June 2nd, 2016: Thursday
Akira let his bag drop to the ground and began stretching. "Not that I'm complaining, but why are we here again?"
Takemi sat on the railing normally meant to keep people from falling into the pond at Inokashira Park, but for now served as a stool. Instead of her normal work uniform, she was dressed in her leather jacket ensemble.
"I told you, I was hoping to acquire some useful data outside of the confines of the exam room. It's been a while since I've taken your vitals without a trial, so I want to see how you're doing. The change in environment will also be a variable that I'm curious to see your reaction to."
"You do know I've been to a park before without dropping dead, right?"
She rolled her eyes without dropping her smile, a reaction Akira was beginning to grow more and more happy to see every time it happened. "I'd hope not. That might be concerning. Shall we begin?"
"What's on today's menu?" he asked.
Takemi rubbed her chin and grinned. "Let's see, I'm thinking… How about you go take a swim in the lake?"
Akira stopped stretching and turned to her. That grin on her face only added to his uncertainty as to whether or not she was being completely genuine.
She must have taken pity on his, as she shrugged and said, "I'm kidding. I'm sure that's against some law here. No, we'll be doing a control test to see your reaction without taking any of the medicine. You're going to give me some data, and I'll need every last bit of it."
"Then I better not slack off, huh?" He began jogging his place and rolling his neck, feeling some satisfying pops.
"That's the spirit. Now go for a run. Five kilometers should do the trick."
"Five kil—Are you serious?"
She looked at him expectantly.
The only sound that hung in the air for a moment was the pond behind them and the other visitors in the park.
"Are you still sore about the thing with the girl?"
She gasped before saying, a little too innocently, "Guinea pig, I am offended at the notion. This is entirely for medical purposes. I'm a professional, after all."
"Uh huh..."
"Five kilometers," she repeated.
Akira rolled his eyes and laughed. He shucked off his jacket and tossed it at her before he immediately peeled off, leaving her behind to flail the offending article of clothing away.
"Kurusu! I'll get you for that!"
"You'll have to catch me first, Takemi-san!"