The Cosmos - 1

[Several days later. In the training room at the ES Building...]

Mika: Wheeze... Wheeze...

Yuuta: Ah, don't slack off! Move your legs more!

Hinata: You can't stop here! The universe is still a far ways off! With this level of physical strength, you won't be able to catch a meteorite, and you'll die~!

Mika: ...I-I can't no more. If I keep runnin', I'll end up dyin' here!

Yuuta: Not yet! When you start thinking you're gonna die, that's when the real thing starts! Or rather, the real thing starts once you've dropped dead, right? ☆

Hinata: That's right, that's right! Only by exceeding your limits do you reach new heights! That's the golden rule of training, you know?

Kohaku: You're just makin' up a buncha things at this point…

Jun: Well, I can understand the pursuit of pushing past your limits though~.

Mika: Uu... Jun-kun, Kohaku-kun. I beg of ya, I've already passed my limit…

Yuuta: Don't act like a spoiled child~. I'll make the Kagehira-senpai here today thoroughly understand what he is capable and incapable of doing!

Kohaku: I said I wouldn't compromise, but... All I've been doin' is threaten' ya by smackin' the ground with this shinai.

Mika: Eek...?! Please don't swing that shinai 'round, I beg ya~!

Kohaku: I feel real bad doin' this, it's like I'm try'na pull off some corporeal punishment…

Hinata: In addition to building up physical strength, it is also training to be able withstand pressure even in extreme conditions, you know~? Once he gets used to that, I'm gonna ask him to start answering math problems~. ♪ Something like... training the body to function even when experiencing low blood oxygen levels? It is also necessary training if he's to go to space!

Kohaku: Hmm. So it may seem like an absurd mess, but a lotta thought was put into this trainin', huh? Well if that's the case, I can't afford t'be lenient, huh! Clench yer teeth, Mika-han!

Jun: —Nah, let's call it a break here.

Yuuta: Is that really alright? I feel like we've still got a ways to go, though?