My training with Amelia was finally over, and I had managed to reclaim a bit of time for myself. Of course, everything I could do for the Management Committee, the Amelia Cheer Squad, and the concessions was already finished.
There was only one place for someone like me to go.
"..."
"..."
Evi and I were headed toward a certain destination. Only three days remained until the start of the Magics Chevalier.
Even though it was summer break, the academy was as lively as ever. The cafeteria and the campus shop were still in full operation.
In the midst of all that, the place Evi and I were bound for was obvious.
"Ray, and Evi’s here too, I see."
"Yes."
"Thanks for having us, President."
In front of the changing rooms, the Club President stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall.
His overwhelming bulk stood out more than anything else. We stepped into the room and joined the rest of the Environmental Research Club.
"..."
Everyone finished changing into their training uniforms in stony silence. Then, the Club President spoke.
"Alright. You ready for today?"
"Yeah!"
We all let out a deep-voiced shout in unison, then set off toward the holy land, walking with shoulders wide.
"Hey, this presence..."
"Ah, no way..."
"Are they here...?"
"Gulp... Is it them...?"
We entered the facility. It was the newest building on campus, completed just as summer break began.
It was... a gym. It was equipped with every conceivable piece of weight-training equipment. Bodyweight exercises eventually hit a limit in terms of resistance. To reach the highest levels of bulk, training with specialized machines was indispensable.
Apparently, the Club President had personally petitioned the Student Council President last year.
He had gathered a vast number of signatures and built this place for the sake of every muscle-loving trainee. We, the members of the Environmental Research Club, referred to this place with equal parts respect and awe as the "Sanctuary."
"What overwhelming bulk..."
"As expected, those at the top of this academy are on another level..."
"Yeah. That’s the Muscular Monsters for you."
As we walked in, those whispers reached our ears.
We were apparently something of celebrities here, especially in this specific location. And it seemed the members of the Environmental Research Club were collectively known as the "Muscular Monsters"... Hmph. It had a nice ring to it.
"Hey, President."
"Hello. Good to see you."
The Club President shook hands with one of the trainers who managed the gym. Apparently, he was a former member of the Environmental Research Club, hired here through the President's connections.
He possessed an overwhelming bulk that rivaled the President's. His pectorals looked ready to burst. His shoulders looked as if whole melons had been shoved under the skin, and the definition in his legs was tremendous.
I swallowed hard.
Casual users came here too, but so did serious lifters like us. Furthermore, with the Magics Chevalier drawing near, some of the contestants were using the facility for conditioning.
"Alright. Everyone, begin your training."
"Roger!"
We scattered in all directions like baby spiders.
Evi and I headed straight for the bench press. Since the two of us had thoroughly thrashed our legs yesterday, today was upper body day.
"Alright, Evi. What are we starting with today?"
"Let's start light with a hundred kilograms."
"Understood."
The bench press is an exercise where you lie on a bench and push a barbell upward, primarily training the pectorals, triceps, and deltoids. To be safe, I moved into position to spot him.
After we added the plates, the hundred-kilogram bar was ready.
"Hrrgh...!"
Evi lifted it without a hint of struggle.
"You've got this! Looking good!"
"Hup!! Hup!!"
"Hey! Come on, come on, come on! One more!!"
"Hup!! Hup!!"
"Okay, last one!"
"Hrrgh!!"
Evi blasted through three sets of ten in no time. His upper arms and chest were already pumped, his muscles looking like they were about to tear through his skin.
"Phew... Alright, your turn, Ray?"
"Yeah."
"Weight?"
"I'll go with a hundred too."
"Got it."
Evi gave the bench a quick wipe with a towel, and I lay down. I noticed other students staring at me. They were whispering, though I couldn't make out the details...
"Hey, isn't that the Ordinary? There’s no way someone with a frame that thin can handle a hundred kilos."
"You idiot!!"
"...Eh?"
"He's no Ordinary. He's one of the Muscular Monsters who stands at the peak of this academy's bulk."
