Methodology (1)

Despite the summer break, Ito Toru, the captain of the rugby club, proposed that Muscle Wednesdays should remain available for those keen on gaining extra muscle during this leisure period. As the gym membership fee had already been covered, it would have been a waste of money, time, and effort to halt this special Wednesday activity.

Although attendance was not mandatory, some students might still have been recovering mentally and physically from the recent tragedy, more than 90% of the club members joined in. The once-empty gym was now bustling with energy, filled with eager club members ready to train.

Himemiya Kazumi, a dazzling gyaru with the physique of a supermodel, took on the role of an impromptu fitness instructor, tirelessly assisting the club members. Her wavy blonde hair, with dark roots, was tied into a high ponytail, exposing her alluring nape and tan lines. Her thick, muscular thighs were a sight to behold as she moved gracefully across the gym floor. On this particular day, she wore a white sports bra and leggings that highlighted her toned abs, further accentuating her already captivating appearance.

"So hot..." "Eh?" "Cap' Toru's girlfriend, man. She's super hot." "I wish I had a girlfriend like that." "Bruh, you're ugly AF."

The whispers of club members echoed throughout the gym. Shouichi was among those who unintentionally found himself glancing at Kazumi's striking figure. The air was thick with envy towards Ito Toru, the sole partner of the admired gyaru.

"Shouichi-kun, I heard you became single!" Kazumi appeared out of nowhere just as the black-haired boy was in the middle of a bench press. He pulled the safety pin into place before sitting up to face the gyaru.

Sigh "Is it you again, Shinji?" Shouichi turned to his friend, who was idly standing nearby. "Shinji knows, the world knows," he mused internally. His friend feigned disinterest and walked away.

"So?" Kazumi's blue eyes sparkled as she clasped her hands together.

"You heard right, Himemiya-san..."

"Was it the girl I met at your house when I was doing firefighting?" Kazumi asked, pausing momentarily. "Misaki-chan, right?"

"Damn, you've got a good memory. That's her," Shouichi forced a smile.

"Owww, she's a solid ten. What happened? Did you fumble this somehow?!" Kazumi's curiosity about his love life was almost too intense.

"We had our differences, you know." Shouichi tried to be as considerate as possible; it didn't sit right with him to badmouth his ex, even if he had reason to.

"Like what?" Kazumi tapped her index finger against her lips in thought. "Like, you're a virgin, and she isn't? Fufufu." She flashed a mischievous smile.

"Huh?! What are you saying, Himemiya-san?" Shouichi was mildly shocked.

"Well, I'm just speaking from experience. I can smell virgins."

"Eh?" Shouichi's eyes darted across the room, searching for her boyfriend. "Cap' Toru, your girlfriend is bugging me — come take her away, please," he pleaded internally.

"See? That look on your face. You really are a virgin," Kazumi teased, her delight growing. "Come on! I won't tell anyone if you tell me about your breakup."

"...Okay..." Shouichi cupped his hand around his mouth and mumbled, "I got cheated on..."

"Really?! Ow, you poor puppy." Kazumi frowned, genuinely empathetic, and extended a hand to ruffle his hair.

"Himemiya-san! Please don't do that, your boyfriend is here," Shouichi scolded her softly, but she persisted.

"Don't worry, Toru is open-minded." She beamed sweetly.

"What does that even mean?!" Shouichi internally recoiled.

"Now you know… May I get back to my workout, please?" Shouichi asked politely and lay back down on the bench.

"Hey, you should add five kilos more on each side." Kazumi suddenly shifted into serious mode and adjusted the weights.

"Eh? I can't lift that much yet, Himemiya-san," Shouichi objected.

"Hehehe, imagine this." She leaned in closer. "If you can't push this up, someone else will be the one to push her onto the bed. How does that feel?" Her voice dipped into a seductive whisper.

"What an awful way to motivate people?!" Shouichi protested, but somehow, the sheer irritation and frustration spurred him on. He channelled his emotions into the lift.

"Yippee! Shouichi just hit a new PR!" Kazumi clapped excitedly. It was only then that he realised her trick — she had riled him up on purpose to push him past his limits.

***

According to the forecast, the rain was expected to subside for the entire week. As it was Shouichi's first summer in Kurohashi, he found himself mildly excited. His thoughts wandered to the idea of doing something different, perhaps fishing, hiking, or anything that would break the monotony of his routine between home and the shop.

His elegant best friend, Morimura Ayane, had no such concerns. Staying at Yoko Sweet Café all day was not an issue for her in the slightest. With an endless supply of black coffee, she could lose herself in novels and podcasts indefinitely.