A mocking voice cut through the quiet Service Club.
"I must admit, I'm surprised, Masao-kun. To think you had such willpower. I expected you to quit after two or three. To see you grit your teeth and persist… I suppose it's because you don't want to lose face in front of a beautiful girl like me, is it?"
Tanaka Masao glared at Yukinoshita Yukino. Her smile was sweet, but her eyes were sharp with sarcasm.
He was grinding his teeth in frustration, but he lacked the breath to form a single word of retort.
Under Yukino's directive, he had just attempted a set of push-ups. His body was heavy and woefully unprepared.
After the fifth rep, his entire frame trembled. He held the position for a long, straining moment, but a sixth push-up remained impossibly out of reach.
Yukinoshita watched the panting boy, letting out a soft, disappointed sigh.
"I believe I now have a complete understanding of your physical fitness. You are remarkably weak. So, tell me, Masao-kun, what is your current weight, and what is your goal?"
Masao took a moment to steady his breathing. "I'm… about one hundred kilograms now. My goal is to be around seventy."
"Seventy kilograms…" Yukino tapped a finger against her chin, her gaze sweeping over him with clinical precision.
"For your height—about hundred and seventy-five centimeters—that is a reasonable target. Is there a timeframe? Do you wish to lose it rapidly, or would you prefer a more gradual approach? I personally recommend the latter. A period of six months to a year. It's far less taxing on the body, and with a proper regimen, you might even develop some respectable muscle definition. A six-pack, for instance."
He managed a nod. "If you're willing to help, I prefer to take it slow as well."
"Good. I will devise a plan with a six-month goal. I expect your complete cooperation."
"Of course I'll cooperate."
"If you truly intend to cooperate…" Yukino's eyes turned to ice, and her voice sharpened to a drill-sergeant's sternness.
"...Then why are you still on the floor? Move, you lazy pig!"
When it came to training, Yukinoshita Yukino was not the type for gentle encouragement. There would be no soft-spoken, "You can do it, Masao-kun! Just one more!"
Her method was one of cold, unrelenting pressure and a mercilessly sharp tongue. The icy coach had officially arrived.
—
An hour later, Masao was on his knees, hands braced against the cool floor, his chest heaving.
Sweat dripped from his face, forming dark splotches on the wood. His clothes were soaked through.
"I… can't believe I made it," he gasped, the words barely audible.
In his previous life, his body had been far more fit, yet he'd never pushed himself this hard. It was ironic that in this weaker vessel, he had discovered a deeper reserve of stamina.
He had to concede—Yukino's unique brand of motivation (being a drill-sergeant) was brutally effective.
Under her critical gaze and relentless taunts, his exhausted muscles kept finding a spark of strength he didn't know he possessed.
'Am I really that predictable? Just another male creature, driven to prove himself before a pretty girl? …Though, I can't say I entirely dislike the feeling.'
Yukinoshita observed him, a thoughtful glint in her eyes. 'The books are correct. A male specimen, when sufficiently provoked, can exhibit surprising tenacity.'
Masao looked up, a sense of dread knotting in his stomach.
"What are you thinking now?"
She tilted her head, offering an angelic smile that belied her words.
"I was merely theorizing. If verbal stimuli can unlock such potential, what might be the effect of a more… tangible incentive? A whip, for example."
"You… you can't be serious!" Masao's eyes widened. It was unnerving how such a demonic suggestion could be delivered with such an innocent expression.
'Wait, did I just feel a thrill? No. Absolutely not. That's just the endorphins and sleep deprivation talking. Definitely.'
Yukino caught the fleeting shift in his expression, and her face contorted into a mask of pure disgust.
"Masao-kun. Don't tell you felt excited just now? You truly are a hopeless masochistic pervert Masao-kun"
A hot flush spread across his cheeks—a confusing mix of indignation, shame, and something else he refused to name.
"D-don't slander me! And since when did I get so many titles?!"
Yukino blinked, her expression picture of feigned innocence. "Was any of it incorrect?"
"Hmph. Think what you want." Unable to mount a defense, he surrendered the argument.
Satisfied with her victory, Yukino moved on.
"I've outlined a plan for the coming weeks. The school track is occupied by sports clubs after hours, so it is unavailable. You will therefore arrive at school by 7:00 AM for one hour of jogging. After school, report directly here for another hour of training. Regarding your diet: you understand the principles. Minimize fats. Your meals will consist primarily of chicken breast, lean beef, fish, vegetables, and fruit. Is this clear?"
"The diet is fine," he nodded. "But two hours of training every day… isn't that a bit excessive?"
He doubted his body could sustain the pace.
"You won't know your limits until you test them," Yukino stated with unwavering confidence. "Today, you accomplished far more than you believed possible. The schedule stands."
Seeing no room for negotiation, he relented
"I'll do my best."
"See that you do."
Yukino glanced out the window at the darkening sky and began gathering her belongings.
"We're finished for today. Do not be late tomorrow morning. I will be waiting on the track."
"Right."
Masao grabbed his own bag and followed her out of the clubroom.
"Oh, and Masao-kun," she added without turning around. "Remember to wear your gym clothes for the run. Unless you wish to be exiled from the classroom for offending your classmates' sensibilities."
"Obviously! I'm not an idiot!"
They walked together, their conversation a mix of pointed instructions and sharp retorts, until they reached the school gate.
Since Yukinoshita lived alone in an apartment—having moved out from her family's home—and, due to a certain unpleasant memory from the first day of school (involving the car she was in striking Hikigaya as he saved Yuigahama dog), she no longer used the family chauffeur.
The two walked in silence for a few more blocks before parting ways at a street corner, their new, strenuous routine now firmly established.
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[email protected]/Raven_scroll (30+ Advance Chapters)