Chapter 45: The Gym (Branch Point 03)
• Men's lust toward Im Da-bin: 2x increase
• Men's workout efficiency with Im Da-bin: 3x increase
• Your (Lee Do-yoon's) lust & stamina: 1.5x increase
• Im Da-bin's lust: 2x increase
• Im Da-bin's netorase compliance: 2x increase
• Im Da-bin's job changes randomly (1 time)
The next day after regressing, I headed to the cafe and sent Han Jae-min back home. I used the excuse that solving his jeonse housing issue sooner was better for everyone. Sure, part of me genuinely wanted to help the guy out. But the other half? That was pure jealousy—I wanted to pull Da-bin away from him for good.
The netorase play I'd dragged him into had gone south last loop, and I had zero interest in tangling with him again. We'd already looped back to Branch Point 03 through no fault of my own, meaning Da-bin had already jerked him off. No way was I letting that thread continue here.
Jae-min took my advice and headed home. Da-bin and I handled the cafe alone, staying busy until closing. I told him not to come back until his housing was sorted—no need to show up in the meantime.
The day passed like that, and Da-bin and I returned home. A house without Jae-min. Once his situation stabilized, I planned to draw a firm line with him. After that, I'd hit up Jun-seo for another round of netorase. So far, everything was smooth sailing.
But...
Da-bin was repeating the exact same behavior from the previous loop.
"Oppa... I'm gonna head to the gym."
"The gym?"
"Yeah. I wanna work out a bit..."
Last time, she'd asked to go the day after masturbating. And now, here she was, saying the same thing again. No matter how many loops, she followed the same patterns. But something felt off this time too. Probably the perks kicking in.
I'd been so wrapped up thinking about how to handle Jae-min that I'd almost forgotten them. The multipliers were higher than ever. Some effects were still hard to gauge. Imagining the ripples they'd cause in Da-bin's behavior—and the guys around her—gave me chills racing up my arms.
And the biggest red flag? That netorase point deduction at the end of the last loop. It'd only happened once, but it lined up perfectly with me interrupting Jun-seo and Da-bin's fuck session. Gave me a bad vibe. Maybe this netorase loop was forcing netorare on me.
I responded to Da-bin's gym request.
"Want me to come with?"
"Nah, it's fine, oppa. You've been working hard—you must be tired."
"You've been working too... Da-bin, you're not trying to lose weight or anything, right?"
"Uh... yeah! It's not that. I just wanna sweat it out..."
I tossed out the bait to probe her headspace. Sure enough, her body was on fire right now.
"Alright, Da-bin. I'll drive you there at least."
"Okay!"
A bit later, she emerged in workout clothes. But... they weren't the same as last loop. A crop top showing off her midriff—the one she only wore at home on hot summer days.
I froze at her outfit. She noticed and approached.
"Oppa, you don't like me dressing like this?"
I didn't hate it. Honestly, she looked hot. But picturing the guys at the gym ogling her made my nerves twitch. Still... my dick stirred at the thought, standing at attention. Maybe I was even deeper into netorase than before.
Gym bros eyeing Da-bin with lust... They'd probably jerk off thinking about her tonight.
"Oppa! What're you thinking?"
"Huh? Nothing. You're just so pretty..."
"Hmmm..."
I brushed it off, but she stared right into my eyes. She'd clocked my dirty thoughts already.
"Oppa! You're thinking something naughty, aren't you?!"
"Haha! N-no, not really..."
"Liar! Oppa!"
"Uh... um..."
"Oppa, last time at the beach, you begged me to wear something revealing. You're thinking the same now, aren't you?!"
I'd forgotten. This timeline was after the summer trip with Jun-seo, Hyun-woo, and Han-gu. She'd worn that one-piece swimsuit at my request back then. Right—she'd already sniffed out my heavy netorase kink.
No point hiding it. This loop, better to be upfront with her, rack up points fast. I confessed.
"Y-yeah... Guilty as charged, Da-bin. Haha!"
"Pervert oppa..."
"Hehe... Yeah, I'm a perv..."
Bonk! Something smacked my crown. Her signature kitty punch.
No matter the loops, her striking power never changed. The off-beat pain made me groan involuntarily.
"Urk!"
"You deserve way more hits, oppa!"
Bonk! Bonk! A flurry followed. Scratch that—her power had leveled up. This wasn't a cat anymore. It was the tiger I'd felt once before.
