Episode 8 - Physical Enhancement (2)
#Chapter 8 - Physical Enhancement (2)
Having been caught by Yu-ra once, I had already decided on one thing.
Even if someone else said they saw the white line.
I would not admit it first.
I would stay as calm as possible and pretend not to know.
Trainer Seo Ri-na muttered.
"...It disappeared."
'Stay calm.'
"...Could it be that someone's spiritual pressure disappeared?"
"...Pfft."
At the answer that didn't fit the serious mood at all, a laugh Trainer Seo Ri-na couldn't hold back slipped out.
"...You must like manga."
"Yep. Seeing that you understood it too, Trainer, you must have watched some yourself."
"Yes. I watch it often to— No, that's not it."
'Tch.'
The attempt to change the subject didn't work.
Trainer Seo Ri-na looked at me again.
"You didn't see it? Just now, from where my hand touched, a semi-transparent white line clearly ran toward your chest and arm."
"A white line? I didn't see it. Couldn't it have been the lighting?"
"No. It wasn't something you could mistake for lighting or a spiderweb."
I deliberately glanced down at my shoulder and arm once.
I pretended to think for a moment, then tilted my head.
"I'm not sure. If you see it again, please let me know. I'll look closely then too."
'Good.'
'That was natural enough.'
Trainer Seo Ri-na still looked unconvinced, but after looking back and forth between my shoulder and arm for a while, she gave a small nod.
"...It's not visible now."
'Phew.'
At least there seemed to be no way to press further about the white line.
But.
"Excuse me."
"Yes?"
"I definitely saw you lift 200kg."
'Ah.'
I couldn't avoid that one.
"Is there any exercise you do separately besides the weights here, or supplements, or a training method you've changed recently?"
"I just swim or play ping-pong occasionally, and I don't take supplements separately. My training method is the same too."
Trainer Seo Ri-na stared at me.
"Then it's even stranger. There's no noticeable change, but the weight you can lift has suddenly nearly doubled."
"...I really don't have any secret."
Her gaze moved slowly over my arms, chest, and back.
"...Strange."
"It's a little embarrassing when you look at me so openly."
I deliberately covered my body slightly with both arms.
"Oh. I apologize if I made you uncomfortable."
Trainer Seo Ri-na immediately withdrew her gaze.
Her ears turned just a little red.
"Heh heh. I'm joking too."
"...I know. I knew and apologized anyway."
"..."
'Hmm.'
'A good exchange of offense and defense.'
The short skirmish ended.
A moment later, Trainer Seo Ri-na carefully raised her hand.
"If it's not too much trouble, may I check your muscle condition a bit more closely? I only saw the movement of you lifting the weight earlier."
"Directly?"
"Yes."
Ah.
'That directly.'
"Yes. That's fine."
"Thank you."
Trainer Seo Ri-na stepped closer and placed her right hand on my shoulder.
-Tap.
Her hand was bigger than I expected.
Her fingers shifted position a few times, pressing into the muscle.
"First, relax. And this time, tense up."
"Okay."
When I tensed my shoulder, she pressed again once, then moved her hand down to my arm.
She checked my triceps and biceps in turn, having me extend and bend my arm.
'She's incredibly thorough.'
She seemed to compare one by one: when I relaxed, when I tensed, and even when I moved.
"You definitely have a well-trained body. But not enough to explain a 200 kg lift."
"...Please just pick one: compliment or insult."
Trainer Seo Ri-na moved to my front this time.
"I'll check your chest too."
"Okay."
I answered, but actually standing face-to-face so close felt a little strange.
Her silver-white hair was right in front of my eyes, and the height difference wasn't as big as I'd thought.
Trainer Seo Ri-na, apparently unconcerned, placed her fingertips just below my collarbone.
-Tap.
"Tense here."
When I tensed my chest, two or three fingers pressed the upper part of my pectoralis major.
While she was shifting the position little by little.
"You've tensed up."
"...I didn't."
"I asked you to relax, but it actually got tighter."
"..."
'Damn bodily reactions.'
"Maybe it's because you're too close, Trainer."
"...Ah."
Only then did she seem to realize she had been standing quite close.
Trainer Seo Ri-na raised her head, and our eyes met.
"..."
"..."
Her eyes were a little wider than usual.
A beat later, Trainer Seo Ri-na, her ears reddening, avoided my gaze first.
"I'm sorry. It was such an unusual phenomenon that I got focused on checking and ended up too close. Please tell me right away if you're uncomfortable."
"It's fine. You're just checking my workout."
