Duel 002: Peaceful Days! The Fluffiest Training Montage Commences

[fluffydeathdealer]

[It's a bit of a pain, being in a school with no teachers.

Ryou Bakura isn't the type of kid who really likes being too active; he's about on the level of most ordinary teenagers. But after being laid up for so long with the burns to his arms and leg, not only is he extremely restless, but he's sure even his metabolism won't hold up much longer, with the amount he eats. That's why, after checking to see that Henry isn't home to take him up on that training offer, he's decided to try treating this like school and taking an hour or so to do his very own gym class, all by himself. It'd be easier with teachers, but... he doesn't have a choice right now.

Most kids probably would just take the break and be lazy, but right now, Ryou's working hard. Apart from the occasional break, he can be found pretty easily in the east wing, dressed in gym clothes and doing everything from running laps on the track field to climbing ropes.

...though that last one is more like 'falling off ropes'. Stupid mats... they don't cushion that fall at all. Hopefully nobody's dumb enough to stand below him.]

Ow...

[Time for a banana and some water, he thinks.]

Ah, I'm so tired...

Comments

[fluffydeathdealer]

Ehhhh! Malik-kun, that's cruel! I'm really fond of my hair, and he only tried to get me to cut it off because some really annoying girls kept following me around.

Besides, my hair was a lot shorter back then... it barely went past my shoulders.

[That jump... Malik-kun really was brave.]

I'm not asking you to teach me, precisely. Just to let me practice with you a little. So that's fine!

[obeytherod]

[Malik just snickers at Ryou's reaction. After all, all he'd been after was a reaction.]

Yeah, yeah, that's fine. I don't care as long as you don't get in my way.

[He walks a few paces over to a set of pull-up bars of various sizes side-by-side. He's a bit taller than Ryou, so he goes for the tallest of the bunch, leaving the middle-one available.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Well, he'll just... do what Malik's doing, then. Observe, and imitate. That's how you learn, right?]

You're really into this sort of thing, huh? I've never have pictured you as the type.

[obeytherod]

Really? [He shoots Ryou a dubious look, as if to suggest he must have been blind not to. After all...look at his arms, and mid-riff!

Wrapping his hands around the bars, palms facing him as he does, he starts on a set of pull-ups.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Well, you definitely have the figure for it. But it's somehow hard to picture you enjoying this sort of thing.

[Right, he can do that... Just... going to try it.]

[obeytherod]

I enjoy the results and feeling afterward more than the activity itself, but I guess it depends on the activity too.

[While Ryou struggles with that...Malik has a pretty steady pace going. It's obvious he has the routine down, but he's still far from the kind of person who could do several reps without breaking a sweat.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[It really is hard... he won't be able to do it for long. And he doesn't, stopping before Malik does.]

Man... I'm really out of shape, it seems.

[obeytherod]

[Malik finishes about 10 chin-ups and then drops down, giving his arms a moment to rest.]

To be fair...it's not easy. Hmhm, I really don't like doing them at all.

[fluffydeathdealer]

I see... then you only do them to keep your physique, right?

[His own arms are aching just at the thought.]

[obeytherod]

[Malik nods, glancing over at the bars...and not looking like he wants to go back on them either.]

That and sit-ups...

[He grabs the bars again, this time his hands facing away from his body as he does a set of pull-ups.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Stretching his arms to prepare himself, he tries it too, finding it a little easier... though nowhere as easy as Malik seems to find it.]

Eh, really? You're pretty strong too, from what I see... you really must do this a lot.

[obeytherod]

I do it every day.

[Malik has to talk through gritted teeth since he's working, but he's finished soon enough and simply drops down again to let out a heavy sigh of relief.

He rolls his shoulders a bit as he speaks.]

Hmhmhm...you know, you wouldn't look bad with a little more muscle tone.

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Ryou's already stopped by that point, needing to do less. But it's an interesting suggestion. ...even if he suspects he knows why.]

Eheh... Who knows? It might happen, if I keep doing this.

[obeytherod]

Maybe~

[Malik walks off, taking a seat by the low-level overhanger he'd usually stick his toes under in order to do sit-ups.

But Ryou was here today.]

Oy, you wanted to learn, right? Kehkeh, then come over here!

[fluffydeathdealer]

...eh?

[He curiously approaches, wondering what the hell this is and what Malik's doing.]

Un, I did. What is this for?

[obeytherod]

[Malik points down at his feet, which are neatly sitting right next to each other. Notably, he wasn't wearing his usual loafers. Instead, he had a pair of sneakers.]

Hold onto those so I can do my sit-ups.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Uhm. Alright?

[A little awkwardly, he sinks down to grab onto Malik's feet.]

Why do you need that?

[obeytherod]

You can't do sit-ups without weight on your feet.

[Laying back, he folds his hands behind his head.]

That's something else entirely. [Huffing as a start, Malik works on a set.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Huh, I see... Then is that because you're instinctively going to try to use your legs?

[Ryou ponders this, before simply sitting down on Malik's legs to hold onto them easier.]

[obeytherod]

...I don't know. It doesn't matter.

[It's just what he saw other people do, honestly.

Malik finishes up ten of those and then sits up, leaning on his knees and looking over at Ryou since he's sitting right there.]

Hah... [It wasn't a laugh, just a huff from exertion.] Your turn? Kehkeh...

[It's going to be fun watching Ryou struggle, he knows it![

[fluffydeathdealer]

Ahaha... alright.

[That nervous laugh was less out of fear of Malik and more out of how embarassed this is going to make him. Well, he won't get better if he doesn't try, so he mimics what Malik did.]

But I'm really out of shape compared to you, so I don't think I'll be able to do as many, if even you can't do more than that.

[obeytherod]

[Once Ryou's off him, Malik turns and presses his hands firmly the other boy's shoes.]

Kehkeh, how about this...I'll be impressed if you can manage just one! Go ahead~

[He'll just be sitting here on his knees...watching you!]

[fluffydeathdealer]

...

[That is both a pleasant sight and a terrifying one. But... just one, huh? He's sure he can do that. Hands behind the head, he closes his eyes and tries to ignore Malik's eyes on him.

...he doesn't even get halfway to a sitting position the first try. Not even close. The resistance in his body is harsh, especially considering he's on his back, where he's still injured, and trying to avoid letting his back hit the floor if he messes up.]

[obeytherod]

[Predictably, Malik is left snickering.]

Make sure to use your stomach muscles. [He pats Ryou on the flat of his tummy...like a dog.] If you use the hands behind your head to try and sit up, you'll just hurt yourself.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Hey...! I'm not a puppy...

[Sigh. Though that makes sense. Don't rely on his hands, huh? Linking them behind his head, he lies back and tries to focus on it. Use the stomach muscles... don't use your legs... or your hands... It seems impossible.

But if he just lies there and thinks about it, it will get even less possible.

Decision made, this time he moves fast, managing to sit up before falling back almost immediately.]

...ouch!