Chapter 84.1
Healing Place Leaf
As I rode my bike through the streets of Tokyo, I started to feel the autumn vibes in the changing colors of the trees lining the roads. I quickly sold some magic stones and was greeted by several shopkeepers with comments like, "Oh, it's been a while, Ezuki-san." I don't remember having long conversations with these shopkeepers, but I stood out because I frequented their shops to sell a lot of magic stones.
Then, at 1 p.m., when I arrived at our meeting spot, Tsunami-san was waiting in front of the store with a sports bag in her hands.
"Hello, Ezuki-san!"
"Hello, Tsunami-san. Did I keep you waiting?"
"No! I just got here myself!"
The meeting place was a sports gym where you could pay by the hour. In the past, sports gyms required monthly memberships, but recently, gyms with a system similar to karaoke places have become more common, which is convenient. This particular gym was one of those that Tsunami-san had researched.
…..
So, Tsunami-san and I worked up a refreshing sweat during our 2-hour training session.
The training primarily focused on strengthening the quadriceps, and during breaks, I instructed Tsunami-san on how to work on other parts of her body using training equipment and posture. You might wonder how I knew all this, even though I didn't regularly go to the gym.
Well, I had been watching videos of muscular bodybuilders on the internet when I trained alone, which served as a reference. Despite not leveling up in a dungeon, those guys became so muscular, and their dedication truly impressed me.
"…So we concentrate on 1 muscle group per day and rotate it weekly?"
"Yes, exactly."
Tsunami-san and I took a break after our training session at a nearby cafe. During this time, I explained the concept of targeted muscle group training to Tsunami-san.
It was a straightforward concept.
For example, on the first day, you train your arms intensively. Afterward, the arm muscles become fatigued and need rest to undergo super-compensation. So, on the second day, you rest your arms and focus on training your abs intensively. This pattern continues, allowing muscles to recover and super compensate effectively.
This way, you could efficiently build muscle. It also prevented overtraining and encouraged the constant release of growth hormones, facilitating muscle growth.
Using this method, I managed to significantly increase my muscle mass.
"Now, next is… (ring, ring) Oh…"
"Don't worry, go ahead."
"Sorry, let me take this call outside…"
Tsunami-san's phone rang during our conversation. I encouraged her to answer it, and she left the table to take the call outside. The cafe had large glass windows, allowing me to see Tsunami-san outside.
As I absentmindedly watched Tsunami-san's profile while she was on the phone, her expression changed from surprise to disappointment.
Hmmm… I wondered if it was bad news.
When Tsunami-san returned, she looked apologetic as she spoke.
"Um… it's from my workplace. Someone fell ill, and they're asking if I can come in as a replacement. It's a sudden request."
"I see. So you have to go to work. Oh, please don't worry about me. It's a bit disappointing that I won't be able to receive your guidance today, but it's alright. We can do it another day."
Well, if that's the situation, there's no helping it.
"But…"
"Oh, don't worry at all, Tsunami-san."
"But I asked you for a favor suddenly, and now it's turning out like this, all half-baked…"
"It's absolutely fine, really. My schedule is quite flexible."
Despite Tsunami-san's tough and energetic appearance, she's very conscientious. Well, it wouldn't be fair to make her worry too much. It's probably easier for Tsunami-san if I go home, allowing her to focus on work.
"But…"
"Oh, don't worry about it, Tsunami-san."
"Even though I asked you on short notice, it's ended like this…"
"It's okay, really. I don't mind at all."
Just as I was mentally switching to the idea that it would be my turn to receive guidance, Tsunami-san suddenly spoke up.
"But… what if… (ring, ring)… Oh!"
"Please, go ahead."
"Sorry, I'll step outside for a moment…"
Tsunami-san's phone rang again. Before I could stop her, she left the cafe to answer the call. I could see her clearly through the large glass windows.
I watched Tsunami-san's profile as she made the call, feeling a bit perplexed.
Then, when she returned after a while, she had a cheerful smile.
"Okay, it's been approved!"
"What?!"
"I called my workplace, and they said it's fine for me to bring you as a trainee for the massage sessions we offer!"
"What?!"
"Today, they mentioned that we're short-staffed because we have a lot of customers! I think it's a great chance for you to learn practically! I'll ask if it's okay for me to bring you as a trainee… (click)!"
"What?!…"
Tsunami-san left the table again to make a phone call. I couldn't stop her in time. When she returned after a while, she said with a smile.
"It's been approved!"
It seemed I would have to work as a trainee at the massage shop where Tsunami-san worked…
…..