>>76363661basically every single one of my friends built muscle at maintenance or small caloric surplus
some even on a cut with really high protein %
for a while everyone on /fit/ was insistent that the body absolutely CANT build muscle without a caloric surplus, as if the body was conscious enough to know when or where the surplus even began lmao... yeah dude your body knows it's 8pm and you're not going to eat anymore for today so you're not on a surplus got it
if your body needs protein for muscles then it will use the protein you give him to build muscle and other basic functions, no other bullshit