The sky was a vivid red, mixing with the clouds fluttering about the forming shapes more alive than people's wildest dreams. A beautiful backdrop that befell upon the track just outside the school. The three of the elite four stood in a uniform line, they all wore casual wear with Uzu wearing a light green T shirt beneath a much darker green zipped down hoodie paired with matching shorts. Gamagōri wore the same black shirt from work underneath a light brown coat. While Inumuta was wearing the same clothes from his academy. The three stood facing Satsuki and clone Nui, Satsuki smiling welcomingly while Nui sweated slightly wondering what exactly was going on. There was an awkward silence as the three men stared down Nui, measuring her up as both a threat and a person.

"Erm..." Nui spoke up quietly grabbing everyone's attention, "hello you know who I am but I think its only right we are well... Introduced."

Gamagōri stepped forward, "Nui."

His sudden mention almost caused Nui to jump in her skin, "Y-yes!"

Gamagōri bared down on the in-comparison tiny Nui, his voice strong and commanding, "If you ever hurt lady Satsuki in ANY way-"

Nui raised her hand slightly, speaking up to interrupt Gamagōri, "uh Mr Gamagōri? Not to interrupt your speech but Miss Jakuzure already gave a me a similar warning..."

Gamagōri seemed somewhat befuddled by this reaction, "O-oh I see..."

However the awkwardness within the moment was offset by Uzu's sudden burst of laughter, "Ha! As expected of little miss loud mouth!"

Inumuta had a smug smirk as he responded to Uzu's exclamation, "you're in luck that she's not here or that loud mouth of hers would be giving you an earful."

Uzu loud joy simmered down to casual satisfaction, "Heh ain't that the truth..."

Uzu had another quieter chuckle as clone Nui's eye shone with intrigue.

True Nui sighed watched in her ghostly form invisible to all but clone Nui, "ugh..."

Clone Nui spoke from her heart for but a moment, not thinking of the consequences, "Wow you guys aren't at all like how I expected you to be..."

The three boy's eyes shifted to Nui in calm curiosity with Gamagōri uttering "Hm?"

Nui panicked as she realised what she said, shuddering as she attempted to get out her words for a reason for her strange remark, "W-well I only k-know about you g-guys from the original Nui's memories... and you didn't seem to be like this..."

Gamagōri took a moment to think about how to respond, "Well you're no longer our enemy as far as we're are concerned, perhaps you will be able to partake in this aspect of our companionship, that is if we don't end up skewering you like last night's takoyaki."

Uzu walked up before switching to Nui's side to throw his arm casually over Nui's shoulder, "Yeah! yesterday's enemy is today's ally after all, unless today starts looking like yesterday."

Nui seemed somewhat troubled by the talk of possible hostility but ultimately was grateful for their accommodation, "T-thank you for having me..."

Gamagōri seemed blush a little in response to Nui's remark, her cute fragile expression slightly piercing his cold exterior.

Inumuta pushed up his glasses with an ominous smirk as he thought to himself, "So those kinds of things are still your weakness, Gamagōri."

Satsuki raised her voice, immediately capturing the attention from all in attendance, "Alright, that Should do it for the introduction."

She paused for a moment as the others settled down, Uzu pulling away from clone Nui's shoulder, Gamagōri taking an almost military-like stance as he regained his composure, Inumuta pulled his eyes up from his phone's screen and Nui moved her gaze to Satsuki with a noticeable gulp.

Satsuki continued as soon as she was under the everyone's observation, "so, you must be wondering what you are here for."

Nui raised her hand cautiously, her action quickly provoking a response from Satsuki, "Not you Nui" Nui slowly lowered her hand before Satsuki continued, "To put it bluntly I have made a bet for my sister's future. As she desires to escape from her responsibilities when it comes to homework. This bet is regarding the sports day occurring at our school in a week's time, specifically a running race that both Mako and Nui are entered into. Ryūko has bet that Mako will come out victorious in this race while I have bet that Nui will win."

Uzu spoke up, his smirk audible in his voice, "And let me guess, you want us to whip her into shape?"

Satsuki nodded with calm amusement, "Indeed, as this Nui isn't very... athletically inclined."

Suddenly Inumuta spoke up, he appeared to now be sitting in a foldable lawn chair as he peered into a laptop resting on his lap, "That's quite the understatement Lady Satsuki, truly a shame with such a remarkable biological make up as this..."

Nui threw out a confused and worried "eh?!"

However Satsuki ignored this to stand by Inumuta and gaze into his laptop's screen, "So is it not possible then?"

Inumuta tapped the keys on his laptop at a furious speed as he replied, "Well it is physically possible, but to be honest I've never seen anything like it, life fibers are replicating the behaviour of normal human genetics! truly remarkable, and if my calculations are correct the life fibers should also be able to replicate muscle growth and increase in lung capacity as well as the other human bodily improvements."

Satsuki nodded contemplatively, "Hm I see, and our time frame?"

