Chapter 227
I tend to spend my time relatively quietly, but there were quite a few kids around me who were anything but that.
For example, there was a certain red magical girl.
Just looking at her, she already seemed full of energy—her expression, gestures, and the way she spent her free time were all very active.
Seo-hee.
“Is there a case where a date is set at a stadium?”
“A lot of people probably date while watching baseball at a baseball field, right?”
“No, what I mean is, are there many people who exercise like us while dating?”
I laid back on the floor in a big X shape.
Even though the weather was slowly approaching winter, I was sweating profusely. Well, it’s not surprising to sweat if you’re indoors like this.
“Hmm, well, I also don’t really know since I haven’t dated anyone.”
Seo-hee paused to think for a moment and then spoke as if it came to her suddenly.
“But still, you’re wearing clothes that show off your figure so boldly, right? It wouldn’t be weird at all if someone caught your eye.”
“……That’s true. I admit.”
I let out a long sigh and then got up from my spot.
Where we were now was the squash court.
Honestly, I only knew the name of the sport and had only seen it briefly in videos here and there, so I never thought I’d actually play it myself.
For those who might not know, it’s like playing tennis against a wall. You hit the ball against the wall, it bounces back, and you hit it again.
It’s a back-and-forth game between two people, and surprisingly, the ball moves incredibly fast, so it’s definitely not a sport you can enjoy leisurely.
And tragically, I was currently in the middle of losing four rounds.
“Whew.”
With a refreshing expression, Seo-hee flipped her hair back and reached her hand out to me.
“I won this time.”
“……”
I glared at her while taking her hand. Seo-hee pulled me up with all her might.
Both of us were wearing skin-tight sportswear. Mine was a fitted training outfit, but Seo-hee was wearing tight leggings. As for the top, it was hard to tell whether it was a tank top or a sports bra—it was a bit revealing.
Since it was gray, the color was slightly different around her chest area. The lighting reflecting off that skin above her chest showcased a healthy glow in many ways.
Yeah, I get why you might catch someone’s eye at the gym.
Noticing where my gaze was directed, Seo-hee smiled and said, “No way. If you get on top of me, I’m definitely going to lose.”
“……So, is this how you plan to get your revenge?”
“My revenge drama is just beginning! I’m going to have fun all day today. Right up until we go to the hotel.”
“……”
I stared at Seo-hee for a moment.
“Are you really thinking of wearing me out so you can win at the hotel?”
“……”
Seo-hee avoided my gaze.
“Okay, okay, then let’s move on to the next thing!”
“Ha.”
I let out a hollow laugh while watching Seo-hee dash off happily.
The place we were at could be described as an adult playground where you could enjoy various sports all at once. Normally, there would have been plenty of other people around, but today it seemed like Seo-hee had rented the whole place out, so it was just the two of us.
So, I guess that’s why we could dress like this.
“Want me to lend you an arm?”
As I said this, Seo-hee subtly pressed against me, looking all cute.
There was something strangely mischievous in her eyes, and it felt like whatever she deeply desired today was too obvious to hide.
I guess it was a part of her tactics.
How am I supposed to deal with this girl? I seriously pondered while following behind Seo-hee.
*
I’ve felt this way in my past life too—if someone claims to love sports, they often don’t just like one sport.
They watch not just soccer but basketball and volleyball too, and in games, they mostly play sports games.
I’m not sure if Seo-hee enjoys watching sports, but at least it’s clear that she really likes a ton of them.
Those are things I’ve never even gone near.
For example—
“Ah, what a pity! If you’d just gone a little higher, you would have won!”
Like rock climbing.
Oh, but of course, it wasn’t a real mountain; it was an indoor version that was a bit easier to enjoy.
Naturally, I’d never done this before, so I had no skills whatsoever. I’d get all tangled up with my feet and hands and end up unable to move, or I’d misplace my foot from the start and my posture would feel awkward.
There was a button at the top, and the first person to climb up and press it would win, but I hadn’t managed to win even a single round against Seo-hee.
“……No, this is strange.”
Once again sprawling on the floor, I glared at Seo-hee and said, “Are you purposely picking things I’ve never really done to beat me? Trying to win at least one match?”
“……”
Seo-hee averted her eyes again.
I called it.
But I decided not to say anything. After all, that wasn’t the reason we came out here.
What if we end up losing a little? Then that’s fine. Anyway, today is a day for just the two of us to spend time together.
