Chapter 59: Clean Newbie
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 59: Clean Newbie
The gym run by Director Nakayama was in a shopping district about ten minutes from my house.
The monthly fee was 10,000 yen, more expensive than other gyms nearby, but there was a reason for the price.
The director, Mr. Nakayama, would walk around the gym and offer coaching for free.
Considering that most gyms make their money through personal training sessions, what Director Nakayama was doing was practically volunteer work. Not that he seemed to mind.
He’d just laugh it off, saying he’d earned all the money he needed when he was young and wanted to focus on nurturing the next generation.
In any case, it was a place I could trust.
Ding-a-ling! Ding-a-ling!
"Oh! Welcome, Kim! Those muscles are looking great today!"
As I opened the door and stepped inside, the director, who was standing at the front desk, greeted me with a smile.
After complimenting him on his own muscles looking to be in top condition, I introduced Goto Kazuya, who was fidgeting nervously by the door.
"This is Goto Kazuya. He said he wanted to work out with me, so I brought him along. Would it be possible for him to have a free trial for about three days?"
At that, Director Nakayama’s eyes lit up as he approached.
"Of course! Anything for you, Kim!"
He then began to prod and feel Goto’s body from top to bottom before asking with a look of intrigue.
"Did you happen to play any sports when you were younger? Your muscles seem quite well-balanced."
"Huh? Ah, yes. I was on the track and field team for about a year in middle school."
"I see. That explains why your hamstrings are so developed. You have a good base."
Director Nakayama straightened up with a satisfied expression and gestured with his chin.
"Alright, head to the locker room and get changed. Let's start with a basic fitness test."
"Yes, sir."
I led Goto, who was looking around the fitness club with an air of wonder, toward the locker room in the corner.
*
After changing into the basic workout clothes provided by the gym, we came out to find Director Nakayama waiting for us by the door.
"Let's start with a light jog."
He led us to the treadmills.
Without any warning, the director put Goto on a treadmill and said, "At our gym, we create a suitable training menu tailored to each individual's fitness level. So first, we need to find out your limits, Goto."
As he said this, Director Nakayama promptly pressed the button for 12 km/h.
"So, run until you feel like you're about to die from exhaustion."
"Huh? Did I hear that right?"
But the treadmill's countdown began mercilessly.
3, 2, 1
Beep!
The belt slowly started to move, and Goto began walking, caught off guard.
But since the target speed was 12 km/h, the belt quickly picked up pace.
With no time to warm up, Goto broke into a frantic run.
"Wh-wh-wh-what is this?!"
"You'll bite your tongue if you talk while running, so shut up and run!"
At Director Nakayama's sharp command, Goto started running with a wronged expression on his face, but he kept his mouth shut.
I’d already realized it during our morning jogs, but this guy, Goto Kazuya, had some pretty solid stamina.
As if to prove he hadn't become the leader of a bōsōzoku gang for nothing, he quickly composed himself after his initial panic and began to run with determination.
He kept up that awkward pace—faster than a power walk but slower than an all-out sprint—for a while. But after the eight-minute mark, he seemed to hit his limit. His face turned beet red as he yelled.
"How do I stop this thing?!"
"Press the emergency button in front of you."
Thwack!
The moment he slammed the emergency button, the treadmill came to an abrupt halt. Goto scrambled off it.
He collapsed onto the gym floor, gasping for breath.
"I... I thought I was gonna die."
Director Nakayama just chuckled.
"Don't be such a baby."
When the director told Goto to go get some water, Goto staggered to his feet like a zombie and shuffled toward the water cooler.
Once he was out of earshot, I asked the director.
"So? What do you think? Is he teachable?"
Director Nakayama nodded, looking pleased.
"His foundation isn't bad. His lower body development is especially noticeable. What did this kid used to do?"
"He was in a bōsōzoku. But he said he quit because he wanted me to teach him how to work out."
"...If I train him properly, he might not reach your level, but I can make him quite decent."
It seemed the director had taken a real liking to him.
Of course, the director liking him and Goto actually sticking with the gym were two completely different things.
He had only finished one cardio exercise.
"The treadmill is merely the weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings... Heh heh, shall we move on to the next stage?"
*
After Goto had drunk enough water and recovered his strength by sitting and resting, Director Nakayama led him to the free weight zone.
Generally, it’s not recommended for gym newbies to do free weights.
Using improper form or lifting too heavy is a perfect recipe for injury.
But today was just for a basic fitness test, so under my and the director's supervision, the measurement of Goto Kazuya's big three lifts began.
"First off, Goto, do you know what the big three exercises are?"
"The big three? What's that? I mean, I was the third-generation leader, if that counts."
That response made it clear he had no idea, so I held up three fingers and explained.
"They're the three exercises often called the 'Big Three.' Squat, bench press, and deadlift."
Of course, being good at these three lifts didn't automatically mean you were good at working out in general, but there was no better way to gauge basic strength.
"Let's start with the squat."
As the director and I led Goto to the free weight zone, the macho guys around us who recognized our faces began to discreetly move away.
A neighborhood gym is like a jungle. When someone with a much better physique appears, you can't help but feel intimidated and quickly yield your space.
It was truly the law of the jungle!
I went to the squat rack and put two 10kg plates on an empty bar.
That made it 40kg.
A sufficient warm-up weight for someone who had never done the big three before.
Goto, who had no idea what was going on but was following our lead, stepped into the squat rack.
Under the guidance of the pro, Director Nakayama, he hoisted the barbell onto his shoulders with proper form.
"Hup!"
He took a short breath, squatted down, and stood back up, repeating this about three times.
"Looks like 40kg is too light for him."
Director Nakayama nodded and gave me a look.
I took the hint and added more weight.
60kg, the average for a typical man.
"This is a piece of cake!"
But Goto squatted and stood up with ease. He ended up lifting a final weight of 100kg.
"Hoh. This is getting interesting."
Director Nakayama muttered to himself, then immediately moved on to measure his 1-rep max for the next exercise, the bench press.
*
In the end, Goto Kazuya's scores were: squat 100kg, bench press 80kg, and deadlift 120kg.
To be honest, I hadn't expected an ordinary person with no proper training to be able to lift that much.
Once all the basic fitness tests were over, Goto Kazuya let out a triumphant shout and asked.
"Osuuu! Hyung-nim! How did I do?!"
Director Nakayama clapped his hands, looking satisfied.
"You pass. You can start coming to our gym from tomorrow."
When he was working out, Goto Kazuya was like an untamed wild horse.
If he met the right teacher and trained properly, he could build a much better body than he had now.
Just like when I first met Director Nakayama.
Anyway, now that Goto had earned the director's favor, I figured I wouldn't need to interfere.
So, I was about to slip away to do my own workout, which was my original reason for coming to the gym.
"Ah, Kim Yoo-Sung."
I ran into Fuma-senpai, who must have just arrived, as she was coming out of the locker room in her training clothes.
"Hello."
As I bowed my head slightly, Goto, who was next to Director Nakayama, came over with sparkling eyes and asked me a clueless question.
"She's super pretty! Is she your... this?"
As he spoke, he wiggled his pinky finger. Fuma-senpai, who was standing nearby and heard him, blushed and denied it.
"W-what! Yoo-Sung and I are not like that!"
"Aww, come on. They say a strong denial is a strong affirmation. From what I see, I think I'm right, though?"
Fuma-senpai pointed a finger at Goto, her expression one of disbelief.
"Kim Yoo-Sung! What is with this rude guy?!"
It felt like two people who should never have met had just crossed paths, and I could already feel a headache coming on.