The gym had entered a strange state.
Half the people were working out.
The other half had slowly become spectators.
Not by choice.
Just because watching Takeru exercise had somehow turned into an event.
Yuji was halfway through a set.
Hakari was competing with Ryu over something nobody understood.
Kashimo looked way too happy punching a heavy bag.
Nanami had somehow ended up calmly doing a perfectly reasonable workout.
Then Takeru walked over to the treadmill.
Megumi looked up.
"…Please don't."
Takeru looked at him.
Then looked at the speed controls.
Then slowly pressed:
MAX
Silence.
The treadmill whirred.
Then accelerated.
Then accelerated more.
Then made a noise treadmills should not make.
Yuji stared.
"…That thing goes that high?!"
Takeru stepped on.
For a few seconds he walked.
Then jogged.
Then sprinted.
FWHHHHHHH
His hair and haori started blowing backward.
The treadmill sounded like it was preparing for takeoff.
Hakari looked over.
"…He's outrunning the concept of cardio."
Ryu stared.
"…I respect it."
Five minutes.
Ten minutes.
Fifteen.
Takeru hopped off.
Completely fine.
Everyone stared.
Takeru stared back.
"…What?"
Megumi pointed.
"…You aren't even tired!"
Takeru blinked.
Looked around.
"…Hm."
Then his eyes shifted.
"…Wait."
A grin appeared.
He walked toward another area.
Battle ropes.
Heavy sled.
Weighted dips.
Weighted pull-ups.
Far heavier deadlifts.
Explosive jumps.
Repeated sprints.
Ridiculous core exercises.
Things that looked less like workouts and more like revenge against muscles.
Minutes passed.
Then more.
Then more.
Eventually...
a bead of sweat rolled down his forehead.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Yuji pointed with shaking hands.
"…GUYS."
Hakari turned.
"…NO WAY."
Ryu stared.
"…HE'S SWEATING."
Nanami adjusted his glasses.
Paused.
Adjusted them again.
"…Interesting."
Takeru wiped his forehead.
Looked at the sweat on his hand.
Then stared at it.
"…Huh."
Long pause.
"…Let's go harder."
The entire gym:
"NO."