Ep 9. Have You Seen God Before?

Sakura and the girls continue their journey towards their summer fitness goals in episode 9 of How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?. The episode titled "Have You Seen God Before?" begins with a hilarious scene where Sakura imagines herself as a muscular version of her idol rapper.

After their usual trip to the gym, Hibiki, Akemi, Ayaka, and Sakura attend a seminar on dieting and nutrition where they learn about exercise-related illnesses and rehydration methods. However, to Sakura's disappointment, the presenter doesn't answer her question about whether she can eat sweets while working out.

The girls then decide to head to the beach where they can have fun while continuing their fitness routine. But while they are soaking up the sun and taking selfies, they spot Hibiki's classmate Machio lifting weights nearby. Machio is surprised to see them and tells the group that he's on vacation and decided to work out at the beach to stay fit. Hibiki and the others are amazed by his dedication to fitness and ask him to teach them how to do a handstand.

The second half of the episode revolves around the girls' attempts to do a handstand. Hibiki is the first to try, but she's too scared to balance on her hands. Machio encourages her by telling her to picture herself as a proud warrior standing on the tips of her fingers.

Next up is Akemi, who tries to do a handstand without any guidance from Machio. She's unsuccessful and ends up injuring herself. But Machio comes to the rescue and shows her the proper way to do a handstand using a wall for support. Ayaka is the third to try and is able to hold herself up for a few seconds. Sakura, however, struggles the most and is unable to balance herself.

Machio then shows the girls a proper way to stretch their arms and hands so they can practice doing handstands on their own. After much practice, Hibiki, Akemi, Ayaka, and Sakura are all able to perform a handstand. This marks a major milestone in their fitness journey, and they feel more motivated than ever to continue pursuing their goals.

As the group packs up to leave the beach, Sakura spots Machio walking towards the water. For some reason, he's surrounded by a bright light and Sakura is convinced she's just seen God. But when she catches up to him, he explains that he's just using a special lotion that makes him sparkle in the sun.

The episode ends with a hilarious montage of the girls returning to the gym, where they continue to work out and practice their handstands. They're all still glowing from the feeling of accomplishment they experienced at the beach, and it's clear that their fitness journey has become an integral part of their lives.