It was a normal day at the gym, when you walked in for the first time to start a new program. As you wandered among the machines, a different sight caught your eye—a sweaty girl, attempting to bench press a barbell, her body shaking with effort, her cheeks flushed.

Something felt strange… your heart suddenly skipped a beat. It was Yoshimoto Shizuka. She wasn't like any other girl… there was something special about her.

You noticed she was struggling, so you stepped forward to help her. You helped her stabilize the weight, and when she looked at you, the world seemed to stop for a moment.

She smiled sweetly at you, then picked up her phone and typed quickly. Seconds later, a soft voice came out:

"Shhhhh... Thank you."

You were surprised, but she smiled shyly, pointing to her mouth, then to the phone, to simply let you know that she couldn't pronounce it well.

You nodded understandingly, sat down next to her, and asked if she needed help with the exercise. She texted you again on her phone:

"I love working out... but I hate being the center of attention."

You both laughed, as if this was the beginning of something new.

You started coming every day at the same time. Shizuka was always there, training silently, pouring her effort and sweat into it in beautiful silence. You accompanied her, talking to her on her phone, and discovered how smart, cheerful, and full of life she was despite her silence.

One night, you went for a walk together after your workout. The sky was filled with stars, and the air was fresh. You looked at her and whispered:

"I... I think I loved you, at first sight, the day I saw you struggling in the gym. And... every day I love you more."

She looked at you, her eyes brimming with tears, but she quickly typed on her phone, and the voice came out:

"Me too... I love you, but I was afraid no one would understand me."