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After a few rounds of hip thrusts and lunges, Suzuran’s legs barely felt like they belonged to her anymore.
Her original plan had been simple: during squats, she’d steal a glance back at him—
Even just a subtle peek, hoping to catch his attention, to see if maybe his heart would race… or his voice would slip.
But at that very moment, his presence brushed against her side.
He bent down, speaking low to guide her form. His breath warm, but never invasive.
His hand hovered just behind her—so close it felt like a touch, yet he never made contact. Always keeping a precise two- or three-centimeter distance.
Her so-called “seduction strategy” was completely dismantled by his restraint. That delicate balance of closeness and self-control left her utterly distracted.
She found herself drifting, no longer focused on the movement—just on the pull of his barely-there proximity.
When she finally dropped the barbell, she turned to look at him.
Still the perfect gentleman: his hair damp with sweat, a polite smile on his face, not a single crack in the composure.
The distance between them—just right. Polished. Flawless. Maddening.
A pang tightened in her chest. It was like holding her breath and never being able to exhale.
She mumbled, half complaining, half sincere—
“…If you stay this indifferent, I really might ask another man to train with me.”
“I’m sorry, milady, what did you say?”
“N-Nothing!! You heard wrong! Absolutely no ‘other man’ anything!!”
“I just wanted you to notice me…” That last sentence never made it out. She only whispered it at her lips, unsure if she even voiced it. And she definitely didn’t dare look up.
But he had seen it—of course he had. His eye for detail was too sharp.
“You said… if I stay indifferent, you’ll find another man to train with.”
He repeated it calmly, eyes meeting hers directly.
He stepped back, lowered his gaze, and said—calmly, almost too calmly:
“If you really plan to do that…”
“I’ll vet the candidate first. Background check, clean record, proper character, adequate physical ability… someone qualified to be your coach.”
“And, most importantly—”
He paused. When he lifted his eyes again, his voice dropped to a quiet, nearly trembling whisper:
“If he lays a hand on you… I might actually kill him.”
Thud.
Her heart exploded. The water bottle in her hand nearly slipped.
She looked up at him—those eyes that now burned with something she'd never seen before.
Possessiveness. And it was burning hotter than her blushing cheeks.
“K-Koichi Kimijima… W-What did you just say…?”
He only smiled faintly, handed her back the towel, and his voice returned to its usual, composed tone:
“Milady, wipe your sweat. Drink some water.”
“I meant—today’s training was a bit intense. Please remember to rest.”
—Like nothing had happened.
Suzuran slumped into a chair in the rest area. She didn’t know whether her body or heart was more exhausted. Everything inside her felt wrung out.
Her thighs were still trembling, her heartbeat hadn’t returned to normal.
And Kimijima—the one who’d thrown her into this chaos—walked over like none of it had happened.
Same calm movements. Same poise. He handed her a cool sports drink and a clean towel.
“Well done, milady. Please replenish your electrolytes.”
His tone gentle. His eyes calm. Even his breathing was criminally steady, like the entire training session had been nothing.
Like he hadn’t just worked out beside her for an hour, but had instead come from a boardroom with a neatly prepared report.
That same ever-dependable, ever-reserved Kimijima Koichi.
And yet, that version of him was exactly what made her feel like she couldn’t breathe.
Damn it…
Suzuran screamed internally:
Why am I the only one affected?! Do I really have zero charm?!
Ugh!! This is devastating!!!
She bit on her straw. Her eyes lit up with sudden inspiration—yesterday’s anatomy lecture came rushing back to mind:
Latissimus dorsi… serratus anterior… tactile and movement trace studies…
Her gaze shifted, playful.
“Hey, Koichi. Speaking of anatomy, I realized I’m still unsure about some muscle connections.”
She stood, her eyes locking onto his back.
“I want to feel the connection between the lats and serratus—”
Before finishing, her hand was already reaching for his back.
The next second.
“—Don’t touch me, milady.”
Kimijima jumped away like she’d shocked him.
Suzuran froze, hand still in mid-air.
Seriously?! It’s just a back touch—was that a life-or-death dodge!?
“…W-Why’d you jump like that? It’s not like I was going to bite you…”
Her voice trailed off. Her eyes flickered—hurt.
