Hikaru had two motives for making such a bold request of Kiryuin.
First, she clearly had the aura of an athletic prodigy. Receiving guidance from someone like her could only be beneficial.
Second, since the system had already registered her as a stock, engaging with her through this request was a good way to analyze her personality. The more he understood her, the more valuable that information might become in the future.
If he was going to invest in her stock, gathering intel beforehand was only logical.
"Alright then. Since you're asking for my guidance, let's start with a little competition. I need to see your limits first."
Without hesitation, Kiryuin dove into the pool with the grace of a mermaid, swiftly positioning herself beside Hikaru.
"There are two lanes. We'll each take one. When I say 'start,' we'll race to the other side."
The moment she focused on something, her demeanor turned serious.
This was her principle in life—if something was boring, she wouldn't even bother with it. But if she found it interesting, then she would pursue it to perfection.
"Understood."
"Remember, give it everything you've got. I need to assess your true capabilities. If I catch you slacking, this training session ends immediately."
"I got it."
Hikaru nodded with absolute sincerity. He hadn't expected this kind of intensity from her. It was surprising, but not unwelcome.
"Alright... I'll count down."
Kiryuin had already assumed her starting position in the water. She wasn't even looking at him, her gaze locked on the finish line ahead.
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
The moment she shouted the final word, a streamlined figure shot forward beside him.
Within mere seconds, she had surged far ahead, leaving him stunned.
"?"
Hikaru was taken aback.
Her athletic ability was far beyond what he had imagined.
But since the race had begun, he wasn't going to back down.
Summoning all his strength, he propelled himself forward. Ever since purchasing pool access, he had been training diligently, without missing a single day.
He had gradually fine-tuned his rhythm, perfecting his breathing techniques and adjusting minor details to maximize his endurance.
But compared to Kiryuin, these minor improvements were insignificant.
Even though he was pushing himself to the limit, she had already reached the finish line before he was halfway across.
However, Hikaru didn't stop. He continued at his own pace, determined to complete the race properly.
When he finally arrived, he noticed a subtle smile playing on Kiryuin's lips.
"Not bad. Your speed isn't great, but that's probably due to your lack of stamina. Your explosiveness and endurance, however, are decent."
Kiryuin's eyes scanned his physique.
For someone who had initially been physically weak, his body had undergone significant changes. His abdomen was beginning to show faint muscle definition—not very pronounced, but proof that his efforts were making a difference.
Swimming was an excellent form of exercise. It sculpted the body while maintaining an athletic, balanced physique without excessive muscle bulk.
"I have a general idea of your level now. If you want to improve your speed, you should learn my swimming technique."
Kiryuin swam over to the starting position once more, standing at the edge of the pool while issuing instructions.
"We'll start with the basics. For this round, just observe my movements—you don't need to swim yet." She adjusted her posture at the water's edge. "How much you remember depends on your comprehension skills. In the next round, you'll apply what you've learned, and I'll be watching closely."
"Understood."
Hikaru swallowed slightly, his eyes fixed on the lane ahead, eager to see her technique in action.
"Begin!"
The instant her voice rang out, she dove into the water with flawless precision.
Her movements were incredibly refined—every stroke and kick executed with mechanical perfection, yet there was a fluid grace to them.
Despite the sheer efficiency of her form, there was an undeniable beauty to it, like a valkyrie soaring through the waves.
Her streamlined figure, combined with her powerful strokes, radiated an almost mythological presence.
Hikaru's pupils dilated as he took in every detail.
His memory was exceptionally sharp—perhaps due to his rebirth. From a young age, he had excelled in academics, always able to absorb information quickly.
And now, he was imprinting every aspect of Kiryuin's movements into his mind.
"Alright. Let's see how much you retained."
By now, Kiryuin had reached the far side of the pool. She turned back, her gaze meeting his.
"I'm ready."
Hikaru quickly checked his system panel—he had a little over twenty minutes left for his swimming session.
That was more than enough.
He swam back to the starting position and glanced up at Kiryuin, who stood at the poolside with her arms crossed, watching him intently.
"Begin!"
The moment her voice rang out, Hikaru plunged into the water.
Recalling every movement he had just witnessed, he mimicked her form as best as he could.
His breathing intervals, his transition between strokes, the angles of his kicks—each adjustment brought him closer to her technique.
Watching from above, Kiryuin's expression shifted.
Her eyes gleamed with intrigue.
Her swimming style had been honed over years of experience. Most people required significant time to even grasp the basic mechanics, let alone apply them effectively.
But this first-year...
After a single demonstration, he had already replicated most of her form.
"Interesting. A photographic memory?"
"In less than a minute, he managed to memorize every single movement… Impressive."
As Hikaru reached the finish line, Kiryuin's lips curled into an appreciative smile.
She had never done anything like this before.
At this school, she had neither friends nor enemies—she simply lived life on her own terms, free from the constraints of social hierarchies.
Agreeing to his request had been nothing more than a whim, a passing curiosity.
But now, she found herself genuinely intrigued.
This junior... was interesting.
Looks like school life won't be so boring after all.
~~~
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