The gym was in ruins.
Not actual ruins.
Just emotionally.
People had given up on understanding Takeru around twenty minutes ago.
Now they were surviving him.
Takeru rolled his shoulders.
Still standing.
Still energized.
Still somehow wanting more.
Then he grinned.
"Cold ice bath and sauna is soooon."
Yuji immediately looked interested.
"…Wait that actually sounds amazing."
Hakari nodded aggressively.
"NOW you're speaking my language."
Nanami looked up.
For the first time in a while...
actual interest.
"…Continue."
Meanwhile Takeru looked down.
Paused.
"…Okay yeah no."
He tugged at his shirt.
"…This is uncomfortable."
After an hour of nonstop training it had gotten soaked through.
So he peeled it off and tossed it over a nearby bench.
Silence.
Yuji stared.
"…Did... did he sweat through reality?"
Hakari pointed dramatically.
"…HE'S IN PHASE TWO!"
Megumi looked exhausted already.
"…Why are we acting like this is a boss fight?"
Ryu folded his arms.
"…Because it is."
Takeru stretched once.
Cracked his neck.
Then immediately walked back over.
Battle ropes.
WHAM WHAM WHAM WHAM
Heavy deadlifts.
CLANG
Weighted pull-ups.
RATTLE
Sprints.
FWOOOSH
No stopping.
No breaks.
Just Takeru continuing his campaign against the entire concept of physical exhaustion.
Nearby, Fred slowly lifted a sign:
"Current objective: defeat fatigue itself."