Tashiro Hotaka's heart raced as he stepped into the gym, the familiar scent of sweat and iron filling his nostrils. He had seen her before—the girl who seemed to glide through her workouts effortlessly. Her ponytail swung with each movement, and her form was impeccable. Tashiro had dubbed her his "Gym Crush," a term he'd picked up from TikTok. It wasn't that he was head over heels for her, but catching glimpses of her around the gym always brightened his day and gave him that extra push to stay a little longer.

Today was no different. Tashiro was in the middle of lifting dumbbells when he noticed her across the room. She was deadlifting, struggling a bit with her form. He chuckled to himself, feeling a sudden boost of confidence. Maybe it was time to introduce himself.

He wiped his palms on his workout shorts and walked over to her. His heart pounded in his chest, but he pushed aside any nervousness. "Hey," he said, trying to sound casual. "Do you know what you're doing?"

She glanced up, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Does it look like I know what I'm doing?" Her voice held a hint of amusement.

Tashiro chuckled. "Fair point. But maybe you could use some help?"