“Do you really hate it when I touch you?”
Silence.
Kimijima stood a short distance away, clearly repressing something.
A rare tightness pulled at his usually composed face.
“…Milady, please maintain the social distance appropriate for a lady.”
His voice remained soft. But every syllable was laced with restraint.
He lowered his head. He wouldn’t look at her.
As if even one glance would make him waver.
“It would… affect your reputation.”
Reputation?
Social distance?
Suzuran stood stunned, like something had struck her square in the chest.
She wasn’t a public figure. And Kimijima wasn’t her secretary or PR rep.
He was Kimijima Koichi.
The man who’d held her hand, who she’d touched countless times, who she’d fantasized about again and again—the only man she wanted to draw close to.
She just wanted to know if this distance—this exact space—might hold even a flicker of emotion.
But the answer he gave was cold, smooth, seamless. A door shut tight.
Her fingertips trembled.
The next moment, Suzuran slammed her hands onto the table and stood.
Her water bottle tipped. The drink spilled. She didn’t even flinch.
She gritted her teeth, trying to steady the tremor in her voice.
“…Enough.”
“I’m going home.”
She turned her back to him. She didn’t want him to see her eyes.
Didn’t want him to see the foolish, worthless hope there.
“Call my driver—Jonathan.”
She paused, then spoke slowly and clearly:
“I don’t want to ride with you today.”
I’m extremely pissed off, okay?!
She strode away. Fast. Like staying another second would mean losing everything.
Then she stopped.
Still without turning back, she threw one final dagger over her shoulder:
“And one more thing—”
“You don’t need to come to the gym with me anymore.”
“I’ll find a new coach—one who doesn’t need to keep ‘social distance’ from me.”
Her tone was steady. But it cut deeper than any crying could.
She walked away, not once looking back. Leaving Kimijima Koichi standing frozen.
He said nothing.
But the moment she turned her back—
His right hand, which had been resting calmly at his side, slowly clenched into a tight fist.
Suzuran stormed out of the university gym.
She only made it a few steps before freezing in place.
A downpour.
The rain came fast and furious, as if the heavens themselves were unwilling to let her hide her tears.
She cursed under her breath, fumbling for her phone to call the family driver.
“Jonathan? Where are you?”
“I’m so sorry, miss—the rain came too fast and traffic’s a mess. I’m stuck at a red light. Maybe fifteen more minutes… Isn’t Mr. Kimijima with you?”
Before she could answer, hurried footsteps approached from behind.
“Milady!”
That voice. Kimijima Koichi. And it sounded—worried.
She spun around and saw him rushing out the door.
“Please wait! Hold up the umbrella—like this, you’ll—”
“I don’t need you!”
She bit her lip. The words came out as a near shout.
“I don’t even want to see you right now!”
With that, she turned and ran straight into the rain, like fleeing something unbearable.
Her clean shirt-dress, changed after the workout, was soaked within seconds.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjqImBcgE5
Clinging to her skin. Cold. But not as cold as her chest.
“You’ll catch a cold like that!”
Kimijima chased after her—but she snapped back, voice trembling, unfiltered:
“Then I’ll catch a cold! I won’t ride in your car anyway!”
She didn’t stop. She turned her head briefly, eyes blazing:
“Didn’t you say we need to keep distance? So what are you doing here now—?!”
Her sentence never finished.
Her foot slipped. The wet grass betrayed her.
“Ah—!”
She fell hard. Hands scraping the ground, knees hitting mud, rain splashing everywhere.
“Milady!”
Kimijima’s voice was laced with panic. He rushed toward her.
“I’m fine…”
Suzuran forced herself upright, gritting her teeth.
Stubborn, like she was battling the world.
Kimijima knelt down, reaching to help her—but froze mid-motion.
“Don’t touch me!!”
Rain slid down her lashes. Her eyes stayed open, staring him down.
“Didn’t you say you’re afraid I’ll get too close? That I’ll make you cross the line?”
“Then don’t touch me.”
Her voice shook—but her enunciation was clear. Pride held by threads.
“…You really are a handful, milady.”
And with that, Kimijima Koichi scooped her up into his arms.
“You—What do you think you’re doing?!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMLxsDsOeX
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