BAM! BAM! BAM!
A flurry of dull thuds and breathless grunts echoes through a well-known 24/7 gym in Ueda, completely deserted at this hour — it's almost midnight.
Miori Yukinaga, Aoshi's ex-girlfriend, is all alone, hammering away at a heavy punching bag with a shocking amount of power. She strikes it with punches, kicks, and knees — no gloves, no protection. Her glossy black hair, usually left to flow freely like obsidian silk, is now tied back into a ponytail. She's wearing a classic training outfit: a white T-shirt, short black gym shorts, and a headband soaking up the sweat she's been building up over nearly three hours of nonstop strikes.
Her face is breathtakingly beautiful, delicate features crowned by a pair of deep sapphire eyes — a natural-born gift. The same can't be said for her toned, slender body, sculpted to perfection through years of effort: marble-like glutes, firm thighs, and a flat but defined stomach.
Since childhood, Miori has always been a difficult girl — quick-tempered and prone to letting her fists do the talking. To help her vent that violent streak that's always lurked inside her, her parents pushed her toward martial arts — not just as an outlet, but as a way to control her emotions.
She started karate at the age of five, earning her black belt in an astonishingly short time for someone her age. Then she moved on to judo, which she finished just two years ago after earning the highest ranks there as well. Now, she's moved on to kickboxing.
Ever since she started university, late at night has become her personal time to blow off steam after long afternoons of studying. She's unanimously regarded as the most beautiful girl on campus, an athlete with enviable skill — and even her grades are flawless.
From the outside, it's impossible to find a single flaw in her — no wonder she's so admired and considered untouchable by the overwhelming majority of the students.
Her phone — resting on the bench beside her — starts ringing loudly. A call from Renji Kurotani, her ex… ex-boyfriend.
«What does that idiot want now?» Miori growls, delivering one last, vicious kick to the punching bag. The impact is so powerful that the bag starts swinging back and forth like a pendulum.
«How many times have I told you not to call me when I'm at the gym?!» Miori snaps, her irritation clear in her voice.
«F-Forgive me for bothering you, Miori...» Renji stammers — his voice makes it obvious how mortified he is. «It's just that... it's almost midnight, and you still haven't told me what I should wear to university tomorrow. You know if I stay up too late, I'll have that sleepy face you hate so much.»
It's already midnight? I didn't even realize... Guess it's lucky this loser called, or who knows how long I would've kept going…
«I'm going to take a shower now — while I think about what I'll wear. In about ten minutes, I'll text you a list of what you should wear tomorrow so you don't stick out like a sore thumb when people see us walking hand in hand,» Miori says, already heading toward the women's locker room.
«Ah, how I wish I could be there with you in the shower...» Renji murmurs dreamily.
«Keep that tongue of yours in check, you loser!» Miori snaps. «Do I really need to remind you again how much you disgust me? Outside of campus, I wouldn't let you touch me even if you were the last man on Earth! Get this through your thick skull: the only reason you're one of the most popular guys at university is because you're my boyfriend! You're nothing but a damn social experiment — taking a total nobody like you were in your first year and turning you into someone barely worthy of standing next to me. Try talking to me that casually again, and next time you'll go not one but three months without me — and there's no way I'll tell people we broke up because I found out you were cheating just to make you look cool! Actually, maybe I'll spread that rumor instead — the one that embarrasses you so much. Ah... imagine the humiliation if everyone knew about that little thing of yours. And as if that weren't enough, I'd make sure you got replaced by that loser Aoshi Toya all over again... or maybe this time I'd comfort myself in the arms of his lolicon friend instead. Just the thought makes my mouth water...»
«N-No, please, Miori, I won't do it again, I promise...» Renji pleads, his voice trembling, almost breaking into sobs.
«Then don't you dare say something like that ever again! This is your last warning — next time, I'll take action. Bye. — Beep»
Miori hangs up before Renji even gets the chance to reply.
She lets her sweat-soaked clothes slide down to the locker room floor, and the warm water begins to flow over her naked body — one worthy of a Greek statue. Streams of water and foam run down her modest curves, along her hips, between her toned thighs, and through her long black hair — now untied once again.
If only the guys at this university weren't all complete idiots, I wouldn't have to rely on that loser Renji. But unfortunately, he's the least terrible of them all, and there's no way a perfect girl like me could stay single. What a pain...
Even though it's already late spring, the air at this hour is still chilly. Miori leaves the gym bundled up from head to toe in a thick hoodie, hood up and backpack slung over her shoulder.
«See you tomorrow, Miss Yukinaga. Good night,» the gym custodian greets her politely, and she simply responds with a silent wave.
The walk from the gym to the luxurious house where she lives is a straight ten-minute path, with only one right turn at the Moonlight Club.
And just as she reaches the corner right by that bar, something catches her eye.
Wait… is that loser Aoshi? And who's that blonde clinging to his arm? I've never seen her before! I can't believe that pathetic wreck actually replaced me after just one day — and with a girl that pretty?! If people found out, it'd be way too humiliating...
I have to do something.