"Shiraishi-senpai, what are you thinking about?" I asked, noticing that Lisa had been staring at me with an intensity that was definitely not related to water polo strategy.
"Ah... no... it's just... I was just thinking that Ginjo-san has really been taking excellent care of his physique..." she replied in a slightly panicked tone after being caught in her obvious appreciation.
"Are you talking about this?" I asked, gesturing toward my midsection with deliberate casualness.
"Maybe it's because I exercise them frequently. After all, having a good bed is an excellent way to train this particular area."
I looked down at my abdominal muscles and gave them a demonstrative pat with my hand, producing a crisp sound that testified to the presence of seriously developed core strength.
"Training... in bed? That would be doing sit-ups or something similar, right?" Lisa thought to herself with obvious confusion, though I could see her mind working through the implications.
"Core and abdominal strength is absolutely crucial, especially for shooting accuracy," I continued with complete seriousness, though I couldn't suppress a slightly mischievous smile.
"I'll teach you the proper techniques when we get the chance, Shiraishi-senpai."
"Okay, then I'll be counting on Ginjo-san for instruction," she replied with a smile that suggested she understood more than she was letting on.
"It's still quite early—would you like to go for a walk, Ginjo-san?" Lisa asked suddenly, raising her head to study the sky while a gentle breeze stirred her silver hair.
"Is there anywhere specific you'd like to go, Shiraishi-senpai?" I asked, following her gaze upward to see several uniquely shaped clouds drifting freely across the sky.
"I know a perfect place. Just follow me, Ginjo-san," she said, standing up and pulling me along with her.
About ten minutes later, after both of us had changed out of our training gear, we met at the school gate and walked out together into the early evening.
"It's beautiful here, isn't it, Ginjo-san?" Lisa asked after leading me through several winding alleyways to arrive at a small river located not far from campus.
The water flowed peacefully before us as I stood on the riverbank, using the sole of my shoe to flatten the soft earth beneath my feet.
The cool evening breeze carried away the lingering summer heat, accompanied by the gentle gurgling of the current, dense patches of wild grass, and muddy pathways marked with the prints of rain boots from some earlier adventure.
The air carried hints of sweet smoothies beginning to melt, a wisp of thin smoke from somewhere upstream, and the indefinable scent that accompanies two people enjoying each other's company.
All these elements combined to create an atmosphere that made you feel the season directly in your bones.
Lisa raised her arms high above her head and slowly stretched her entire body in a graceful display of flexibility.
"Mmm... so refreshing..." she sighed contentedly.
She took a deep breath as if she were savoring the very essence of the air around us, then smiled with pure enjoyment.
Her uniform shirt fitted snugly against her curves, complemented by the red and black pleated skirt and matching white socks with small leather shoes.
Standing by the river in the golden light of early evening, she resembled an oil painting that demanded extended contemplation—a perfect moment captured and preserved in time.
"Do you come here often, Shiraishi-senpai?" I asked, genuinely curious about how she'd discovered this hidden gem.