"Huah—"
After finishing the call with Shirogane, Takamine Rinji pocketed his phone and continued bench pressing on the training bench.
It was a rare sumr break—of course he was going to spend it working out at the gym.
"Hmm, 600 kg still feels too light for you," said Coach Machio, standing beside Rinji and watching him push the massive barbell like it was nothing. "Might need to add more weight."
"Can we still go heavier?"
"Any more and this bar might snap. We might have to move you to the parking lot and start lifting trucks instead," Machio laughed. "Though lifting trucks has a downside—vehicles aren't evenly balanced, so the training effect isn't symtrical."
Neither of them thought that lifting trucks was out of the ordinary.
Rinji sat up from the bench, slightly flexing his arms before suddenly tightening them.
"Oh? My biceps are a little bigger," Rinji said in surprise.
His arms used to look slim, but now... he actually had so visible muscle.
"Congratulations, Rinji. But rember, fitness is a long-term commitnt."
Right after saying that, Coach Machio placed his hand behind his back and struck a bodybuilding pose, flexing his triceps to the side. With a loud rip, his training suit burst open, revealing terrifyingly large muscles beneath.
"This is just the beginning, Rinji. Let's keep it up!"
"Oh!!"
Every ti Rinji saw Machio's massive build, he couldn't help but admire it.
Just then, the gym door opened and two female high schoolers walked in.
"Coach Machio, we're here—oh? Rinji, you're here too?"
The one speaking was Hibiki Sakura, and next to her was Akemi Soryuin.
Rinji had t these two energetic, attractive girls over a month ago. Since he hadn't co to the gym often since, they'd missed each other until now. This was only the second ti they'd run into each other.
As soon as Hibiki saw him, she jogged over, just in ti to notice the barbell on the floor.
"Wow... Your training gear is still as terrifying as ever."
"Sakura-san, Soryuin-san, long ti no see," Rinji greeted them with a smile.
"It really has been a while. By the way, when do you usually co to the gym? We never seem to run into you."
Ever since she added him on LINE, Hibiki had been sending him ssages now and then. And Rinji always replied.
After all, it wasn't every day a cute high school girl texted him.
Among the won on his LINE, aside from Sagara Kaya, there were only Fujiwara Chika, Ryuju Momo, Shirogane Kei, Hibiki Sakura, and recently added Hayasaka Ai.
Fujiwara hardly ever ssaged him—when she did, it was usually mass-sent. Shirogane Kei only contacted him occasionally. As for Ryuju Momo... her texts were mostly along the lines of "Club activities. Get to the rooftop."
Only Hibiki chatted about casual, everyday stuff.
"I co at different tis, so it's normal not to run into ."
"That's a sha~"
Hibiki really wanted to train alongside Rinji. It was rare to et a pretty boy with such a unique vibe, and she didn't want to miss the chance. But every ti she ca, all she found were slly, sweaty musclen.
Akemi, anwhile, noticed sothing else—Rinji, who'd been skinny two months ago, now seed to actually have muscle.
"You've made progress, Rinji?"
"Still a bit early to say 'success,' but there's been so improvent."
"That's great! Keep it up and you'll have muscles like Coach Machio soday," Akemi encouraged him.
Hibiki: "No no no, Coach Machio is way too much."
She definitely didn't want this handso guy to turn into sothing so extre.
"Rinji, if you don't co to the gym often, do you train at ho?"
"At ho? Just so push-ups at most," Rinji said. "Got any suggestions, Soryuin-san?"
"Actually, I do. One of our university professors has done research on ho workout videos. I could introduce you."
"A professor, huh... That'd be soone from your academy's college division, right? You know soone like that?"
"Well, not exactly."
Akemi smiled sweetly.
"But my sister is the chairwoman of the academy."
"Oh..."
---
Takamine Rinji stood outside the gates of Sakura Girls' University after leaving the gym.
"Ozu Toshio, huh? He's an Associate English professor at Koyo Girls' University. Has a pervy-looking face, but his muscles aren't bad at all."
Soryuin Akemi had helped Rinji by calling her older sister and saying that a friend wanted to et Ozu Toshio. Her sister initially refused, but the mont the video call switched to show Rinji's face, she suddenly agreed to let him co.
Just as Rinji was about to walk into the university, he was stopped by the security guard at the entrance.
Seeing the guard block his way, he quickly realized—this was a girls' university after all. It made sense that random male visitors wouldn't be allowed in casually...
"Student, high schoolers aren't allowed in the college division."
"..."
Apparently, the guard hadn't mistaken his gender.
"I was invited by your director. If you don't believe , feel free to call her."
"Please wait a mont."
The security guard imdiately pulled out his phone, made a call, described Rinji's appearance, and then received orders. Putting the phone down, he said politely:
"Mr. Takamine, please go right in."
"Thanks."
After entering the campus, Rinji found the designated location—a large auditorium that looked more like a coliseum. He pushed open the doors and stepped inside.
The mont he entered, he was t with a chorus of yelling and fighting.
"What's going on in here?"
"You've arrived, President of Amane Pharmaceuticals—Takamine Rinji."
Following the voice, Rinji looked over to see a mature woman with a cigarette in her mouth.
"...How did you know I'm from Amane Pharmaceuticals?"
"I happened to attend the Kengan match two days ago—the one between Tokita Ohma and Sekibayashi Jun. I saw how close you seed to be with Chairman Katahara, so I looked into it and found out you're a Kengan Association mber too."
"I see. So, you're also with the Kengan Association?"
While speaking, Rinji glanced toward the center of the auditorium, where dozens of shirtless n were beating the crap out of each other, with blood spraying everywhere.
"What exactly is going on here?"
"A fighter selection."
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