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 - Let's Team Up, Silver-Haired Rival! ~The Tearful Hospital Room and the Law That Muscles Don't Grow Alone~
The afternoon light streaming through the café window sparkled across the glasses on the table. Tucked into a quiet corner on the first floor of the Silverman Gym Sakuragaoka branch was a small café space. With its protein smoothies and low-carb cakes, the place served as a haven for members to relax after training.
Sakura Hibiki sat by the window, her face buried in both hands. Strands of her loose, fluffy blonde gyaru hair spilled between her fingers. On the table sat a vanilla protein drink she hadn't touched—the straw jutting out at a forlorn angle.
"...What do you think I should do?"
Hibiki's voice was sunk low, nothing like her usual cheerfulness.
Across the table, Ayaka gave her brown topknot a little shake and quietly lifted her head. On the chest of her white sailor uniform was the cherry blossom crest of Kyouou Girls' Academy. The wristband on her left arm had her family's boxing gym logo stitched into it.
"Gina's still in the hospital, right?"
Ayaka's voice was gentle. Her calm brown eyes looked straight at Hibiki.
"Yeah... They say she'll be discharged soon, but she's really down. She just keeps saying, 'It's because I'm weak.' I don't know what to say to her."
Hibiki lowered her hands from her face. Her big brown eyes were slightly glistening. The small piercing in her left ear caught the light from the window and glinted.
"That woman... Victoria, she exposed Gina's past in front of everyone, and on top of that, she said if Gina loses in the qualifiers, she'll be forcibly sent back to Moscow. And then Gina's dad even called her, saying, 'Stop embarrassing yourself'..."
Hibiki's fist clenched tight on her lap. The tips of her nails dug into her palm.
"It's rare to see you worrying so much about someone else, Hibiki."
Ayaka let out a small laugh.
"Huh? You think so?"
"Yeah. I mean, you're always thinking about eating and your own weight, right? Oh—sorry, that came out rude."
"That's so mean! I do think about my friends, you know!"
Hibiki puffed out her cheeks in a pout. Ayaka giggled at the reaction.
"Sorry, sorry. But I really do mean it. I think this might be the first time I've seen you genuinely fighting for someone else."
At those words, Hibiki caught her breath.
(Fighting for someone else, for real...)
That's right. Had she ever truly gotten angry on someone else's behalf before? It had always been about her own weight going up, or being hungry—things like that. But now it was different. Gina had been hurt, and Hibiki felt frustrated and sad, and from the bottom of her heart, she wanted to do something about it.
"...I want to help Gina."
Hibiki murmured softly.
"I think that's a really wonderful thing."
Ayaka smiled warmly.
Just then, from the café entrance, the click-clack of heels drew closer.
"My, you two, having a tea party in a place like this?"
They turned to see Souryuin Akemi standing there, her long black hair flowing straight down. Her bangs were cut in a blunt line. Her narrow, sharp black eyes gazed their way. On her left wrist was an expensive-looking watch. The student council president of Kyouou Girls' Academy and a member of this gym—a beautiful young lady of impeccable pedigree.
"Akemi!"
When Hibiki called out, Akemi gracefully took the seat beside her.
"It's about Gina, isn't it? I could hear your conversation."
Akemi flagged down a waiter and ordered a protein-infused black tea.
"I remember that day quite clearly as well. That woman Victoria is truly an unpleasant person. Exposing someone's past before a crowd like that—it's simply not something a lady would do."
Akemi's voice was quiet but held unmistakable anger.
"But I thought to myself at the time—Gina is by no means weak. If anything, to still try to stand up after suffering such humiliation... that spirit is true strength."
She elegantly took a sip of the tea that had been brought to her.
"Muscles cannot grow alone."
Akemi spoke quietly.
"Only with someone to strive alongside can true power take root. Solitary training cannot push past one's limits. Supporting each other, competing with each other, elevating each other—that is the truth of muscle."
Her sharp eyes narrowed.
"And a tag team is precisely the synergistic effect of muscle. By becoming one with another, you can reach heights unattainable alone."
Akemi's voice gradually grew more heated.
"When two people's muscles breathe in unison and their strength overlaps, a miraculous power is born—one that neither could produce alone. It's like two rivers merging into a great river. Compensating for each other's weaknesses, amplifying each other's strengths. The tag team is the ultimate form of muscle!"
Akemi's cheeks were faintly flushed. Whenever it came to muscles, she became a different person. It was always like this.
"...Akemi, you never change."
Ayaka gave a wry smile.
But Hibiki's heart had latched onto Akemi's words.
(Tag team... two people as one...)
The image of Gina collapsing in tears in her hospital room floated into Hibiki's mind. Silver hair wet with tears. Blue eyes stained with despair.
(I can't leave her alone.)
I'll stand beside Gina. Together, we'll take on those qualifiers. And then Gina won't be alone anymore.
"...I think I get it now."
Hibiki lifted her head.
"I want to enter the Silverman Cup qualifiers together with Gina. As a tag team."
At Hibiki's words, Ayaka and Akemi's eyes lit up at the same time.
"Yes, that's wonderful!"
"Hibiki, that's absolutely the right call!"
Seeing their faces, Hibiki finally managed to regain a little of her smile.
She downed the protein drink on the table in one go. The sweetness of vanilla slid down her throat.
(Gina, just wait. I absolutely won't leave you alone.)
◆
The hospital corridor smelled of disinfectant. White walls, white ceiling, white floor. Now and then a nurse hurried past. Hibiki walked through it all with a slight nervousness.
Gina's room was tucked away at the far end of the third floor. In front of the door, Hibiki took a deep breath.
