Zipline Screams and Sweaty Shenanigans
As I pushed open the door to the indoor gym, a blast of that signature air-conditioned chill hit me, and even on a weekday afternoon, there were quite a few people milling about. Hmm... don't these folks have jobs? A closer look revealed most were around my age and Jisu's, so it made sense.
Ideally, we'd pay the fee and dive right in... but sadly, Jisu and I were in our school uniforms, so first up was changing into gym clothes in the locker room.
Ugh...
I kept my locker room impressions to myself. Honestly, aside from Jisu, I didn't stare at anyone else changing—I just faced her and swapped outfits.
Hmm... lucky break?
Truth be told, even in Lee Haru's memories, a place like this for indoor sports was a first. The facility was spotless, probably brand new. How the heck did she even find this spot?
"Hmm... wanna start with the zipline?"
"Sure. Let's do something."
We'd shelled out a whopping 26,000 won for two hours, so we had to make it worth every penny. It wasn't a fortune for Lee Haru, but in my guy's memories, it was serious cash. I resolved to go full national treasury-level cheapskate mode.
Heh heh... zipline, huh? Back in my guy's days, I was in the army—nothing elite like special forces, just regular infantry surviving two brutal winter trainings without ranger school. Sure, I'd never done a zipline, but this wasn't some wild outdoor one. An indoor short-hop? Piece of cake. As a total alpha male... er, female, I didn't need safety gear, but procedures are procedures. I strapped up and launched—cool as ice, no flinch, easy peasy...
"Kiyaaaaah!!!!"
I was the joke. Okay... it was terrifying. My scream was loud enough that everyone turned to stare.
It only made it more humiliating. Do I have a fear of heights? But as they say, over one mountain is another. The zipline was just the opener.
"...We have to do this to get down?"
"Yup...?"
Safety harness or not, crossing an aerial bridge? This was hell. Fine... as much as Yuri unnie is growing... wait, she's already an adult, no growth left. Scratch that.
"Hoo... hoo..."
Looking down made my legs shake. So scary. Every step rattled the structure—like I was about to plummet. The gear was there, but some irrational dread whispered it wouldn't hold.
"Haru... you scared?"
"...No."
Damn it, no way I'd lose to Jisu. She probably didn't mean it like that, but it felt like "Yo, chicken?"
Me, Lee Haru, with a man's memories and the manliest bod—backing down? No shot. I hopped boldly across the bridge.
Clank-clank.
Each bounce shook it with creepy noises. I was freaking out.
"Heek... heek... mission complete."
"Nice. Next up."
"Eeeh?"
*
Exactly 30 minutes after arriving.
"Hah... haah... kehk..."
I collapsed at a snack bar table, gasping, drenched in sweat from head to toe. My undies were soaked too—back when I was a guy, I'd just flap my shirt around, but not now. My mouth reeked of acetone from exhaustion.
"Lee Haru! Your stamina is total trash."
...Trash? Me, trash?! Since when was Jisu such a little brat? She eyed me, barely a few sweat drops on her, looking fresh compared to my mess. I'd never seen her work out, but this was peak "perfect parents' perfect daughter" energy.
"N-No... who's... who's tired... let's go!"
"Pfft, your back's soaked. We've got an hour and a half left! On to the next..."
"...I surrender. You go first."
I sent Jisu ahead and ordered a drink at the counter. Man, if there were towels, I'd stuff 'em down my shirt. Too many eyes around, though. Wet undies felt gross enough to rip 'em off.
"Aigoo, my back..."
The drink helped a bit. Chicken and stuff tempted me, but it was pricey, and eating now meant puking later. Facility snacks were overpriced compared to convenience stores or cafes, but it hit like rain in a drought.
Damn... the reaper's here.
Just 10 minutes later, Jisu bounded back like she'd cleared the whole place. The reaper—no, Jisu—yanked my arm. I was a sweaty stink bomb, but she acted like it was nothing, same as always.
Her peach lotion scent was soothing... until I remembered what she'd drag me into next. Aaah... Father in heaven, have mercy... Oh right, he's still kicking.
"Where to this time?"
"Eh? You'll see when we get there."
"'You'll see'..."
Ice cold. Felt like a dagger to the heart. What fresh hell was she plotting? At this point, was she feeding me to the beasts?
"Ta-da! We're here!"
...Climbing wall. After zipline and sky bridge, now this?
Climbing's about balancing strength and smarts, favoring the light-bodied. With my combined IQ of 200, it should be my jam.
"Go!"
We started up together. Lee Haru's full IQ 200 in action! The route planning was solid, but the second I grabbed and pulled...
Plop. Thud.
"Kyaaaaak!"
The moment I let go one hand to climb, the other couldn't hold my weight—grip slipped, and I tumbled onto the mat. ...Damn.
"Pffft!"
Jisu laughed at me. Whatever—how'd she summit it? She reached the top, came down, and doubled over cackling. Ego bruised, but yeah, even I had to admit it was pathetic. Still, sweating and wheezing with a friend like this? Unthinkable in my guy's lonely memories.
Yeah... enjoying youth ain't bad.
A bit lame, but overall heartwarming. Next, we hit the trampoline zone, bouncing like kids. Good thing I skipped the food—would've hurled.
This felt like reclaiming childhood... but how's Jisu doing flips? Perfect landings too.
"Heh. Impressed?"
"Whoa, seriously amazing..."
I clapped lazily, and she got mildly pissy: "Half-assed much?" Her poses kinda evoked Goddess Requiem animation frames... but filming or drawing that IRL? Nah. Better to advise on animation estimates remotely.
*
After two hours of stamina hell, no way were we changing back into uniforms—sweat city. Jisu bought me bubble tea as a "good job," and we walked sipping. First taro bubble tea—pretty tasty.
"We survived today, Haru. Forgiven?"
"Uh... th-thanks..."
"Theme park after exams?"
"...K-Kill me."
Sipping slowly home, about 30% left. Bubble tea... wasn't there a challenge back in the day?
I ducked my head to eye my chest. ...Might work?
J-Just once?
Any guy with these and my memories would wanna try, right? Felt like 'What're you doing, Haru?!' nagging in my ear. Boldly, I lifted the cup. Regret instant.
"Eugh, cold..."
Sweater might've worked, but it teetered precariously—abandoned ship. Cursing my dumbass self, I dove back into MR work.
