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 Queen of Moscow Descends! ~The Silver-Haired Disgrace and the Worst Reunion~
A week ago, when Gina saw the poster for the Silverman Cup Branch Qualifier on the gym's bulletin board, her face had gone rigid.
Sakura Hibiki sat on the training floor, stretching while she remembered that moment.
The Silverman Gym Sakuragaoka branch was relatively quiet in the afternoon. Sunlight streamed through the windows, warming the hardwood floor.
"hibiki, would you spot me for my next set?"
Gina Boyd stood before Hibiki, her silver bob swaying. She wore white training gear, a small towel draped around her neck. Her clear blue eyes looked straight down at Hibiki.
"Yeah, sure! What're we doing today?"
Hibiki stood up and stretched, hands on her hips. Her loose blonde gyaru hair bounced against her shoulders.
"Bench press. Last time I lifted with you, I hit a personal best. So today I want to try something heavier."
With that, Gina walked toward the free weights area. Her back looked somehow more confident than it had a week ago.
(Gina's really coming into her own.)
Hibiki grinned and followed after her.
A week ago, when Gina first came to this gym, she'd nearly been crushed under the barbell alone. She hadn't known the rack height, the form—nothing.
The Moscow branch had barely any equipment. Gina had only ever done training that relied on momentum, so she wasn't used to handling fixed machines or barbells.
But now things were different.
With Hibiki spotting her, Gina had been getting used to gym training—little by little, but surely.
"Alright, I'm setting up."
Gina lay back on the bench and gripped the barbell. Her slender fingers wrapped firmly around the metal bar.
"Here I go."
Gina breathed in and unracked the barbell. Her arms lowered slowly.
"...Nngh."
The barbell paused for a moment above her chest.
"Push!"
Hibiki stood above Gina's head, both hands hovering beneath the bar. Not touching yet—but positioned to assist at any moment.
"Nnngh...!"
Gina's arms trembled as she pressed the barbell upward. Silver hair clung to her forehead with sweat.
"You got it, just like that! One more!"
At Hibiki's voice, Gina gritted her teeth.
"...Haaaaah!"
The barbell locked out completely. Gina racked it and let out a long breath.
"...I did it."
Still lying on the bench, Gina stared up at the ceiling. Her face was filled with a sense of accomplishment.
"That was awesome! Gina, you're getting stronger!"
Hibiki held out a towel.
"...It's thanks to you. If I'd been alone, I never could have lifted that."
Gina wiped the sweat from her forehead and smiled faintly.
That smile was something Hibiki hadn't seen a week ago.
Hibiki felt a gentle warmth spreading through her chest.
"Oh, right—Gina. About the Silverman Cup."
The moment Hibiki brought it up, Gina's hand stopped.
"...What?"
Gina's voice went slightly stiff.
"Listen, why don't we enter the qualifier? You and me, together."
Gina's eyes went wide.
"...With you? Together?"
"Yeah. Look, that poster—there's a tag team division too, right? If you and I enter together, I think we could make a real run at it."
Hibiki flashed a grin, showing her fang.
Gina was silent for a while.
Her blue eyes wavered.
"...If it's with you, I'd like to try."
Gina said it in a small voice.
Those were words the Gina of a week ago would never have said.
"Seriously!? Yes!"
Hibiki grabbed Gina's hands and shook them vigorously.
"H-hey, Hibiki! Stop that!"
Gina's ears turned red as she tried to pull her hands away.
But her lips were smiling.
"You two make a great team!"
A voice came suddenly from behind them.
They turned to see Naruzo Machio, trainer at the Silverman Gym Sakuragaoka branch. A fresh-faced handsome man—but everything below his neck was covered in absurdly overdeveloped muscle. His body looked like a photoshopped meme.
"Machio!"
"Hey, I couldn't help watching. Gina, your form has improved dramatically. And Hibiki, your spotting was perfect."
Machio smiled warmly.
"Thank you!"
