How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? IF: The Return of Gina Boyd
Sakura Hibiki has a problem—and it's not just the two kilos she just gained.
Between her bottomless appetite, her empty house, and her hopeless crush on a certain trainer whose muscles defy the laws of nature, Hibiki's "serious about getting fit" resolution is hanging by a thread. But when a silver-haired stranger with piercing blue eyes snatches the last sakura mochi protein cup right out from under her nose at Muscle Mart, Hibiki's comfortable routine shatters in an instant.
That stranger is
How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? IF: The Return of Gina Boyd - The Silver-Haired Assassin Has Come to Our House! ~What Do You Mean Muscles Are Your Lover?~
Morning light slipped through the gap in the curtains, casting long, thin shadows across the living room floor.
Sakura Hibiki was sprawled face-down on the table, still in her pajamas. After her mother's phone call last night, she hadn't managed to get much sleep. The sharp gaze of that silver-haired girl had stuck to the inside of her eyelids and refused to let go.
"Haah... What was that girl's deal, anyway?"
She muttered vaguely as she pulled the milk carton from the fridge, poured a glass, and downed it in one go. The cold liquid sliding down her throat cleared her sleep-fogged head, just a little.
She replayed yesterday in her mind. The sampling event at Muscle Mart. The last cup—sakura mochi–flavored protein. And that silver-haired girl had snatched it right out from under her. Those eyes had been a declaration of war.
"Yabatan, just thinking about it is making me mad."
She raked her fingers through her blonde hair in frustration.
Just then, the sound of a key turning came from the front door.
"Oh, Hibiki. You're awake."
It was her mother's voice. Hibiki glanced at the clock. Nine-thirty in the morning. Her mother had been on an overseas business trip—it was rare for her to come home at this hour.
"Mom!? What are you doing back so suddenly?"
Her mother walked into the living room, pulling a small suitcase. She looked tired, but her eyes were sparkling with something like amusement.
"I told you on the phone yesterday, didn't I? That I'd be bringing a guest."
"A guest... you actually meant today?"
When Hibiki asked, her mother smiled brightly and turned back toward the entrance.
"Gina, come on in."
Hibiki's heart gave a hard thump.
Gina.
That name rang a bell. No—not just the name. That silver hair.
A girl slowly appeared from the entryway.
Bathed in the morning light, her silver bob gleamed. Pale skin, clear blue eyes. She was the girl who had stolen Hibiki's protein at Muscle Mart yesterday.
"...You."
Gina's eyes went wide the moment she saw Hibiki's face. Those blue eyes narrowed sharply, moment by moment.
"Why are YOU here!?"
Her Japanese, thick with a Russian accent, echoed through the living room.
"That's my line!? Why are YOU coming to my house!?"
The two of them glared at each other across the table.
Their mother watched the whole exchange with a cheerful smile, as if she were watching a pair of cute kittens tussling.
"Oh my, you two are already getting along. That was fast."
"We are NOT getting along!"
"We're not!"
Their voices overlapped perfectly.
Her mother set the suitcase against the wall and turned back to Hibiki.
"Hibiki, this is Gina Boyd. Because of her father's work, we'll be looking after her for a while. Be nice, okay?"
"Whaaat!? Looking after her!? This girl!?"
Hibiki couldn't believe her ears.
The girl she'd met for the first time yesterday—who'd stolen her protein and glared at her. And now she was supposed to live under the same roof?
"Gina's father is involved with the Silverman Gym Moscow branch. While he's staying in Japan for a while, Gina would be all alone, so he asked us to take care of her."
Her mother explained it like it was nothing.
Silverman Gym. Moscow branch.
Something in Hibiki's mind caught on those words.
"...The Moscow branch? The one where all the super-elites gather?"
When Hibiki murmured that, Gina gave a little snort.
"That's right. I was at the Moscow branch too. I've trained far, far more seriously than someone like you."
Gina puffed out her chest as she said it. She was a little shorter than Hibiki—about five foot two—but her build was lithe and clearly well-trained. Slender, yet powerful.
"...So why are you staying at my house?"
