The courtyard was dead silent for a moment.
Not peaceful silent.
More like everyone just saw something they weren't prepared for silent.
Yuji arrived first, skidding to a stop.
"…Takeru?!"
Hakari followed right behind.
"…Yo—why is everyone frozen?"
Maki didn't answer immediately.
Her eyes were locked forward.
Unmoving.
And then Yuji saw it.
Takeru was standing there.
Bandages still partially in place.
But the entire upper wrap was gone.
For the first time—
his chest and abdomen were fully visible.
And it wasn't just "normal training progress."
It was obvious.
Defined. Lean. Structured.
The kind of physique that looked like it came from absurd repetition, exhaustion, and refusal to stop existing.
Yuji froze completely.
"…Wait."
Hakari leaned forward slightly.
"…Oh."
Maki blinked once.
"…That's… new."
From the side—
Megumi had just arrived.
He stopped mid-step.
"…Why is everyone staring like that?"
Then he saw.
"…."
"…I'm leaving again."
Yuji grabbed him immediately.
"…NO YOU'RE NOT—LOOK!"
Megumi looked again.
Paused.
Then sighed deeply.
"…Of course."
Panda leaned over from behind Megumi.
"…Oh wow, that's actually impressive."
Then immediately added:
"…Like, concerningly impressive."
Yuta appeared next to Panda, blinking.
"…Did he… train like that?"
Hakari nodded slowly.
"…Apparently."
Kirara tilted their head.
"…That level of definition is not normal for this timeline."
Inumaki had arrived quietly, staring for a long moment.
Then simply:
"…Okaka."
(that's insane)
Yuji pointed.
"…WHY IS EVERYONE REACTING LIKE THIS IS A DIFFERENT SPECIES?!"
Maki didn't take her eyes off Takeru.
"…Because it basically is."
Takeru looked down at himself slowly.
As if only now realizing the situation had changed.
He paused.
"…Hm."
Yuji, still stunned:
"…He's not reacting like a normal person—"
Hakari whispered:
"…He's processing stats."
Takeru tilted his head slightly.
Then—
a small pause.
"…Woah."
Everyone froze again.
Yuji blinked.
"…What?"
Takeru poked his own abdomen lightly.
Then looked up.
"…The training worked?"
Silence.
Then—
Hakari BURST out laughing.
"…HE JUST DISCOVERED HIS OWN ABS!"
Yuji shouted:
"…YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO ALREADY KNOW THAT!"
Maki pinched the bridge of her nose.
"…He's too detached from his own progress."
Panda laughed.
"…This is the most 'teenager discovers gym results' reaction I've ever seen."
Yuta smiled awkwardly.
"…I guess… it's good progress?"
Kirara nodded slowly.
"…Objectively yes. Emotionally confusing."
Inumaki quietly added:
"…Salmon."
(same)
Takeru kept looking at himself for a second longer.
Then nodded once.
"…Efficient outcome."
Yuji grabbed his head.
"…That's NOT how you respond to that!"
Hakari wiped a tear from laughing.
"…He's proud but clinically detached. I love it."
Maki finally exhaled.
"…At least the training had results."
Takeru looked up again at the group.
Calm.
Slightly curious.
"…Continue training?"
Yuji immediately:
"…NO!"
Hakari:
"…YES."
Maki:
"…NO."
Panda:
"…Maybe?"
Yuta:
"…I think we should rest."
Kirara:
"…Rest."
Inumaki:
"…Shake."
(agree)
Takeru paused.
Then nodded.
"…Consensus unclear."
And just like that—
the chaos continued.
But now with one very distracting new variable.