Following his usual routine, Hikaru arrived at the school gymnasium and used his key to unlock the right-side entrance. Holding his swim trunks in hand, he made his way to the men's locker room.

  However, as he opehe doors to the swimming facility, he noticed that the lights inside were already on.

  "Huh? Is someone here?"

  His swimming schedule had been sistent for some time. Since he had purchased access to the pool from 8:00 to 10:00 PM, he usually arrived at eight, swam until around 9:30, and spent the remaining time cooling down before returning to the dorm. The first ten minutes were always dedicated to warm-up stretches to prevent injuries, while aen mi the end allowed for proper rest—after all, an hour of tinuous swimming could be quite taxing, and there was o push himself excessively.

  He had sidered the possibility that someone else might also e to swim at night, but up until now, he had never entered anyone.

  But judging from the current situation, it seemed like he wasn't alooday. It surprised him slightly.

  "Well, I'll just follow the teacher's advice. It doesn't matter if someone else is here—I'll just foy own routine."

  Shrugging off his thoughts, Hikaru ehe men's locker room and ged into his swim trunks. After getting ready, he headed toward the tral pool area.

  The moment, his gaze was drawn to a figure standih the diving ptform in the distahe person was wearing a sleek, full-body petitive swimsuit and was making their the stairs leading to the diving board.

  About ten seds ter, the figure reached the edge of the ptform. It was only then that he was able to clearly see the person's physique.

  She was a strikingly tall young woman, likely han 165 cm. Her long, pure-white hair was eye-catg, ae her ample curves, her physique erfectly banced. It was evident that she exercised frequently—her toned arms and legs exuded an athletic grace, a stomach showed no signs of excess fat.

  Standing on the diving board uhe bright lights, she raised both arms without hesitation or pause. Then, with a practiced motion, she executed a forward dive, slig into the water with minimal spsh.

  Watg this dispy, Hikaru was momentarily stunned.

  This girl had remarkable athletic ability. Given that she had access to the pool at night, she had likely also purchased usage rights—just like him.

  But why had he never entered her before?

  Puzzled, he quickly dismissed the thought. Meeting someone here wasn't particurly signifit—it didn't interfere with his swimming pns.

  Shifting his focus back, he resumed his warm-up stretches. These were exercises he had learned from online videos and found quite effective. Skipping proper stretg befetting into the water could easily lead to muscle cramps, which was something he wao avoid.

  Just as he was fully engaged in his warm-ups, a tall figure emerged from the water nearby, droplets casg down her form.

  It was the white-haired girl from earlier.

  After surfag, she immediately locked her gaze onto Hikaru, who was still swinging his arms in warm-up exercises.

  "Are you... a first-year student?"

  Floating ier, the tall girl fixed her purple eyes on him and spoke.

  "Hm?"

  Hearing the ued voice, Hikaru turned a her gaze.

  From a distance, he had only noticed her t stature and impressive proportions. But now, at less than two meters apart, he was able to clearly see her face.

  She was incredibly beautiful. Beyoriking white hair, her most captivatiure was her vibrant purple eyes, which gleamed with intelligence even as water droplets rolled down her cheeks.

  She exuded a strong sense of fidend posure—someone who clearly knew her own worth.

  "Are you an uppercssman?"

  Recalling her initial question, Hikaru paused momentarily before responding.

  "I'm a first-year student from Css 1-A, Hashima Hikaru."

  "Hashima Hikaru..."

  The girl softly repeated his name, and a faint smile curved her lips.

  She had heard of this name before.

  From her than the so-called leader of the sed-year students—Nagumo Miyabi.

  "Does senpai know me?"

  Seeing her smile, Hikaru was surprised.

  He wasn't sure whether she was a sed-year or a third-year, but as a junior, it was only polite to address her respectfully.

  "Yes, I've heard of you."

  The white-haired girl wiped the water from her fad slowly swam toward the pool's edge. With a graceful leap, she climbed out of the water.

  Then, he heard her third sentence.

  "I'm Kiryuin Fuka from Css 2-B. o meet you, Hikaru-kun."

  As soon as her introdu ended, a system notification popped up in his mind.

  [Ding! Kiryuin Fuka's Stock Has Gone Live!]

  [Current Stock Price: 20]

  [Avaible Shares: ???]

  "A ock already?"

  Hikaru was slightly taken aback.

  The system's criteria for determining stock characters seemed more uable than he had expected. It wasn't limited to his year group—even uppercssmen could appear.

  But would he really have opportuo i with seniurly?

  After all, they weren't in the same year, and their social circles likely wouldn't overp much.

  "o meet you, Kiryuin-senpai."

  Despite his thoughts, Hikaru remained posed as he greeted her politely.

  "Mm."

  Kiryuin took a sip from the blue water bottle she had left at the poolside and gave him a small nod.

  With the introdus over, Hikaru returo his warm-up exercises. The dey had cost him a few minutes, so he o make up for lost time—his two-hour pool access was limited, and there was no room for idling.

  As he tinued his stretches, Kiryuin sat by the pool and casually observed him.

  She had already heard from the faculty that a first-year student had purchased nighttime access to the pool, but since she had been preoccupied with other matters, she had never actually run into him—until now.

  This was her first real iion with him.

  And it piqued her curiosity.

  Because she had already heard his name before.

  Nagumo had mentio.

  Acc to him, this first-year had inally been pced in Css 1-B but had quickly climbed the ranks to take the top spot in Css 1-A within a month.

  In a way, it mirrored Nagumo's own path—starting in Css 2-B before rising to Css 2-A.

  "So Nagumo's goal is to recruit him into the student cil, huh? He's probably trying to groom his own influence among the first-years."

  Kiryuin wasn't particurly ied in these power struggles.

  To her, daily life was already troublesome enough. Getting involved in all these social games just seemed tedious and pointless.

  Shaking off those thoughts, she dipped her legs into the water, kig gently as she sat at the pool's edge.

  She had already pleted a few ps and was now taking a break, idly watg as the first-year began his swim training.

  Hikaru wasn't particurly fast—his strokes were standard and cked any advaeique. If they were to race, Kiryuin was fident she could p him with ease.

  But...

  "He's persistent."

  Despite his limited stamina, he showed no signs of sg off. Every stroke and every p was carried out with unwavering focus.

  Was he training because he reized his physical weakness?

  Kiryuin quickly deduced the reason behind his efforts.

  She watched for a while longer before deg to dive ba for another round.

  But just as she was about to slip into the water, the first-year uedly s to her.

  "Kiryuin-senpai, I have a request."

  He looked up at her with a calm expression.

  "What is it?"

  "I saw your diving form earlier, and it was incredibly precise. Based on that, I assume you're highly skilled in swimming. Could I ask you to coach me a little? I'd like to improve my speed."

  "Oh?"

  Kiryuin's violet eyes studied him ily.

  After a few seds, she came to a new clusion.

  This kid was nothing like Nagumo.

  Even as a junior, his posure never wavered.

  Amused, she smiled and asked,

  "Sure, but I might be a strict coach. You think you hahat?"

  "Of course. My time is limited, so let's start right away!"

  ~~~

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