"The... Muscular Monsters...? Gulp..."
"That's right. He is no longer a Withered Wizard or an Ordinary. He is the ultimate pinnacle of a trainee—a Muscular Monster."
"Is... is that true?"
"Just watch. He's about to show his true worth."
It seemed two students were getting quite worked up, but I was already focused on my preparations and didn't hear a word they said.
"Ah, Ray. You should probably take that off."
"Ah... you're right. I might rip my clothes at this rate."
I sat up from the bench for a moment and pulled off my shirt.
"Whoa...!?"
"Do you understand now? That is why he's called a Muscular Monster."
"What... the...? He was hiding those massive muscles...?"
"But he's still on the slender side. At first glance, he looks like he has a lean build, but..."
"Don't tell me, there's more?"
"If there wasn't, he wouldn't be a Muscular Monster."
After loosening up my body, I lay back down on the bench. With Evi spotting me, I easily pressed the hundred-kilogram barbell in one fluid motion.
"Hup!! Hup!!"
"Looking good. But keep it slow. You have a habit of rushing, Ray."
"Oops, sorry. You're right. I'll go slowly to keep the tension on."
Having been cautioned by Evi, I slowed the tempo as I lifted the hundred-kilogram bar... Hmmm. As I thought, the weight was a bit light. I'll start with something heavier next time.
"Whoa...!? What is that...!? He's huge! He's getting even bigger!!"
"That's right. That is a Muscular Monster. And among them, Ray White is the most unique. Some wonder why he, the most slender of the Muscular Monsters, is among their ranks. But once you see that, you'll understand. He's the type who looks much thinner in clothes. Furthermore, he has a peculiar constitution where his muscles pump up to an abnormal degree the moment he starts training. No, according to the man himself, there's a magical element involved. The name of that magic is Metamorphose. It's supposedly the pinnacle of mastering Inside Code... though the truth is a mystery. They say he can transform his physical body at will..."
"Te... Terrifying... To think such a monster was in this academy..."
"Yeah... Go ahead and keep mocking him as a Withered Wizard or an Ordinary."
"...No way."
"Yeah. You'll be flattened. It's a famous story that when he throws away a soda can, he crushes it into a tiny puck with one hand. No, I heard he crushed it with just his fingertips... And it seems he still has more potential..."
"I see... This is incredible... He's a monster..."
"Yeah. That's why he shouldn't be lumped in with labels like Withered Wizard or Ordinary. That overwhelming bulk transcends everything. That's why he was given the title of Muscular Monster..."
"Ray White... He's no ordinary guy... I'll have to change my perspective."
Evi and I took turns on the bench press until we had completed our quota for the day. It seemed those two were having a passionate discussion throughout, and for some reason, their gazes had turned into looks of intense heat.
Well, there are no bad people among those who love muscles. They were probably just gossiping about our bulk.
As we were hydrating with the water bottles we'd brought, the person who arrived just then was... Albert.
"Can I use the bench?"
"Albert. It’s been a while."
"Hmph. You seem to have some overwhelming bulk as well, Ray."
"Yeah. But is it okay for you to be pushing yourself right before the Magics Chevalier?"
"It is precisely because the Magics Chevalier is so close that I cannot break my routine."
"I see. Evi, shall we both spot him?"
"Oh! You bet!"
"Hmph... I appreciate it."
Albert Alium.
Although a lot had happened between us in the past, we had become relatively close lately. He had been lost. After winning the school preliminaries for the Magics Chevalier, he had been wandering, unsure of what to do... and that was when I met him here.
When I showed him my overwhelming bulk, Albert had said, "I see... what I lacked was muscle."
I had lectured him then. I told him that while magical factors are important for winning the Magics Chevalier, one also needs to improve their fundamental physical abilities.
He had nodded as if savoring those words.
He had learned to listen to the advice of others, and by now, he had acquired a respectable amount of bulk. Of course, he hadn't reached the level of Evi or me, who had been at it much longer... but surely, he too would one day develop muscles worthy of the Muscular Monsters.
