Chapter 273: A Playful Workout and a Familiar Face
Gin Dojima decided it was best to stop talking to Courage. Any further conversation with the girl would only serve to send his blood pressure soaring. Courage's tongue was far sharper than Decora's; every word she uttered was a precision strike, aimed to hit where it hurt most.
"So, Miss Courage, what is on the agenda for today?" he asked, changing the subject.
Courage pulled out her phone, glanced at the screen, and read off the list. "Hmm… taste-test the resort's dishes, inspect the overall condition of the facilities, and then… establish a cooperative relationship with the WGO… Eh? Weren't we already in a cooperative relationship?"
Gin Dojima blinked. "We are. The star rating for the Totsuki Resort was evaluated with the WGO's participation, though that was limited to the dining services… Ah! I understand what Lady Mana meant now!"
"Oh? And what did Lady Mana mean?"
"Lady Mana's intention must be to explore other collaborations with the resort now that the WGO is relocating its headquarters here," Gin explained, a look of realization dawning on his face. "Things like employee benefits, shared access to certain amenities, and so on."
Courage nodded slowly. "Oh, so that's it. If that's the case, then things should be much simpler. And the recreational facilities here are certainly more varied than what we had before."
A proud smile touched Gin Dojima's lips. "Of course! While we may not have an overwhelming quantity of options, we guarantee the quality of each one. Shall we? We're inspecting the environment first, correct?"
Courage nodded in agreement. Just then, however, her attention was drawn to Cerberus. The massive dog seemed to have spotted something, its gaze fixed intently in one direction. More tellingly, it was tugging insistently at Lucifer's lead, as if trying to pull him toward some unseen objective.
She paid it little mind. After all, they were both intelligent creatures, practically adults in their own right. It wasn't as if they could get lost. She dismissed the thought and turned her focus back to the inspection.
Meanwhile, Soryuin Akemi and her group had finally reached the resort's gym. It was hard to say whether it was Akemi's infectious enthusiasm or the simple joy of sharing snacks with Sakura Hibiki, but Kasugano Sora hadn't even noticed how far she had walked. Only now did a faint ache begin to register in her legs.
For reasons she couldn't quite explain, Sora felt a sudden, unfamiliar urge to challenge herself—to try something new, like running.
But the moment she pictured herself jogging, a wave of revulsion washed over her, and she shook her head to dispel the image. No, that definitely wasn't for her.
"Sora, what's wrong?" Ayaka asked, noticing her friend's odd behavior.
"Nothing," Sora murmured. "I just have a feeling I'm about to witness something utterly absurd… and it makes me feel a little…"
"Excited?" Ayaka offered.
"…Disgusted," Sora finished.
Ayaka nodded with grave solemnity. "I'm so glad. We have one more normal person on our side now!"
"Eh? Eh?!" Kasugano Sora stared, completely bewildered. How did she suddenly qualify as a 'normal person'? She hadn't been outside in ages. Was the standard for normalcy really that low these days?
Inside the gym, Ren was still supervising Kirari's practice—or more accurately, he was indulging her. Because Kirari hadn't bothered to tie up her silver hair, it cascaded freely down her back, giving her an entirely different, almost ethereal aura.
Ren watched as she struggled with a squat, then hesitated for a moment before speaking. "You know, Kirari-nee, I think I prefer your hair down like this."
"Eh? Really? But it's so much more distinctive when it's braided," she replied, her voice a little breathy.
"That's true," he conceded. "How many was that?"
"Eh? I've only done three," she pouted. "But Ren, I don't have any strength left. Can you help support me?"
Ren's gaze fell to the completely empty barbell in her hands, and he let out a quiet sigh. 'The gym must make a killing off clients like Kirari-nee,' he thought with amusement.
"Alright," he said, playing along. "But after this set, you can take a short rest."
"Okay, okay! Hey, Coach, don't they have those muscle-relaxing stretching exercises? Do you know how to do them?"
"I do," he confirmed. "What are you looking for?"
"I'd like to formally request a stretching session, of course!"
Ren knew perfectly well that Kirari was just messing around. As a member of an elite family, her regular training regimen was undoubtedly far more strenuous than this. Showing up here, lifting an empty bar, and then claiming exhaustion—he understood her game completely.
So, he refrained from pointing out the obvious, like, "You don't need a muscle stretch for this level of exertion." Instead, he simply nodded. "Fine. But you have to finish the rest of your set by yourself first."
"It's just ten squats! Simple as can be!"
Kirari was quite pleased with his response. She wasn't a fool; she knew Ren was merely humoring her, and his willing compliance was precisely the answer she had been hoping for. Having gotten what she wanted, she powered through the remaining squats with astonishing speed, completing the last set with almost no pause between reps.
Just as she was about to say something, a familiar voice drifted from the entrance. Ren and Saya both turned their heads to look.
A man dressed in athletic wear stood near the gym's doorway, chatting with Akemi and the others. While Akemi's group greeted him with boisterous energy, what truly captured Kirari's attention was the quiet, silver-haired girl standing among them: Kasugano Sora.
Kirari froze for a second, her playful demeanor vanishing, replaced by a flicker of genuine surprise. A slow, knowing smile spread across her face. "Eh? Isn't that Sora? What is she doing with Akemi and the others? It seems a lot of interesting things happened last night while I was asleep."
Ren smiled back. "I'd call it more of a pleasant surprise than just 'interesting.' I'm sure Sora wants to see you, too. Let's go say hello."
"Ehh? But what about my muscle stretching?" Kirari whined, her playful mask slipping back on. "My arms are so sore! My legs hurt, too!"
With a sigh of mock exasperation, Ren reached out and gently pinched her cheek. "I'll give you a stretch later. For now, let's go see Sora. And Saya," he added, turning to the ever-vigilant secretary, "you don't need to be so serious. For people with your and Kirari's physical conditioning, coming to a gym like this is just for fun."
"Yes, Lord Ren! Thank you for the praise, Lord Ren!"
Ren sighed again, this time for real. He still didn't understand why Saya insisted on calling him 'Lord Ren,' but he'd long since given up trying to correct her. It was better to just let it be.
"Mr. Machio, what were you up to yesterday?" Akemi asked the muscular man.
"Yesterday? Ah, I went to a comic convention! You didn't know?"
"Eh? No, we didn't! But Mr. Machio, it looks like you only just got here?"
Machio Naruzo beamed. "That's right! There were no classes scheduled for today and not many people around, so I came in a bit later than usual. Besides, my new shipment of protein powder just arrived!"
Ayaka's mouth twitched. "You finished it again…? Do you actually eat that stuff like it's a meal?"
"Not exactly," he chuckled, "but there are always times that call for passion, right?"
"Machio, you're as dedicated to muscle training as ever."
"Eh? That voice…"
"Brother Ren! Kirari-nee!" the four girls from the fitness club chorused in unison.
"Ki… Kirari-nee… G-Good morning…"
Kasugano Sora saw Kirari turn that brilliant, enigmatic smile on her, and a deep sense of unease washed over her. 'Am I about to have a very, very bad day?'she thought, her mind racing.'Help! This is an emergency!'
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