I'll Take Nanase-san, Who Is Small And Adorable, Away From Her Cheating And Clueless Ex And Make Her Happy. - Chapter 290: Hiyori-san, Me, and an Autumn Morning.

Hiyori-san, Me, and an Autumn Morning.

“Good morning, Yuusuke-kun! Mmm, mornings really are chilly this time of year, huh…”

“Good morning. Well, it’s almost winter, after all. We need to be careful not to catch a cold.”

A little after six in the morning the next day, I met up with Hiyori-san in front of her house and greeted her lightly.

Just as she said, autumn mornings were chilly, especially since the sun rose later now. Even with my windbreaker on, I still felt a slight chill.

But I figured we’d warm up once we started moving, so I asked her a few questions.

“Did you have breakfast? Exercising on an empty stomach isn’t good for you, you know?”

“No worries! I made sure to eat a banana! Just enough so I don’t feel too heavy!”

“How about your warm-up strength training?”

“I did squats, just like I’m supposed to~! All the websites say they’re perfect since they work your thighs and glutes! Ah! But, um, Yuusuke-kun, would you be sad if my butt got smaller from it? If you would, then I’ll do a different exercise starting tomorrow!”

With a wry smile, I answered her words, not sure if she was joking as usual or being serious.

She seemed so full of motivation on this first day that I couldn’t help but be impressed by her preparation. I stretched my body out wide to chase away the last remnants of sleepiness.

“Exercising in the morning makes it easier for your body to burn fat…! Truly, this is what they mean by ‘the early bird gets the worm’!”

“I feel like that’s a little different… but I guess if working hard in the morning leads to better results, then in a way it’s the same thing.”

A diet isn’t something achieved by starvation or excessive exercise. It’s about gradually changing your daily habits for the better.

And the first step for us was this – getting up early to go walking.

Apparently, doing aerobic exercise in the morning boosts your basal metabolism and puts your body in a state where it can burn fat more efficiently. (That’s what I read in a book, anyway.)

It said twenty minutes was enough, so yesterday we agreed to wake up early, get ready properly, and go for a walk together before school.

As I wondered if meeting up past six was a bit too ambitious, I thought that depending on how today went, we could set it a little later from tomorrow. I turned to her and asked,

“Was it tough waking up early? Maybe meeting at six was too much – sorry about that.”

“No, it’s fine! You’re doing this with me for my diet… and I’m happy I get to talk with you like this so early in the morning!”

She answered with a bright smile.

Seeing that my presence was motivating her made me happy, and I was relieved she didn’t mind. Then she said,

“Come on, let’s go! We can keep chatting while we walk!”

“Yeah, let’s.”

Since we’d gathered so early, it would’ve been a waste to just stand around.

We could talk while we walked… or so I thought, when suddenly she let out a big yawn.

“Fwaaaah… Nngh, excuse me…”

“Haha, don’t worry about it. It really was too early, huh? Of course you’re sleepy.”

She covered her mouth with her hand as she yawned cutely, her cheeks turning a faint pink.

Seeing that, I couldn’t help but comment, and she responded,

“It’s really okay! Besides, if we walk for about thirty minutes now, go home, take a shower, and get ready for school… it’ll be time to head out before we know it, right? This timing’s actually perfect!”

“Ah, that’s true. Girls do have a lot to take care of…”

She couldn’t exactly go to school smelling like sweat, and she’d want to take her time in the shower too.

Then she’d have to fix her hair again, and of course getting ready in the morning takes time.

I had my reasons for setting it this early, but it seemed to suit her circumstances too.

Happy at this unexpected bit of luck, I told her,

“In that case, maybe you should focus on going to bed earlier too. We can figure out what time works best so you can wake up without feeling rushed, while also keeping your routine healthy.”

“You’re right. Early to bed, early to rise is good for you, and pushing myself too hard isn’t good for dieting either! Mmm, thanks to you, Yuusuke-kun, I’m just getting healthier and healthier…!! This is the power of management…!!”

“No, it’s the power of love.”

As I said that, feeling a little embarrassed by my own cheesy line, Hiyori-san giggled mischievously and poked my side.

Breathing in the crisp, cold air that refreshed my now-warmed body, we enjoyed the pleasant autumn morning together as we continued walking.