Apparently intending to finish the check, she moved to my side this time.
"Tense your back once too."
Only after checking several spots around my lats and shoulder blades did she step back.
"...It really is strange. There's no noticeable change in muscle mass or left-right balance, and the muscle itself hasn't become abnormally hard. But the output alone has gone up significantly."
"..."
'I should stay quiet.'
Trainer Seo Ri-na looked down at her own palm and muttered as if to herself.
"It's not that the muscle itself got stronger..."
"Pardon?"
"...Never mind."
She shook her head.
But her expression was a little different from before.
It was closer to curiosity than suspicion.
Trainer Seo Ri-na, who had been staring at me with eyes a little wider than usual, spoke again.
"Muscles have limits. But what determines those limits may not be the muscles alone."
"...You suddenly said something cool."
"I saw something similar in Hanma Ba-i."
"..."
'I take that back.'
"It's something like mental imagery. The actual weight doesn't decrease, but you perceive the heavy thing as much lighter and remove the limits your body has, that sort of thing."
'That's actually pretty close to the truth.'
"...So, like, you lift a 200kg barbell while thinking of it as a lighter object?"
"Roughly. Of course, imagination alone doesn't reduce the actual weight."
She cleared her throat, seeming a little embarrassed.
"Ahem."
"You said that very seriously just now."
"Baki is quite serious."
"...I see."
There was a brief silence.
Trainer Seo Ri-na looked at me again.
"Would you like to work out with me next time? It's not a personal training session. I'd like to see a bit more of how you use your body while I work out too."
"...Together?"
It was a little unexpected.
I never thought someone I'd only exchanged silent nods with for three years would suddenly propose being workout partners.
"Why?"
"I'm curious."
"About what?"
"Your body."
"..."
That sounded a little odd.
Trainer Seo Ri-na also seemed to realize it a beat late, blinking a few times.
"...I mean the way you work out. I didn't mean anything else."
"I didn't say anything."
"..."
Her eyes widened a little more than usual, then her ears gradually reddened.
I held back a laugh and asked.
"You've worked out for a long time too, Trainer. Are you really that curious about my workout?"
"Because I've been doing it for so long, I'm even more curious. The longer you work out, the slower the changes get, and I've been stuck at a plateau for quite a while myself. But you've been lifting about the same weight for three years and suddenly lifted twice as much, so as someone who trains, I can't help but be curious."
This time I felt like I understood what she meant.
She wasn't simply suspicious of me.
As someone who trained herself, she was genuinely curious about the change she had just witnessed.
"So that's why you want to work out together?"
"Yes. It's fine even if you're not hiding some secret technique. I can see for myself."
"..."
For some reason, it felt like being interrogated.
"What time will you come tomorrow?"
"I was actually thinking of resting tomorrow."
"..."
Trainer Seo Ri-na opened her eyes a little wider than usual and stared at me.
"The god of martial arts is a huge cheapskate."
"..."
It was a line I felt like I'd seen somewhere before.
"Doppo?"
"As expected."
For the first time, the corners of Trainer Seo Ri-na's mouth lifted slightly.
"So will you come?"
I thought for a moment, but it wasn't a hard decision.
Having an expert watch over me was far safer than causing an accident while testing my ability alone.
And besides.
'Free personal training!'
"What time?"
"Is seven thirty okay?"
"Yes. That works."
After I even checked my calendar, Trainer Seo Ri-na nodded with satisfaction.
"Good. And tomorrow, don't start right at 200kg."
"...I did warm up."
"There's an order to conversing with your muscles too."
"...Is that from Hanma Ba-i too?"
"No. I just made it up."
"..."
When I didn't react much, she seemed to get more embarrassed herself and quickly turned around.
"...Then see you tomorrow."
Trainer Seo Ri-na's ears, turned away from me, were slightly red again.
'She's more fun than I thought.'
We'd only exchanged silent nods for three years.
Somehow, it looked like we'd be working out together tomorrow.
===
On the way home after finishing my workout.
A message had arrived from Yu-ra.
[NanoChat]
Han Yu-ra: Did your workout end well?
Me: Yes, I just finished and I'm about to head home.
Han Yu-ra: (Rabbit emoji resting its chin on its hand with a peculiar expression and looking)
Han Yu-ra: Are you going straight home?
Me: Oh.. You said you were tired
Han Yu-ra: Maybe if the person who made me tired relieves the fatigue, it might get better?
Me: Then shall we have dinner together?