Gina bowed politely.
"Still, with you two teaming up, the qualifier should be interesting. You have my support."
Machio crossed his arms. His biceps swelled visibly even through his clothes.
"U-um, Machio. Your arms..."
Gina stared at Machio's arms.
"Oops, sorry. I just got a little excited."
Machio laughed sheepishly and uncrossed his arms.
"...Incredible muscles, as always."
Gina muttered under her breath.
"Right, right! Machio's muscles are totally yabatan, aren't they!"
Hibiki said proudly.
"Oh, it's nothing special."
Machio scratched his head.
That was when it happened.
The gym's entrance door slowly opened.
Someone was coming in.
Hibiki casually glanced that way.
And stopped breathing.
Standing there was a woman.
Long silver hair flowed down her back like silk.
She was much taller than Hibiki—maybe five foot nine.
Sculpted shoulders.
A tightly cinched waist.
A body that was muscular yet supple and beautiful.
And above all, that face.
A cold, ruthless beauty.
Her narrow blue eyes swept across the gym, icy as frost.
"...Victoria."
Gina's voice trembled.
Hibiki looked at Gina's face.
All the color had drained from it.
She'd been laughing so happily just moments ago.
"Gina, you know her?"
When Hibiki asked, Gina gave a small nod.
"...An elite trainer from the Moscow branch. Victoria Ivanova."
Gina's voice was hoarse.
"Ah, you must be Victoria, visiting from Moscow! Welcome to Silverman Gym Sakuragaoka!"
Machio approached Victoria with a smile.
"How courteous of you. I came to inspect the place. So this is where that girl ran off to."
Victoria's voice was low and cold.
Her gaze was fixed straight on Gina.
"...Oh my, still playing around in a place like this. The shame of Moscow."
Victoria twisted her lips into a smile.
It was a sneer.
Gina's shoulders jerked.
"W-what are you talking about, Victoria? I'm not playing around—"
Gina tried to argue back, her voice shaking.
But Victoria cut her off.
"Everyone knows what a laughingstock you were in Moscow. A country bumpkin with no equipment, a lonely girl who couldn't make a single friend."
Victoria's words echoed through the gym.
The members who happened to be there all turned their eyes on Gina at once.
Curious stares.
Mocking stares.
Gina stood frozen, as if pinned by those gazes.
"Victoria, stop..."
Gina's voice was wet with tears.
"What were you even doing at the Moscow branch? Training alone with nothing but momentum, looking pathetic. No one would give you the time of day. People only humored you because you were the branch chief's daughter. You yourself had no value whatsoever."
Victoria took a step toward Gina.
"If you enter the Silverman Cup qualifier, I'll enter too. If you lose, you're being sent back to Moscow—and don't think that's all it'll cost you."
Victoria's voice was cold and sharp, carving into Gina's heart.
"I'm... I'm not playing around...!"
Gina shouted.
But her voice was shaking, powerless.
"Then prove it. Beat me at the qualifier. If you can."
Victoria stared down at Gina's face.
Her blue eyes were like a snake toying with its prey.
"...What the hell is your problem!"
Before she knew it, Hibiki was standing in front of Gina.
Fists clenched, she glared at Victoria.
"What did Gina ever do to you! Why would you say such horrible things!"
Hibiki's voice trembled with rage.
"...Oh? And who are you?"
Victoria looked Hibiki up and down with a slow, appraising stare.
"I'm Sakura Hibiki! Gina's friend!"
Hibiki looked straight up at Victoria.
"Friend? That girl? Friends? Don't make me laugh. She had no one in Moscow. You're just being her friend out of pity, aren't you?"
Victoria snickered.
"It's not pity! Gina is my precious friend!"
Hibiki raised her voice.
"That's enough, Hibiki."
Gina grabbed Hibiki's arm.
Her hand was cold as ice.
"Gina..."
"It's fine. Let's go."
Gina said it with a pale face.