"Albert, how much weight?"
"Let's see... eighty, please."
"You got it!"
Evi and I quickly adjusted the plates and began spotting Albert's workout.
"Hup!"
"Good! Come on, come on, come on!"
"Hup!"
"Hey, one more, one more! You've got this, you've got this, you've got this!!"
"Hup! Hup!"
"Alright, that’s it—"
With a clank, we helped him rack the barbell on the safety bars. Albert's pectorals and upper arms were pumped up perfectly.
"Phew... That was another good workout."
"It was. I'm counting on you, Albert. Show us the results of those muscles on the day of the tournament."
"Yeah."
"I'm looking forward to it too!!"
"Ray, Evi. I'm always in your debt."
The three of us headed to the nearby rest area, each grabbing a drink to talk.
"Albert, how are you feeling?"
When I asked, he gave a small, self-deprecating smirk.
"To be honest... I can't stop shaking..."
The three of us were sitting on the benches facing each other. His hands were indeed trembling. Evi and I didn't know what to say. But... we had to say something. Just as I thought that, Evi spoke up.
"I know, you know. Albert, you've been coming here every day since this place opened, haven't you?"
"Yeah. Evi helped me out a lot too."
Since I had various other things to do, I hadn't been showing my face at the gym all that frequently... but apparently, the two of them had already been bonding.
"I came this far seeking strength. But what haunts me is anxiety and impatience. Knowing Ray's strength made me realize... how narrow my world was, how shallow I was. But what should I do? How can I move forward? It was with those thoughts that I threw myself into training. Of course, I did strength training, but I didn't neglect my magical training either. Thanks to that, I only lost once to Amelia Rose in the school matches; I won all the rest. But... I still can't shake this feeling of unease..."
I didn't know how it felt to be a tournament contestant. Neither did Evi. Everyone was approaching this competition with their own individual burdens.
It was the same for Amelia yesterday, and it was the same for Albert.
He, too, was moving forward... even while harboring doubts about his own path.
"Albert. This might sound cliché, but the time will come when that hesitation turns into strength."
"...Ray. Was it like that for you too?"
"Yeah. There was a time for me when I could do nothing but move forward, even while lost, struggling, and consumed by impatience. I won't say I understand exactly how you feel right now. But there are places you can only reach by swallowing those feelings and pushing on anyway."
"...I see. No, your words really do carry a different weight."
"Let me say something too. I took a lot of detours... before I finally acquired these muscles."
"Evi, really?"
Albert leaned forward slightly to listen to Evi's story.
"Yeah. Seeing you, Albert, made me think of how I struggled and worried my way here. I don't have a past like Ray's. But even so, I can understand the importance of making an effort. That's why I believe in you. Your muscles will never betray you!"
"I see... No, to both of you... I have nothing but gratitude. To think you'd listen to such nonsense..."
"No, we don't mind at all. Talking with friends like this is also important."
"That's right! Besides, our friendship is packed into these muscles. Right?"
"Hmph... You're right. Yes, exactly."
Before I knew it, Albert's trembling had stopped.
There was nothing particularly special about what we were doing. Everyone simply moves forward with their own share of worries, through their struggles and anxieties.
But we could share that. We weren't alone. There was no need to face it in solitude.
Because we were friends.
"On the day of the tournament, we'll be watching. We'll be watching your victory, Albert."
"Yeah! I'm looking forward to it! We know how much effort you've put in. So go out there and blow them away! Have confidence in those muscles!"
"Yeah... you're right. Well then, I'll see you on the day of the tournament."
Standing up smoothly, he left while raising a hand lightly.
"He's changed, hasn't he? Albert."
"He sure has. He's a world away from when he was snapping at you, Ray."
"Yeah. And people can change. Not just Albert. As long as they have the will to do so."
"...Yeah. You're right."
And then Evi and I also left the area.
There was much to be learned from dear friends. And in this way, we would continue to grow. Touching each other's hearts—moving toward whatever lay ahead.