There’s nothing wrong with a date that’s all about having fun, right?
Seo-hee reached out her hand to me once more, and I grabbed it and stood up.
*
After such a long stretch, I felt stiff all over after working out for a while.
“Should we wash up a bit before dinner?” Seo-hee asked.
Of course, we had lightly showered before leaving the building. But that didn’t mean I felt completely refreshed.
Since we couldn’t work out for six hours straight, the time was somewhat ambiguous when we stepped outside.
“Hmm, how about we have dinner at the hotel then?”
“That sounds good.”
With those words, Seo-hee led me toward the hotel room.
The hotel was truly a fancy one. A hotel located incredible high up. The bathroom offered a fantastic view outside, and upon closer inspection, the glass had some special coating. I assumed you couldn’t see inside from outside at all.
We entered the room so naturally, but unlike usual, Seo-hee wrapped herself up tightly in a towel.
“Don’t.”
Seo-hee said firmly.
“You still haven’t worn yourself out enough.”
“Ha, right.”
I laughed incredulously at her words and wrapped a towel around myself too.
And then the two of us lazily slid into the bathtub.
Seo-hee moved closer to me and leaned her body against my shoulder.
“Aren’t you supposed to be all done yet?”
“Well, that’s why I wrapped a towel around myself.”
I thought to myself that I was completely naked underneath. Still, I naturally hugged Seo-hee’s shoulder.
“…….”
“…….”
Then I pulled her a little closer and patted her head.
“I’m the older one here.”
Seo-hee pouted slightly and complained.
“What does that matter?”
Among my seniors, Seo-hee was the only one who occasionally cared about the age difference. It seemed less like a complex and more like she had some kind of romantic notion about the age gap.
She must be saying she hadn’t been able to act like an older sister until now.
But she never said a word when I spoke casually. Oh, perhaps she didn’t think it would come to this at that time.
“Hey.”
Seo-hee, nestled in my arms, opened her mouth.
“Clearly, I had a complete victory today, right?”
“Yeah, well, that’s true.”
There was no doubt I had lost completely. Even saying that my lack of experience meant something really had no significance. A match was a match, and since I had agreed, it was on me.
“So, can you grant me one wish?”
“A wish?”
Seo-hee wasn’t the type to say that kind of thing.
That meant she must have wanted something quite a bit. I smiled and said, “I’m not a genie, so if it’s something outrageous, it might be hard.”
“It’s not that outrageous.”
Seo-hee said with a little grumpiness about my joke.
“Hey, we’re still doing it today, right?”
“I wasn’t planning on not doing it.”
“Of course, I was planning on doing it. How could I think of not doing it after coming all this way?”
I genuinely burst out laughing at that.
As Seo-hee listened to my laughter, she quietly snuggled against me.
“So, is it related to that?”
“Yeah,” Seo-hee said.
“Today, I want you to indulge me a bit.”
I fell silent for a moment at her words.
So, she was worried about it after all.
I stayed quiet for a moment. Seo-hee held on to me silently, waiting for my answer.
“……Okay.”
“Really!?”
Seo-hee jumped up with a bright smile. As my arms slightly opened, she got on top of me, facing me.
Even though her towel was securely covering her chest, it couldn’t completely hide the valley above.
Moreover, as she entered the bathtub, her red hair got wet and stuck to her face.
Seo-hee, making a lively, somewhat childish expression, was wearing that outfit and in this atmosphere combined with the conversation felt completely unbalanced.
And because of that, it felt far more enticing.
“Are you serious? You promised me, right? Okay?”
“Yeah, yeah. I get it. I promised….”
I answered her up to that point, then fell into thought for a moment and spoke again.
This time, a bit more seriously.
“However, I’m not really experienced in that department. I think we’ll have to find a bit of a rhythm.”
“What does that mean?”
Seo-hee burst out laughing.
But soon, her laughter slowly faded.
Her lips curled up slightly, and her expression turned into one she usually wears when joking with me.
A mysterious smile.
But due to the current situation, that smile felt much more… carnivorous than when she laughed heartily.
“Anyway, that means you’re giving in today, right?”
“……”
“Then today, I’ll gladly feast.”
Grrr.
Seo-hee cried out like that and suddenly bit my neck.
Every single action of hers was strangely Seo-hee-like yet not-so-Seo-hee-like.
I pondered for a long time how to respond to her.
One thing was for sure, that Seo-hee looked exceptionally beautiful.