Hibiki asked again.
Gina's blue eyes pierced straight through her.
"Isn't it obvious? To defeat you."
Hibiki's mouth fell open.
"...Huh? Defeat me?"
"Don't play dumb. Don't tell me you've forgotten the arm-wrestling tournament a year ago."
The arm-wrestling tournament a year ago.
Those words finally jogged Hibiki's memory.
The "Muscle Duel"—an arm-wrestling tournament hosted by Silverman Gym. Hibiki had won it. And her opponent in the final was...
"...You! You were that girl!"
Hibiki pointed at Gina without thinking.
That's right. Her opponent in the final. A petite girl with silver hair. Hibiki had slammed her arm onto the table with almost pure brute strength.
"So you do remember. I haven't forgotten that humiliation for a single second."
Gina ground her back teeth.
"From that day on, I've trained for nothing but beating you. And then I came to Japan. I even marched right into your house."
Gina's voice was quiet but filled with iron resolve.
Hibiki scratched her head.
"Man, you really hold a grudge... I mean, why are you so hung up on it? Tournaments are just about winning and losing, right?"
"Because I lost to YOU!"
Gina raised her voice.
"At the Moscow branch, I never lost to anyone. Not in sambo class, not in arm wrestling—I was always number one. And yet... and yet, you beat me with nothing but brute, barbaric arm strength!"
Gina's cheeks were faintly flushed with anger.
Hibiki felt a flicker of irritation at that.
"Barbaric? What's wrong with being strong?"
"It IS wrong! It's like you made all my accumulated effort meaningless!"
"Well, your effort is your effort. It's got nothing to do with me."
"It does! You trampled all over my effort!"
The argument was going in circles.
Their mother watched the back-and-forth with the same cheerful smile.
"Oh my, youth is wonderful. Hibiki, get along with Gina, okay? Mother has another business trip to get to, so I'll leave the rest to you."
With that, she picked up her suitcase and headed for the door.
"Wait, Mom!? I'm not mentally prepared for this yet!"
"You'll be fine, Hibiki. I'm sure you two will be friends in no time. Gina, take care of Hibiki for me."
"...Yes, well. I intend to stay here until I defeat her, after all."
Gina smiled defiantly.
Their mother waved breezily and walked out the door.
Left behind were just the two of them—Hibiki in her pajamas and Gina clutching her suitcase.
An awkward silence settled over the living room.
Hibiki let out a deep sigh.
"...For now, want some breakfast? I've got at least some bread."
"...I'll take some."
Gina answered quietly, still turned away.
The two of them chewed their toast in silence across the table.
Hibiki stole a glance at Gina's profile. Her silver hair swayed softly. Long eyelashes. Pale skin.
...Now that she looked closely, Gina had a really cute face.
No—that wasn't the point.
Hibiki shook her head and bit into her toast.
When breakfast was over, Gina stood up with a clatter.
"Now, Hibiki. Let's settle this."
"...Huh? Settle what?"
"Isn't it obvious? Arm wrestling. I'll avenge last year's loss right here, right now."
Gina thrust her right arm onto the table.
Her slender arm was covered in supple muscle.
Hibiki looked at her with a weary expression.
"Come on, first thing in the morning? That's a bit much..."
"Running away? You're running from me?"
Gina smirked provocatively.
Something deep inside Hibiki's chest gave a sharp little spark at that smile.
"...Fine. I'll take you on. But don't cry if you lose."
"You'll be the one crying."
The two of them locked hands firmly across the table.
Gina's hand was small, but calloused and hard. Years of training had left thick calluses on her palm.
Hibiki felt her opinion of Gina rise, just a little, at the feel of that hand.
"...Here I go."
"Whenever you're ready."
Gina let out a battle cry.
"UOOOOOOOOOH!!!"
In that instant, Hibiki could feel every ounce of Gina's strength pour into her arm.
Hibiki's arm was pushed slightly outward.
"...Oh, you're pretty strong."
Hibiki was honestly impressed.
Gina had definitely gotten stronger than a year ago.
But.
"Heave-ho."