Inumuta pushed up his glasses as he replied, "I would need a bit more data before I can make a proper estimate, but... its not looking promising."

"I understand." Satsuki spoke calmly before turning to the other three.

Gamagōri stood waiting patiently for Satsuki to finish convening with Inumuta, while Uzu was patting Nui's head with a causal close eyed grin on his face.

"Nui" Satsuki spoke after she turned to face them. Nui gently pushed Uzu's hand away from her head as she perked up in response to Satsuki who continued to command her as soon as she had Nui's attention, "Can you go get changed into your gym uniform then run a lap around the track?"

The command was phrased as a question but to clone Nui there was no choice in the matter, "R-right!"

She rushed off into the school to put on her gym clothes, true Nui close behind, her spectral form lying on the ground spectating with a bemused grin before disappearing.

Satsuki turned to Gamagōri as Nui made her into the school, "Can you run with her Gamagōri? try to motivate her to keep going whenever she begins to slow down."

Gamagōri nodded respectfully as he replied, "As you wish lady Satsuki."

Nui returned wearing a white t-shirt fearing thin black letters making up the kanji for "Gym uniform." and a pair of long red shorts accompanied with white running trainers. She also tied up her hair into a singular large pony tail that flowed out behind her.

Clone Nui spoke as she did a couple of casual stretches, crossing her arms over each other while stretching them out and stretching out her legs in a crouching-like position "Jeez I'm glad they don't use bloomers like some of the other old-school well... schools."

True Nui looked at her with smug amusement as she retorted mockingly, "I think its a shame would of made for quite the pretty sight..."

Clone Nui responded by staring with irritation at true Nui before noticing the shade of Gamagōri's figure enveloping her as he loomed over her.

"Nui" He said, his voice deep and commanding.

"Y-yes?!" Nui's figure shot up as she nervously looked up to Gamagōri with a sweat on her forehead.

"Why are you still standing here?" Gamagōri questioned but sounded more like a demand.

Nui threw out a confused "Huh?"

Gamagōri raised his voice suddenly, "Start running! Now!"

Nui jumped at Gamagōri's sudden command, "R-right!"

Nui began running down the track as per Gamagōri's instruction, Gamagōri following close behind.

"Pick up the pace Harime!" he shouted once again causing Nui's speed to heighten as she breathed heavily struggling to maintain her stamina.

Uzu, Inumuta and Satsuki spectated as Nui tried her best to run quickly around the large track. Gamagōri ran close behind consistently shouting, "One two! One two!" to set up a pace for their running steps.

Nui gasped for air attempting to throw out her own "One two..." In sync with Gamagōri through huffing breaths.

Inumuta was spectating through his laptop as he run his complex systems to measure all of Nui's physiological data.

Satsuki spoke to Uzu as she watched, "What's your take on Nui's proficiency?"

Uzu sighed with irritation in his reply, "Honestly... Not good. Her form sucks and her breathing is all over the place."

Nui arrived at the end of her lap, leaving the track to join Satsuki, Inumuta and Uzu, Gamagōri following close behind. Nui immediately threw her hands on her knees, desperately huffing to regain her breath after the run.

Satsuki turned to Inumuta, "well?" Inumuta looked up from his laptop and pushed up his glasses, "I'm basing this estimation on my previous readings on Mako's data in comparison to clone Nui's data. So this won't be entirely accurate as there is some unknown factors such as the other students participating in the race. However, based on Nui's current lung capacity and muscle mass I estimate the time we shall require to be... three weeks."

Inumuta's announcement provoked a miniature mix of shock and disappointment from the group.

"Three weeks?" Satsuki uttered

Inumuta calmly nodded, "Yes although this is predicated on a best case scenario, with a strict regimen."

Satsuki placed her hand to her chin as she considered the situation, "I see... And we only have a week..."

Inumuta replied in affirmation, "Indeed, it could be possible to condense this into a week however for miss Harime this could be considered a... living hell, less sleep, more training, combined with lessons to assist in her athletic knowledge as well as several different exercise routines that would need to be played into each other and a strict diet."

Satsuki's look of consideration began to mix with concern, "So to achieve this would be to force this strenuous training onto Nui..." Satsuki closed her eyes as she sighed with disappointment, "I can't force that on her, not for my selfish desire to win a bet against my sister, to make her go through that for such a reason would start reminding me of the days back in Honnōji academy..." Inumuta silently watched on stalwartly as Satsuki turned to Nui, "Tell me Nui..." Satsuki's mention brought Nui's attention to her as she continued, "you didn't choose to join this race, and so it would be wrong for me to force you to under go it given how difficult the preparation will be, and so... do you wish to drop out?"

"drop out?" Nui questioned, she didn't even realise that she hadn't considered the possibility of dropping out ever since the two sisters made their bets, "But what's gonna happen to your bet with Ryūko?"

Satsuki sighed once again, this time with a disappointed shrug, "I suppose I'll have to forfeit, its a shame but... I can't make you suffer for my own personal reasons, I stopped being that kind of person a long time ago."

