"...98...99...100!"
Ryōsuke completed his seventh set of training, breathing heavily.
The system's voice chimed in his ear.
〘 Congratulations! Earned Competition Points: 3! 〙
He earned Competition Points for each hour of physical exercise he completed.
This high-intensity training pushed Ryōsuke far beyond the usual school training level, but he persevered through sheer willpower.
With only a week remaining, he needed to make a breakthrough. As they say: once you commit, give it your all.
Riko watched his dedicated practice with satisfaction. She spoke to her father, Kagetora, requesting him to prepare specific ingredients for Ryōsuke.
Soccer players need substantial stamina, requiring high carbohydrate intake for energy replenishment. Fruit bread, being easily digestible, works well. They also need lean meat for protein, potassium-rich foods like bananas for electrolyte balance, and alkaline foods such as soy products or dairy to combat fatigue.
"These ingredients add up to quite a sum." Kagetora remarked to his daughter.
"We'll deduct it from his advertising fees later. Those fees far exceed tuition anyway." Riko replied with a smile, glancing toward the entrance as people began streaming into the gym.
"Is that Ryōsuke Kira?"
"Yesterday's district champion? The Crown Jewel of Japan himself!"
"He trains at this gym? Boss, I'm renewing my membership!"
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
At dusk, the sun slowly set, painting the sky crimson like burning flames.
"Good work! I'm heading home now! See you tomorrow!" Ryōsuke waved to Riko and left the sports gym.
"He's a very determined young man, just like I used to be." Kagetora said, watching the boy's retreating figure.
"He's definitely an excellent player." Riko replied, "Despite his fame, he stays humble and never complains about the intense training—something even adults struggle with."
"Hah, when you brought a boy home this morning, I thought you'd found yourself a boyfriend — I was almost ready to kill him." Kagetora's face remained stone-cold as he patted his pocket, revealing the fruit knife hidden inside.
"What are you talking about?!"
Riko's face flushed bright red as she punched her father in the jaw.
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
In the evening, Ryōsuke returned home.
He had already eaten dinner at the gym, and after resting at home for a while, most of his training fatigue had subsided.
Though Riko's training regimen was intense, it was the fastest way to address his weaknesses in the short term — something impossible to achieve through regular team practice alone.
He opened his System Menu; his Competition Points had hit the daily cap of 10.
"Seven days left, meaning I can earn 80 Competition Points total. I still need to max out the proficiency of Total Concentration Breathing and the First Form before unlocking the Second Form. It'll take all my Points to level up — there's still a long way to go."
After sufficient rest, Ryōsuke refused to remain idle. He headed out to jog around his neighborhood streets.
Despite maxing out his Competition Points through exercise today, he continued training — not for Points, but to strengthen his body.
As his skills and physical strength improved, he'd be able to utilize the system's abilities more effectively.
His daily routine now consisted of soccer practice in the morning, physical training in the afternoon, and now his Breathing Technique practice.
Unlike sprinting, jogging is an aerobic exercise that enhances cardiopulmonary function and oxygen capacity — perfect for developing the Breathing Technique.
As he jogged through the night, Ryōsuke rhythmically adjusted his breathing, trying to recapture the feeling of using the Breathing Technique from earlier that day.
The Breathing Technique grants tremendous explosive power in an instant. In the world of Demon Slayer, this enabled the Corps swordsmen to wield their Nichirin Blades against supernaturally strong Demons.
The most powerful swordsmen could maintain constant Total Concentration Breathing, using it continuously to achieve extraordinary physical capabilities.
However, Ryōsuke was far from reaching that level now — he couldn't maintain Total Concentration Breathing for more than brief moments. Yet this limitation only drove him to practice harder.
He recalled the feeling from earlier that day, quietly shifting his breathing rhythm—
❖ Total Concentration ➠ Thunder Breathing! ❖
Ryōsuke felt oxygen surge into his lungs, instantly converting to energy that filled his entire body, making him feel weightless.
While Total Concentration Breathing could dramatically enhance his physical abilities, he hadn't mastered it yet. He could only sustain it momentarily before needing time to recover.
Ryōsuke pressed on, attempting to increase how often he could use Total Concentration Breathing.
On his fifth attempt, inspiration struck.
❖ Thunderclap and Flash ➠ Straight Run! ❖
He channeled the Technique again, power surging through his body and concentrating in his legs. With an explosive push, he released it all at once!
For one breathtaking moment, Ryōsuke felt airborne.
The familiar muscle pain soon returned, shooting through both legs, though he handled it better than earlier that day.
Leaning against the wall, he caught his breath using Riko's pain-management technique. As he looked back, he marveled at the distance — he had crossed several meters in a single bound, a feat his old self could never have achieved.
This was the realm that surpassed genius.
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