I stand alone, in front of the monkey bars in the playground.

It was a little past midday and there would be another hour for other children to arrive at this park.

I looked at the bars hanging above me, I couldn't reach that.

'I should use the ladder for now.' I thought.

'So for me to ace the physical test my previous worlds standards for the military school should be fine right? If I should reach my goal before my two-year deadline was up, I could try to improve as much as I can.

I had tried enlisting in air force in my previous life, I had done all right in the physical aspects. I was disqualified in the interview section. Ahh, my corrupt previous nation.

For the max points, minimum of 15 pullups, 55 full crunches in a minute and 400-meter dash in under a minute.

That was the criteria for the male participants.

'I should find out where I stand right now before making any plans' I thought.

I climbed and hanged from the monkey bars.

I pulled myself.

'One'

I tried pulling myself again.

"Twoo" I exhaled while my forehead barely reached the bar.

That's going to be more of a problem I thought.

Let's try crunches.

With rhythmic exhaling and inhaling I tried to time myself while doing crunches.

I reached 22. That was not bad, I could pull those numbers up.

I tried to catch my breath while slowly walking around the monkey bars.

When I felt that I was ready, I looked for suitable running grounds. I roughly guessed the distance from slides to the edge of the woods should be around 400 meters.

I walked the edge of the slides and jumped a few times, shaking my legs to increase my blood flow.

I inhaled deeply and broke off to a sprint.

I ran as I pushed myself to my absolute limit.

There was no effort control for distance, I wanted to learn my limits.

I counted to a minute and forty-six seconds before I reached the edge of the woods.

That is going to be a large gap to close.

I lay down at the edge of the forest, my legs feeling numb from the effort. My tongue was itchy. I put my thumb across my wrist too vaguely guess my heart rate.

In the span of six seconds, it had already beaten 20 times.

200 bpm, wow no wonder my tongue feels itchy.

After a few minutes of just lying there, I got up and walked back to the monkey bars.

Easiest to improve was crunches and pullups for me, So I picked pullups first. Just to make the standards, totally not to have a sick sexy chiseled back.

I remembered the time I was doing calisthenics, for rep range increase I should utilize statics hold to increase my muscles time under tension.

I pulled myself up, then on my second rep at the highest point I held myself there.

For ten seconds I held myself at top. Then slowly, this was really important, like in slow motion, I slowly descended. This routine was the routine that increase my max reps from 4 to 20.

I let go of the bar. My hands were completely white and was hurting.

No matter, I will get my calluses back in a week.

I carried on with dips.

I could only do one, but I did as I did with the pullup. Static movements and slow descents.

'I will do the pullup/dips routine till I could do 10 pullups and 15 dips' I decided.

I repeated my modified pullups and dips set three times. By the time I was done, I couldn't even pull myself up for an inch.

I finished my workout with crunches and Russian twists.

A banger upper body workout I say.

My hands and back were hurting, my chest was ok as long as I didn't touch it. I think I was done for today. I was looking forward to playing with my friends too.

I walked my exhausted body back to home.

I drank a big glass of water, then went to take a shower.

After the shower I dressed up I, I plopped on my bed.

'I think dad has some dumbbells lying around in the house. I think I can borrow them.'

I thought to myself as I tried to optimize my 2-year training camp.

.

.

.

My second day was not as bad as my first one. I was still very tired but my muscles were not that banged up.

I asked about my father about his dumbbells and he lent me one.

Now goblet squats were a part of the picture.

.

.

.

After a whole week on my workout training, I was able to do three full pull ups. Dips were another ordeal; I was not really focusing on them so my max dips just increased by one. Now I got a better timing for my workouts so I can play with my friends too.

Wearing grey sweatpants with a red hoodie which had its sleeves cut, I went to the usual park saw that our usual meeting spot with my friend's group was empty.

My hair was made into a top bun. I had somehow warmed up to the longer hair, but I was always wearing a top bun. It was easy to make and looked cool. Like a samurai.

I looked around spotted in the clearing them near the woods. The same place that I had been lying after testing myself.

I saw Ino and a few others there. I had introduced Ino to our friends' group.

"Hi" I called out to them. They were in some kind of circle formation.

"Whatcha guys doing" I quipped

"Hey Sakura, the boys were making a wrestling tournament among themselves."

"Hooh, is that soo?" I asked, an evil grin plastered to my face. I think that I was a skilled wrestler back in my previous life. Maybe its time to see if I can retain some of my skills.

"Look Sakura is about to do something again!" Ame said to Arisa.

Ame was a petite girl with brown hair with brown eyes. She often hangs out with Arisa; I think their mothers are best friends or something.

Arisa was a shy girl; Ame often spoke for her. She had a purplish-blue hair. I liked her hair color.

"I want to join your competition!" I spoke.

Me being back in action from my training seemed to fire Taku up.

"Today, I will make you lick dirt." said Taku.

Taku was a competitive boy. He and I had a banter between us, we were in a constant challenge, but lately, due to my workouts I was not able to kick his dog ass to the ground.

"Bring it on!" I fired back.

"Ok then, me and Taku goes first. You two guys can wrestle with each other." I said pointing the two guys that were in our group.

They were Junpei and Yuuji. Both were average to be honest, no remarkable qualities aside from Junpei wearing big ass glasses.

"Then winners will wrestle with each other." I declared.

Taku looked at me and I nodded at him. That marked the start.

I stood in a low wrestling stance, dominant foot on the back, back bent nearly standing parallel at the ground, face straight looking straight at the opponent.

Taku did not know what he was doing. He rushed at me trying to push me to the ground. I caught him on his ankle while he was stepping in to push me. I pushed with my legs while lifting myself to a standing up position while holding onto his ankle, making him hop around in one leg trying to balance himself on one leg. I swept his remaining foot on the floor with my right leg, making him falling backwards. With a thud he fell on his back and without missing a beat I mounted him, pinning his arm with my knees.

"Surrender?" I ask

"Surrender." He replied.

I got off him and saw the amazed faces of the girls of the friends group. Ame ad Arisa was shocked, their mouths fully open. Ino looked shocked as well, just more compromised than the girls.

"What?" I asked. Did we accidentally fall on a dung or something?

"That was amazing, how did you do that?" screed Ame.

"Just picked up his leg and tripped him." I answered, proud with my performance.

"I give. I give" I heard from the other boys.

It seemed that Yuuji had won.

We crossed eyes with Yuuji, he looked winded.

"You ready?" I asked. I had missed wrestling

"…. Yeah" Yuuji said.

"On your mark" I said giving him the first move.

We stood apart from each other from an arms distance. I took my low stance again, locking eyes with Junpei. He gulped as he approached me. Rather then pushing me he tried to hold my wrists.

Smart.

I twisted my arm and held his wrist as well. My left hand was still was free but I locked our wrist with the last move.

I shifted my balance to his arm as I held him from the wrist. Whit a sudden yank I unbalanced him. As soon as he took a step to balance himself, I ducked under his arm and caught him from behind.

Yuuji felt pure terror.

I picked locked my arms around his waist. Using both my back and legs I slowly picked him up.

Oomph-it seems Yuuji was a little heavier than I expected.

He was barely lifted off from the ground, just a few inches above the ground but that was enough for my move. I swept his dangling legs with my right as I slammed him to the ground, falling on top of him using both our gravity. With a thud Yuuji was down as well. I got up from him as I wanted to give him a breathing window.

These kinds of slams could knock your wind off.

"You good?" I asked, feeling a bit guilty for not controlling myself against kids.

"…Yeah" he said after a few moments had passed.

"I am never wrestling with you." Yuuji said.

"Me too" every one repeated in a chorus.