Han Yu-ra: Not dinner, it would be nice if you came over
Han Yu-ra: (Rabbit emoji nudging with its elbow with a suggestive expression)
Me: I'll buy something simple and come over!
I thought for a moment about what to buy.
'Meat’s the cure for fatigue.'
I got a medium jokbal-bossam set to go and headed to Yu-ra's place.
===
I pressed the intercom at the building entrance.
[Intercom]
-Ring.
"Jokbal delivery!"
"I didn't order jokbal! Go away!"
Contrary to the words telling me to go away, the building entrance opened quickly.
===
I took the elevator up and found the apartment door already open.
"Jokbal delivery-!"
When I called out again, Yu-ra walked out from the bathroom.
She was wearing a loose short-sleeved T-shirt and short shorts.
"I didn't order jokbal!"
"Oh. Then I'll be going."
When I pretended to turn around, Yu-ra crossed her arms.
"I didn't order jokbal, I ordered Se-ryu-"
'She really was a fox.'
"Jokbal came as a bonus."
I went inside and took off my shoes.
It wasn't much different from yesterday, but it was somehow a little tidier.
'Did she clean in a hurry?'
I felt like asking, but I didn't want to choke while eating jokbal, so I kept my mouth shut.
"...I feel like you just thought something that would get you in trouble?"
"No. It smells nice."
"Hmm."
Yu-ra looked at me for a moment, then turned toward the inside.
It seemed I'd gotten away with it for now.
Her expression was bright, but up close, signs of fatigue still remained.
"You still look a little tired."
"Because someone kept me from sleeping."
"...Work has been busy at the company lately."
-Poke poke.
Yu-ra poked my side with her finger.
"I wonder which person from work kept me from sleeping-?"
"...Let's eat quickly before the food gets cold!"
I hastily changed the subject and took out the takeout food.
Yu-ra glanced at my arm once.
"Did your workout go well? Hmm- It does look a bit more pumped than yesterday."
"Uh..."
I thought for a moment.
"It went so well that a problem came up. I'll tell you while we eat dinner."
"...?"
Maybe because she was tired, Yu-ra couldn't eat much compared to usual, and I took care of almost all the leftovers.
When the meal ended, Yu-ra leaned sideways against the sofa and stretched out long.
"Haa- If someone would massage my shoulders, I feel like the fatigue would melt away."
As she said that, she lightly brought the back of her hand to my neck.
"Should I give you a massage like earlier at the company?"
"Oh! Massage sounds great!"
The person who had just been tired sprang up and headed for the bed.
"...You're the person who was tired until just now, right?"
"Hurry up-"
When I followed, she was already lying face down on the bed.
"I'm ready-"
"You're fast."
I chuckled and sat on the edge of the bed.
"I'll start with your shoulders."
"Okay."
I pressed slowly with both hands.
-Press.
"Ugh..."
Yu-ra's body went limp.
"You're really tense."
"I was sleepy all day today."
"Then you should rest at home."
"I was resting. Then I missed you, so I called you over."
"..."
She said things like that so casually.
I put a little more strength into my hands for no reason.
-Press.
"Ah."
"Here?"
"Yeah. That spot's good."
I slowly worked from below her neck to her trapezius, then brought up the earlier topic.
"I almost got caught using my ability at the gym today."
"...Again?"
Yu-ra lifted her head slightly.
"I connected my muscles and did bench press, and the weight went up absurdly. The trainer who saw it thought it was strange and even checked my body condition, and while touching me, she saw the white line I'd connected."
"...So what did you do?"
"I kept playing dumb. All she had was what she’d seen, so I said I didn’t know what it was either. She didn’t press further, but said she was curious why I’d suddenly gotten so strong and suggested we work out together tomorrow."
"...Hmm."
Yu-ra relaxed her body again, then asked.
"Is that trainer a woman?"
"Yes."
"...Ah."
A short answer.
But the back that had been loosening softly until just now tightened slightly again.
'Huh?'
I moved my hands toward her shoulders.
"Is she someone you just met today?"
"No. She's been there since I first signed up. It's been about three years, but we really only exchanged silent nods. We've barely even talked."
"...I didn't say anything."
"..."
Right.
Why did I explain myself?
The corner of Yu-ra's mouth lifted very slightly.
The back that had tensed up earlier began to loosen again.
'Her body is really honest.'
Since I was doing it anyway, I decided to loosen her up thoroughly.
I overlapped and connected the sensations of Yu-ra's shoulders, back, and arms to both my hands.
-Press.
"Eep-"
Her body flinched.
