All the students doing pushups dropped to the ground in exhaustion. All of them starting to murmur.
Be it that they had worries about their families, schoolwork, or their current physical and mental exhaustion. One thing was clear.
Maximillian Hunter. That kid has guts.
In an odd sense, his victory resonated with their hearts. Not enough that they would outright cheer him on, but enough that they noticed him.
Rose dropped to the ground.
Rose: I... is Max ok?
Tiffany: Yeah.
Ken: Yet again, full of surprises.
Back with the others...
Luke: Good job.
Luke laid out a hand to lift Max up.
Vince: Tch.
Vince folded his hands and turned away.
The coach blew his whistle.
Gilbert: Alright, all kids. Everyone on the pitch can leave and go take a shower. All the kids on the bench, come with me.
The other kids followed the coach morosely while those who had passed slowly walked off to shower.
Tiffany got up and faked stretching while Rose and Ken sweatily got up and followed suit.
Ken: (sigh) It's finally over.
Tiffany: Yeah.
Rose immediately afterwards made for Max in spite of her exhaustion.
Ken: Look at her go. Like a fly to a light.
Tiffany did not reply but simply followed Rose as Ken sighed and also followed her.
Back with Max and Luke, Luke had indeed put his hand out to Max, but he claimed that he could not stand up.
Luke: Really?
Max: Yeah. I can't feel my legs.
Rose made it to the pair.
Rose: Max! That was incredible!
Max: Thanks.
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She then noticed the look on his face.
Rose: Are you ok?
Max: Yeah, 'cept I can't stand up.
Tiffany and Ken arrived as well.
Ken: Well now, that would appear to be quite the predicament.
Tiffany: I agree. (sighs)
Ken: It would seem that you overworked yourself.
Max: No kidding.
Luke: Whelp. Ken?
Ken: Yeah.
Luke and Ken bent down and carried Max from his sides, lifting him with his arms. Max's legs touched the ground as he was lifted.
Max: Ouch!
Luke: Sorry!
Ken: Seems you can feel your legs.
Max: Hey!
Rose: Ken, you're so mean!
Ken chuckled in response.
Tiffany: (sighs) Well, I suppose you two know what to do.
Luke: Yeah.
Ken: Of course, my liegette.
Tiffany: Alright. Well, I'll leave it to you. Rose?
Rose: Huh? Oh, right.
Rose turned to Tiffany and followed her as she went to the bathroom.
Rose: I hope you feel better soon, Max.
Max: (exhaustedly) Thanks.
The girls promptly left.
Max: So, where are we going?
Ken: To the bathroom.
Max: Huh?
Max, being carried by Luke and Ken, was taken to the school bathroom rather than the shower room.
It was there that Ken let him go and went into an empty classroom to get a chair.
Max: What are we doing?
Luke: You'll see.
Ken came back with a chair, and Luke sat him down on said chair while Ken locked the door.
Max: Ouch.
Luke: Sorry.
Max: It's fine, it's fine. So, what are you guys gonna do?
Ken: Cryotherapy.
Max: Huh?
Luke: You ready?
Ken: Yeah.
Ken blew a light blue wind onto Max's legs. Only for a second did he wonder as to what was going on before a horrible cold was felt on his feet.
Max: Ou....
Luke grabbed his mouth and shut it.
Luke: We should be quiet. Don't want anybody to realise what's going on in here.
Ken simply nodded until Max's legs were encased in something of frost.
Luke then let go of Max, and he started gritting his teeth.
Ken: Give it a few minutes.
Max: A few minutes?!?
Luke: Shhhhh. We should be quiet, remember?
Max: Dang it!
Max went back to holding back his agony.
Ken laid an ear out of the bathroom.
Luke: Anyone?
Ken: No.
Luke: Good.
Ken: I also went ahead and replaced the security camera footage.
Luke: Good job.
Ken: So, what now?
Luke: I dunno. And it's gonna be a pain getting a shower after this cuz we're so late.
Ken: True. But at least we have the rest of the period till lunch free.
Luke: Yeah.
Muffled noises came out of Max's mouth.
Luke: Oh yeah, you don't know.
Ken: If the coach has a lesson, the next lesson is automatically free. That just goes to show you as to just how much of a slave driver he is.
More muffled noises came out, something in the tone of seriously.
Luke: Yeah. But in any case, you don't need to worry about what happens to those who fail.
Max: Mmm?
Luke: Trust me, you dont wanna know.
Ken: He's right. Honestly, questions need to be asked about that man's methods. But, irregardless, it does produce results.
Luke: Yeah, enough results to keep a whole school in shape. Who would've thought?
Max: Mmmmm.
Luke: Oh yeah, Ken?
Ken: Right, I think that does it.
Ken blew a light red breath onto Max's legs, causing the ice on them to melt away.
Ken: And that is that, courtesy of Kenneth Stone.