Clause 10

"So, why can't I just... come clean to her about all this?"

"Because of Clause 9 on our site: 'Enhanced bonds after my service - Guaranteed!'" Yuuto quoted effortlessly.

"But how does that stop us from spilling the beans about Kyoya..."

Yuuto sighed, "Look, our goal isn't just about outing the bad guys. It's about the timing, doing it so that it seals the bond between you two. A hasty reveal might put an end to Kyoya's schemes, but it could also push her away from you. We need to unveil the truth when it guarantees pulling her closer to you. But there's a catch - the longer we wait, the deeper Kyoya's influence might seep in. Hence, the need for Clause 10."

"Clause... 10?"

"If you genuinely feel my approach is off and decide to act against my advice, then Clause 9's guarantee? It's voided. Permanently."

Haruto took a deep breath, determination flashing in his eyes. "I've been passive for too long, taking her presence in my life for granted. What's our move?"

Yuuto smirked approvingly, "First, we need her to feel your absence. But Kyoya's craftily filling that void. When she begins to miss you, he's right there to divert her attention. Classic seduction. Our challenge? To make you present in her thoughts without Kyoya's shadow clouding them."

"But you said Kyoya's a pro. He'll see through it, right...?"

"Nope. Since you won't be near her at all."

"...What?" Haruto's eyes narrowed.

"We keep you as far away as possible from him and Himiko while also making Himiko yearn for you and not him."

"But that's impossible! And wouldn't that make them even tighter? Keeping me away from her? Kyoya's so successful and strong, she will fall for him in no time-"

Yuuto waved him off, "Himiko is drawn to the broken, the ones needing a savior. Like your scum dad, after your mom died, and like you when he left you alone. In short, she likes useless betas. That's her core. If Kyoya was sharper, he'd present himself as more vulnerable than you. But his ego won't let him to be that person, so we have field advantage, you could say."

Haruto's eyes sparkled with curiousity.

Yuuto raised a finger, "But, it has to be done with surgical percision. If we're reckless, he'll adapt. Even if he isn't a perfect fit for Himiko, that ain't the only way to seduce a woman."

Haruto shifted uncomfortably on the couch, his eyes searching for answers. "So, how do we build my presence into her mind without me there?!"

Yuuto chuckled softly, his gaze fixed on a distant point as if contemplating a complex puzzle. "Kyoya's used to success. Even if you were actively trying to win Himiko back, it'd be no issue for him. With you out of the scene, staying here with me, it's uncharted territory for him. He has yet to talk about it himself, but I can tell - he wanted to keep you close after he sent his goons for you, so that he could keep you all nice and despaired. Too vulnerable to act. While Kyoya's busy keeping an eye out for you, we introduce someone else into Himiko's life who will slowly build that presence for us. A variable he hasn't accounted for. That way, she will miss you more and more, while also distracting her from Kyoya's distractions, making her focus on your absence.."

"A catalyst of some sort?" Haruto's eyebrows shot up in realization.

"Exactly. I've got just the person in mind. He wouldn't suspect him at all."

Haruto frowned, the weight of their plan pressing down on him. "It's a dangerous game."

Yuuto leaned back, his face illuminated by the confidence shining in his eyes. "It's all about risk and reward. The greater the risk, the sweeter the victory."

With a hint of newfound hope, Haruto squared his shoulders. "This person you're thinking of... can you truly trust him? What if he finds Himiko attractive and tries to make a move?"

Yuuto's smile was playful, yet brimming with confidence. "Trust me, she's not his type. The guy's a clueless jock, a rebel, and frankly, Himiko's a bit too old for his taste..."

He paused, a reluctant admittance in his eyes, '...And as much as it irks me to say it, he's... Trustworthy, tsk.'

"If he steps out of line, though? Let's just say I'll give him a firsthand lesson in baseball."

Haruto sighed, attempting to digest everything Yuuto had just explained. The weight of the situation, combined with the unfamiliar environment, began to take its toll on him. "I just wish there was some way to speed things up," he murmured, almost to himself.

Yuuto glanced at him, an understanding look in his eyes. "Trust the process, Haruto. And while we're at it, you should rest up. Your muscles are going to going to hurt."

Haruto gave a skeptical chuckle, stretching his arms, "I feel perfectly fine. Besides, I already had some sleep earlier..." He stretched while on the couch.

Yuuto raised an eyebrow, his gaze unwavering. "...Trust me on this. Rest. You'll thank me later."

