Harem Hero

The Quick and the Cloned - Part 6

Asia and Rias said their goodbyes a few hours later. It was starting to get late, and you hadn't even completed your daily training for Chun-Li! It had been a long time since you last saw the master martial artist, so you decided to summon her for a joint training session. You messaged her with an explanation, and she asked for a second to change into something sporty.

"Ready to sweat?" she jokes. Chun has swapped out her classic outfit for something new. A long, one-piece tracksuit with a gold and blue vest that only covers the top half of her torso. The white ribbons in her hair were swapped for thinner, yellow replacements – which matched the yellow banded sneakers she was wearing on her feet. You believe this outfit comes from Street Fighter Alpha.

"You look amazing," you reply as you lead her into the space-time defying gym.

"Thank you. I have not worn this for some time! But it's very good for training. Let us begin with some stretches."

Chun-Li leads you through the full warm-up sequence again to refresh your memory. Stretches, light exercises, and short rounds of repetitive stances. The first time you did this it nearly wiped you out right away, but now it fulfils the intended purpose. There's a profound sense of satisfaction to be felt from advancing your body so much. You've started to fill out with muscles and your old fat is being burned away day by day.

"I see you have not been neglecting your training," she smiles, "You've made a lot of progress since the first time we met."

You think about the ways that the enemy are adjusting to your strategies, "I can't just rely on Mitsuru and the rest of you to bail me out of tough situations. One day my own skills are going to be the deciding factor." And what kind of superhero doesn't train a little? It'd be an insult to the title to stay a couch potato.

"And there we are – now it is time to begin."

We wipe the sweat from your brow and adopt a striking stance. Chun-Li emphasised the importance of repetition training, being able to do the fundamentals so well that they become second nature. The drill sergeant in her comes out as she barks the next order, "Give me one-hundred strikes, remember your form!"

Chun stands opposite you and demonstrates the pace you need to keep. One-hundred is more than you usually manage on top of everything else, but this is a milestone day. Chun wants you to break through those limits and show your strength.

"One, two, three, four!"

Your arms, back and sides begin to burn as you use your entire body to deliver the force needed.

"Twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two!"

You keep your eyes focused on the goal. One day you'll be able to do some of the amazing things that she can, kicking, slicing, leaping, all without the aid of the suit.

"Fifty, fifty-one, fifty-two!"

To be the best man you can be. To show all of the women who love you unconditionally that you appreciate every bit of it and more.

"Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one-hundred! That's good!"

You got so into it that you didn't even notice how quick you completed the set. Your arms feel like a pair of noodles already. Chun-Li approaches you and wipes down your chest with her own towel, it's strangely intimate. You note that she hasn't even broken a sweat yet. She's on another level to you.

"Well done. A dedicated mind creates an unbeatable body. To continue with my instructions even without my presence is a great feat in itself."

"Why? Do people not?"

Chun-Li laughs, "It's easy to become distracted or demotivated without guidance. Many people have responsibilities that become more important to them than becoming strong through martial arts."