Later that day, Nightingale dressed up and headed to the local gym close to his apartment.
It was currently 10: 00 AM.
He had used the remaining time to catch up on some much-needed sleep. Naturally, he'd already called the principal to explain the situation. Since the school was aware of his status as an Esper, his sudden disappearances rarely raised any questions.
Even so, the young man couldn't help but worry about his academic future. Balancing two separate lives was far more difficult in practice than it looked on paper and sooner or later, he would have to face the reality of graduating as a student.
But that didn't matter right now.
The haunting imagery of the Crimson Moon had been replaced by the soft glow of morning sunlight filtering through the clouds. The atmospheric air was crisp and carried the faint scent of dew and asphalt. It was an air quality he'd long grown used to, yet somehow, it still felt refreshing all the same.
Nightingale adjusted his hood as he walked down the street, merging seamlessly with the quiet rhythm of the world around him. The "getting fit" part of his routine could easily be done alone, but if he truly wanted to push himself to the limit, then investing in state-of-the-art equipment and hiring a personal trainer seemed like the right approach.
That way, he wouldn't end up doing his so-called body training half-heartedly or worse, making a mistake along the way.
After all, who knew better than professionals and experts?
Certainly not him.
Moments later, he arrived at his destination and looked up. The signboard above the entrance read: [Giant Training].
'What a peculiar name.'
Nightingale didn't linger any longer and waltzed through the door without hesitation. A few strides later, he found himself at the reception desk.
The young woman behind the counter looked up with a bright smile and greeted him enthusiastically.
"Welcome to Giant Training! How may I help you today?"
"I'd like to get a one-month membership, along with the guidance of a personal trainer."
"Of course! This is a high-end facility offering a variety of activities like yoga classes, organized basketball games, and more. We also take pride in using top-of-the-line equipment, which is reflected in our pricing. A monthly membership costs $100 for local students and $200 for the general public. As for our trainers, their sessions are $50 per hour. Don't worry about being overcharged; they're all highly experienced professionals!" she explained with a bright, confident smile.
'Huh. That's not as expensive as I expected. Fifty dollars an hour isn't too bad... but what's this about being cheated?'
Nightingale narrowed his eyes slightly but kept his thoughts to himself.
"I'd like to sign up with the student discount and also pay for a personal trainer," he said evenly.
"Of course! Um... please, give me just a moment," the receptionist replied, fumbling lightly as she turned to her computer. Then, after a few quick keystrokes, the printer beside her whirred to life, spitting out a crisp registration form. She handed it over with a polite smile and a pen.
"Please fill in your details here such as your name, address, and student ID number. Once that's done, I'll register you in the system and assign a trainer based on your goals."
Nightingale accepted the form and scanned through the fields.
Basic information, fitness goals, preferred training hours. It was nothing out of the ordinary. He quickly filled it out and slid it back across the counter.
"Thank you," the receptionist said, typing swiftly as she transferred the data to the computer. "Alright, all set! For your personal trainer, would you prefer someone who focuses on endurance, strength, or overall balance?"
He paused and thought for a moment before giving off a shrug.
"Overall balance. I'm not looking to become some bulky stud, just strong enough to handle myself."
"Understood!" she nodded, glancing at her monitor then added, "In that case, I'll assign you to Coach Joel. He's one of our most reliable trainers, specializing in core conditioning and endurance-focused routines. You're in luck, he has an open slot today at 10:30 AM. Would you like to meet him now?"
"That would be preferable."
"Perfect! You can wait over there for a few minutes." She gestured toward a small lounge area lined with cushioned benches and posters of athletes mid-action. "Coach Joel will be with you shortly."
Nightingale gave a brief nod and walked over. As he sat down, he let out a quiet sigh, feeling the cool air of the air conditioning wash over him. Thankfully, he didn't need to wait for long.
Shortly after, a door to the side opened, and a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped out, dressed in a black training jacket with the gym's logo embroidered on the chest. His gaze swept the room until it landed on Nightingale.
The man's deep, steady voice carried across the room.
"You must be the new member. Name's Joel but you can simply call me Coach. I'll be your trainer for the month."
He extended a hand, and Nightingale rose to meet it, returning the firm handshake.
"Nice to meet you," says Lu Song.
Joel offered a faint smile and briefly flicked his gaze to the clock. The young Awakened's paid time had officially begun.
"We'll start with an assessment. But before that, tell me what your expectations are?"
"I just want to build a stronger body that can keep up with what I do. I'm not training for looks or vanity."
Joel raised a brow. "So… performance-based goals?"
"Something like that."
"Alright, that's good. At least you're clear about your purpose. Most people just say, 'I want abs' or something within those lines. You'd be surprised how many people quit once they realize how much work it actually takes."
He motioned for Nightingale to follow.
"Come on, let's head over to the assessment area. We'll check your form, posture, and endurance first. No weights yet. I need to see how your body moves before we start pushing it."
They moved across the glossy floor into the main gym, where the air smelled faintly of iron, sweat, and detergent. Machines lined the walls in neat rows and a few people were already working out. Some of them were lifting weights, others jogging or stretching on mats.
Joel stopped near a digital scale and motioned toward it.
"Step on."
Nightingale complied. The machine beeped a few times before flashing numbers across the screen.
[Height: 180 cm]
[Weight: 67 kg]
[Body Fat: 14%]
"Not bad," Joel commented, jotting the numbers on his clipboard. "You've got a naturally lean build. The perfect physique for balanced conditioning. How marvelous indeed."
'Um... thanks?'
Nightingale blinked, unsure if that was a compliment or an evaluation. Either way, he decided to take it silently.
After the physical checks, Joel had him go through a few basic movements such as push-ups, squats, stretches, and a one-minute plank. By the time they were done, a faint sheen of sweat clung to Nightingale's forehead.
Joel crossed his arms and watched him intently.
"You've got decent form and there's no major issues with your posture or breathing either. It's clear you've done some training before."
"Here and there."
"Is that so? I guess that explains it. You're better than most people who come here for the first time. Of course, there's no issue. This just makes things simpler for the both of us."
He flipped to a clean page on the clipboard. "Alright. Here's what we'll do: three sessions per week, each one focused on a balance of strength, endurance, and mobility. We'll progressively increase the load every week. You'll feel like dying after the first few days, but if you stick with it, I guarantee you'll notice real improvement by the end of the month."
'Wasn't that a bit much?'
Nightingale let out a faint smile.
"Please, take it easy on me. I'm rather fragile."
Joel blinked, then gave an incredulous laugh, as if he'd just heard the most absurd thing imaginable.
"Fragile? Don't make me laugh! How could someone with your stamina call themselves fragile? But worry not! By the time I'm through with you, you'll be reborn anew!"
There was a fiery gleam in his eyes; the kind of passion that went far beyond professional enthusiasm.
"Yes, yes! That's right! I'll make sure to transform you into a sleeping giant! That's a promise!"