A new day arrives, bringing with it a peculiar class—a swimming lesson, the first of its kind. As the boys and girls head to their respective changing rooms, anticipation fills the air.
In the boys' locker room, Ryota evaluates his classmates. As Shibata changes, he unwittingly gives everyone a glimpse of his physique. While his upper body is well-developed, his lower body surpasses all expectations. His thighs and calves are incredibly defined, a testament to his dedication to soccer. Someone comments, "Shibata never skips leg day," eliciting laughter from the others—except Ryota. Shibata simply responds, "I just have to be in shape for the sport I love."
As the laughter subsides, Ryota continues observing. Most of the boys have an average build, with Kanzaki standing out slightly, though not on Shibata's level. Then, Beppu Ryota turns to him. "Aren't you going to change?"
Ryota nods, excusing himself. As he begins removing his uniform, the room falls silent, eyes fixed on him in anticipation. The moment his shirt drops, a collective scream erupts.
"Ryota has a body sculpted by the gods!" Shibata exclaims.
"I wasn't expecting less from Japan's genius," Watanabe adds.
Hamaguchi Tetsuya then speaks up, explaining that Ryota's physique falls under the ectomorph category—lean but perfectly defined. "Every muscle is developed with precision, maintaining symmetry. There's not an ounce of unnecessary fat."
The room turns to him as if he's a muscle fanatic, but Ryota, impressed, compliments him. "It's rare to see someone so knowledgeable. Achieving this requires discipline, not just in workouts but also in routines, diet, and overall lifestyle."
Once the boys step out, the waiting girls gasp at the sight of Ryota. Tension rises as the girls steal glances at the boys, but their eyes fixate on Ryota's physique. Screams follow.
"He just gained even more boyfriend points!" one exclaims.
Amused by the reactions, Ryota moves to an isolated spot. Ichinose approaches him with a smile. "It's amazing to see a guy with that kind of body. Have you been training intensely?"
He nods. "Thirteen years of discipline."
Ichinose then glances at the other boys. "Do you even have an interest in girls?"
"I do," Ryota replies calmly. "But I can't be swayed by just appearances. It takes more than that."
Before Ichinose can respond, Amikura joins in. "Then who could possibly meet your standards?"
Ryota closes his eyes. "That's part of the surprise."
The swim instructor finally arrives, radiating energy like a true enthusiast. With booming confidence, he announces, "This lesson will prepare you for summer!"
Ichinose, sensing something behind his words, glances at Ryota, who only gives an ambiguous look.
"We'll be holding a competition," the instructor continues, "separating boys and girls. The last-place finisher will undergo a special training course."
The races begin with the girls. In the first heat, Minamikata Kozue secures first place with 30 seconds. The second heat sees Ando Sayo finish in 29 seconds. The third race draws the most attention, featuring Ichinose and Amikura. Amikura clocks in at 31 seconds, with Ichinose close behind at 32 seconds.
The fourth heat has Tsube Hitomi finishing first at 27 seconds, followed by Yuki Himeno at 29 seconds, milliseconds ahead of Kobashi Yume. Shiranami Chihiro, unfortunately, places last with 37 seconds.
With the girls' fastest five set for a final race, the boys' heats begin.
Shibata dominates his race, clocking in at 25.88 seconds. The second heat sees Yui Ninomiya finishing at 27.14 seconds. In the third heat, Ryota and Kanzaki line up.
Kanzaki looks at Ryota. "Don't take me lightly."
As the signal sounds, the race begins. Gasps fill the air as Ryota moves with near-professional technique. He touches the wall at an astonishing 21.01 seconds, leaving Kanzaki behind at 26.02 seconds—an almost five-second difference.
"That's unreal!" someone exclaims.
The last heat has Beppu winning with 28.56 seconds.
For the girls' final race, Kozue, Ando, Tsube, Yuki, and Yume take their positions. Ichinose stands beside Ryota. "You expected me to make it, didn't you?" she teases.
Ryota closes his eyes. "You're underestimating yourself."
The race is a close fight between Ando and Tsube, but Tsube emerges victorious with 27.97 seconds. Ando follows with 28.42 seconds, Yume with 29.82 seconds, Yuki with 29.87 seconds, and Kozue with 30.13 seconds.
Now, it's the boys' final. Ryota, Shibata, Kanzaki, Beppu, and Moriyama line up. Shibata turns to Ryota. "I'm giving this everything I've got."
As the race begins, Ryota surpasses his previous performance, leaving everyone in awe. When he touches the wall, the time flashes—20.51 seconds.
"He broke the world record?!" someone shouts in disbelief.
Shibata, despite his best effort, clocks in at 25.58 seconds. Kanzaki follows at 26.01 seconds, with Moriyama and Beppu finishing at 28.40 and 28.61 seconds, respectively.
As Ryota and Tsube receive their prizes—10,000 points each—the class is left buzzing with excitement. With smiles all around, everyone heads back to class, their minds filled with the memory of an exhilarating day.