Most Muscular! 12 "Comrades" [#CreativeAward2025 #RomanceNovelCategory]

←Previous Story　　　　　Table of Contents　　　　　Next Story→

　The door opened with a roar, just like it did that one time.

"Oh, the whole competition group is here, huh."
"Yup. Oh, it's Ayaha-san."

　Takashi-kun, dressed in black sweatpants and a matching top, and Akira-kun, in a polo shirt and shorts, walked into the room together.

"Perfect timing, why don't you tell her?"
"Hmm."

　Then, Akira-kun made an announcement to everyone.

"Tomorrow is a cheating day."
"Cheating?"

　Once again, an unknown term had appeared, and the foundation of my brain was on the verge of short-circuiting. Perhaps seeing my reaction, Hide-chan offered an explanation.

"Cheating in the context of muscle training is actually really complicated to explain, but what we club members call 'cheating' just means 'you can eat whatever you want.' We call that day a 'cheat day,' but for some reason, it's stuck like this here."
"That's a stretch, you wimp."

　Akira-kun retorted to Hide-chan, who had explained it so carefully, with a look of utter disbelief. A wimp—as in, that image of someone pathetic?

"Wait, Hide-chan's nickname is 'Wimp'?"
"Don't call me that, Emperor."
"Akira-kun is the Emperor!?"

　I understood, and it made sense. I had felt the 'emperor' vibe in this club firsthand, so it made even more sense. Akira-kun replied in a tone that suggested he didn't like the nickname, saying, "Don't you call me Emperor, either."

　Akira-kun, as if wanting to change the subject, explained it to me.

"Even if you say 'whatever you want,' if you don't calculate what you eat, the rebound will come for you."
"Eek!! Rebound is scary!!"

　At those words, I turned pale.
　Rebound, the enemy of dieting for women.
　I've been on a diet a few times myself, but I've definitely experienced the rebound and felt a sense of despair on the scale.

　It seems the kids in this club are no exception, as Hide-chan and Tanaka-kun were discussing what they should eat during their cheating day. It seems this cheating is carried out according to a meticulous plan.

　Then, Akira-kun took out a white bottle that had been sitting on a steel shelf.

"Well, other than days like that, we drink this stuff in addition to our weight-loss meals."
"You drink that 365 days a year, though."

　Takashi-kun chimed in immediately.

"What's this?"
"It's BCAA."
"B-C-A-A? Vitamin?"
"It's an amino acid supplement."

　Akira-kun opened the lid of the bottle and showed me the inside. The particles were too large to be called powder; they were scattered, translucent grains that reflected the light and sparkled.

"It looks kind of like plastic..."
"True. It's hard to drink."

　Hide-chan made a face as if he really disliked it.

"Is this stuff that people who aren't doing anything shouldn't drink?"
"That's not the case. Want some?"
"No, I don't think I can drink it... but, maybe I want to lick it..."

Tanaka-kun and Hide-chan blushed at those words. Even Akechi-kun, who was turned away, seemed to have a flushed, fair-skinned nape. Takashi-kun grinned, and Akira-kun was covering his mouth with his hand.

"Did I say something weird?"

When I asked Hide-chan, he clearly averted his gaze and replied, "N-no. Also, this... i-it's not something that tastes good, you know? Especially the stuff we're drinking."
"Yeah, I'm prepared to give it a lick."

I took a tiny amount of BCAA from the lid into my palm, scooped it up with my fingertip, and licked it.

──Th-this is...!! It's bitter! It's hard to swallow!

"Gah!"

I choked involuntarily. My face must have been bright red. My face started to feel hot.

"Whoa, Ayaha! Drink some water, drink some water!!"
"Are you okay, Ayaha-san!?"

Akira-kun and Hide-chan were both panicking. Akechi-kun silently handed me the mineral water he was holding, so without even being able to properly thank him, I gulped it down like in a soft drink commercial.

"That was awful!!"
"That's why I told you!!"

I couldn't reply to Hide-chan's exasperated voice.
When I tried to wash it down, the powder stuck to the back of my throat and made me choke. Moreover, I endured with tears in my eyes as it threatened to shoot back out through my nose.
I couldn't believe that these kids were drinking stuff like this just to get those muscular bodies!

"Actually, we're supposed to drink five grams of this."
"No way!! Absolutely impossible!!"

It's cruel to tell me to drink five grams when just a tiny bit does this to me. There is definitely a demon living in this club.
Furthermore, perhaps because my body was having a rejection reaction, I kept letting out silent burps.

"Weight loss is really tough, isn't it..."
"But you know,"

Hide-chan said that while looking at Akira-kun.

"What's really tough is that weight loss is a lonely battle. You can't do it without comrades."

Akira-kun nodded as if in agreement.

──Comrades.
That word resonated warmly in my heart.
For me, who had chased dreams all alone, occasionally faced setbacks, and been tormented by loneliness, it was the most precious and longed-for word.

"Ayaha-san, why don't you become a comrade too?"

I opened my eyes wide in surprise at the words Akira-kun suddenly uttered, as if he had seen right through my heart.

"You're the first girl I've ever seen drink BCAA like that, Ayaha-san. That feeling of wanting to know what we're doing is perfect for a manager."
"I-is that so... though it was just out of curiosity."
"Curiosity is important. We don't have many members, and we're a weak club where no one has ever gone to the national tournament, but if you were here, Ayaha-san, it would be encouraging."
"But I've never had any experience as a manager."
"Just cheering us on is enough. There's no need for you to come every day and do anything. Just having one more comrade makes us able to do our best."

Just having one more comrade──. Those words gently gripped my heart.

Before I knew it, I found myself nodding quietly.

"I don't really get this."

With a pout, Hide-chan came right up in front of me and suddenly grabbed my hand. He grabbed it...!?

"I was the one who asked you to be my manager first! Akira! Don't go stealing the best part!"
"What's that supposed to mean? I'm not taking anything away from you!"

Hide-chan and Akira-kun's lively banter. It was heartwarming to watch.
It was heartwarming, but—for some reason, Hide-chan kept holding my hand.
My heart started racing, and not knowing what to do, I just felt the warmth of Hide-chan's hand.

←Previous Story Table of Contents Next Story→