Chapter 3: The Gym, Trial Version
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 3: The Gym, Trial Version
Thud!
I closed the door without even realizing it.
What was that?
What is going on?
The system message about the promotion being successful and the word "Trial Version" flashed through my mind.
It had to be because of that, right?
The visitor who was supposed to come to the gym.
[Starting the 1-time Trial Version.]
I stared at the system message still floating in front of me.
So this is the gym's trial version.
And that woman must have come here because of it.
"Ha, haha..."
The messages popping up at random.
The woman arriving right on cue.
The progression was different from the status window stories I’d read in novels, making me suspect once again that this was some epic hidden camera prank.
But then again, hadn't the muscle aches I’d developed while working out just moments ago vanished instantly?
No matter how much modern technology had advanced...
"It couldn't have advanced this much."
Even if there were some technology I didn't know about, I wasn't a celebrity. No one would use such sophisticated tech just to prank an ordinary guy.
I looked through the peephole.
The woman was still standing outside the door.
She looked bewildered.
To anyone's eyes, this was clearly a private residence.
To think of such a place as a gym, and with such a natural expression!
If that was acting, she was a talent worthy of an Academy Award for Best Actress.
‘Fine. Let’s just play along and see what happens.’
I opened the door.
Creeeak.
"Excuse me."
"Trainer, are you not open today?"
"Wh-what?"
"I heard a new gym opened here, so I came all this way."
"W-well, you see..."
I stammered as I spoke.
"W-we're... open. We're open."
I’d done it.
I’d gone and said it.
Fine, since things have come this far, let’s just enjoy the ride.
"Please, come in."
As soon as I invited her, the woman hurried inside.
"It’s a bit cramped for now. Is it because you haven't fully opened yet? And the equipment... is that all of it?"
The woman’s eyes landed on the fitness gear I’d placed in a corner of the living room.
Dumbbells, a barbell, kettlebells, and a slide.
I had placed gym equipment in the living room, but it was unmistakably a normal home.
‘She still thinks this is a gym even after seeing this?’
Just as that thought crossed my mind—
"Where is the locker room?"
"Huh?"
"I need to change. I can't work out like this."
"Ah, r-right."
I nodded blankly. Working out in a white blouse was indeed out of the question.
"You can change in here."
I opened a door.
Of the two rooms, it was the hobby room where my computer was.
A room with walls lined with the manga and game CDs I’d collected as a hobby.
It was an embarrassing room to show a stranger, but it was better than opening the bedroom.
"The locker room is quite spacious, isn't it?"
However, she acted as if those books and CDs didn't even exist.
As if this place were a real locker room.
"Is there a mirror?"
"Ah, here."
"Thank you."
The woman took the mirror and went inside.
‘Is this for real?’
I couldn't believe a woman was changing clothes in my house.
That fact alone made my heart pound.
A flurry of thoughts raced through my head.
How was I supposed to take this?
The term "Trial Version" and everything else.
"Agh, let's not think. Thinking too hard will just make my hair fall out."
For now, I’d just play along with whatever she did.
I could figure out the situation later.
After a while...
Click.
The woman who had gone in to change opened the door and stepped out.
She was wearing purple leggings and a white tank top.
"Whoa."
Her toned glutes and slender legs were clearly visible beneath the leggings.
‘Wow.’
My jaw dropped.
I didn't know where to look, so I instinctively averted my gaze.
"There doesn't seem to be much equipment, but I'll have to make do with what's here."
"I-is that so?"
"But why are you so shy?"
"Pardon?"
"You're a peculiar trainer."
Hehe.
With a light chuckle, the woman began to stretch.
"Oh, could you possibly help me?"
"Me?"
"With stretching. Just a little help, please."
"H-how should I help you?"
"You can just give me a light push."
Having said that, the woman sat down on the floor.
Sitting with her legs straight out, she spread them wide into a full split.
Had she done yoga?
She was incredibly flexible.
Her pelvic structure, often called the Y-zone, was vividly outlined.
"Please."
She wouldn't call this sexual harassment or anything, right?
She was the one who asked, so it should be fine.
Hiding my anxiety, I placed my hands on the woman's shoulders.
Thump-thump.
Calm down, heart.
Don't act like such a clueless virgin.
Huff, puff.
I tried to steady my racing heart.
She was soft.
Ding!
[Starting the Assistance Program.]
A manual appeared before my eyes, showing me exactly how to assist with the stretching.
"Phew."
Following the manual, I pressed down firmly on her shoulders the moment she relaxed.
Wow.
She was flexible.