Inumuta, Uzu and Gamagōri held their heads low with subtle frowns in acknowledgment of Satsuki's sentiment. Nui's mind rushed back as she thought about the situation. She thought back to the moment when she was surrounded by Nudist beach agents and declared her desire to live only to think that she was going to die, when beyond her expectations, Satsuki and Ryūko stood by her side and accepted her hope.

She grit her teeth for a moment before speaking up, "No."

Her sudden statement surprising the others, with Satsuki throwing out a "Huh?"

Nui continued, her eye now filled with conviction, "No I won't give up, I may not have started this, but I'm gonna finish it! But not just for you, if I'm gonna do this... I'm gonna do this for myself as well, I'm gonna do this to improve myself!"

Satsuki surprise climbed higher only being able to say, "Nui?"

Nui began to continue once again, "I mean if I'm gonna be able to do this, I gotta put my all into it right? so I'm not just gonna do this to win but to improve myself! But you can be sure that I am gonna try to win!"

Satsuki was speechless from Nui's sudden declaration when Gamagōri raised his own voice, "Now that's the spirit Harime! I can work with that!"

Uzu joined him, just as enthusiastic, "Hell yeah! I thought you were a bit of a wimp but damn you actually got some guts!"

In turn Inumuta added on with a calm yet somewhat supportive tone, "Indeed, the conducting of the training should be much easier on the basis of you having a personal stake within the conflict."

Satsuki remained in her bewilderment as Nui went against her expectations, "Are you sure about this Nui? You may come to regret this decision."

Nui pondered on her response for a moment before replying, "You might be right... But if I second guess all my decisions... Then I don't think I would be here today." The group felt an unexpected nuance from Nui's response as Nui continued, "Its why I gotta follow what I believe in, even if the path is rough... Its the journey I've chosen to walk, right?"

Satsuki closed her eyes and smiled with satisfaction, "Yes, you're exactly right Nui. Very well!" Satsuki raised her voice commanding the entirety of the group, "Gamagōri, I want you as Nui's continued coach, whenever she trains and exercises I want you there pushing her onward."

Gamagōri responded with a subtle nod "Yes lady Satsuki."

Satsuki then continued in her declaration, "Uzu, I want you to be her athletics trainer, in-between training sessions with Gamagōri, you'll be teaching her proper athletic information."

Uzu in turn replied with a miniature playful salute, "yes ma'am~"

Satsuki then turned to Houka, "Inumuta, you probably have already guessed that I want. You will be running data analysis on Nui's athletic capabilities."

Inumuta nodded with a confident smirk, "Of course ma'am, I could run analysis on the other students as well if you wish."

Satsuki considered this for a moment before responding, provoking a look of awkward concern from Nui, "Eh... A bit too stalkery."

Inumuta nodded once again, "As you wish."

Satsuki then spoke to the whole group, "Alright! Tomorrow we begin; Operation dash to the finish!"

(This next paragraph goes well with the song; "Hidden potential" by TWRP, listen to that song while reading for the full experience.)

It was an early morning for Clone Nui. She was tired and envious of true Nui who continued to sleep, however she splashed cold water in her face and got going. She wore a red track suit and was accompanied by Gamagōri who wore his own yellow track suit. They ran through the cold morning air, every time she lost breath and slowed down Gamagōri called to her to keep her going. After the running, she was within Satsuki's house studying under Uzu's tutorage meanwhile Satsuki was standing staring into a monitor as Inumuta sat in front of the monitor advising her. Nui was then at school doing her best to stay awake and reviewing what she was told by Uzu during breaks. After school was more exercise, push ups, running on the spot and stretches. Mako and Ryūko did their own training, Ryūko appeared to chuck Mako into the air like pancake dough and bending Mako over her shoulder as Mako hummed in enjoyment this being a sort of stretching. While Nui and Gamagōri ran on the spot, Ryūko put a croquette on a fishing pole and attaching that to Mako's back, causing her to run on a running machine. Days passed by as the training for both teams continued, Nui and Gamagōri doing all sorts of exercises, pull ups, push ups, more running, Ballae for some... reason and athletics studying. As the week continued, clone Nui became more and more tired barely being able to stand up at points, true Nui watched in amusing at her struggles whilst also also relishing the time she could spend close to Satsuki. Clone Nui shot her doubleganger looks but pressed onwards with her exercise. Inumuta would smile into his screen as he saw Nui's athletic capabilities rising, apparantly even on schedule, taking time to provide Nui with a breathing tube to do a more accurate measurement of her breath intake and outtake and placing pads on muscle specific parts of her body to measure their growth, something Nui felt somewhat uncomfortable about. The week was reaching towards the end point, Nui managing to run more and more less tired by the time she reached the finish line provoking a surprising thumbs up from Gamagōri. Nui was giving a momentary time of rest that night, feeling somewhat confident for the first time.