Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Saturday #2
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'......But why does this guy keep messaging me.'
Hong Yeonseo had been getting texts from Yoon Jiu nonstop since she woke up that morning and started getting ready to head out.
She'd reply to the ones worth responding to and ignore the annoying ones, but he just kept going.
[I have something come up so I can't reply]
With that as her final message, Hong Yeonseo switched Yoon Jiu's one-on-one chat to silent notifications.
Right now was her date with Seo Ijin, who could show up again at any moment...... No, her important outing time.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "You really eat a lot......"
"I hope that was said with pure intentions."
Seeing Hong Yeonseo's tiny fist clench tight, I hurriedly waved my hands.
"O-Of course. I meant it looks good when you eat well."
Only then did Hong Yeonseo relax her menacing vibe.
The signature burgers—five of them—sat proudly in front of her on the table, drawing murmurs from other customers.
Well, Hong Yeonseo looks like a delicate high school girl on the outside......
It's...... kind of like watching a mukbang if I had to compare.
I doubt she'd have any trouble hitting ten million subscribers if she did mukbangs.
Then again, maybe not the thing to say to a girl who's set her career path and is charging toward her goals.
Anyway, these handmade burgers are seriously delicious.
Catching my expression as I sliced into my burger, Hong Yeonseo grinned brightly.
"Tasty, right?"
"Yeah. You picked a good spot."
There was a reason this place had such high ratings.
The juices flowed just right—true handmade burger perfection—and the patty flavor filled my mouth.
The sauce had a unique taste too, probably house-made.
And with that, we finished our satisfying lunch.
......While I ate one burger, Hong Yeonseo demolished five.
It was a spring day bathed in sunlight.
The kind of weather where you could just start feeling a hint of warmth.
"Ugh, is it because I let my hair down? Feels even hotter for no reason."
Hong Yeonseo fluffed the red hair covering the back of her neck.
She usually wore it up, so covering it up to style it must feel stuffy.
"Want to grab something cool on the way?"
"Yeah."
"Sure. Working out right after eating might upset your stomach, so let's chill at a café first."
Hong Yeonseo nodded in agreement, and we headed into a nearby café.
All the shops around here seemed to be like that—this one was an indie spot, not a chain.
I'm no coffee expert, but I could tell their mocha was good.
Hong Yeonseo was slurping hers down without pause.
"No dessert for real?"
"I'm on a regimen these days, so nothing too sweet."
Ah.
So that's the management thing.
Images flashed through my mind—Hong Yeonseo tearing into fried chicken, wiping out five burgers—but I shoved them aside.
Not cool to think that way about a girl. Hmm.
"Where's the gym? Far?"
"Mm~ About a ten-minute walk?"
"Nice, not too bad."
Hong Yeonseo leaned back against the chair and spoke up.
"Speaking of, don't you work out too? No gym for you?"
"Not really. I don't like it enough to sculpt my body or anything."
"Why? Don't guys all want abs and stuff?"
Abs, huh. I don't carry much fat, so they show if I flex......
Scratching my head, I replied.
"As long as it's not a body I hate looking at, that's fine. No need to grind through workouts."
"But they say you're a natural at sports."
"The kids say that?"
"Sea told me. Thanks to you, we never lost at sports day."
Ugh. Sports day.
Just childish antics from my black history days......
Besides, it's not like I could beat Dawn High's serious PE track stars.
When I said as much, Hong Yeonseo snickered.
"Hmm~ Guess we'll see after table tennis later."
"Haven't played in ages, so don't get your hopes up."
Her smile deepened.
She leaned forward, looking up at me.
"What, playing weak now?"
......Oof. It stung my pride, but I had no confidence against Hong Yeonseo.
I'm just average-level, after all.
"How could I beat you?"
She giggled.
"Sports day reminds me—it's coming up soon, right?"
"Yeah. Like two weeks left?"
"Yep. I'm pumped. You?"