I even found myself thinking that a human waist could actually bend that far.
"Whew."
After loosening up, the woman took what’s commonly called the Cat Pose and stretched her back upward.
Her firm body was truly admirable.
My gaze was stolen by her well-defined erector spinae muscles.
Sweat began to bead on my hands where they touched her body.
Time flew by so fast I barely realized how I’d helped her stretch.
My head was spinning.
All I could remember was how soft her skin felt.
"Hoho, it looks like the trainer is having a harder time than I am."
"Huff, puff. No, I'm not."
It definitely wasn't because it was hard.
And it wasn't because I was turned on.
Actually, no, I was turned on.
"Well, now that I'm warmed up, I'm going to do some light dumbbell work... but why aren't you standing up?"
"Ah, it's nothing. It's nothing at all. Haha."
I laughed awkwardly while covering my crotch.
Just the physical contact with the woman had caused my "precious part" to stand up vigorously.
It was already up, but I couldn't stand up.
Until the East Sea's waters and Mt. Baekdu are dry and worn away...
I focused my mind, reciting the national anthem internally.
"Please, take your time with your workout. Let me know if you need any help."
My face flushed with rising embarrassment.
"I will."
Nodding, the woman picked up a barbell.
A classic squat position.
She bent her knees while pushing her hips back.
Every time her body lowered, the contour of her buttocks became vividly defined.
My eyes were naturally drawn to those beautiful curves.
This is driving me crazy.
Just as I felt my "precious part," which I’d barely managed to calm down, tensing up again...
I made eye contact with the woman.
"Ah."
I instinctively lowered my head.
Would she say something?
Would she accuse me of being a creep for staring lewdly?
Just as all sorts of thoughts were crossing my mind—
"Was my form off?"
"Huh?"
"I'm self-taught when it comes to squats. My form must have looked a bit strange to a trainer's eyes, right?"
"No. It was fine."
Even to me, who had only seen them in videos, her form was excellent enough to be called perfect.
"Really? Then could you help me adjust my posture? Since you're already watching."
"S-should I?"
My brain was working overtime.
I recalled the squat form I’d seen on Nutube once.
Vaguely remembering what the trainer on Nutube had said...
"Then I'll help you for a moment."
Having finally calmed "it" down (?), I stood up.
"Please."
‘Is it... okay to touch her?’
When I helped her stretch earlier, she didn't say anything when I touched her, right?
So it should be fine.
"Try... holding the posture like this."
I placed my hands on the woman's waist.
"One... two..."
Recalling the form from the video, I adjusted her posture.
My face felt hot enough to explode.
"Got it?"
After correcting her posture a few times, I took my hands off her body.
"You're good at this. Having the trainer help really makes a big difference."
Having said that, the woman began to focus on her workout.
Sweating profusely, she performed squats and then continued with strength training using kettlebells and dumbbells.
She spent over an hour and a half on just stretching and strength training.
So that's how you get a body like that.
I was impressed.
"I wanted to do some cardio too... but that's a shame. The machines haven't arrived yet, have they?"
The woman asked as she wiped her sweat with a towel.
She was already wearing clothes that emphasized her figure.
But now, her sweat-soaked clothes clung to her even more, exuding a mysterious charm.
The beads of sweat on her exposed midriff were striking.
"T-that's right."
"I'll have to come back when you officially open. You're a very good trainer."
The woman wiped her sweat and gave a refreshing smile.
"By the way... where is the shower?"
"Pardon?"
"I think I need to wash up."
"The sh-shower?"
I reflexively pointed toward the bathroom.
"There's... only this one."
"Oh, it's a bit far from the locker room."
"I-is it? That's just how it is here. Hahaha."
I scratched the back of my head.
It wasn't a gym to begin with, so what was I supposed to do?
"Thank you. Since it's my first time, I didn't know where things were."
The woman went into the locker room.
After gathering her toiletries and underwear from the locker room, she came out into the living room.
Coming out was fine, but...
"Why are you naked?"
"Pardon?"
She had walked out into the living room without a single stitch of clothing on.
I covered my eyes and shouted.
"Put some clothes on, quickly!"
"What are you talking about? It's standard to go from the locker room to the shower naked."
I could do nothing but blink at the woman's nonsensical words.
"What a strange person."
Tossing those words out, the woman walked confidently into the shower.
Sssshhh!
The sound of running water followed.
"Just now... she was definitely naked."
The image of the woman's naked body I’d just seen remained vivid.
"Why didn't she think that was strange?"
Could this be that...
Hypnosis thing or whatever?