Chapter 1
Prologue: That Man, Being a Muscle Fanatic
One lunch break in early autumn.
The training room attached to the high school gymnasium was filled with a quiet heat and a lot of tension.
Twenty or thirty muscular male students were packed into the room lined with training machines.
They were members of the judo and rugby clubs.
They were watching the bench press rack with bated breath. Weight plates were stacked on the barbell in multiple layers, like a Baumkuchen cake.
The weight was actually 130 kilograms. Even a typical scooter body weighs less than 100 kilograms.
Near the rack, two large guys—the judo club captain and the rugby club captain—were trying to steady their ragged breathing, but even they couldn't lift the 130-kilogram barbell.
That's why now, everyone's attention was focused on the final challenger.
Namely, me—Koshi Suda.
Haaaah . . .
Sharpening my concentration with a deep breath, I slowly approached the bench press.
Go, Suda!
Fiiiiight!
Deep, masculine cheers rose from all directions.
I wasn't in the judo club or the rugby club. I was not part of any club in the school, though I was on good terms with both groups.
Just because I wasn't in any club didn't make this a reckless challenge for me.
Although I was only a first-year high school student, I'd been strength training for nearly three years. I started with home workouts in middle school, and since entering high school, I've been using this training room too, dedicating myself to intensive strength training.
As a result, my short-sleeved, short-legged gym uniform felt tight. My pecs, deltoids, and trapezius muscles made the fabric strain, and even the limbs extending from my sleeves and hems clearly showed a defined muscle structure.
I tightened the wrist wraps, checked the fit of my lifting belt, and lay down on the bench press.
Then I gripped the 130-kilogram barbell and tensed my entire body.
Hup!
With a sharp exhale, I unracked the barbell.
I lowered the barbell while feeling the extraordinary 130-kilogram load on my arms, shoulders, and chest.
Blood surged through my veins, muscle fibers fired. The deep-voiced cheers from around me grew even more intense.
My entire body felt a swelling sensation, like my skin might burst open.
As if releasing that pressure.
NNNNGGGGHHHH! RAAAAH!!!
With a primal roar, I thrust the barbell upward in one explosive motion.
At that moment, thunderous cheers erupted, making the training room shake.
Everyone was excited. I was excited too. After all, I'd just broken my personal record.
After returning the barbell to the rack and jumping up, I saw the judo club captain and rugby club captain wearing respectful smiles.
So you finally surpassed me, huh . . . I hate to admit it, but man, you're seriously amazing, Suda.
The judo club captain was praising my hard-fought effort.
Hah, hah . . . it's nothing special. I was only able to achieve this record because you all were here supporting me. Thank you so much.
I truly meant it, so I bowed my head.
C'mon, you should be more excited, Suda! That's a huge record, man! Gah-ha-ha!
After being congratulated by the rugby club captain as well, I deliberately raised the corners of my mouth.
I was genuinely happy inside, but apparently, compared to others, I'm rather lacking in facial expressions. My friends point this out to me often.
