one will laugh or get upset if you aren't as good as others. Plus it is usual for weapons to not perform as good as the meisters tend to. Mostly because weapons don't have to use as much athletic abilities than the meisters do."

"But I'm seeing some weapons doing really well." Halle points out glancing around a little.

"It really depends on the person for how well they do. Even with the expected odds." Maka explains to her glancing to a weapon doing well at shotput. "Don't worry about it."

Elsewhere…

Mello is sitting next to Near while Stein watches from a distance.

Stein turns with a slight questioning sound when the door opens. He watches Matt poke his head inside of the room slightly glancing around. He moves further inside leaving the door open and approaches Stein. He watches him stop kind of by him.

"Good morning Professor Stein." Matt greets the other. "How is it looking today?" He inquires genuinely wanting to know.

"Well it is looking good." Stein informs Matt. "Your partner is making fine progress in his recovery. I am quite impressed with it actually. Of course it's not enough for him to get up and move around too much though I have a feeling that he should be able to wake up more any moment now."

Matt gives a sigh of relief upon hearing the news. He even lowers his head closing his softly with his sigh. His one hand being brought up to his chest for a moment before dropping to his side. "That's great news to hear." He admits then raises his head opening his eyes. He turns to look to Mello and Near.

Stein turns following his gaze.

Mello has the left side of his head resting upon the bed gently rubbing the back of Near's hand with his thumb.

"You know… Because of what you three have endured I have gotten you guys the choice to skip the fitness test this time around." Stein informs Matt who doesn't take his eyes off of his partners.

"Thank you." Matt thanks Stein then he heads over to be closer to the other two.

Mello's eyes open and shift only for him to raise his head upon seeing Matt. "Hey." He greets in a soft voice to the other.

"Hey." Matt pulls up a chair to sit next to Mello who is also sitting on a chair. "How is it going?"

"Well…" Mello turns his attention back to Near. "At least it is truly obvious that he will indeed make it through this."

Matt looks to Near's face and it is visible how much better he is doing. "Yes. It really does." He agrees. He turns back to Mello when the other lays the side of his head against the red heads shoulder. He brings one arm around his blonde partner as they stay sitting there together.

Back with the others…

They all have started getting in the lines to do each of the parts of the fitness test.

Matsuda, Rester and Gevanni are at the start of the running part. They lower to ready stances as they get ready to begin running.

The signal goes off in which the three of them take off beginning to run.

While quite a few students manage to make it ahead of them.

Matsuda slightly gasps as Gevanni and Rester even speed on past him. He closes his eyes tightly and tries to push himself harder than before. He hopes that he can catch up to the two of them. He cracks an eye open only to fling both of them open when he sees the two of them get further and further away. He feels his heart drop at the sight of this. He keeps going hoping to at least try to make a decent time… Now knowing that he won't be anywhere near as good as those two. He almost trips when his mind flashes to the memory of the one who had defeated Kira.

Near…

Matsuda keeps going though as he wonders how well this worlds Near could have done. His mind also flashing to when they had first met this worlds Matt, Mello and Near. He comes to a realization that this worlds Near would have done a lot better than him. He glances down feeling demotivated upon realizing this. He begins to wonder if he will ever truly be as good as the others. He looks up just in time as he makes it to the end. He slows to a stop panting harshly once passing the finish line. He turns to look around himself. He spots Halle doing the high jump as she clears a pretty decent height. He then notices Mogi go after her also doing pretty well. He looks again now to the shotput wanting to try to find at least someone who isn't good like him. He spots Soichiro getting a good score on it and he looks down. He tries the best he can but can't make it to the same level as the others. He finds an area far enough away to be alone and unheard. He screams at the sky in frustration before finding that he feels a little better. "Well… Whatever happens from here… Happens I guess." He turns away to walk away.

Mogi turns as Matsuda comes back wondering what the other had been doing alone over there. He doesn't ask though.

It is evening and Mello and Matt are still sitting with their partner.

Matt opens his eyes, both of them had closed their eyes and Mello fell asleep, when he thinks he hears slight shifting. He notices Near seemingly about to wake up. He would get to his feet in excitement if he didn't want to wake Mello. He instead stays sitting as still as he can to make sure the blonde gets the sleep he really needs.

Near's eyes blink open to the halfway point and he turns his head noticing Matt. "Matt."

Matt shares a smile with Near. "Hey." He greets making Near smile a little more.