After a day of celebrating their class's successful promotion, Hashima Hikaru woke up even earlier than usual on May 2nd, because today marked the 30th day after using the [Athletic Enhancement Drug], and his physical strength would finally change.
"Huff!"
Following the habit he had developed during this period, Hashima Hikaru completed his exercise task and stood in a corner of the sports field, staring at his system panel. Sweat slid from his jaw down to his chest, soaking a large part of his t-shirt.
[Current exercise time: 60 minutes.]
[Today's exercise goal completed, data statistics finalized.]
[Athletic Enhancement Drug in effect, completed exercise goal 30/30.]
[Physical Strength: 3→4.]
[Athletic Enhancement Drug (30 days) has expired.]
After seeing the message that popped up on the system bar, Hashima Hikaru wiped the sweat from his face and then stretched out his arms. However, after vigorously swinging them several times, he didn't feel a very obvious change.
After a month of continuous exercise, the young man did feel that his physical fitness had improved quite a bit, but after seeing the growth in the physical strength value, the real physical sensation wasn't that intense.
"Let me run another lap and see."
Hashima Hikaru refocused his attention on his body. Just as he started running again, a completely different feeling immediately covered every organ in his body. The initial feeling of weakness had disappeared without a trace, replaced by an endless supply of strength generated from within his body.
"Is this the change after increasing physical strength by one point?"
After quickly completing a lap, a smile finally appeared on Hashima Hikaru's face. Getting up early every day for a month had not been in vain. If his physical strength continued to increase, his body would likely undergo earth-shattering changes.
Hashima Hikaru reopened his system panel. The items refreshed in the [Trading Store] yesterday were still quite good, with the [Athletic Enhancement Drug] appearing for two consecutive months.
As the young man turned his attention to the Athletic Enhancement Drug section, although the price hadn't changed, the text description below had undergone a new iteration.
[Athletic Enhancement Drug (30 days)]
[Increase your physical strength limit through continuous exercise. When the host purchases for the second time, the intensity of training will double based on the original foundation. Methods include running and swimming, and each requires completing a daily exercise goal of one hour.]
"Swimming?"
Hashima Hikaru rubbed his hair. He hadn't expected that the training goal of the [Athletic Enhancement Drug] would be upgraded. He had already gotten used to the rhythm of running, just needing to get up early.
But if swimming was added, he would have to set aside separate time to persist.
Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School certainly had a swimming pool, but it wasn't open to students around the clock.
"It seems I must ask the teacher. In any case, the plan to improve physical strength can't be interrupted and must be continued."
Hashima Hikaru wiped his face and turned toward his dormitory.
After showering and changing into his school uniform, he walked into the building where the first-year classrooms were located. He immediately saw students gathered at the door, focusing on the new class designation plate attached to the wall.
Since they had completed a class promotion, the metal serial number plate at the door of each class naturally needed to be changed. Now it displayed "First Year Class A," and the boys and girls surrounding it were all craning their necks to see, with pride written on each of their faces.
"Good morning, Hashima!"
Someone noticed the young man approaching and immediately greeted him.
"Good morning, everyone." Hashima Hikaru smiled and nodded to the classmates gathered around the designation plate.
"Hashima, come take a look. Our class designation plate has been changed to First Year Class A. It's really nice!" Shibata pulled him over.
"How does it feel? Doesn't it give you a sense of honor? This is all thanks to those 100 class evaluation points you earned."
"Indeed. I hope our class can continue to maintain this. Everyone, don't slack off!"
After entering the classroom, Hashima Hikaru immediately spotted Ichinose Honami sitting in her seat. She was always surrounded by many girls, chatting together every day.
"Good morning, Hashima." The pink-haired girl greeted him with a smile.
"Good morning, Ichinose."
Yesterday at noon, Ichinose Honami had already completed the class point collection plan. Each student contributed half of their newly acquired private points, which was 50,500 points.
So the girl now had over five million private points in her possession, which was quite an astonishing number—already a quarter of twenty million.
"Do you have any plans this afternoon, Hashima? I found a new recipe yesterday. I think it's Chinese cuisine. You like that, don't you?" The girl looked seriously at Hashima Hikaru's profile, her eyes containing a hint of expectation.
"Really? But I still have some things to do today, so I might not be able to go straight back to the dorm."
"What things? Are you meeting a friend again?"
