[Book of Eros] Chapter 99 - An unexpected encounter at the gym. (Patreon)

Leonardo, Angela and Valerie headed directly from school to the gym. The two girls walked with a hasty step up the hill, and though they both were in perfect physical condition, Leo still wondered if they wouldn’t get tired before they got there.

They went inside, and once more, the sounds of machines and people working out welcomed them. A guy in a blue T-shirt, apparently one of the trainers, approached them and asked, “Yes? What can I help with?”

“We’re looking for Victoria-san,” Leo told him. “We’re here for the martial arts program.”

“Oh, then go right ahead,” the man said, gesturing towards the back room, the one where the sparring rings were. “Victoria-san should already be there.”

And indeed she was. She was standing in front of a large boxing sandbag, checking the chains that held it in place.

“Hello, Victoria,” Leo greeted as they walked in. “We’re not late, are we?”

“Just in time. I like that,” she nodded.

“Is something wrong with the sandbag?” Angela asked.

“Nah, just checking,” Victoria said, lifting the clipboard she had in her hand. “Equipment needs to be maintained, after all. But everything’s in good condition, thankfully. Though I don’t expect it to remain like that for long, if I’m right about you lot.” She grinned. “Go get changed. Women’s changing room to the left, men’s to the right.”

Leo took his bag and went to get changed. He undressed to his underwear and put on grey track pants, a black, tight fitting T-shirt and was tying his sneakers when someone else came in. It was another guy, of course. He looked about Leo’s age, and was wearing a white school jacket with a red emblem on its front pocket. Leo gave him a polite smile and a greeting nod. The guy looked a little surprised, but bowed politely in return before he started to get changed.

Leo took a better look at him. He had very short black hair, dark eyes and something of a roundish face. He took out his jacket and shirt, revealing a well built, muscular body. He had broad shoulders, and his overall frame was probably a size larger than Leo’s despite being about the same height. Then… was this guy in the martial arts program, too? Leo was about to ask, but then he heard yelling coming from the other changing room.

Alarmed, he finished tying his shoes and ran outside, only to catch Victoria stomping her way into the women’s changing room. Leo waited a moment, and the heard the coach’s voice loud and clear.

“WHAT THE HELL THE YOU THINK YOU’RE YELLING FOR!? GET READY OR GET OUT OF MY GYM!”

Leo winced. He had to wonder what had happened between Angela and Valerie, considering the two couldn’t really hold a conversation. But his answer came quickly as he saw not only his two housemates coming out of the changing room, but a third girl as well. What was more, Leo remembered this girl. She was the one who picked a fight with Angela a few days ago, the one with the bamboo sword that was soundly beaten.

Valerie opted for the healthy option of staying away while the other girl glared daggers at Angela, who didn’t seem as pissed as just very, very annoyed.

The other guy came out of the changing room, now in a similar attire to Leo’s (but with a blue t-shirt), and covered his face in shame. The guy and that girl were schoolmates, at the very least, considering they had been wearing similar school uniforms.

Still, it seemed Leo didn’t have to intervene, because Victoria was glaring at them even harder, preventing them from saying a word. “So you know each other, huh? Well, that’s neat,” she said, arms crossed under her chest and tapping her elbow with her finger. “You keep any drama you have outside of my gym, you hear? You’re here to train, not to have schoolyard squabbles.”

“…Yes, ma’am,” the girl said, turning her glare to the floor.

“Yes.” Angela nodded and sighed her annoyance away.

Leo turned to the other guy, and with an apologetic smile, said, “Sorry about my friends.”

The guy quickly shook his head. “No, I’m sorry about Kato-san,” he said in a surprisingly low voice.

“Alright, enough time wasted,” Victoria said, clapping her hands. “Inoue, you’re used to this already, so start with your stretches and start your routine.” The guy, whose last name Leo now knew was Inoue, nodded and moved to part of the room with a lot of free space and started warming up. “The rest of you, come here,” she said, pointing with her finger to the area in front of her.

Valerie was the first to step up, the gesture helping her understand. She had changed into a bold, red sports bra and black shorts that made it hard not to stare at her. After all, she had an incredibly alluring and athletic figure.

Angela followed closely. She opted for a yellow sports t-shirt that still fit her a little too tightly in the chest area, though that couldn’t be helped, all things considered, plus some black yoga pants.

The other girl, Kato-san, reluctantly stepped in line with the others. Leo didn’t feel good making the comparison, but next to Valerie and Angela, she looked a bit… plain? She was shorter than Valerie, her chest was smaller than hers, too, and she was wearing a grey t-shirt and black track pants.

Leo was the last one to step in line, standing next to Angela.

Victoria eyed them all, took her clipboard, turned a couple of pages, and started.

***

Author's Note: Throwing this out there immediately. The new girl, Kato, will not be a part of the harem. I do have a model for her (also from the DoA series), so tell me if you're still interested in seeing it. I want to try something with her and the new guy, Inoue, but I won't reveal much more since I know some of you prefer to find out things as the story goes.