There was a quiet authority in Yuuto's voice that Haruto found hard to dispute. With a reluctant nod, he agreed, "Alright, if you say so." He relaxed his muscles while still within the couch's embrace and attempting to relax, his thoughts still racing.

As Haruto began to drift into a light doze, Yuuto took a moment to glance at his wristwatch, his expression tightening. "Cshe... Only two hours left," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "Damn it... Better start right now."

---- APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS LATER ---

As Haruto's consciousness slowly edged its way back from the depths of sleep, he was immediately ensnared by a crippling wave of pain that seemed to radiate from every pore of his body.

'What... What's happening!?' His groggy mind struggled to comprehend the sharp stabs and dull thuds resonating through him.

Lifting his head, a movement that once felt as effortless as breathing, now felt like moving a boulder. 'Is this from the swimming exercises!!? I feel like I'm gonna die...!!' he thought, the pain in his neck nearly blinding him.

His arms, those once-reliable limbs, felt heavy and unresponsive. He tried to flex his fingers, but the pain shot up through his forearm, and his mind reeled. 'It's just your fingers, come on!' he chastised himself, yet the stinging persisted.

Breathing, something he had never paid mind to, now came with its own challenges. Each inhale felt like he was drawing in needles instead of air. "Why does my chest feel so tight? It's just air, it's not supposed to hurt!" His confusion and frustration compounded with each pained breath.

Attempting to sit up, his abdominal muscles fired back with a vengeance. 'God, even my stomach muscles?!' The spasms gripped him, and he winced, collapsing back in surrender. The sting of sweat on his forehead was a cruel reminder of his state.

His legs, which had always been his anchor, now felt like they had betrayed him. They felt distant, almost foreign. 'I never... Felt like this... Grggghhh...!!'

Memories of yesterday's intense swimming drills flooded back. The non-stop laps, the relentless pace Yuuto had set for him, it was unlike anything he had ever experienced. 'Is this what pushing your limits feels like? Is this the price for becoming stronger?'

His body ached, but his spirit wavered between frustration and determination.

'I'm so weak... How did I let myself get like this?! I bet Kyoya wouldn't even flinch at something like that...' Echoes of Kyoya's muscular appearance showered down his mind. How Himiko seemed to trace his biceps as she clung to his toned body. 'I... I can't do it... He's... He's too strong...' His mind raced, as he stared at his feeble arms, throbbing in agony - yet not a hint of any muscle on them whatsoever. 'Kyoya did stuff like that for years... He's a professional... If someone that determined set his mind on Himiko... He's bound to get her. I'm no threat... I'm just...'

Just as he was about to sink deeper into his lament, a distant counting snapped him out of his misery.

"...168... 169(heh)... 170..."

Haruto turned to see Yuuto on the wooden floor, counting with every drop and rise of his body by his arms. The sheen of sweat on his bare skin emphasized the contours of his muscles. Despite the physical strain, his glasses sat perfectly on his face, a contrast to the intensity of the exercise.

Haruto's eyes widened in awe. It was one thing to push oneself in the water, but this... this was raw, unbridled determination and strength.

Catching Haruto's gaze, Yuuto paused briefly and looked at Haruto blankly, "Oh, you awake? You want food, there's tuna and veggies in the fridge." Without waiting for an answer, he resumed his pushups, each movement fluid and controlled.

Haruto gazed in awe at Yuuto's relentless push-ups, the continuous rise and fall of his form becoming somewhat hypnotic. "Doesn't that... hurt?" he finally broke the silence, pointing out the visible tension in Yuuto's muscles.

Between Yuuto's hundreds of reps, Yuuto responded with a determined grunt. "Yep. But pain is a sign of progress. That's why, when the burn sets in, I push even harder." His voice carried a nonchalance that belied the sweat beading on his brow.

Watching Yuuto's unyielding spirit, a realization began to dawn on Haruto. 'Pain... Is a testament to growth... Then maybe I can also grow...?' Wrestling with the aches that gripped him, Haruto managed to lift himself from the couch, his muscles protesting with each movement... Himiko's presence is visible in every grunt and every twitch of his muscles.

Sensing Haruto's internal struggle, Yuuto's eyes twinkled with a knowing smirk, though he didn't miss a beat in his exercise.

Trying to mask his discomfort with casualness, Haruto proposed, "I think I'll grab some tuna... That's good for muscle recovery, right?"

Pausing briefly, Yuuto chuckled, "Yeah. Get that protein in you."