Chapter 29
After our defeat, the three of us stepped back out into the hallway and headed toward the lobby area from before.
"The gym's got all sorts of stuff, right? We can play around there a bit, then hit the spa to wash up and sauna—it'll be perfect."
"It's crazy that all three are in the same complex."
"But they mentioned an outdoor bath too, yeah?"
"Yeah. You access it through the pool, so you have to wear a swimsuit just like in the pool. There are about three types, and the baths rotate sometimes."
It's not just any bathhouse—an outdoor one is usually only at a five-star hotel or an actual hot spring. Of course, the monthly rent here probably beats staying at a five-star long-term.
"But you guys didn't bring swimsuits, obviously?"
"I didn't even know there was a pool here."
"Seol-ah's so glamorous, I could lend you one of my old ones, but what about Baek Sion? I don't have any guy ones."
"We don't have to go in today."
"But you brought it up—doesn't that mean you wanna check it out?"
"I'm curious. I love hot springs and stuff."
Lee Seo-yeon clapped her hands as we kept walking, lost in thought.
"Can't Doyun oppa just grab one on his way? Should I tell him to pick based on the design?"
"Nah, just trunks—anything works."
"I'll text him to ask when he's coming."
Lee Seo-yeon started tapping away at her phone furiously. Her eyes lit up almost immediately—must've gotten a quick reply.
"He's heading out soon. I asked, and he said it's fine—just send him the receipt."
"I should still buy my own swimsuit."
"Hey, what money does a college kid have? And I invited you guys to hang out."
You're a college kid too... But I couldn't treat her like a regular one.
"Thanks, then."
"Sure thing. I told him to grab a rash guard too. Not essential, but since it's a public bath, better to wear one if there are other people around. Though it'll probably be empty."
We passed through a long corridor and reached the elevator we'd taken up earlier. It felt about 1.5 times faster than a normal one as we shot down to the lobby, then descended further via the massive central staircase.
The space below had a few exercise machines and sofas. Not quite a full gym—too few machines.
"This isn't the gym, right?"
"Nope, just a lounge area. The gym's separate."
A directory panel nearby showed the layout—pretty complex.
"Gotta be easy to get lost if you're not used to it."
"Yeah, everything's interconnected, so first-timers always struggle."
Lee Seo-yeon, leading the way, tapped her black card on a wall panel, and the door slid open. Even a simple hallway had a lock like that.
"They take security seriously here."
"Makes sense—celebs and chaebol chairmen live here. Especially after that idol moved in; they ramped up security."
It's not just the size and luxury—top-notch security and facilities justify the price.
We turned right following the ceiling signs, and the gym's distinctive wooden floor came into view.
"This is the gym, but honestly, residents are all super busy or older, so it's pretty empty. Barely anyone uses it."
The wood was all painted white—cool and luxurious. A basketball court dominated the center, with ping-pong and billiards tables deeper in. Even two bowling lanes? Probably futsal outside too.
I grabbed a basketball from the equipment rack. She'd bragged about being good at sports earlier.
"Yoo Seol-ah, you any good at basketball?"
With her close-combat skills from Astasia, she shouldn't suck—just lacks raw strength and size. I bounced the ball lightly to her anyway, and she caught it smoothly. Her grip said she knew what she was doing.
"Wanna do 1-on-1?"
"For real?"
What, why so confident? Back in middle school, I'd skip lunch to hoop until the bell. Even in high school prepping for college entrance, I kept up basketball and other sports. All-boys schools turned me into a sports nut.
"Your outfit's cute, but can you play in that?"
Blue jeans, white long-sleeve button-up, beige vest—Yoo Seol-ah looked cozy-cute, her figure perfectly flattered. Unlike me, she dressed sharp. Cosplay and illustrating honed her aesthetic sense.
She smirked faintly, tugging her jeans sideways.
"Elastic waistband. Super comfy fabric."
"You two doing 1-on-1? I'll ref."
"Lee Seo-yeon, you good at basketball?"
"Just some middle school assignment—barely remember. You guys'll handle it anyway."
"Right."
I wasn't planning a serious match with Yoo Seol-ah anyway. Just for fun.
"Regular shots one point, threes are two. First to five?"
"...How do you know the rules so well? Boys' middle and high?"
"Lmao... Yeah, both engineering tracks, so sports days were mixed chaos."
Jealous... I'd love to relive middle/high with her at sports day. Deep down, I suddenly craved seeing her yearbooks.
"Hey, no weird thoughts, right? Your face looks creepy."
"Nah. But for real—first to five?"
"Said we should, didn't I? Scared you'll lose?"
Male-female physical gap aside, basketball favors height big time. Why so cocky?
"Ha... What makes you so sure? Go ahead, shoot. No blocking except layups."
"You said it."
"Yup. No takesies-backsies."
"Cool. Who starts?"
"You. Keep possession on makes."
She knew the rules, so we jumped in. I gave her first possession and backed off.
Thump. She dribbled forward lightly. Surprising start: smooth left-hand dribble, no awkwardness. Even jock boys struggle with off-hand without training.
Great motor skills. She stopped just inside the free-throw line, gripped with both hands. No block on shots, so...
Knees bent, fade back—a clean one-handed jumper. Swish.
I stared, stunned; she grinned triumphantly.
"Hey, I aced that assignment easy."
Deep in thought. Close range or not, clean one-hand swish?
"You said no blocking?"
"......"
She grabbed the ball, walked slowly from three-point to free-throw line—bank shot.
"...Wait."
"Don't go flipping scripts."
Ignoring my fluster, two more clean shots from deep. Could block, but promised not to.
"4-0. One left. Astasia sharpened my feel."
One left? Screw fair play. I stole on her drive with pressure D.
"......"
Her dumbfounded face.
"No blocking...? Some man you are."
"Pausing manhood for today."
She's good—better than expected—but not my level. Dribble past her attempt, layup good.
"So petty..."
"Thanks."
Next: behind-the-back on her steal try. But instead of layup, I paused in shot stance. She jumped to block; my raised right hand outreached her max leap.
"Ha..."
Too fun. She hopped futilely, sighed deep, gave up. I released—swish.
"You... human?"
"What to do? Too fun."
Teased her more, scored another to 4-3. Fake dribble, three-pointer—grazed rim, bounced out. But full D? Zero chance for her. Endless possession fine.
She knew—bit lip, no dribble yet. Can't steal pre-dribble.
Long deliberation. Right-hand snap dribble—thump.
She vanished. Intense mana surge—not speed dribble.
Turned: her floating midair at the hoop, ball in hand.
"Whoa... even dunking."
Smooth dunk, no net touch. Ball dropped.
"5-3, my win?"
...Genre shift.
"What the hell..."
"Teleport ban in basketball?"
...No rule, but still.
"C'mon, unwritten rules exist."
"Don't know the famous quote? 'Basketball's played with heart, not height.' So I did."
Speechless. Heart-related, sure.
"Not your heart's mana...!"
No—argue later.
"Ref, foul! Call it!"
"Hm... hold on."
What? Obvious foul—even rule noob knows.
Lee Seo-yeon eyed Yoo Seol-ah; she heart-hands at her.
"Too cute—no foul."
"No way, this biased ref... for real...?"
Her beaming face pissed me off more.
"You blocked after saying no. Deal. Oh, wish later?"
I could only hang my head and sigh.