"You realise Lord Mi'ihen used to go up and down these steps to train stamina, right? No, I do not fancy a race."

"Lord Mi'ihen? The guy who founded the Crusaders?"

"The very same."

"You know what, why not, I'll race you guys. To the middle landing?"

"Yeah! That's the spirit!"

She sighs exasperatedly.

All of the blitzballers seem keen to race, so they all line up side-by-side at the bottom of the stairs and start stretching.

Zei rolls his eyes with a small smile playing around his lips but then walks over next to them to extend an arm horizontally in front of them as a stand-in for a flag. "On your marks, then."

They all assume starting positions, then.

"Ready... set... go!"

They go.

"So since the three of us are the only sensible people here, let's go up at a reasonable, sedate pace, why don't we?"

"Hm."

When they reach the landing the whole team is various shades of dead, with Keepa and Botta literally lying facedown on the stone floor, panting heavily.

Wakka and Azym look to be in best shape amongst them, and from Wakka's smug look he probably won.

"Congratulations. Now shall we climb the rest of the stairs?"

"Please... just... five... minutes..." says Keepa, gasping.

"You guys chose to race, deal with the consequences," says Azym, who is mostly just winded.

They all groan and whine but start to pick themselves up.

"Mad people," says Zei, shaking his head.

"It was fun."

"I'm sure there are people who would agree with you."

"It was fun."

"You are all insane."

"Yeah, yeah. Hyup."