Ch.227IF Side Story: Passionately Until Exhaustion

I lay back on the floor in the shape of a large X and asked, “Do people actually choose sports venues as date spots?”

“I guess lots of people go on dates watching baseball games at stadiums?”

“No, I mean, are there many people who date while actively exercising like us?”

Despite the weather turning wintry, sweat was streaming down my body. Then again, it wasn’t strange to be sweating indoors like this.

“Hmm, I’m not sure. I’ve never dated anyone else before, so I don’t really know.”

Seo-hee fell into thought briefly before suddenly speaking as if something had just occurred to her.

“But we’re wearing these revealing clothes that show off our figures. I don’t think it would be strange if someone caught your eye.”

“…You have a point. I’ll give you that.”

I exhaled deeply before sitting up.

We were currently at a squash court.

I only knew the sport by name and had occasionally glimpsed it briefly in videos, but I never thought I’d actually play it myself.

For those who might not know, it’s basically like playing tennis against a wall. You hit the ball against the wall, it bounces back, and you hit it again.

Two people take turns hitting it, and the ball moves surprisingly fast, making it definitely not a sport you can enjoy at a leisurely pace.

Unfortunately, I was currently on a four-game losing streak.

“Whew.”

With an incredibly refreshed expression, Seo-hee flipped her hair back and extended her hand toward me.

“I won again this time.”

“…”

I glared at her as I took her hand. Seo-hee pulled me up with all her strength.

Both of us were wearing form-fitting workout clothes. While my pants were at least proper training pants that fit my body, Seo-hee was wearing skin-tight leggings. On top, she wore something between a tank top and a sports bra—a somewhat risqué outfit.

Since it was gray, the color had changed slightly around her sweaty chest. The way the light reflected off the skin above her chest showcased her healthy physique in various ways.

Yes, I can understand why people might make connections at the gym.

Noticing where my gaze was directed, Seo-hee grinned and said, “No way. If you get on top of me, I’ll definitely lose.”

“…So this is your revenge?”

“My revenge is just beginning. We’re going to have fun all day. Right until we get to the hotel.”

“…”

I stared at her blankly for a moment.

“Don’t tell me you’re trying to wear me out so you can win at the hotel?”

“…”

Seo-hee avoided my gaze.

“Well, well, let’s move on to the next activity!”

“Huh.”

I let out a hollow laugh as I watched Seo-hee’s retreating back as she fled with a lively laugh.

The place we were at could be described as a playground for adults, where you could enjoy various sports activities. Normally, there would be many other people around, but today it was just the two of us, as if Seo-hee had rented the entire place.

That must be why we could dress like this.

“Do you need me to support you?”

Seo-hee subtly pressed against me as she said this, looking strangely seductive.

The desire for what she wanted to do today was so clearly visible in the depths of her eyes that she honestly didn’t seem to be trying to hide it.

This must be the preparation stage.

I seriously wondered how I should handle her as I followed behind Seo-hee.

*

This is something I noticed in my past life too—people who like sports often don’t just like one sport.

They don’t just watch soccer; they also watch basketball or volleyball, and almost all the games they play are sports games.

In Seo-hee’s case, I’m not sure if she enjoys watching sports competitions, but she definitely seems to like a lot of sports herself.

And they’re all things I’ve never even tried before.

For example—

“Ah, that was close! If you’d climbed just a bit higher, you would have won!”

Rock climbing, for instance.

Of course, we weren’t actually on a mountain, but at an indoor facility designed for easier enjoyment.

Naturally, I had never done it before and had no technique whatsoever. My hands and feet would get tangled up, leaving me unable to move, or I’d place my feet wrong from the start, making my posture completely uncomfortable.

There was a button at the top that you had to press, and whoever climbed up and pressed it first would win. I couldn’t beat Seo-hee even once.

“…No, this isn’t fair.”

Getting up from the floor once again, I glared at Seo-hee and said, “Are you deliberately choosing activities I’ve never done before? Just to win more?”

“…”

Seo-hee avoided my eyes again.

So I was right.

But I decided not to make a big deal out of it. After all, that wasn’t why we were here.

What did it matter if I lost a few times? That was enough. Today was about spending time together, just the two of us.

I guess this is just another way to enjoy a date.

