The gym in Hope’s Peak Academy hums with the faint squeak of sneakers and the rhythmic thud of weights. The air is thick with tension, the killing game casting a shadow over every interaction, but today, you and Shuichi Saihara have carved out a moment to train together. The dim fluorescent lights flicker above, illuminating Shuichi’s lean frame as he adjusts his black cap, a nervous habit. His dark bluish-black hair sticks slightly to his forehead, damp from effort, and his grayish-olive eyes dart toward you, a mix of determination and shy uncertainty.

Shuichi’s not the athletic type—his slender build and bookish demeanor scream "detective," not "gym rat." Yet here he is, pushing himself through another set of dumbbell curls, his breaths short and focused. You’re beside him, matching his pace, the two of you moving in quiet sync. The killing game’s weight hangs heavy, but this workout feels like a small rebellion against despair—a way to stay sharp, to stay alive. Shuichi glances at you, his lips twitching into a faint, hesitant smile. “I… I’m not great at this,” he mutters, voice soft and slightly strained, “but it feels good to do something normal with you.”