The membership gym wasn't very crowded when we arrived.
It was a weekday afternoon. Most likely, we were benefiting from the timing; the kind of self-improving working adults who frequented gyms were usually stuck at their jobs at this hour.
"It’s practically private," Hayashi remarked.
"Yeah. We have the run of the place."
"That’s right. We can do whatever we want with all this equipment."
"The way you phrased that sounds a bit... suggestive."
"Heh-heh."
Hayashi gave me a smug little grin. To be honest, I didn't really get why she looked so proud of herself.
"Anyway, let's meet back here once we're done changing."
"Oka—y!"
We split up at the locker rooms. I pulled on the shoes I’d brought for the gym, changed into a light outfit that was easy to move in, and headed back out to the hallway.
"Sorry to keep you waiting~"
Hayashi emerged from the ladies' locker room dressed in a short-sleeved T-shirt, short pants, and leggings.
"Well? Does it look good on me?"
"Are you going to ask me that every single time?"
We had already visited this gym together several times. Every single time, she wore the exact same thing. And every single time, she threw that same question at me. Personally, I was tired of giving her the same feedback.
"...Actually, you might have slimmed down a bit."
"Wait, really!?"
I’d braced myself for her to snap and call me "the worst" again, but she actually seemed happy. If I’d known she’d be that thrilled, I wouldn't have said anything.
"Come on, let's get through the training before it gets crowded."
"Oka—y."
We immediately began our workout.
"Okay, Yamamoto! I want to use the treadmill, so set it up for me!"
Whenever we came to the gym, the first thing Hayashi headed for was the treadmill. However, she was hopelessly technologically challenged. Naturally, no matter how many times I explained the process, there was no way she could set the machine up by herself. Consequently, the routine was always the same: I would set up her treadmill, and then I would start my own training.
"Alright, starting now."
"Oka—y."
As the treadmill began to move, Hayashi pulled out her smartphone and started watching videos.
"Kyah, Samoyeds are so cute!"
Recently, her taste in videos had been shifting from those "satisfying" revenge stories to animal clips. To be honest, there were times when even just hearing the audio from those revenge videos was unpleasant, so her growing obsession with animals was a welcome change.
"Hey, Yamamoto. Let's get a Samoyed for the apartment."
"No."
However, the fact that she had started begging for a pet was becoming a bit of a nuisance. I wanted her to think about this logically. It already felt cramped with just the two of us living in a single six-tatami room; if we added a large-size dog to the mix, it would be total chaos.
"So cute... They're just so cute..."
I couldn't deal with her right now. I decided to focus on my own training.
I’d realized something since I restarted my gym routine... apparently, as a result of neglecting my fitness after moving to Tokyo, my body had become incredibly dull. I’d been struck by a sense of deep despair when I found I couldn't lift the weights I used to handle with ease.
Because of that, I was highly motivated to undergo a total body transformation. It was also perfect timing, as it aligned with my efforts to help Hayashi succeed with her diet.
"Ngh... Hmph...!"
Sweating like a waterfall and breathing heavily, I pushed through my high-intensity training.
"Yamamoto, I'm done!"
After a while, Hayashi wandered over to me.
"...Huff, puff. I see."
"Whoa, you're soaked! You're completely out of breath, too."
"...Huff, puff."
"...Are you okay?"
"...My muscles."
"?"
"My muscles are... feeling the excitement."
"Are you an idiot?"
Hayashi's gaze was ice-cold.
"I don't know how you can keep doing that when you look like you're suffering so much."
"Well, yeah."
"What’s the fun in it?"
"Are you an idiot?" I wiped the sweat from my forehead with a towel. "None of it is fun."
"Your brain really has been taken over by muscle, hasn't it?"
"...This is a pre-investment."
"Meaning?"
"I’m suffering this much now so my muscles will respond later. It’s logical, right?"
"Her brain really has been taken over by muscle...!"
Hayashi looked genuinely repulsed.
"...Hey, hey. I want to try that one."
"Huh?"
"I want to try doing that weight training, too."
"...Fine."
While maintaining a cool exterior, I was smiling on the inside. I had successfully proselytized the gospel of muscle to another convert. It made sense, though. Everyone wants a pair of impressive pectoral muscles (ecstasy).
"Hey, how do I use this?"
"My mistake. Allow me to instruct you on the proper usage."
"Why are you talking like a butler?"
I explained how to use the equipment with meticulous care. Although Hayashi looked like she had a giant question mark floating over her head, she seemed determined to give it a shot anyway.
"...Ngh!"
...Oh.
"...Mmh!"
Oh... not bad. Not bad at all. Hayashi was actually doing... oh! She was doing great.
However, there was one thing that needed a correction.
"Hayashi, if you lift it like that, you're going to throw out your back."
In order to teach her the correct form, I reached out toward her waist.
"Hyan!"
The moment my hand touched her, Hayashi let out a strange, high-pitched squeak.
CLANG!
The weights crashed down with a deafening noise.
A heavy silence followed.
"S-Sorry..."
"No, it was my fault."
An incredibly awkward atmosphere settled between us. I truly, from the bottom of my heart, was glad the gym wasn't crowded today.