"You connected several places, huh?"
"Yes. I'm trying to loosen them all at once."
Yu-ra's shoulders quickly went limp.
"Feels good, right?"
"...Yeah. I was just surprised because it felt good."
"I didn't say anything."
"...Keep massaging."
'Surprise success.'
Yu-ra, who had been quiet for a moment, spoke again.
"...Is that trainer pretty?"
My hands paused for a second.
"You're suddenly curious about that?"
"Just because. I'm curious what kind of person she is."
She was lying face down without showing her face.
There was no particular reason to lie.
"She is on the pretty side. Silver-white hair, light eye color, and she seems mixed-race. Age-wise, probably around my age or a little younger."
"...Really?"
She went quiet.
Under my hands, I felt the back subtly tense.
'Even I can tell at this point.'
She clearly minded it.
'Should I tease her a little?'
"Yu-ra. Why are you so curious?"
"...I said I'm just curious."
"Do you want to go to the gym together?"
"...No."
The answer came immediately.
"It's good, you'd get exercise too."
"I don't know."
Her voice was slightly sulky.
I held back a laugh and leaned down a little.
"But Yu-ra, you're prettier."
-Flinch.
The back under my hands trembled slightly.
"...Oh please- Who asked about that."
"Someone did keep asking."
"Why you-"
"I'm not sure who it was."
Yu-ra turned her head slightly and glared at me.
But her ears were red.
'Cute.'
Without realizing it, I brought my face a little closer.
-Nibble.
I very lightly bit her reddened ear.
"-Hah."
Yu-ra hunched her shoulders.
"I'm tired today..."
I immediately pulled my face away.
"What were you thinking, Yu-ra? I just bit your ear once."
"...I don't know! Exactly!"
Yu-ra hugged a pillow and buried her face in it.
"Seriously, you never let me win even once. Really."
I laughed and put my hands back on her shoulders.
"I'll let you win today. I'll massage you until you fall asleep."
"..."
With her face buried in the pillow, she was quiet for a moment.
Then very quietly.
"...That sounds nice."
After that, I continued the massage without much conversation.
With my ability connected, even places my hands didn't directly touch seemed to loosen together, and Yu-ra's breathing gradually grew longer.
"Yu-ra. Is this helping?"
"...A lot. But keep going."
"I think you can sleep now."
"...I'll be a little greedy."
Her answer was fuzzy.
Before long, her breathing became even.
"Yu-ra. Are you asleep?"
"...Not asleep."
Her voice was almost completely drowsy.
"You sound like someone who's asleep."
"...Masseur. So talkative."
Yu-ra gently tugged my arm.
-Peck.
She gave me a short kiss and buried her face in the pillow again.
"Do it without talking."
"...Yes, ma'am."
Maybe a few more minutes passed.
The grip holding my wrist completely loosened.
"...Yu-ra?"
There was no answer.
This time it was real.
Her breathing continued regularly, and her fully asleep face had no tension at all.
'She must have been really tired.'
I slowly released my ability.
-Slip.
She didn't wake even when I removed my hands.
I brushed a stray strand of hair aside and pulled the blanket up to her shoulders.
I went back to the table, put the leftover jokbal and bossam in the fridge, and gathered the trash together.
When I checked my phone, it was quite late.
As I headed to the front door, I suddenly looked back toward the bed.
Yu-ra was still sleeping in the same position.
I wanted to see her once more for no reason and said in a small voice.
"Good night."
Of course, there was no answer.
-Click.
I closed the door as quietly as possible and came out.
While waiting for the elevator, I leaned my back against the wall.
"...Hoo."
Just today alone, I'd almost been caught by the trainer while testing my ability, and tomorrow I'd agreed to work out with that trainer.
And in the evening, Yu-ra's place again.
'Busy.'
For the daily life of someone who wanted to live ordinarily, it was getting stranger and stranger.
-Ding.
The elevator arrived.
I got in and pressed the button, then suddenly remembered Yu-ra's reaction from a little while ago.
Asking if the trainer was a woman.
Asking how many years I'd known her.
Even asking if she was pretty.
"..."
'No way.'
I thought for a moment, then shook my head.
'Let's not get the wrong idea on my own.'
Once you start assigning meaning to things like this by yourself, there's no end to it.
Getting ahead of myself for nothing and making the current mood weird would be more troublesome.
The elevator doors slowly closed.
Still, one thing was certain.
Spending time with Yu-ra was quite nice, more than I'd expected.
'...Nice.'
Feeling a little lighter, I headed home.