Seo-hee extended her hand to me again, and I took it and got up.

*

And so I kept losing, one game after another.

After exercising for so long, various parts of my body were quite sore.

“Should we clean up before dinner?” Seo-hee asked.

Of course, we had taken quick showers before leaving the building. But that didn’t mean we felt completely refreshed.

Since we couldn’t exercise for six hours straight, the timing was a bit awkward when we left.

“Hmm, should we have dinner at the hotel then?”

“That sounds good.”

With those words, Seo-hee took me to the hotel room.

The hotel was truly luxurious. A hotel located at an incredibly high elevation. The bathroom had a clear view of the outside, but upon closer inspection, the glass seemed to have a special coating. Probably so that no one could see in from the outside.

We entered together quite naturally, but unlike usual, Seo-hee wrapped herself tightly in a towel.

“No,” Seo-hee said.

“You’re not tired enough yet.”

“Ha, really.”

I laughed incredulously at her words as I wrapped a towel around my body as well.

Then we both leisurely got into the bathtub.

Seo-hee came over to me and leaned against my shoulder.

“I thought you said not yet?”

“That’s why I wrapped a towel around myself.”

You’re completely naked below though? While thinking this, I naturally put my arm around Seo-hee’s shoulder.

“…”

“…”

I pulled her a little closer to me and stroked her head.

“I’m the older one here.”

Seo-hee pouted and grumbled.

“What does that matter?”

Among the seniors, Seo-hee was the only one who occasionally mentioned age. Rather than a complex, it seemed like she had some kind of romantic notion about our age difference.

She must be saying she hasn’t been able to act like an older sister until now.

Yet she never said anything when I spoke informally to her. Ah, perhaps she didn’t know things would turn out this way back then.

“Hey.”

Seo-hee spoke while nestled in my arms.

“I completely won today, right?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

It was an undeniable defeat. Excuses like my unfamiliarity with the activities didn’t really matter. A match is a match, and I had agreed to it.

“Then, can you grant me one wish?”

“A wish?”

This wasn’t like Seo-hee.

That must mean there’s something she really wants. I smiled and said, “I’m not a genie from a lamp, so if it’s something completely unreasonable, it might be difficult.”

“It’s not that extreme.”

Seo-hee grumbled a bit at my joke and said, “You know, we’re going to do it today too, right?”

“Were you thinking we wouldn’t?”

“Of course I was planning to. How could I think we wouldn’t after coming all the way here?”

Her words made me burst into genuine laughter.

Seo-hee remained quietly nestled in my arms as she listened to my laughter.

“So, is it related to that?”

“Yes.”

Seo-hee said, “Today, I’d like you to be on the receiving end.”

I didn’t say anything for a moment.

So she had been concerned about that after all.

I remained silent for a while. Seo-hee also stayed still in my arms, waiting for my answer.

“…Alright.”

“Really!?”

Seo-hee beamed and raised herself up. My arms opened slightly, and in that space, Seo-hee climbed on top of me, sitting face-to-face.

The towel was still firmly covering Seo-hee’s chest, but it couldn’t completely hide the valley that rose above it.

Moreover, her red hair was wet from the bath and stuck to her face.

Though Seo-hee had a lively, somewhat childlike expression, her outfit, the atmosphere, and even our conversation made the situation feel quite unbalanced.

And because of that, it felt much more erotic.

“Really? You promise? Hm?”

“Yes, yes. I got it. I promise…”

After answering that far, I fell into thought briefly before speaking again.

This time, a bit more seriously.

“But I don’t know much about that side of things. We might need to figure it out together.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Seo-hee burst out laughing.

But soon her laughter gradually quieted down.

With the corners of her lips slightly curled up, Seo-hee’s expression became the one she usually had when teasing me.

A strange smile.

But perhaps because of the situation, that smile seemed much more… predatory than when she laughed loudly.

“Anyway, you’re saying you’ll give in today, right?”

“…”

“Then, today I’ll enjoy myself thoroughly.”

“Rawr!”

With that cry, Seo-hee pounced and bit my neck.

Each of her actions was strangely both like her and unlike her.

I spent a long time wondering how I should respond.

One thing was certain—that Seo-hee looked incredibly beautiful.