"How about it, guys?" Ito Toru asked with a proud grin, his voice brimming with enthusiasm as he gestured toward the private gym behind him. The man with spiky brown hair stood tall, his posture exuding confidence and determination. As the captain of the rugby club, Toru had transformed the nearly defunct team into a legitimate club in less than three months. His sharp mind and leadership had earned him a reputation as the club's prodigy.
Beside him stood his younger sister, Ito Emi, the club's diligent manager. Emi, with her calm yet assertive demeanour, handled everything from financial matters to budgeting with impressive efficiency. While she wasn't as outwardly charismatic as her brother, Emi's organizational prowess and attention to detail were the driving forces behind the club's recent successes. Together, they were a force to be reckoned.
"Wow! This is SUPER AWESOME!" Naggi was electrified to see the clean and spacious gym with various gym equipment. The junior shared roughly the same sentiments.
"Listen up!" Toru spoke in a firm and stern voice. "To prevent potential injuries, I have a special fitness instructor to oversee you guys." He announced and stepped side.
"Hello, guys! I'm Himemiya Kazumi, and I'll be your instructor today, helping you with the proper forms and ensuring your safety," the elegant gyaru introduced herself, stepping into the spotlight with a poised and confident air. Her distinctive ombre blonde hair cascaded down her back, catching the light as she moved.
She wore a sports bra and form-fitting tights that highlighted her toned physique, with every curve and line accentuated by the sleek fabric. Her flawless tan lines hinted at hours spent under the sun, making her presence all the more captivating.
The clubmates, already eager to start, found themselves momentarily mesmerised. There was no denying the allure she exuded, drawing their attention effortlessly. Her confidence radiated, and it was clear she was as serious about her role as an instructor as she was about her impeccable appearance.
"Let's go!" The tall boy, Hinoda, shouted with enthusiasm and the junior followed suit.
The intense workout session lasted for a gruelling two hours, pushing every member to their physical limits. By the time it came to an end, the air in the gym was thick with exhaustion. Each club member, Shouichi included, could barely stand on their own feet, their bodies trembling from the strain.
"Hahaha! You are standing like a senile old man." Kazumi laughed at his shaky legs.
"I hate leg workouts... sob," Shouichi grumbled, dragging his feet as he slowly made his way out of the gym. Each step felt like torture, the sharp pain shooting up through his legs, igniting a firestorm of discomfort that seemed to travel all the way to his central nervous system.
"Manager!" Shouichi called out to Emi, who was chatting with Shinji. He winced as another sharp pain shot through his legs, but he forced himself to stand tall. Once again, his friend didn't show any sign of exhaustion or weakness.
"How? Is he secretly a Superman?" Shouichi remarked with a sarcastic laugh, watching Shinji effortlessly stand tall like the workout hadn't even fazed him.
Emi, still deeply engaged in conversation with Shinji, didn't immediately notice Shouichi's call. "Hehehe. Senpai, I'd love to watch it," she said with a bright, playful smile, completely absorbed in their exchange.
"Huh? Maybe they made up?" Shouichi thought.
"Hey! Shouichi, how are your legs?" Shinji noticed his friend creeping toward him. Shinji deliberately walked to Shouichi and intercepted him in the middle.
"They are dying… By the way, what's with you and Emi-chan?" Shouichi whispered to his friend, making sure Emi couldn't hear it.
"Well, I asked her out," Shinji casually spoke, rubbing the back of his silver hair.
"Really?" Shouichi said in disbelief but somewhat predictable. Shouichi could easily tell that Emi had been into Shinji since day one when they met in front of the main bulletins.
"Real, she said yes with a condition..." Shinji continued, handing him a water bottle.
"Thanks!" Shouichi said as he took the bottle and sipped it. "That's lit, but what condition?" He probed, lifting his brows up.
"I have to stop being a rizzler," Shinji spoke with a bit of embarrassment in his face.
"HAHAHAHA!" Shouichi burst out laughing, he quickly peeked at Emi who was watching them agitatedly from afar. Shouichi gestured a quick thumb-up to her.
"Stop laughing, bro. I'm not one, and I don't know how to not be one." Shinji whined as he hunched his shoulders, exasperation evident in his motion.
"That's easy, bro. Don't be too flirty, I mean, overly friendly with the females," Shouichi said with a confident grin, as if he were some kind of expert in the art of female-ology.
"Alright, alright. I'll keep it in mind," Shinji nodded, giving Shouichi a playful look before turning to head back to his official girlfriend. The couple looked perfectly matched, their similar heights complementing each other effortlessly. Shinji, with his striking silver hair and cool confidence, stood tall beside Emi, who radiated a gentle charm. Her sweet demeanour and graceful figure balanced him out, creating an image of an ideal pair.
"Please take good care of him, Emi-chan!" Shouichi encouraged the club manager with a gentle smile.
"U~umm… You knew already?" Emi gasped, her lips parted in surprise, and her cheeks were dusted with pink. Shouichi noticed she was actually shy when it came to romance.
"Hahaha, he just told me," Shouichi confessed. And Emi abruptly turned to stare at her boyfriend with a slight hint of anger and displeasure.
***
On the previous Sunday afternoon, a tall and elegant girl was walking along a quiet street heading toward the Hoshimashi shopping district. She nervously took out her phone and read the messenger thoroughly. It was a message between her and her crush, Aoyama Shinji-senpai.
"It's not even a date, right?" The innocent girl asked, trying not to fool herself.
Today, she wore a denim overall dress with a pastel blue blouse underneath. Emi decided to switch up her usual ponytail, letting her brown hair cascade down gracefully. She noticed that it now fell elegantly to her chest.
As she arrived at Maid & Tea Bliss, Emi's eyes locked onto her senior, who was chatting with a beautiful blonde-haired maid. The sight of them together struck Emi like a blow to the chest, her heart sinking to the ground. It pained her deeply to see the man she cared for so much so at ease with another girl. They were engaged in lighthearted conversation, laughing and sharing moments as if everything were normal. Meanwhile, when Emi was with him, everything always felt heavy, like a burden she couldn't shake.
"Why did you ask me here again? Just to see you with other women? How cruel of you, senpai," Emi thought, her heart sinking even further into melancholy. Her brain screamed for her to turn and leave, but her feet felt glued to the ground.