Hunter Preparation
300 meters and I couldn't even run, collapsing in a heap. Huh?
It was a pitifully low stamina that made me feel ashamed of myself. Like a worm that dies from a single step.
'Why is this? Even though I'm an awakened person, I'm so weak.'
I started running at full speed from the beginning, and my body was still trembling. I collapsed on the bench, panting heavily.
"Hah... ha... hah..."
My body was much weaker than when I was a man. It was a logical consequence, of course. It's normal for women to lag behind men in physical strength.
But I couldn't accept the result so easily. Because I awakened my abilities at the cost of becoming a woman.
'That was just a warm-up. This time, it's for real.'
I jumped up from the bench. Quick re-challenge. The cheetah is the fastest animal on land. I am a cheetah. Even if I'm a latecomer, it's fine. I'll overtake everyone.
'I can do it! I'm an awakened person too!'
My calves, which had tasted the extreme, heated up. Adrenaline surged. 'I can't just give up like this.'
I am someone who aspires to be a great hunter in the future. It may start weak, but it will end in glory. Go. Run. Push off the ground and jump!
"...hic."
Eventually, I gave up without even running 100 meters.
Thank you for loving "Seol Siha Runs" so far. The stamina measurement service has ended. The program is being discontinued.
'Today, my body condition isn't great. In other words, it's a condition issue. It's definitely not an excuse. It's physically proven.'
'Every time I run, my nipples chafe and hurt...'
No bra, flat chest. Still, my breasts shake. Even Galileo Galilei acknowledged this. I overlooked the friction caused by breast morphing. The loss of exercise energy caused by friction resistance. That was the reason I couldn't demonstrate my abilities.
'What to do about this...'
I pondered a solution from the animation. The clichéd solution is to buy a bra. Measuring breast size in the store is just a bonus.
'That's not happening. I hate it.'
But I shook my head vigorously. It's embarrassing. Even though I've worn stockings, I hate it when it looks like an over-the-top refusal. The bra lockdown policy is the last line of resistance as a man. It's a matter of pride. I won't take no for an answer.
"Can't be helped. I can just put on some band-aids."
Especially, I don't want to show it to Sehyeon. If that guy finds the used band-aids in the laundry basket, it's terrible.
'He'll realize I'm a woman. Impossible.'
Therefore, I don't wear bras. Maybe it's more embarrassing than being naked. My breasts are just wrapped appropriately with clothes.
"Haaah... I'm so lazy."
I sweated all morning, so it's uncomfortable. When I returned home, I immediately took off my clothes. Pants, jacket, shirt, panties – everything. Enjoying the liberation of being naked, I headed to the bathroom.
"He's still sleeping, right? His habit of sleeping in hasn't changed."
The weak Sehyeon in the morning is still in bed. I can walk around naked without worry.
After showering slowly, I came out to the living room with just a towel wrapped around my waist.
"Where could the band-aids be?"
I need to prepare for tomorrow's stamina measurement. Trying them on once as a test isn't bad.
While I was rummaging through the drawers, Sehyeon, who had just woken up from sleep, came out of the room. Messy hair, dazed eyes.
I asked Sehyeon at that moment.
"Hey, do you have any band-aids at home?"
"You should wear some clothes-!!!"
But instead of an answer, a refusal came back.
"Hmm."
The atmosphere is low. Maybe because blood flow is concentrated downward. I faced Sehyeon's lower body and asked.
"Did it grow because it's morning? Because of me?"
"It didn't grow!"
"Dumbass. You don't even know that erectile dysfunction is the most dangerous? I can recommend a good urologist."
I teased Sehyeon cheerfully from midday. Showing my back a bit is fine, right?
"Stop wandering around with just a towel after showering."
"What, it's fine. You wander around in panties too."
"I'm different from you... Ah, really, stop!"
If you hit with facts, you can't refute it. What are you going to do?
"More importantly, find me some band-aids. I can't find them."
"Why band-aids? Did you get hurt somewhere?"
"There's something like that. Don't ask. I got hurt."
I vaguely answered Sehyeon's question. It wasn't something to say straightforwardly. It was a delicate matter.
"Let's see... I probably put it here. Ah, there are only two left. One is enough?"
"Give me both. I'll keep one as a spare."
It was an operation that definitely required two. But to avoid suspicion, I vaguely deflected.
"Well, whatever. More importantly, wear some clothes!"
Sehyeon casually handed me the band-aids. Having obtained the target, I went into the room.
Then, I tried wearing the band-aids experimentally.
"This should be fine even when running without chafing."
A satisfactory result. The state of being naked except for covering the nipples is cute.
"Since it's troublesome to peel it off again, should I just leave it like this?"
