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Mchorn threw a big tantrum in front of everyone about the hygiene of the canteen, so the chief had to force close the only restaurant at the station for FEHD additional checkup.

That's why Adira and Mansa were walking back to the station, with hands full of everyone's lunch takeaway.

'You always have to comply with everyone's requests.'

'Well everybody else is busy, so it doesn't hurt if I help them out with their lunches.'

'The problem is you bite off more than you can chew and come to me for help.'

'You can always say no. You just had to be a gentlemammal then I won't complain, right?'

Mansa sighed and hugged his cardboard box of lunches more securely. While both of them are struggling to carry so many at once, 90% of all the meals still fell on his shoulder.

'Since you are so helpful, I need you to help me out with an important matter too. Can you help me with Benjamin's training? You know... you're the one who let him through the interview so you're kinda responsible for his fitness test too. Am I right?' Adira had a few plans in mind to persuade him if he were to say no.

'YES! When, where? I'll make sure he can pass!' Mansa's chest grew warm at the prospect of seeing Benjamin again so soon.

Adira, on the other hand, was taken aback by his sudden enthusiasm, 'Woah there slow down. I've been thinking he needs weight training but I don't know how to get him to be better at it. Cheetahs traditionally fail the test and that's why you don't see many of us here. I barely passed myself. Can you handle that for me?'

'Of course, Adira. I'd like to.'

'All right then. He'll be yours for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and I'll take him to stamina training for the rest except Sunday.' Adira said thoughtfully.

'He... he'll be mine?' Mansa was shocked.

'I never thought you'd be the type to joke, Mansa.' Adira watched others tuck into their lunchbox hungrily before opening her own, 'Call me if you need anything during training, okay?'

Adira had planned her training programme for a long time. 800m run was a breeze to her, but the same rules don't apply to Benjamin. She had enforced a diet for a few days now, and the first training session just started.

Adira watched in pity as Benjamin dragged his body behind her. She had done everything his brother begged her to do except lifting the ban on snacks: let him wear his motivational Gazelle T-shirt, wear the same T-shirt herself, a break every 10 minutes, train at night, and yet he's struggling to keep up with Adira.

'Come on, you can do it!' Adira stopped and yelled at Benjamin, who was trying his best to run to her.

'I... can't... do... this... anymore...' Benjamin panted.

Adira couldn't hear him. She only saw his mouth move, and he collapsed.

'Hey Ben! Are you alright?' Adira slapped his face a few times. Benjamin seemed a bit disoriented.

Adira sighed, 'That's all for today. Come on, let's go home.'

Mansa's training would be ten times tougher than hers. She wondered what would happen tomorrow if Ben collapsed after running for 1 minute.

Mansa was a little surprised at how sulking Benjamin looked when he walked into the gym.

'What happened?'

Benjamin jumped on Mansa and started crying on his shoulder, 'I don't wanna do it anymore!'

Mansa was stunned that a cheetah was crying into him. He could only let him bawl out as much tears and snivel onto his workout clothes while awkwardly patting his back to calm him down.

'No... snacks! No... TV! Early... bed!' Benjamin hiccupped.

'But what about Gazelle? You said it is all for Gazelle right?' Mansa tried to cheer him up.

'Right! Gazelle! I'm not done yet!' Suddenly Benjamin stopped crying and landed on the floor.

Mansa looked at him gently like a fragile vase, 'Listen, Ben. I'm not trying to make you suffer but according to Adira this is going to be much tougher than yesterday. You are not meant to be strong. Tell me immediately if it is too much for you.'

'Okay.' Benjamin walked over and picked up one of the larger dumbbells on the bench.

'Woah.' He nearly dropped it on his feet. He tried lifting it a few times and quickly grew tired, 'This is really not easy is it?'

'No, it isn't.' Mansa agreed, 'But for Gazelle, right?'

'For Gazelle!' Benjamin tried his best and lifted the bells one last time, 'I'm beat. Can I go get some water?'

Mansa nodded, 'Go ahead. Be back soon.' He walked over to the bench and picked up the dumbbells. With a jolt of shock he found that those were the weights he brought for himself later. He ran after Benjamin,

'You can go now.'

'Wha? Do you really mean it? It's over?'

'I'm sure you can pass the test without a problem.' Bogo gave Benjamin a smile of approval, 'Those weights you lifted are way heavier than you need to. They're mine. So you don't need me anymore.'

'Yes! But... can I stay with you? I don't want to go home and let sis know. I want to continue "training" with you, please?' Benjamin looked hopefully at Mansa.

'I... I'll try, Ben. But I'm not a good liar.'

'Neither am I! So, what should we do? Would you like to see a movie with me? I've wanted to watch "Cheesy A" for so long!' Benjamin inched closer to Mansa and stood on tip toes again, waiting expectantly for the buffalo's answer.

Mansa's heart melted at the sight of those big brown eyes, still wet from the tears he shed before. Tiny drops stuck to his thick eyelashes and glistened under the gym's bright lighting.

'Let's go.'

It was Thursday. Adira finally had the chance to talk to Bogo in person,

'You said the training was making good progress. What do you actually mean?'

'I... Adira, he will pass no matter what happens. He lifted my dumbbells on the first day!'

'So what did you give him to do afterwards?'

'We saw a movie.'

'What! I told you give training to him not let him slack off!'

'I'm sorry, Adira. I couldn't resist his eyes.'

Adira knew exactly what he meant. She said darkly, 'You didn't let him have popcorn and soda, did you? Probably not. I don't see you much as a "snacky" mammal.'

Mansa kept his mouth shut. The fact was that he shared a huge bucket of popcorn with Benjamin during the movie and licked their fingers clean after devouring it all.

'He did well yesterday, so keep doing what you do with him. He deserves a rest. Just don't let him have any snacks. A lighter body makes my job so much easier.'

Mansa could only look at her with his mouth sealed tight. He already bought a large selection of jelly to share with Benjamin later.

'Anyway, Ben being overweight finally paid off. Who would have thought? Gosh, I just hate to be the bad cop, especially when you are not supposed to be the good one!'

Mansa continued to slip Benjamin snacks every 'training'. It seemed to help Benjamin than hurt his performance, as Adira happily reported to Mansa how much his stamina improved.

Adira need not know their little secret, Mansa decided, as he watched Benjamin blissfully eating his fill of donuts in his house. It's better for all of them.