Then she pulled Hibiki by the arm toward the gym exit.
"Oh, running away? Of course. That's exactly the kind of girl you are."
Victoria's voice stabbed into their backs.
Hibiki turned around and glared at Victoria.
"...Remember this. The qualifier is in two weeks. Running won't help you. There's nowhere in the world where you belong."
Victoria's words echoed coldly through the gym.
◆
Gina burst out of the gym and ran all the way to the park by the station.
Hibiki chased after her desperately.
"Gina! Wait!"
Gina collapsed onto a park bench.
Her shoulders trembled in small spasms.
"...Gina."
Hibiki quietly sat down beside her.
Gina didn't look up.
Silver hair hid her face.
"...It's because I'm weak."
Gina murmured in a small voice.
"Because I was laughed at in Moscow. Victoria's right. I'm useless. A disgrace."
Gina's voice was wet with tears.
"That's not true!"
Hibiki started to say.
But the words wouldn't come.
Watching Gina's trembling shoulders, she didn't know what to say.
(I want to protect Gina.)
(But I can't say anything.)
Hibiki felt her own helplessness keenly.
She clenched her fists.
But she didn't know where to direct them.
The setting sun dyed the park red.
Their two shadows stretched long across the ground.
◆
That night.
In Hibiki's living room.
The dinner Hibiki had made sat on the table.
But neither of them had touched much of it.
"...Hibiki."
Gina set down her chopsticks.
"Yeah?"
"I... maybe I should go back to Moscow."
Gina said it while staring at the table.
"If I stay, I'll just cause trouble for you too. Victoria came all this way to chase me. If I weren't here, you wouldn't have to go through any of this."
Gina's voice was barely audible.
"...Where you want to be is your decision to make."
Hibiki said quietly.
"But I want you to stay here."
Hibiki's voice was direct.
Gina looked up.
Her blue eyes were brimming with tears.
"Hibiki..."
"Training with you is fun for me. Just having you around makes the whole house brighter. You're my precious friend."
Hibiki looked steadily into Gina's eyes.
Gina bit her lip and hung her head.
A tear fell onto the table with a soft pat.
◆
Late that night.
Hibiki sat in her room, staring at her phone.
A message appeared on the screen.
The sender was unknown.
'The Silverman Cup qualifier is in two weeks. Be prepared. And tell Gina this: if she loses at the qualifier, there will be no return to the Moscow branch for her. The branch chief—her father—will personally deliver the final word.'
Hibiki gripped her phone.
Her fingers went white.
(Victoria...)
For the first time, Hibiki engraved in her heart the resolve to fight—to truly fight—to protect someone.
◆
The next morning.
Hibiki knocked on Gina's door.
"Gina, are you up?"
After a moment, the door opened.
Gina stood there, eyes swollen from crying.
"...Good morning, Hibiki."
"Morning. Listen, Gina."
Hibiki looked straight at her.
"Let's enter the qualifier. Not for your sake, not for mine—for the two of us together. We're going to show Victoria that you are not a disgrace."
Gina's eyes went wide.
"But I... if I lose, my father will..."
Gina hesitated.
"Then just win! I've got confidence in my strength, if nothing else!"
Hibiki grinned.
That smile was bright as the morning light.
Gina wiped her tears.
And gave a small nod.
"...Okay."
◆
The two headed to the Silverman Gym Sakuragaoka branch.
At the front desk, they applied for the qualifier with Machio.
"So you're both entering the tag team division. Understood."
Machio accepted their registration warmly.
"Um, Machio. Is Victoria entered in the same qualifier?"
When Hibiki asked, Machio's expression clouded slightly.
"...Yes. Victoria has entered as well."
Victoria's name was already written on the gym's bulletin board.
Beside it, Hibiki's and Gina's names were added, lined up together.
"Now everything's in place. All that's left is training."
Machio offered them words of encouragement.
"Yes!"
"...Yes."
The two looked at each other and nodded.
◆
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