Saturday (2)
Saturday (2)
"It's been months since I last came, huh..."
As I received the pristine white uniform, I felt a sudden pang of guilt.
Even though I hadn't come in a long time, not only did she not scold me, but she even prepared such an expensive uniform as a gift.
'I really should drop by occasionally when I have time.'
Even if I break promises I make to myself like I eat meals, I tend to keep promises I've uttered out loud to others.
If I can't keep them, I have to do a heartfelt dogeza to feel satisfied.
"Alright, let's start right away. Begin with stretching."
"Yes."
While warming up, I scanned the surroundings.
In the gym, there were only the director, me, and that little girl.
Looking at her waist, she was a white belt. With a short bob and a ponytail, her youthful face would pass for a middle or high school student if dressed in a school uniform.
I've definitely seen her before... what was her name?
'Dunno. Just go with it.'
Anyway, since there were only three people, the important thing was that my partner today was that kid for sure.
"Since there are few people today, we'll do light drills and then jump into sparring."
Few indeed. Just me and her, the two of us.
"Today, we'll work on controlling from the back position. Um, Jin-hyeok-ssi?"
The director looked at me and called.
"You can help, right?"
"Ah, yes."
Right. The condition for free registration was to act as a kind of instructor. Even though I'm neither skilled nor have the personality to teach anyone, if I'm going to attend for free, I have to earn my keep.
I obediently turned around and sat down in front of the director.
"Now, Ye-na, watch carefully. From the back, you need to press your head against the opponent's head like this, and stick your chest tightly to their back."
A heavy yet soft sensation touched my back. Even through the uniform, her body heat and curves were transmitted.
"..."
Good thoughts. Good thoughts.
I hastily fixed my gaze on empty air.
"Dig one arm under the armpit, and wrap the other around the neck..."
The director's arm wrapped around my neck. As my breath tightened, instead of getting rid of stray thoughts, a random memory popped up.
The fainting game I played with friends in elementary school. The pocket money I got for making them faint. I saved up that chump change to buy game items.
— "And then... twist your body toward the armpit side and lie down."
I worked my bones to earn money for that game and even upgraded to the marriage system.
— "Next, hook your leg and pull the opponent down..."
The shocking truth I found out on my wedding day.
My cyber bride was a netcafe guy. That bastard who left a single message in the chat—"Sorry, bro lol"—and ran off with my items.
— "This is the Triple Threat. Got it?"
A very bitter memory that shattered my first love into pieces.
"Alright, we'll practice this today. Try it with your partner."
The demonstration ended while I was lost in thought. I blankly stared and then quickly stood up.
"First... can Jin-hyeok-ssi pair up with Ye-na?"
"Ah... yes."
So her name was Ye-na. Ye-na... Ye-na... Seon-jeong's daughter, they say.
'Let's stop the stray thoughts now... I'm becoming a real-time idiot...'
I forcibly erased the memes invading my brain and sat facing her.
"Please take care of me, oppa!"
"Ah, yes..."
I agreed to receive the technique first. Ye-na clung to my back.
Honestly, having a woman's chest touch my back isn't a bad feeling for a man. Instinctively, that is. But at the same time, it's scary. Because if I mess up, my life could get complicated.
This world also has the Child and Youth Protection Act.
Why?
Because just in case, I looked it up, and there were some insane pedophile male who molested dozens of elementary school students... no. Anyway, there were horrible incidents here that would make the news, so I heard.
Even in a world where men are precious, touching a minor means getting silver bracelets (handcuffs) just the same.
But maybe that was because it was forced. If it's consensual, is it okay? Who knows? Anyway, if you don't want your life to get twisted, keeping your distance is the answer.
Thump—
At that moment, a heavy sensation pressed into my back.
'Good thoughts... nice thoughts... chicken thoughts... I'll eat chicken for dinner tonight...'
I tried my best to be a stone statue and received the technique.
Eventually, the boring drill time ended, and finally, the awaited sparring time came.
Honestly, the technique class was all stuff I already knew, so I almost yawned. I needed to get my body itching.
'Is the teaching method here always like this...?'
At the gym I used to go to, after warm-ups, they'd immediately throw you into sparring until you threw up. Here, it's like a greenhouse flower.
Bweeeek—!
The start buzzer rang. My first opponent was Director Im Chae-yang.