"D-Da-bin! That really hurts!"
"Aigoo!"
...
...
I dropped her off at the gym.
"Da-bin, text me before you're done so I can pick you up."
"Got it, oppa!"
She looked more vibrant than ever—cuter in a fresh way. When she's cute, I wanna tease. As she stepped out, I called after her.
"Da-bin, you're not working out just to hit me harder, right?"
"How'd you know, oppa?"
"What? For real?"
"Yup! Gotta get stronger to fix that perv habit of yours!"
"Your punches already feel stronger though?"
"It's all—your—fault—oppa!"
"Okay, kidding. Have fun, Da-bin."
"Yeah, see ya."
"Go, Da-binmon!"
Something I'd always wanted to try. But her reaction...
"Wh-what, oppa?"
Serious face, pure disdain.
"Ahaha! Just joking, Da-bin."
"Oppa, you're not actually going weird on me, right? I'm seriously worried."
"No, Da-bin. It reminded me of this fun anime from when I was a kid. You're so cute, I thought I could stuff you in my pocket like one of those monsters... haha!"
"Someone bring back my Do-yoon oppa... Come back! Do-yoonoppa-mon!"
"See? You loved it as a kid too."
"Aigoo!!! Seriously, oppa—you're hopeless!"
Whap! Whap! More kitty punches. Time to shut up.
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The dull scrape of metal on metal. Nonstop whir of treadmills. Upbeat music pumping through the gym.
Da-bin sensed a raw, unpolished vibe here. Men sweating as they upped the weights. Their bulging arms on full display.
For some reason, heat bloomed in her lower belly.
She'd come to cool off her heated body... but now it was preheating from the scenery.
Gotta run it off quick...
She hopped on a treadmill, ignoring her body's subtle shifts. Speeding up gradually. Sweat beaded everywhere, thighs taut and straining. The exercise high felt amazing.
Feels so refreshing... Should've done this sooner...
She ran until drenched, then stepped off.
Instantly, eyes flicked her way.
She clocked it right away—their stares on her.
But her body reacted strangely. Faint heat spreading everywhere. An itchy tingle.
She knew if she relaxed now, something would leak.
No... Can't get wet here...
She'd felt guys' gazes at the cafe plenty, but it never fazed her. This time? Her body felt off even to her.
Is it 'cause oppa made me do weird stuff...? Been extra sensitive since yesterday...
She inhaled deep, calming her rising urges.
Then a familiar voice from somewhere.
"Yo! Im-tta! Working out hard, huh?"
Her college senior—and Do-yoon's classmate—Choi Hyun-woo.
"Hyun-woo oppa?"
"Yeah! I train here!"
"Oh..."
"When'd you start coming?"
"Today... first time signing up."
"Whoa, Im-tta! Big commitment! Trying to slim down?"
"Huh?"
Classic Hyun-woo provocation. He started teasing her like old times right away.
"Living with Do-yoon put some weight on? Least it's all in your boobs—lucky you."
"Hey! Choi Hyun-woo!"
She couldn't hold back, snapping at him casually like before.
"Ah—sorry, sorry! Meant it as a compliment, Da-bin."
"Oppa, seriously! Even here? So many people... embarrassing!"
"Haha! Told ya, compliment. Yo, with you dressing like that and working out, the guys here can't focus."
"Ugh, oppa!"
"Im-tta, not the time to play cold with me. Place is crawling with dudes—need me to watch your back?"
"No thanks! Gross!"
"Fine, call Do-yoon then."
"I got it!"
"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, nice seeing you here, Im-tta. Didn't expect that."
"Sigh... Run into this guy even at the gym..."
"Just running?"
"Yeah."
"Add some weights—better results."
"Got it."
"Hit me up if you got questions while training. Gym owner's my buddy—tell him if you need help!"
"Didn't ask."
"Same old attitude, Im-tta. Hey, since we're here, next time grab drinks with Do-yoon!"
"Sure. I'm out!"
Da-bin bolted like she'd seen a ghost, not even showering. She shoved open the door and left.
Her sweat scent lingered faintly where she'd been.
The gym owner, watching her go, asked Hyun-woo.
"Yo, Hyun-woo. Friend of yours?"
"Yeah. College buddy's girlfriend."
"Has a boyfriend, huh..."
"They're engaged."
"Figures..."
The owner rubbed his chin, eyes on her retreating figure.