With a light grunt, Hibiki put power into her arm.
WHAM!
Gina's arm slammed onto the table in an instant.
It was over in a flash.
Gina stared at her own arm, pinned to the table, with an expression of utter disbelief.
"...No way."
Her voice was trembling faintly.
"Oh, sorry. I might've put a little too much into that."
Hibiki released her hand without a hint of guilt.
Gina kept staring at her arm on the table for a long moment.
Then she slowly raised her head.
In those blue eyes were frustration, anger, and just a hint of tears.
"...Why. Why is it like this? I've trained every single day since then. I gave everything—all of it—just to beat you."
Gina's voice shook.
"Why do you get to beat me with that calm, cool face...!?"
Gina clenched her fist and pounded the table.
The dishes jumped with a loud clatter.
Hibiki looked a little troubled.
"...You train every day, huh. That's amazing. I'm lucky if I make it to the gym three times a week."
"Don't comfort me! That just makes it more pathetic!"
Gina raised her voice.
Hibiki sighed.
"I'm not comforting you. I'm just stating facts. You work way harder than me. That's genuinely impressive. But I beat you my way. That's all there is to it, right?"
Gina bit her lip hard.
She glared at Hibiki resentfully.
But the fire in her eyes had dimmed, just a little.
"...Next is squats. I'll settle it with squats."
With that, Gina smoothly lowered herself onto the living room floor.
Hibiki, without another word, lined up beside her.
Their morning squat showdown began.
"One, two, three..."
Gina counted with a serious face.
Her form was beautiful. Back perfectly straight, hips lowering until her thighs were parallel to the floor.
Hibiki watched with admiration.
"Your form is really clean. Did someone teach you?"
"...The trainers at the Moscow branch drilled it into me. Of course they did."
Gina answered, slightly out of breath.
Around fifty reps, Gina's breathing grew ragged.
"Haah, haah... Still, still going..."
Sweat beaded on her forehead.
Beside her, Hibiki kept squatting with a serene expression.
"I've got about a hundred more in me, easy~"
"W-why do you look so totally fine...!?"
Gina glared at Hibiki resentfully.
"You ask why... I've always had strong legs, I guess."
Hibiki kept squatting, completely unbothered.
In the end, Gina hit her limit at a hundred, while Hibiki was still going past two hundred with the same easy expression.
"...I lose again, huh."
Gina sprawled spread-eagle on the floor, staring up at the ceiling.
Her silver hair clung to her forehead with sweat.
Hibiki plopped down beside her.
"You push yourself too hard. You're gonna collapse."
"...I don't need your worry."
Gina turned away as she said it.
But her voice no longer had the sharp edge it had that morning.
Hibiki pulled two sports drinks from the fridge and held one out to Gina.
"Here. Drink up. You're all sweaty."
"...Thanks."
Gina thanked her in a small voice.
The two of them drank their sports drinks in silence for a while.
The cold liquid seeped into their heated bodies.
"...Next is protein."
Gina suddenly said.
"Huh? Protein?"
"Yes. A protein-chugging contest. You have protein in this house, don't you?"
Gina scanned Hibiki's kitchen.
Hibiki pointed at the protein canister sitting on top of the fridge.
"I mean, yeah, but... you're still going?"
"Of course. With this, it'll finally be one win and one loss. Time to settle it."
"Uh, you've lost two in a row..."
"Don't sweat the details!"
Gina snatched the protein canister from Hibiki.
The two of them each scooped protein and water into shakers and rattled them vigorously.
"Ready, set, go!"
At Gina's signal, they both brought their shakers to their mouths at the same time.
Glug, glug, glug...
Gina chugged with a desperate expression.
Beside her, Hibiki drank slowly, savoring it.
"...Mm, this chocolate flavor is good."
Hibiki tilted her shaker and offered her review.
Gina's panic only grew at how relaxed her opponent was.
"Mmggh...! I won't lose, I won't lose..
Novelia is an AI-powered platform to read original light novels and fan fiction, create your own in just a few taps, and chat with the characters. New, illustrated episodes arrive daily — free to start.