For an athletics girl like Hong Yeonseo, it was the biggest event.
I'd called it black history earlier, but I didn't hate it.
It's a great way to feel that youthful vibe. Sports day.
......Wonder if Mom and Dad will come this time.
We chatted idly for a bit.
Hong Yeonseo finished her drink and stood.
"Ready to head out?"
"Yeah."
I chugged the rest of my coffee.
Whew.
Grabbed my stuff and followed her up.
We tossed our empty cups and left the café for the gym.
On the way, a question popped into my head.
"Gym means passes or whatever, right?"
"It's fine! For a day."
Oh, really?
Seeing my puzzled look, Hong Yeonseo added.
"I've been going for a month and got friendly with the trainer sis. Told her after our call yesterday—we'd just stop by briefly today."
"Cool, no issues then."
Her explanation made sense.
With her charisma, totally believable. Me? Might take a year to get that close......
Following her downstairs revealed a spacious gym interior.
Must be big enough to fit underground.
Before the main workout area, a few table tennis tables sat off to the side.
Structure-wise, you could probably sneak in, play, and leave unnoticed.
Two of the four tables were already in use.
While I scoped out the others, Hong Yeonseo went inside and came back.
Probably met that trainer from yesterday.
"All good. She said we can use the changing rooms and showers."
"Impressive. Over there?"
"Yeah. Just change and come out."
I headed into the gym's changing room.
Luckily, each stall had full partitions.
Quickly swapped to comfy training clothes and stowed my outfit in my bag.
A few jumps in place—felt light and good.
Nothing beats clothes made for moving.
Even casual outing wear has those little discomforts.
Out of the changing room, waited a sec, and Hong Yeonseo emerged in her gym clothes.
"......Why'd you bring school PE uniform?"
"Ugh. Laundry day for my usual stuff, this was all I had left!"
Hong Yeonseo's face flushed.
Even she was embarrassed.
"Ah, got it."
Seeing her in school gym clothes here was hilarious—I couldn't stop grinning.
Ended up taking a few swats on the back for laughing too much.
At my suggestion, we moved to a quiet corner.
Claimed a table with one empty between us and the occupied ones.
"Seriously. You don't look like someone who'd avoid people like that."
"What about how I look?"
And avoiding people has nothing to do with looks. It's personality......
Saying it out loud basically spat in my own face......
"......"
Hong Yeonseo dodged my gaze at the question.
"H-Here, take this."
She handed me a paddle.
No answer, huh.
I gripped it and swung a few times in the air.
Been so long, not sure if I can even connect.
"Need practice?"
"......Let's just play a few light games."
"Okay. I'll go easy~"
Hong Yeonseo tied her hair back like usual and grabbed the ball.
Tok, tok tok.
She bounced it lightly on the table, rolling it along.
My eyes followed.
She started with slow serves, and I returned gently to match.
A few rallies in, my form started clicking.
"Whoa! Nice stance!"
"Really?"
Just swinging naturally, but she rated it highly.
Once I felt the groove, Hong Yeonseo—sharp as ever—ramped up the power.
Thwack!
Her smash sent the ball rocketing past me.
"Whoa."
After a few practice rounds, I could cut some of her shots.
Time passed, and soon we were handling smashes in steady rallies.
First time playing table tennis this life, but my body's specs made it follow my thoughts.
Sensing that, Hong Yeonseo spoke up.
"Not bad for someone who whined. Let's play for real now."
She wiped a bead of sweat.
"By the way, have you ever taken lessons?"
I asked her.
"Not formally. Just play with Dad sometimes."
"Sometimes" and she's this smooth?
Well, footwork, dives, swings—handball and table tennis probably use similar muscles.
I relaxed my death-grip on the pen-hold paddle and faced her.
"Wanna bet on a single game? Loser pays next time we go out?"
"Sure. Let's do it."
A bet, huh. Can't back down as a guy.
I shook out my warmed-up body and took my stance.