The gym was nearly empty as evening fell, only the metallic echoes of weights being placed in their racks remaining. It was a place where energy vibrated with every punch to the punching bag, every grunt of effort. But that afternoon, the only thing that really filled the space was his presence.

Gyomei stood in a corner, adjusting a pair of huge dumbbells with the ease of someone who mastered steel. His back, broad and powerful, seemed to absorb the dim light of the place, casting shadows that stretched to where you stood, unable to look away.

Your arrival had been an accident: you had signed up at the gym looking for some routine, something to get you out of the chaos of your life. You never expected to find someone like him. Gyomei, with his imposing figure and that unwavering calm, was a total contrast to you. There was something in the way he moved, the calm confidence with which he handled everything around him, that made you feel tiny but curiously protected.

Today, after finishing your routine, you had stayed longer than necessary, pretending to check something in your water bottle as you watched him. When he turned around, your breath hitched.

Sweat dripped down his face, highlighting the strength in every line of his jaw. His dark t-shirt was plastered to his torso, and you could feel every muscle working beneath the fabric. His gaze, though soft, had a weight that made you feel uncovered. He walked towards you with that devastating calm that always accompanied him, letting silence fill the space between you.

Without saying anything, he grabbed a towel and wiped his hands before coming closer, so close that you could feel the heat of his body. It was a proximity that made you aware of each of your movements, even your breathing.