After changing into new clothes, I came out to the living room. Sehyeon was rummaging through the fridge.
"Want lunch? I can make it for you."
It was rare for Sehyeon to volunteer to cook. It meant his stomach was empty.
"What's the menu?"
"Instant rice with grilled spam."
A diet that doesn't require high cooking skills. Even a cooking newbie like Sehyeon could manage that.
"I'll eat."
So, I specially allowed him to cook. It felt like a chef finally letting the youngest try cutting with a knife.
It hadn't been long since I started relying on Sehyeon. But most of the housework was done by me.
'As the older brother taking care of the younger brother, it's inevitable.'
In other words, I'm the head of this household.
"Yeah, yeah. Call me when it's ready."
I lay comfortably on the sofa waiting for lunch.
"Kyaa!?"
A scream from the kitchen. As expected, I had to be there.
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing. I sliced my finger while cutting the spam."
"See? That's why you do things you usually don't do."
Tsk tsk. I clicked my tongue and looked for ointment.
"Apply some ointment appropriately and stick it with band-aids... Ah."
I had used up all the band-aids earlier. Precisely, they are still in use. Because I stuck them on. It wasn't long since I applied them. Plus, I just showered. It's not dirty. Moreover, Sehyeon is the more urgent patient than me.
'This... this I have to share. But the contact area is a bit...!?'
We are a friendship that shares even a single bean. Sharing band-aids wouldn't be strange.
"Uh, ugh...!"
After some deliberation, I put my hand inside my clothes. Rustle. Secretly took the band-aid from Sehyeon.
"You pathetic kid! Take out your wound area quickly."
While grumbling, I finished the first aid. I recycled the band-aid, but it was unavoidable.
'He probably didn't notice?'
I glanced. I casually checked on Sehyeon. Indirectly, our body parts touched. In other words, a breast touch with a time lag. The feeling was weird. I felt like I did something wrong.
'What, it's fine. The guy who wouldn't touch my breasts if it wasn't me.'
Even thinking by myself, it's a contradictory thought. I don't want Sehyeon to see me as a woman. But I want to help Sehyeon because I'm a woman. I remembered a comic I saw sometime ago. The male protagonist who can only protect his friend by transforming into a magical girl.
'I might be in a similar situation.'
Don't think too deeply. Just act naturally, like flowing water.
"But why suddenly this exercise? The guy who hates moving."
A sharp comment came from Sehyeon. I had to hide the fact that I wanted to become a hunter.
"I want to try adding exercise as a hobby."
"What nonsense. The guy who only plays goalkeeper during PE soccer practice suddenly became into exercise."
"Shut up, you hermit otaku who didn't even participate."
The problem is that we know each other's school days too well. If you do something you usually don't do, it's easy to get suspicious.
'There are academies that specialize in training hunter aspirants, but it's a waste.'
I don't need to find hunter know-how from afar. There's an S-rank hunter right in front of me. But the purpose must be hidden. Sehyeon will think that becoming a hunter is dangerous.
"Anyway, I'm going to do physical training. So, you should exercise with me too."
"...Kek. Why me?"
As expected, Sehyeon protested. After all, he's not a homebody.
'Is there no good reason to bring this guy in-'
If I have Sehyeon, I can subtly receive advice. It will help me become a hunter. I just need to come up with a way to recruit Sehyeon.
'I did come up with a good plan... ugh.'
Is this okay? It's a lie that's awkward as a man. I hesitated but eventually spoke up.
"When I exercise alone, guys hit on me."
"What?"
"A guy tried to hit on me! He even gave me his contact info! Asked me out on a date!"
It was actually a lie. But to Sehyeon, it would sound plausible. The me who became a woman looks pretty cute. Sehyeon even admitted that. It's an appearance that a guy wouldn't be able to attach to without reason.
"That guy's taste is suspicious. Otherwise, he wouldn't hit on you... ugh, kyaa!?"
The atmosphere was very impure. What did I do wrong. I slapped Sehyeon's butt.
"Anyway, act like a guy next to me."
I firmly told Sehyeon. I had to instill that much sense of purpose so that the lazy bum would move.
"You want me to act like a boyfriend?"
"Eh, how brazen! Where do you get off!"
A perverted guy. I yelled at Sehyeon. You're not a boyfriend, you're a ball buddy. The nuance is important.
"Anyway, from tomorrow, I'll wake you up early. Get ready."
"Ah, really. That's too much... "
For that reason, "Seol Siha Runs" was largely reformed. S-rank hunter Lee Sehyeon will appear as a regular member. From now on, it's smooth sailing. The program name will also be changed. I can become a hunter, right?
(※Was it not a lie?!)