(It's okay. I'll tell her exactly how I feel.)
Knock, knock.
"Gina, it's me. Can I come in?"
After a moment, a small voice answered.
"...Yes, please."
When she opened the door, Gina was sitting on the bed by the window. Her silver bob stood out against the white pillow. Her blue eyes looked up at Hibiki. Beneath them, faint dark circles still lingered.
Gina wore a white hospital gown. The small mole on her neck peeked out from the collar.
"You came, Hibiki."
Gina's voice was small and hoarse.
"Of course I did! My best friend's in the hospital—there's no way I wouldn't come!"
Hibiki sat down on the chair beside the bed. The folding chair creaked.
"...Best friend."
Gina repeated the words softly.
"That's right. We're already best friends, aren't we? We live together, train together, eat together... that's what you call a best friend, right?"
Hibiki flashed a grin, showing her fang.
Gina was silent for a while. Her blue eyes wavered.
"...Hibiki, I've been thinking. Whether it's really okay for me to stay in Japan. I've done nothing but cause trouble for everyone. Even my father has given up on me... Maybe I really should go back to Moscow."
Gina's voice was trembling.
"Gina."
Hibiki gripped Gina's hand tight. Gina's hand was cold and slender, trembling slightly.
"I want to enter the Silverman Cup qualifiers with you."
Hibiki looked straight into Gina's eyes and said it.
"What...?"
Gina's eyes went wide.
"In the tag team division—you and me, we'll enter together. We'll show Victoria that you're not someone to be ashamed of."
"But... a tag team... I'd just be a burden."
Gina hung her head. Her silver bangs hid her expression.
"I'm not strong like you. I trained alone until I collapsed... Someone like me has no right to stand beside you."
Gina's voice grew wet with tears.
"Gina."
Hibiki gripped Gina's hand even tighter.
"Because you're here, I feel like I can get even stronger."
Hibiki said it with a smile, without hesitation.
Gina's head snapped up. Her blue eyes flew wide open.
"Because you're beside me, I can do my best. I feel like I'm not alone. Because you're here, I can become stronger. So please—I want you to fight with me."
Hibiki's words were honest and direct, with no trace of a lie.
From Gina's blue eyes, large tears spilled over and fell.
"...Hibiki."
Gina didn't even try to wipe her tears. She just stared at Hibiki.
"If I'm with you... I think I can fight."
Gina said it and nodded firmly.
"Gina...!"
Still holding Gina's hand, Hibiki smiled with delight.
Then Hibiki felt the warmth of Gina's hand slowly spreading into her own. The hand that had been cold just moments ago was now unmistakably warm.
(Huh...?)
Something in Hibiki's chest gave a sudden leap.
Gina felt it too. Through their joined hands, Hibiki's body heat flowed into her. That warmth, for some reason, tickled the depths of her chest.
"...Um, Hibiki."
"W-what?"
The two of them, unable to let go of each other's hands, looked into each other's eyes.
"...Is it okay if I keep holding your hand?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I mean, it's fine..."
"...I see."
Silence filled the hospital room.
Outside the window, the sun was beginning to set. Orange light illuminated their profiles.
"...This feels kind of weird."
Hibiki said it, looking embarrassed.
"...Yes, it does feel weird."
Gina too, her ears bright red, hung her head.
Their hands remained clasped.
◆
The next day.
Hibiki and Gina stood at the reception desk of the Silverman Gym Sakuragaoka branch. Gina had only just been discharged yesterday, and her complexion was still a little pale. But her blue eyes shone far more powerfully than they had the day before.
"Excuse me, is Machio here?"
When Hibiki called out to the woman at the reception desk, a man with a refreshing smile appeared from the back.
"Oh, Hibiki, Gina. What brings you two here together?"
Machio Naruzou. A trainer at the Silverman Gym Sakuragaoka branch who, at first glance, looked like a handsome guy straight out of a magazine. But from the neck down, he was covered in unbelievably developed muscle. Today he wore a navy-blue trainer's uniform.
"Um, we'd like to enter the tag team division of the Silverman Cup branch qualifiers!"
Hibiki said it energetically.
"Ah, the tag team division! That's wonderful!"
Machio smiled happily.
"Gina, are you feeling all right now?"
Machio asked Gina gently.
"Yes, I'm fine now. I'm sorry for worrying you."
Gina answered, looking a little shy.
"Not at all—you mustn't push yourself too hard. Well then, let's get you registered. Right this way, please."
Machio led them to the counter.
They filled in the entry sheet with their names. Hibiki wrote her name in handwriting that couldn't exactly be called elegant, and Gina wrote hers in neat, careful characters.
"With that, your entry is complete."
Machio said cheerfully.
"Um, Machio, can I ask you one thing?"
Hibiki asked with a slightly serious expression.
"Yes, what is it?"
"Is it true that Victoria is entered in the same qualifiers?"
At Hibiki's question, Machio's expression clouded slightly.
"...Yes. Victoria is entered in the tag team division as well. Her partner is apparently a promising young trainer from the Moscow branch."
"I see..."
Hibiki bit her lip.
(So she's coming after all. That woman.)
"But you two will be just fine, I'm sure of it!"
Machio suddenly spoke in a bright voice.
"You two make a great team! Your bench press the other day—your breathing was perfectly in sync! That was truly a harmony of muscle! Magnificent!"
No sooner had he said it than Machio suddenly raised both arms and struck a bodybuilder's pose.
Bzzt! Bzz-bzz!
His muscles bulged. The sleeves of his uniform strained with a taut sound.
"When your two sets of muscles resonate together, there lies infinite possibility—"
Riiip!
The back of his uniform tore wide open.
"Why does
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