The Heroine Is In Love With Me

I'm Being Reminded

At Jade’s suggestion, we decided to undertake the Ultimate
   Magic training—

   “Marshall! You’re falling behind!”

   “Hol… hold up, give me a break…”

   –My physical strength has already reached its limit.

   It’s about a 30-minute hike up a deserted mountain road while
   holding the Michaela doll in a princess carry… my arms are
   about to fall off, my lungs are about to collapse, and my heart
   feels like it’s about to explode.

   “What are you whining for?!” Jade yelled. “You can do it,
   Marshall!”

   As he’s dressed in a black tank top and camouflage pants, he
   gives me a confident smile without even panting for breath. He
   can manage to run at a faster pace than I can while holding a
   heavy sandbag…

   “Oh yes!” Jade said. “If you’re feeling down, let’s sing while
   running!”

   “Don… don’t say… something, so ridiculous…” I huffed.

   If we sing in this situation, my lungs will definitely
   collapse…

   “Don’t be so worried, it’ll be fine, Marshall!” Jade replied.
   “If you try it, you’ll certainly feel better!”

   “Just… give me, a few… minutes…” I panted.

   “Now then, let’s sing!” Jade said. “My old man was a
   hundred-and-ten!”

   “So, don’t… start… singing…” I said.

   “Best at training on the pond!”

   … It’s useless.

   He doesn’t care about what I’m saying and he’s singing a song I
   can’t understand with a melody I think I’ve heard somewhere
   before.

   “Ahh, training is great, isn’t it?!” Jade said.

   “I… see…” I huffed.

   “This brings back memories…” Jade said. “Back when I was in the
   military, I was a sergeant and trained the recruits.”

   “Is that… so…?” I asked.

   On a related note, on the character introduction page of the
   official manual and information books, Jade’s section read, “He
   seems to be more than meets the eye.” He wasn’t a Capture
   Target, so he wasn’t discussed in great detail, but did they
   mean something like this…?

   “Yes,” Jade said. “I ordered them to carry sandbags and keep
   running for three days and three nights without sleep, or I’d
   strap weights on them and have them swim laps in a
   monster-infested swamp…”

   … Umm.

   Even if it was military training, it feels like it’s too
   brutal…

   “It was priceless to watch those new recruits coming in looking
   so cocky, looking so despaired during the rigorous straining,
   then overcoming that despair as they were reborn stronger than
   ever,” Jade said.

   … It may have been a mistake to ask Jade to train me.

   “Alright!” Jade said. “Let’s make 5 round-trips on this
   mountain road at this pace!”

   “N-No… I can’t…” I gasped.

   Jade shook his head, looking dissatisfied. “Huh, but, you still
   have enough for one more lap, right?”