She was a brown belt. I was about purple level. Looking at belt colors, I'm at a disadvantage in technical details.
But in martial arts, there's an absolute variable that can't be overturned by technique alone.
That's physicality.
Unlike before, my stamina was solid, and most importantly, in both the original world and this world, the saying "weight class is a bully" is the truth.
When techniques came in, I'd tear them apart with strength, and when pressure came, I'd crush with body weight.
"Ugh...!"
The director groaned and tried to escape, but I didn't let up, maintaining top position and dominating.
Last time, my stamina ran out and I lost humiliatingly. Today was a revenge match.
My competitive spirit kicked in, and I pushed hard. Of course, even then, I had significantly reduced my strength to avoid injury.
Even though she must have been out of breath, her expression looked not so much painful as oddly flushed... probably my imagination.
'I won't go easy today.'
Result: my overwhelming victory.
Next was Ye-na's turn.
"Oppa! No going easy! Do it for real!"
"...Uh."
Even though she said that, I'm scared she'll actually break. I took out about 90% of my strength and entered hospitality sparring mode.
As I just rolled around and defended, useless stray thoughts wormed their way in again.
'Wait, if a high school freshman and a senior are dating...'
A year later, one would be a sophomore and the other a college freshman. That means one is a minor and the other becomes an adult. Does that violate the Child and Youth Protection Act or not?
'Hmm... I'm not sure.'
While I was lost in thought, Ye-na seized the opportunity and swiftly mounted me, taking the mount position.
"Yaah!"
With a solemn kiap, she grabbed my arm and tried to twist it. Her face reddened as she grunted earnestly—it was quite cute...
'I'll just lose appropriately.'
My arm didn't budge an inch, but if I resist with strength, I'll only crush her spirit.
I tapped the mat at the right timing and coolly got up.
Tap, tap.
"Ah, I lost."
"Good work."
Ye-na smiled brightly with a sense of accomplishment. Yeah, as long as you're happy.
After a few more rotations, the workout ended.
I wiped off sweat and casually asked the director.
"Director, I have a younger sister. Could she possibly try a free trial at the gym later?"
"A younger sister? How old?"
"High school freshman."
"Of course! Bring her anytime."
"Thank you."
Anyway, one quest done today.
Now, go home, grab some food... and go watch a movie.
<Avengers: Hopeless>.
Suddenly, I'm curious. In this world, is Shiverk treated as the original instead of Bulk? (Parody of Marvel/DC)
In a world with a 1:9 male-female ratio, I wonder if RDJ hyung-nim even exists. Maybe instead of Titanium Man, it's Titanium Woman.
Well, it's not just fiction I need to worry about.
I don't give a damn about politics, but out of boredom I once opened King-namuwiki, and even the past presidents from a certain point onward had all been replaced by female figures I didn't recognize.
If reality is like that, why would subculture be any different?
In games and anime, 2D male characters can be just mass-produced with graphics, but what about voices?
As expected, they're either recycling a handful of male voice actors endlessly, or female voice actors are forcing deep voices.
Ah, let's not worry about it.
Headache.
I took a quick group photo with the director and Ye-na, then gathered my stuff.
"I'll be going. Good work."
"Oppa! See you next time!"
Ye-na jumped up and waved, and the director also chimed in with a strangely wistful look.
"Jin-hyeok-ssi, you promised, right? You have to come with your sister. I already gave you the uniform as a gift, so no backing out?"
"Ah, yes... I'll drop by when I have time."
I escaped the gym as if fleeing.
As soon as I got home, I washed my sweaty body and boiled some ramen to eat. Clothes... well, what's there to think about? My usual hoodie and pants are enough.
I finished preparing and hailed a taxi.
"Welcome~"
The taxi ahjussi... no, taxi ajumma glanced at me through the rearview mirror and cheerfully spewed TMI.
"Young man, where are you going? Going to see a movie? That's nice~ In my day..."
I absent-mindedly threw in "Yes... yes..." as fillers, staring out the window. I let it go in one ear and out the other, blanking out.
'If three Pikachus join hands and fire a 100,000-volt attack... is that 300,000 volts... or just 100,000 volts...'
Series or parallel? Are Pikachus biological batteries? Can they be connected in series? Does voltage increase or current increase?
Lost in such useless contemplation, I soon arrived at my destination.