Chapter 47: Himekoji Akito Continues To Hope!

…

“There’s no time to waste. So, let’s start the special training immediately.”

As expected of Yukinoshita, she sure didn’t mess around.

Totsuka didn’t dare voice any objection, just nodding his head lightly.

“Okay. Um… me too?”

While Himekoji was still torn between running away and staying, Yukinoshita’s icy gaze already landed squarely on him.

“Of course. After all, you’re very free.”

Very free?

Well, Lady Yukinoshita, on the surface, you’re absolutely right about that.

But, don’t just look at me like this! Actually, I have lots of my own stuff I need to do!

Hmm, now what was I supposed to be busy with again…?

Ah, forgot…

Never mind!

Anyway—

The least likable person in this school is Yukinoshita! Cold, mean, and with a sharp tongue.

So then, who’s the most likable one?

Ha, it’s definitely Totsuka Saika! So straightforward and gentle towards him. If I spent more time nurturing that romance, the possibility of Himekoji saying goodbye to being single is pretty high.

…But, that kid… is a boy.

Ah, God is such an idiot!

Carrying around a sense of heartache and mild despair, Himekoji still had to pull himself together. He changed into his gym clothes and headed towards the tennis court.

Because, he couldn’t give up!

He had to live on, strong and optimistic, clinging to that tiny hope that maybe, just maybe, Totsuka was actually a girl!

Hang in there, Himekoji-kun!

…

Himekoji was the last one to arrive at the tennis court.

But speaking of changing clothes, shouldn’t the girls be slower?

“Alright, let’s start as quickly as possible.”

Watching the lagging Himekoji Akito, Yukinoshita’s face was expressionless, but she seemed ever so slightly impatient from the wait.

“Please teach us!”

Totsuka bowed towards Yukinoshita.

“First, we start with Totsuka’s most critical weakness: building strength. The biceps, deltoids, pectoralis major, abdominals, obliques, back muscles, and thigh muscles. Push-ups work all these parts at once. For now, just do them until you feel like you’re about to die.”

“Wow, Yukino-chan is super smart… Huh? About to die?”

Praised halfway, Yuigahama suddenly seemed to catch on. Her tone shifted sharply downwards, becoming anxious and doubtful.

“Yes. When muscles get damaged, they rebuild. When they rebuild, they form stronger fibers than before. This is called super-compensation. In other words, working until near death allows you to get stronger all at once. That’s how it works.”

“What is this, Dragon Ball Z Super Saiyan?”

Himekoji muttered quietly under his breath.

“It’s not that the muscles will grow immediately, but this training is absolutely necessary to improve basic metabolism.”

“Basic metabolism?”

Yuigahama tilted her head, asking the question.

You don’t even know that?

Yuigahama’s lack of basic knowledge was probably too much even for Yukinoshita. But she seemed to think explaining was the fastest way, so she explained simply.

“In everyday terms, improving basic metabolism means increasing your calorie-burning ability. That is to say, energy conversion becomes more efficient.”

While listening and going “Uh-huh, uh-huh,” nodding her head, Yuigahama suddenly got a shine in her eyes.

“Increase calorie burning ability? In other words, I can lose weight?”

“Mm, that’s correct. Also, whether breathing or digesting, your body burns calories all the time. So yeah, just by being alive, you should lose weight.”

Wow, you mean you can lose weight by just being alive…?

Hey, come on! Don’t just say something irresponsible like that just because you’re skinny yourself!

Yuigahama believed it.

Yukinoshita’s words amped up the shine in Yuigahama’s eyes. For some reason, the girl erupted with even more drive than Totsuka. Then, like flipping some inexplicable switch, she tightly grabbed Totsuka’s hand.

“A-anyway, let’s try it! I want to join too!”

So—

Yuigahama and Totsuka both bent down and slowly started doing push-ups.

“Hmm… ugh… hahh…”

“Mmm… ugh… haah… mmm-hmm!”

Sounds of strained breathing, as if desperately holding back, escaped them.

Totsuka was working so hard his face twisted, sweat pouring down, his whole face bright red.

Even for a cute boy, his wrists were far too thin and slender. Each push-up seemed like it painfully drained every ounce of strength from his body.

Occasionally, Totsuka would lift his head and send Himekoji Akito a look – pitiful and pleading.

Being silently gazed at from below like that…

Hmm, it felt kind of complicated.

Quickly turning his head away, he looked to the other side.

Who would have thought, the other side was even harder to look at directly?

Every time Yuigahama bent her arms, Himekoji could clearly see the skin flashing within the neckline of her gym suit.

What was this? So much white skin, spread out like a patch!

His heart rate had been shooting up since earlier; there was now a real chance of arrhythmia.

But yes, this sort of feeling! Peeking at surprising views accidentally glimpsed during exercise, this was a bit stimulating alright!

Himekoji was struggling, torn and hesitating painfully between the options ‘look’ and ‘keep looking’. Unexpectedly, a bone-chilling voice came from behind him, like being instantly doused with a bucket of ice water.

“What about moving around yourself to clear those distracting thoughts?”

Turning his head around, Yukinoshita was glaring at him, with a look that seemed to despise him from the very bottom of her heart.

Hmm, called distracting thoughts, huh? Guess she noticed…

“Ah, well, um, I was just about to exercise.”

Himekoji laughed nervously, then promptly bent down and started copying the push-ups.

”Actually… that sort of looks like a brand new way to kneel and beg for mercy.“

Yukinoshita deliberately folded her arms and stood right in front of Himekoji, letting out a cold “Heh heh” chuckle.

Kneel and beg for mercy?

What the? Hey, you better watch your mouth!

Her usual sharp tongue was annoying but bearable; normally, I put up with it and don’t argue because she’s a girl.

But don’t get all cocky and push me too far! Listen here! I might be easy-going, but if you go too far and act too willful, I can get angry and awaken something!

Hmm, but what exactly would awaken?

Probably something like, ‘Oh, push-ups are so adorable!’ Yeah, that kind of… sexual awakening…

Alright, alright, he admitted it. No matter how far Yukinoshita went, he stood utterly helpless against this woman.

No, maybe he wasn’t?

Anyway, he’d just remember this for later! Next time he had the chance, he’d definitely squeeze her little butt hard again to vent!

Yes, that’s what he’d do!

Yukinoshita savored the moment of Himekoji “kneeling and begging” for a while, then leisurely started pacing beside him.

The next moment, suddenly, as if entirely by accident, she heavily stomped on the back of Himekoji Akito’s hand as he did his push-up.

“Hey! What are you doing?! Oww! Ow! Get your foot off!”

That little leather shoe was pressed down with full force – no joke. Pain made Himekoji grit his teeth, his face twisting.

“Oh my, oh my, how clumsy of me, really sorry about that.” Yukinoshita gave an evil little smirk. “If it’s an accident, then apologizing should be enough. That’s what you’ve said before, right?”

Damn! Revenge! Pure, unadulterated revenge!

No doubt about it, Yukinoshita absolutely did that on purpose!

You little brat! I won’t let this go!

That’s what Himekoji wanted to say. But once the words reached his lips, they changed into—

“Ah, I see. Please be more careful next time. Heh heh… heh heh…”

As the saying goes, a noble man waits ten years to get even.

One day, Himekoji would pick her up, throw her over his shoulder, and spank her hard, like a dad teaching a daughter a lesson, delivering merciless blows to her bare bottom!

Also, things like candle wax and tying her up were under consideration too.

So… one day… which day would that be…?

Himekoji Akito looked forward to it without any hope.