Max gulped.
Gilbert: Alright, you know the drill. Ladies get a head start. If I pass a female student thrice, she's out.
Max: And girls have it easier?
Ken: The female gender is physically weaker, and so it makes sense.
Max: But what about Tiffany?
Ken: Oh her? She'll be absolutely fine.
The jocks along with Luke, were hyping each other up on the sidelines before Luke suddenly came to the both of them and patted their backs.
Luke: You two ready?
Max: I guess so.
Ken: Easy for you to say. Your superpower is super speed.
Max: Well, not really.
Luke and Ken: Huh?
Max: It's hard to explain, but that power doesn't work unless I activate it.
Ken and Luke: What?!
Luke and Ken shared a glance.
Ken: So, you're saying that, since you can't use your super speed, you'll be using your normal stamina.
Max: Yeah.
Ken: And by that, you mean your normal human-esque stamina.
Max: Yep.
Ken: Which, judging by your physique, isn't very good, is it?
Max: Hey!
Ken: Yep. You're screwed.
Max: Huh?
Ken: Let's just say that this gym coach is out of the ordinary.
Max took a look at the coach and saw Vince whispering into his ear and pointing at him while the coach nodded.
Ken noticed it as well.
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Ken: No, I was wrong. You're double screwed.
Max gulped.
Luke patted him on the back.
Luke: Hey, relax. Maybe it won't be so bad.
Max: Yeah, maybe...
Tiffany and Rose walked up to them.
Tiffany: How's everybody doing?
Ken: We're doing fine, my liegette?
Luke: Fantastic, actually. I finally get to stretch my muscles a bit.
Rose giggled.
Rose: You never change Luke.
Luke: Ha! Is that so?
Max: Yeah, we're fine.
Tiffany: Great.
Tiffany turned to Max.
Tiffany: Now I know I'm not your leader, Max. However, I feel it would be best to advise you to keep your powers a secret. So, I would suggest holding back.
Max: It's alright. My mom already made me promise not to use my powers.
Tiffany: Good.
Ken: Besides, apparently, his powers only work once he activates them. Otherwise, he's as physically fit as the average human being.
Rose: Woah! Really?
Ken: Yep.
Tiffany: Oh. Ok. Then.. I guess my warning was completely unnecessary. Huh.... (thinking: This makes things a bit more difficult.)
Tiffany was very shocked to hear that.
She turned to the rest of them.
Tiffany: Alright then, Luke, remember to keep your powers to a minimum.
Luke: Yeah, yeah, I got it.
Max: Huh, whaddya mean?
Ken: Luke's super strength is basically innate, so he has to control it constantly.
Max: Really?
Ken: Yes. And besides, we have to keep our abilities a secret. That much should be obvious even to you.
Max: Hey, I know that.
Tiffany: Irregardless, we should get ready. I'll keep an eye on Rose. Ken, you keep an eye on Max.
Ken: Right.
Max: Hey, wait...
Tiffany: Hmm?
Max: What's the big deal? I thought we weren't a team. Why do I need to be watched?
Tiffany and the others exchanged glances.
Ken: You poor sweet summer child.
Tiffany: Were you not paying attention to the speech he gave?
Max: Huh?
Tiffany: You're so careless.
Before they could explain further, a whistle loudly blew.
Tiffany: No time. Just get ready.
The coach's voice bellowed from a distance.
Gilbert: On the lanes, now!
Max and the others all got on the ground and ready to run.
Max: What's the big deal?
Luke: Just keep your head in the game!
Max: What does that even mean?
Rose: You've got this, Max.
The coach blew his whistle once more. All the students were gathered in the same group.
Gilbert: Alright. On your knees.
They all got on their knees.
Gilbert: Get set.
They all poised themselves to run.
Gilbert: And let the first run of the class of 2024..... begin!
And at that point, they all started running around the track.
Vince and Luke almost immediately took the lead.
Vincent: Try to keep up, Luke.
Luke: He... You got yourself a competition, Vince. (thinking: Gotta make this look realistic.)
Tiffany didn't take the lead amongst the girls. She instead ran alongside Rose, who was already struggling.
Tiffany: Take it easy, Rose.
Rose: (panting) Yeah. I will.
Max and Ken were in the middle, running at an average pace.
One thing was instantly clearly strange to Max. Everybody was running at a pretty fast pace for ten laps. Meanwhile, the coach was holding on to something unexpected.
A paintball gun.