Chapter 46: One-Time Perk Activation (Branch Point 03)

The only sound echoing through the house was the tick-tock of the clock.

Han Jae-min was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠still out dealing with his housing issue, and Da-bin had gone to the gym for her workout. Right now, she was probably drenched in sweat on the treadmill, giving off that thick, musky scent.

I wondered what filthy thoughts the guys at the gym were having as they stared at her... If they saw her glutes twitching with every stride, those bastards would get rock-hard on the spot.

Just imagining it was enough to get me going. My dick was already standing at attention, begging to blow its load.

In the previous loop, I'd probably be jerking off by now. But what I was doing instead...

Exercise.

Not just any exercise—Kegels and bodyweight squats. Both were rumored to boost stamina.

Before regressing to this branch point, I'd made up my mind. Somehow, I had to overcome my premature ejaculation and build enough stamina to satisfy Da-bin.

Luckily, starting from the second day after regression, Da-bin had suggested working out first, so I could put my plan into action right away.

Honestly, I had no idea if these exercises would actually help my stamina. But I had to try.

I didn't plan to stay in this branch point forever, but eventually, there'd come a time when I had to stop regressing. The perks I got from regression were out of my control, so I needed to find ways to improve on my own.

If Kegels and squats didn't work, I'd try something else.

Da-bin's sweaty scent filled the car.

Maybe because it was her first day, she'd skipped the shower and come straight out. That raw, feminine musk from her body was driving me wild.

I wanted to praise her for not washing up. But she looked pissed about something, her lips pursed as she grumbled from the passenger seat.

"Oppa! I ran into Hyun-woo oppa at the gym! He started teasing me the second he saw me... so annoying..."

In the previous loop, she'd met Choi Hyun-woo at the gym too, but later than this. That bastard must've been working out there for a while.

Come to think of it, during our group beach trip last summer, he'd bragged about his arm muscles and his workouts. He'd even flexed at Da-bin back then.

I'd hated seeing him show off, so I'd grabbed his arm and pinned him down. Anyway, I'd thought he'd quit after that, but apparently not.

Choi Hyun-woo was the type to tease girls like Da-bin and others around us. I'd let it slide so far, but someday I wanted to knock that habit out of him.

"Want me to call that guy and give him a warning?"

"Ehh... no. It's fine, oppa. He's always like that..."

"If he keeps acting up, I'll go tell him off myself."

"Ugh... yeah. But Hyun-woo oppa's been that way forever... I've gotten used to it, oppa. Don't worry about it."

"He's a real weirdo, huh. Anyway, Da-bin, how was the workout?"

"Yeah! Just running, but it felt so refreshing. Should've started sooner!"

"No weights?"

"Nah... not yet?"

"Want me to sign ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up at the gym too and show you proper form?"

"No, oppa needs his rest... I'll stick to running for now."

"Okay, Da-bin."

"But oppa..."

"Yeah?"

Da-bin looked at me. Fresh from her workout, her face was flushed, sweat beading on her skin, making her look even more seductive.

She hesitated, then her lips parted.

"Today at the gym... I felt like the guys were staring at me a lot."

Confessing the gazes she'd felt. I could guess why she was telling me this...

"R-Really?"

"Ugh... yeah. Maybe because of these clothes?"

"The clothes are part of it... but you're so pretty, those guys can't help it..."

"Oppa..."

"Yeah, Da-bin?"

"But today, some guy asked for my number."

"Wha—huh? Your... number?"

"Yeah..."

"A-And? What happened?"

Da-bin stared straight into my eyes, like she was peering into my soul. Then her gaze dropped lower—to the front of my pants.

"Oppa... you're hard right now, aren't you?"

"Da-bin..."

Pow! Pow!

Her kitty punches flew at me. Caught off guard, I let out a groan.

"Ow! Da-bin!"

"Oppa! Seriously!"

"I-It was a lie, right? Da-bin?"

"Aigoo! You wish it was real?!"

"N-No, that's not what I—"

"Can't even stop you..."

"Haha... you're so pretty, Da-bin, it just happened..."

"Tch! Oppa! But the gym owner really kept staring at me!"

"The owner?"

"Yeah! He said he's friends with Hyun-woo oppa!"

"Ha... figures he'd have friends just like him."

"But oppa."

"Yeah?"

"You're friends with Hyun-woo oppa too, right?"

"Ah..."

Her words hit home, leaving me speechless.

"Oppa! Don't think I let that slide once! Got it?!"

"Y-Yeah! Da-bin."

"Then strip."

"S-Strip?"

"Yeah! Time for punishment!"

At her command, I pulled down my underwear. My dick, leaking precum on its own, sprang free.

"Oppa, from now on, no touching my body! Got it?!"

"Y-Yeah!"

I received a handjob from her as punishment, forbidden from laying a finger on her. Watching her take charge was cute, but it also worried me.

Da-bin seemed way more aggressive than before. If she was already like this before we'd even started netorase... how slutty would she get once we were on track?

No way to tell.

She stroked my dick while verbally degrading me, the intensity on a whole new level compared to before. I came in no time.

That night, after bringing Da-bin home, Han Jae-min had returned to the room he was crashing in.

The bastard gawked at Da-bin as she brushed past him, drenched in sweat. I knew it was a natural guy reaction, but old memories made me judge him harsher.

While Da-bin showered, I sat Han Jae-min down for a talk.

"Hey, Jae-min. Erase what happened last time from your head. Completely."

"Yes... hyung."

He answered obediently. He was compliant until his lust peaked and he lost it.

"How's the housing thing going?"

"Ah... hyung. Things are looking good after doing what you suggested. Thanks!"

"Good. Glad to hear it."

"I'll only impose until today, hyung. Should be able to move out tomorrow."

"Yeah. Sorry you had to stress over it."

"All thanks to you worrying about me, hyung."

"Get some early sleep."

"Yes, hyung."

Han Jae-min's housing was sorted. I'd still see him at the cafe, so some unease lingered... but that was my burden to bear.

Leaving his room, I spotted Hodu curled up in the corner, peeking at me with sleepy eyes. That puppy bastard...

I'd planned to let bygones be bygones, but those eyes made it impossible. Pretending not to see him, I stepped on his tail.

"Yelp!"

That settles the score.

Evening, after all chores were done. Da-bin headed back to the gym, dressed just as revealingly as yesterday. She was already plotting how to excite her boyfriend Do-yoon.

'How can I get oppa worked up today? Yesterday, he got super turned on when I said the gym owner kept staring... His flustered face is so cute...'

Lost in thoughts of yesterday, someone called her name.

"Da-bin member?"

"Yes?"

She turned. It was the gym owner.

"Could you spare a moment? Nothing big, just over here..."

He pointed to the office behind the front desk.

Inside the office, he spoke to her.

"Have a seat. Hyun-woo ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠said you're acquaintances?"

"Y-Yeah..."

Was Choi Hyun-woo stirring up trouble again? Irritation bubbled up, but then the owner said something unexpected.

"Da-bin member, could you help with our gym's marketing?"

"Marketing?"

"Nothing fancy... like being an influencer or something..."

What got into her? Da-bin accepted the gym owner's offer, she told me later.

Influencer? In the old days, I couldn't even imagine her saying yes to that.

She'd changed a bit, but this was clearly the perk at work.

As if confirming my guess, text shimmered in the corner of my vision.

Starting tomorrow, Da-bin wouldn't be working at my cafe anymore.