Chapter 277: A Match with Machio, Shion's Evaluation of Kirari
Momobami Kirari was a creature of calculation. In the eyes of the world, she was astute, ruthless, and possessed a deep disinterest in anyone who couldn't serve her ambitions. Her smiles were weapons—tools of calculation, instruments of mockery, or veils hiding a dagger's edge.
But that was only one side of her. To her own people, Kirari was a different woman entirely. Perhaps it was the absence of any need for mutual scheming, or perhaps it was because she was surrounded by those who offered her genuine sincerity, but in their presence, she could experience a sense of ease she had never known before.
It was just as Ren had once told Esdeath: even a fearsome general is still a young woman at heart. The same held true for Kirari. Even a gambling fiend possessed a maiden's heart; it was simply that this side of her rarely had a chance to surface.
There was the cunning, elder-sister persona she adopted for Kasugano Sora; the slightly sly yet obedient girl who appeared when Yumiko lectured her; the mischievous best friend she became for Sonoko; and finally, the brilliant, intellectual lover she was with Ren.
These were facets of her personality that outsiders never saw, and would never dare to imagine. Kirari understood perfectly well how to compartmentalize. Work was work, academics were academics, and schemes were schemes. But in her private life, Kirari was simply Kirari.
Watching Kirari cling to Ren's arm, Sōryūin Akemi wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. "Only Brother Ren can bring out this side of Kirari-nee," she murmured, a touch of awe in her voice. "He really is incredible."
Sakura Hibiki tilted her head in confusion. "Eh? Isn't Kirari-nee always like this? The way I see it, she's always been super clingy with Brother Ren and so smart. Plus, she's amazing at her studies, she's rich, and her figure and looks are flawless… Damn it," she grumbled, her shoulders slumping. "The more I list, the more inferior I feel."
Gina nodded in vigorous agreement. "Exactly! And Kirari-nee's hair looks so beautiful when it's down. She's definitely the kind of person who can pull off that shade of lipstick!"
A knowing smile touched Akemi's lips. "That's because the Kirari-nee you see at school is more or less the person from the rumors. She isn't quite as cruel as they say, but she's usually too lazy to bother with most people. In private, she's actually quite cute."
"Oh, so the legends are true," Hibiki mused. "But after seeing her like this, it's hard to imagine her using any cold-blooded tactics..."
"That's just how people in power operate," Akemi explained, her tone becoming more serious. "My sister told me that Kirari-nee is someone who can perfectly separate her life from her work. Once that girl gets her hands on authority, she will never let it go. My sister said that's just how people who live by their wits are."
Hibiki sighed, waving a dismissive hand. "Forget it, forget it. I'm much better suited to being an ordinary person. All that brain-intensive stuff isn't for me. Still, seeing how good their relationship is… it really makes me want to find a boyfriend."
Akemi's smile softened. "Kirari-nee and Brother Ren have always been this close. I can't even begin to imagine what she would be like without him. She'd probably… truly embody the word 'mad'."
Gina and Hibiki exchanged a confused glance, not quite grasping her meaning. Akemi was recalling something her elder sister, Sōryūin Shion, had once told her. The 'madness' Shion spoke of wasn't the madness of arrogance, but the madness of a mind truly breaking.
She could still picture it clearly: Shion, a cigarette held loosely between her fingers, exhaling a thin stream of smoke as she spoke with casual gravity. "That girl, Kirari… if she ever went back to living alone like she used to, she would genuinely go insane."
Akemi had never forgotten those words.
Her trip down memory lane was cut short by a booming voice that echoed through the gym. "Sir!"
It was Machio Naruzo.
A playful smile graced Kirari's lips. "Ren, your disciple certainly has a good sense of timing."
"I have a feeling I know what this is about," Ren chuckled, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "But Kirari, your hair is still down."
She tossed her long, silver hair over her shoulder, the movement fluid and elegant. "Didn't you say you liked it this way? I think I'll leave it down for the rest of the day. It feels quite relaxing."
Ren simply nodded, not saying another word. He turned his attention to Machio, a knowing smile on his face. "Let me guess. It's almost time to eat, and you want to have a match while I'm here, right?"
Machio beamed, his expression earnest. "Yes, Sir! I want to know just how wide the gap is between us!"
Ren considered it for a moment before nodding. Kirari thoughtfully released his arm and stepped back, her own smile encouraging. "Go on, Ren. Give it your all."
Akemi and the others had been keeping an eye on them from a distance. The moment they heard Machio's challenge, their heads snapped in his direction. The promise of a match sent a jolt of excitement through them, and they immediately hurried over to get a better view.
There was, however, one exception. Kasugano Sora sat off to the side, her entire world consumed by the drama playing on her phone. The little girl had completely forgotten her earlier reluctance to be at the gym; she didn't feel the slightest bit tired now. Ren had suggested she watch something to distract her from dwelling on her past frailty, and the strategy was working perfectly.
Ren rolled his neck, the motion producing a faint crackle. "Alright," he said with a relaxed smile. "Tell me, what's the contest?"
"Push-ups, Sir!" Machio declared. "With a hundred-pound weight!"
"Fine. But if you lose, don't overdo your training afterward. It's not good for your body."
Machio nodded seriously. Then, in a display that seemed to defy physics, his clothes strained and his body swelled. Muscles erupted across his frame, his entire physique transforming in the blink of an eye. The sudden change was so dramatic it even startled Kirari.
Sakura Hibiki's mouth twitched. "Yep… no matter how many times I see it, it's still an eyesore."
Ayaka and Gina nodded in silent, solemn agreement.
Ren, however, seemed completely unfazed. He dropped to the floor, assuming the starting position with practiced ease. "Kirari, you can be our timer."
"Okay!" she chirped.
"Wait!" Ayaka suddenly cried out, her eyes wide with alarm. "Are you two competing for time?! If so… isn't that way too much? Doing push-ups with a hundred-pound weight for too long is going to cause serious problems!"
Machio offered a reassuring smile. "It's fine. For Sir and me, this won't cause overexertion or harm. So, Sir! Let's synchronize our speed first!"
Ren nodded. Side by side, they lowered themselves and pushed back up in a single, perfectly standard, and utterly synchronized movement.
"Let's go at this pace," Ren said with a grin.
"Understood! Then, let us begin! Sir!"
"Mm."
Hibiki and the others stared, their faces alight with anticipation. A spectacle like this was a rare treat. Akemi, in particular, was practically vibrating with excitement. As a connoisseur of musculature, watching an exercise like the push-up—which so clearly displayed the working of large muscle groups—sent her into a state of sheer bliss. Her ecstatic expression earned her looks of mild disgust from Hibiki and the others.
"No… no way! Their speed hasn't changed at all! They've been going for forty minutes with a hundred pounds on their backs!"
"Wait! It's been fifty minutes! Are they still going?!"
"Add more plates!" came two voices in unison.
"Eh?!" came five voices in response.
This time, Kirari and the others were completely stunned into silence. It was Gina who finally broke it, her voice filled with a mixture of awe and disbelief.
"I never would have expected… Brother Ren's muscles aren't that massive, but their power is just… These two are terrifying."
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