If I start him early on specialized training and nutritional support, Guren thought, then even if he can't completely surpass his genetic potential and grow twelve to eighteen centimeters taller, he should still reach somewhere around 176 to 180 cm.
And if luck's on our side, maybe even 180-plus isn't impossible.
But then again… this kid's parents, their genetic height really isn't helping.
After finishing up, the trio left the CrossFit training center looking refreshed and tidy.
Each of them held a cup of custom-made nutritional supplements, formulated according to their individual needs, an extra meal before dinner.
"I'm off, bye-bye," Hinata mumbled around the straw in his mouth, voice muffled as he hopped onto his bicycle and pedaled home.
Yudai Hyakuzawa gave a short, simple farewell.
"See you, Guren."
Ichinose Guren lifted a hand. "Yeah, go ahead. Tell your parents I said hi."
After watching Yudai disappear down the street, Guren glanced at the time on his phone.
Seven o'clock, huh? Right on schedule.
He unlocked his screen and called a contact from his list.
"Mr. Ayasaki, sorry to trouble you. Can you come pick me up from CrossFit No. 3?"
"Yes, Young Master Ichinose. I'll be there right away."
In less than eight minutes, a luxury Toyota Alphard stopped in front of Guren. The automatic door slid open smoothly.
From the driver's seat stepped out a neatly groomed, sharp-looking man in his forties, Ayasaki Hayato, ready to open the door further, but Guren raised a hand to stop him.
"It's fine, Mr. Ayasaki. The door's electric; no need to pull it. I only have one bag, just toss it in the backseat."
"Yes, sir."
Obediently, Hayato stayed put, waiting until Guren stepped in and set his gym bag down before pressing the button to close the door.
Once the vehicle's soft hum filled the cabin, Guren leaned back comfortably in his seat.
"Mr. Ayasaki, let's head to the photo studio."
"Yes, sir."
Through the rearview mirror, Hayato studied Guren's relaxed demeanor before speaking.
"Are we going to pick up Miss Miyoshi? This should be about the time her shoot wraps up."
"That's right," Guren replied with a faint smile. "We agreed yesterday that she'd come over for dinner tomorrow. You know how her dad and my old man flew to Europe for business, right? My mom's got a beauty appointment with her mom tomorrow, so she asked her to come over for dinner. Once the two 'great beauties' are done, they'll head out together."
A quiet chuckle escaped Hayato's lips. His eyes stayed on the road, but his tone lightened.
"So… would that make her your childhood friend?"
Guren blinked, then let out a wry smile at the teasing tone.
"Mr. Ayasaki, not you too…"
Hayato chuckled, easing into casual conversation while maintaining his composed driving posture.
"Haha, my apologies. It's just, you and Miss Miyoshi really have known each other for quite a long time."
Guren's expression softened, his thoughts drifting away.
"Yeah… we have."
His mind wandered back to years ago,
to the first decade after Japan's economic bubble burst.
The Ichinose family's fortune began with his grandfather, who had ridden the tailwind of the Bubble Era. His grandfather was a sharp-minded yet frugal man who made his wealth through the entertainment press business.
When others in the city squandered their newfound riches on luxury and excess, the old man quietly invested his earnings back home, buying up cheap farmland and later expanding into shops and real estate.
Because of this, Ichinose Ryohei managed to weather the collapse unscathed, debt-free and stronger than ever.
Later, he expanded into the entertainment industry, just as the "Lipstick Effect" began to benefit the market. His son, Ichinose Hiroshi, saw opportunity in the growing anime and manga industry.
Then came Guren, born in the 2000s.
At just four years old, with crayons his mother bought him, Guren had already drawn a crude yet fascinating concept sketch: a story about pirates with supernatural powers, a world that would later resemble One Piece.
The rough sketch's unique powers and adventurous energy caught his father's attention. Ichinose Hiroshi, amused and proud, showed it off at his company, bragging about his "genius son."
One of the manga editors there, a veteran with decades of experience, was quick to recognize the story's potential. With some stylistic refinements and reworked plotlines, One Piece debuted as a new serialization.
The compelling characters, unpredictable story arcs, and thrilling ocean adventures quickly captivated Japanese readers.
Under Guren's guidance as chief writer and creative supervisor, the manga preserved the essence of its "original inspiration" while refining it into a masterpiece.
Thanks to One Piece's explosive popularity, Ichinose Publishing soared to new heights.
And from the doodles of the company president's "brilliant son" soon came other monumental titles, Naruto, Slam Dunk, Hunter × Hunter, Rurouni Kenshin, Prince of Tennis, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Shaman King, each one becoming an S-Class manga IP.
These megahits dominated Japan's anime and manga scene, flooding the company with profits that fueled Ichinose Animation Studios.
Backed by powerful IPs and steady cash flow, the studio produced one high-quality adaptation after another, crushing its competitors and elevating the Ichinose name into the ranks of Japan's major business conglomerates.
And though most of the group's operations were based in Tokyo, the Ichinose family's heart, and its corporate headquarters, remained in Miyagi Prefecture, their ancestral home for three generations.
As for Guren himself, a prodigy with firm ideas and a strong sense of independence, his parents rarely interfered in anything other than finances.
That's why Ichinose Guren attended school in Miyagi.
And as for Miyoshi Ayaka, she was a model signed under Ichinose Entertainment. Her mother and Guren's mother were high school classmates, so it was only natural that the two kids grew up as childhood friends.