Living Normally In An Abnormal World - Chapter 6: Physical Fitness Test

Chapter 6: Physical Fitness Test

Today is the physical fitness test. It’s a good opportunity to know my body’s limits. 

Even though I don’t look like it, I actually work out and do muscle training, so I’m quite confident.

Why do I work out? 

Don’t you admire strong people? Of course, you do. So, that’s why.

In this world, girls are stronger than boys. 

Of course, the army of NEETs-to-be can’t win. In this world, boys tend to be indoor types who don’t like exercising.

Well, I do work out, and I’m taller than the average girl, so the difference shouldn’t be that big. 

By the way, I’m 150 cm tall. The average height for a 7-year-old boy is 130 cm, so I’m clearly taller. The average height for girls is 140 cm.

For the physical fitness test, you usually work in pairs, so of course,

“Jan-ken-pon!” (T/N: Rock, Paper, Scissors)

It ended up like that. Well, that’s fine, but…

“Mmm…”

Kimura-san is pouting because she lost first. That pouting face is cute, but all she says is “Mmm…” no matter what I ask. So, I decided to leave her alone for a while.

“We did it, Yuuto-sama!!!”

Oh, it seems like it’s been decided. I guess I’ll be partnering with Tachibana-san.

“Here’s hoping to have a good time with you, Tachibana-san.”

“Yes! Yuuto-sama!”

“Mmm…”

Kimura-san, how long are you going to pout?

“Let’s go!”

Tachibana-san pulls my hand and runs to the grounds. Before, she would get flustered just from shaking hands, but she seems to have gotten used to it.

“Ah… I mean, I…”

“It’s fine, don’t worry.”

It doesn’t seem to be fine. Well, she’s cute, so I’ll forgive her.

The events on the grounds are short-distance running, handball throw, and long jump, right?

First, the girls do the short-distance running normally. And I…

“Yuuto-kun, do your best!!!”

“Do your best, Yuuto-sama!!!”

…Please, just let me run normally.

Can you run normally with the same level of cheering as if you were cheering for an Olympic athlete? I’m just an ordinary person, you know? Hey, someone answer me.

…Well, I guess I’ll just run. I prepare for a standing start.

And then the signal sounds. I run on my tiptoes, raising my feet high. This is a fast way to run even for an ordinary person.

And my time is,

“9 seconds!”

Not bad. My body hasn’t finished growing yet.

“As expected, Yuuto-sama!”

“Thank you. It’s Tachibana-san’s turn now, right? Do your best.”

“Yes!”

And her time is,

“8.79 seconds! That’s the best in the class!”

…Wow.

“What do you think, Yuuto-sama?”

“That’s amazing.”

“Thank you!”

Seeing her smile and say thank you, I secretly made a decision.

Next is the handball throw. This time, Tachibana-san throws first. She… is surprisingly athletic.

“Huff!”

“24 meters!”

…24 meters, huh? I want to throw beyond 24 meters. Even in this reversed world, I want the girls I know to think that I’m stronger. I want to show them that I’m different, that I’m not the type of guy who needs to be protected.

“You have good athletic abilities.”

“Yes, I train every day to protect gentlemen like you.”

“I see. I work out because I don’t like being protected by girls. I don’t want to lose to Tachibana-san.”

“Fufu, I won in the short-distance run, didn’t I?”

“There are still more events. …If I lose, I’ll grant one of your wishes.”

“……Are you serious?”

“A man’s word is his bond.”

“In that case, I can’t lose.”

Hmm? Did I just motivate her? But here, I must show the spirit of old Japan. I can’t lose.

“Anyway, it’s my turn.”

“You don’t have to try so hard.”

“That’s harsh.”

And then I throw.

“Huff!”

“……25 meters!”

“Yes!”

It was a close call, but a win is a win. What? That’s too arrogant? I don’t need that. All that matters is winning.

I smirk at Tachibana-san.

(How do you like that?)

That’s the feeling I’m conveying. And Tachibana-san notices it and returns a smile.

(You’re doing well too. But I’ll win next time.)

In the midst of this,

“……28 meters!”

…Huh?

“Yuuto-kun, can I join too?”

Kimura-san asks with a dark smile. Apparently, she overheard our previous conversation.

The more people there are, the higher the risk for me. But even so, there are things a man must do.

“It’s fine.”

“I won’t lose for sure.”

It seems like I’ve awakened a sleeping lion.

Tachibana-san: 1 win

Kimura-san: 1 win

Me: 0 wins

That’s the current score. Points are given to the person who comes in first in each event. There are still more events, so it’s fine.

Standing long jump

Tachibana-san: 2.54 meters, 2 wins

Kimura-san: 2.39 meters, 1 win

Me: 2.37 meters, 0 wins

…I lost again. This time, I’m in last place. But anyway, I have to keep going. There are still events to be done in the gym. It’s not over yet.

“Yay!”

“We did it!”

“…”

Losers aren’t even allowed to speak. It’s pathetic to make excuses.

By the way, those two are definitely working together, right?

After lunch, we went to the gym. The events are sit-ups, grip strength, side-to-side jumps, forward bend, and shuttle run.

I’ll cut to the results!

Tachibana-san: 4 wins

Kimura-san: 3 wins

Me: 1 win

…I lost badly. Losing in the forward bend event is especially embarrassing. Well, even if I won, I’d be conflicted about whether to be happy or not.

And the two of them look hesitant as they say,

“Yuu… Yuuto-sama? Um, can we pretend the bet never happened?”

“Yeah… I was thinking the same thing. Yuuto-kun, let’s pretend it never happened, okay?”

Their words of consolation stab me like a knife. If I let it go here, I’ll be pathetic as a man. So, I say,

“No, it’s fine. Tell me your wish.”

“Really?”

“Really?”

“A man’s word is his bond.”

“Then, can I go first?”

“Sure.”

“My mother is hosting a social party soon. Will you come with me?”

“Ah, as a pair?”

“Yes. I really want to go with Yuuto-sama.”

“Okay, I accept. I shall grant your wish.”

“Fufu, thank you very much!”

“Now, me! I want to go on a date with you!”

“I shall grant your wish too.”

“Yay!”

“When is that social party?”

“This Saturday.”

“That’s soon!”

And so, it was decided that I would attend the social party this Saturday.

…By the way, do I have to wear a dress? Well, before that, I have to convince Mana and Yuuna.

Also, according to the teacher, my overall ranking among all the classes was around 14th. It was mediocre, so I couldn’t be happy about it.