After hearing Ichinose deliberately emphasize the word "friend," Hashima Hikaru smiled slightly and explained in a gentle voice, "It's just something of my own."
"I've recently become interested in swimming, so I want to ask Teacher Hoshinomiya if the school has a suitable swimming pool. It would be great if I could get access."
"Swimming?"
After hearing the young man's answer, surprise flashed in Ichinose Honami's beautiful eyes, and she quickly said, "Are you thinking of joining the swimming club? I remember there are classmates who joined this club. Would you like me to ask them for you?"
"I just want to swim. Joining a club would require regular activities, which is too troublesome."
Hashima Hikaru shook his head. He didn't want to join any clubs. The class competition itself was already troublesome enough—where would he find time to experience club activities?
"Then... can I come along?" The pink-haired girl thought for a moment, immediately proposing to join him.
"Well, that's fine, but won't Ichinose find it a bit troublesome?"
Hashima Hikaru had no objection to Ichinose's proposal; he just wanted to find a suitable place quickly.
"It's no problem. I don't have any plans today, so I can go with you."
"Okay, let's do that then."
After school, Hashima Hikaru and Ichinose Honami left the classroom together. At lunchtime, he had already communicated with Teacher Hoshinomiya. The school gymnasium had two swimming pools, but one belonged to the swimming club's activity area and ordinary students weren't allowed to enter.
The other one was used by students during physical education classes, but after the gymnasium closed, the swimming pool would be closed as well.
However, this was Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, where the S-System superseded all school rules.
So Hashima Hikaru directly contacted the school through Teacher Hoshinomiya and paid 100,000 private points to purchase the right to use the swimming pool in the evening, from 8 to 10 PM, a total of two hours.
After completing this step, he still needed to communicate with the gymnasium manager and obtain the key.
After walking for about fifteen minutes, Hashima Hikaru and Ichinose Honami arrived at the gymnasium's faculty office. Inside sat a young woman who, after the young man completed his transaction, naturally received a notification from the school, with the spare key placed beside her.
"Are you Teacher Sonoda? Hello, I'm Hashima Hikaru from First Year Class A." The young man greeted her very politely, and Ichinose followed suit.
"I'm Ichinose Honami from First Year Class A."
The young Teacher Sonoda stood up and her gaze circled between the two, then she asked somewhat puzzledly, "Why are there two people coming together? Wasn't it just one person who purchased the access rights?"
"I'm the one who purchased the rights. Ichinose is just accompanying me." Hashima Hikaru smiled and explained to the teacher.
"I see. You two have a good relationship."
After a slight sigh, the teacher named Sonoda Rina couldn't help but look a few more times at the young man standing before her. He had a distinctive face, a tall posture, and a calm demeanor—such a boy would naturally be the center of girls' conversations wherever he went.
Even coming to get a key, there was a girl accompanying him. He's truly a popular little fellow.
"Hashima, here's the spare key for you."
The young female teacher handed a spare key inscribed with a number to Hashima Hikaru. After he took it, she earnestly instructed, "Although you've purchased the right to use the swimming pool, there are a few points I need to emphasize."
"First, your access is from 8 to 10 PM, so you must leave the gymnasium before 10. The entrance surveillance will track your usage time in real-time. No delays are allowed. If rule violations are discovered, your access will be immediately revoked."
"Second, this access is for your use only. You're not allowed to bring companions. Once discovered, your access will likewise be revoked."
"Third, you're not the only person using the swimming pool. So if you encounter other students during your use, there's no need to interact with them."
"I understand. I won't violate the rules. Please rest assured, Teacher Sonoda." Hashima Hikaru nodded seriously.
This 8 to 10 PM time slot was chosen by the young man himself. So when he saw Teacher Hoshinomiya present the swimming pool's time allocation permission form, he immediately realized that using the swimming pool outside of class hours must have precedents, otherwise such detailed rules wouldn't exist.
But it didn't matter. It was fine to meet anyone. The focus was still on swimming exercise to better improve his physical strength value.
"Then we'll be leaving now. Goodbye, Teacher Sonoda."
"Goodbye, Teacher."
After securing the key, Hashima Hikaru and Ichinose Honami left together.
The young female teacher watched the young man's back and said, as if talking to herself, "This is the second person to apply for after-hours swimming pool access, besides Karuizawa. If they meet, I wonder if something interesting will happen. It's really something to look forward to."