"So what made Rinji-kun return to training?"

"Of course for the muscles… but mainly because a friend of mine wants to use winter break to train properly."

"Eh…"

As they talked, Machio came out with Ishigami, who had finished his physical test. Sakura glanced at him and smirked.

"Oh? So that's Rinji-kun's friend? He looks gloomy, but tidy him up a bit and he's a pretty good-looking guy."

For Sakura, who was always "boyfriend-hunting," any guy who met her standards of handsome would catch her eye.

"Ishigami-kun, I've got a rough plan for your training." Machio smiled.

"Thank you very much."

Rinji stepped up, patted Ishigami's shoulder, and grinned. "Just follow Coach Machio's training for now. During winter break and next semester, I'll come whenever I have time to train with you."

"Mm."

Unless you were an enthusiast, training alone was boring. Having someone there not only killed boredom but also provided mutual supervision.

"Try to build yourself up like Coach Machio."

"Like the coach, huh…"

Ishigami glanced at Machio's sunny face. Dressed in a blue tracksuit, not exactly huge but at least well-proportioned, certainly not scrawny. As a standard, it was acceptable.

"Yeah, I'll give it a shot."

"Hey, hey, hey."

Suddenly, a small hand clapped Ishigami's shoulder. He turned to see Sakura, who had casually struck up conversation, a sly smile in her eyes.

"This is your first time here, right?"

"Ah… yes."

"If you think you can build a body like Coach Machio's, forget it. Impossible. Better give up now."

"…We don't even know each other. Is it really okay to crush me like this?" Ishigami frowned. "I don't think reaching the coach's build is that difficult."

"…"

Sakura turned toward Rinji.

"You didn't tell him?"

Rinji: "Tell him what?"

"Never mind." Sakura looked at Machio. "Coach, can you show him your 'Crab Pose'?"

"Sure."

Machio smiled, bent his arms before his abs, and suddenly flexed.

Bang!

As his muscles swelled, his tracksuit burst apart, the shreds slapping Ishigami in the face.

"…"

Silently pulling the cloth from his eyes, Ishigami stared at the 'monster' before him, muscles bulging all over, his height nearing two meters, yet still with that delicate face that clashed absurdly with his body.

"…Rinji, is it too late for me to leave now?"

"Obviously too late."

---

Since they had come, they trained. After finishing, Rinji left the gym with Ishigami. Ishigami's workout was kept simple since he was a beginner. Besides training, he also managed to add Sakura and Akemi's LINE contacts. If he didn't already have feelings for Tsubame, he might have thought he had stepped into the normie world by now.

As for having the numbers of the student council girls… to him, those three weren't "pretty girls," but rather a strict disciplinary officer, a scary senpai, and a troublemaker who never focused on her duties. The only one he'd call a beauty was Rinji. But of course, he would never say that to Rinji, or he might get punched.

…

After parting ways with Ishigami, Rinji headed home. At his door, hand on the knob, he suddenly frowned, then opened it with a knowing look.

"Ai, you're back already?"

Inside the living room, sipping coffee, sat Hayasaka.

"Yeah, staying at the main house was suffocating, so I came back early." Hayasaka said. "Besides, things are chaotic at the main house now. It's better to get out sooner."

Rinji smiled. "True. So is Shinomiya still at the main house?"

"No, Kaguya-sama came back with me."

"…Huh?"

"She didn't want to stay there either. With that old man bedridden, and after the tricks you pulled while borrowing her identity, she could come back without anyone daring to stop her."

"…I thought she'd at least use that time to expand on the advantage I gave her."

"Kaguya-sama isn't at that level yet. All she can do is hold onto what you carved out for now." Hayasaka said. "And you know, Shirogane is still in Tokyo."

"That's true… but Ai, I discovered something yesterday."

"What is it?"

"My consciousness swap with Shinomiya has a distance limit. If she spends winter break in Kyoto, I can enjoy a few peaceful days. But if she's here…"

"…Alright, I get it."

---

"Yesterday was fine, so why did we swap again today?!"

"…Probably because you returned to Tokyo, Kaguya-sama."

As Rinji expected, once night came their consciousnesses switched again. Now in Rinji's body was Kaguya, back in Tokyo.

"Please don't worry too much. Rinji came back early to resolve this problem. Speaking of which, how do you plan to handle things at the main house?"

"What else can I do? My brothers' open and hidden struggles are escalating, and they're constantly watching me." Kaguya sighed. "I heard that Rinji carved out a bit of influence for me in Tokyo. Now I need to consolidate my connections here… at least until I can go to America with the President."

"You should discuss the details with Rinji when you get the chance."

Knock knock knock.

Suddenly, a knock came at the door.

"…Who could it be at this hour?" Kaguya looked toward it. "Sagara-sensei? Or the President?"

"I don't know either."

Though puzzled, Kaguya still got up and opened the door. Standing there was a middle-aged Western man in a suit.

"Hey, nice to meet you, Childe." He greeted 'Rinji' with a smile.

"…"

Hayasaka didn't recognize him at all, but Kaguya froze the moment she saw him. When she was little, her third brother, Shinomiya Un'yo, had taken her to banquets to get her used to socializing. She remembered this man from those times—and remembered how her unruly brother had been completely cowed before him.

"Mr. Wilson?"