episode_0005

“Oh, did you start exercising?”

“Yes, it looks like you’ve started exercising. There’s something… You seem healthier than usual.”

“Healthier…?”

“Yes, I don’t know, it feels like there’s more energy in your eyes, and your posture is a bit… Anyway, that’s how it seems.”

Mi-ju looked at me with intensity.

“You started exercising?”

“W-well, I guess?”

I did start.

For various complex reasons.

“Do you go to the gym?”

“You go to the gym too?”

Suddenly, our house became a gym.

Anyway, it’s a gym.

So, I go.

“When did you start?”

“Yesterday?”

The exercise equipment I ordered arrived yesterday.

So, yesterday is correct.

“Yesterday? You can change this much in just one day? Are you getting professional help?”

“Professional help?”

“Yes! Otherwise, it seems impossible for you to change like this.”

The system tells me how to exercise, what to eat, and how much exercise to do.

“I am getting some guidance.”

Not from a professional trainer, though.

Actually, I’m better than a professional trainer.

“It seems like a good place.”

“Uh, really? Is that so?”

It was a newly opened gym.

Ding!

[A potential customer is showing interest.]

[If you proceed with text promotion to this customer, the success rate will increase.]

[Success rate: 50%]

[If the promotion is successful, the gym level will increase.]

[Would you like to send a text promotion?]

“What?”

The text promotion success rate is 50%?

It increased by a whopping 30%.

“When the trial customers came, the level didn’t increase.”

That means I have to attract customers myself to level up.

Alright.

I understand.

The problem is, with that short dialogue, I’ve already used up my daily conversation allowance with a girl.

Have I ever talked to a girl this long before?

She’s saying I’ve changed by looking at her.

I have no idea.

I vaguely responded to Mi-ju’s words, but I didn’t feel that much has changed.

If anything.

“Maybe doing the dishes has become a bit easier?”

But to attract Mi-ju as a customer.

“I need to say a little more.”

What should I appeal to her with?

I pondered while pushing the mop.

“Mi-ju, what were you talking about with Jae-ho?”

Jong-nam came out of the kitchen after finishing and asked.

“We were talking about exercising. Jae-ho said he started exercising since yesterday.”

“Exercising?”

Jong-nam scanned me up and down.

“Did you really exercise?”

Then he grabbed my shoulders.

“You haven’t, right? You’re still as skinny as ever, right?”

“Jong-nam, don’t say that. He really changed, you know?”

“Really? Hmph.”

Jong-nam let out a sigh.

An uncomfortable gaze.

Restraint.

Even I, who is clueless, could see that Jong-nam, who was flirting with the female part-timers in the store, was targeting Mi-ju in a blatant way.

That’s why he’s picking a fight when Mi-ju talks to me.

He goes crazy when it comes to women.

Especially now.

He’s being so obvious.

“Is that so?”

“Hey, Jae-ho, did you really start exercising? Are you just doing this to get attention?”

After finishing his sentence, Jong-nam gestured with his eyes.

Talk a bit and leave.

Normally, I would have just let it go, but unfortunately.

“I started exercising yesterday. I bought exercise equipment for home and started going to the gym.”

I also need Mi-ju today.

“Is that so? I do have a good eye for people. I’ve heard a lot that I have good observational skills!”

Mi-ju shrugged her shoulders.

“I-is that so?”

Jong-nam’s face twisted as he looked at me.

Mi-ju tried to control her expression in front of him, but she couldn’t hide it completely.

“I didn’t know Jaeho would start working out. Isn’t he going to quit soon? If there are any exercise equipment left, let me know. I’ll buy it at a second-hand price.”

Another incoming serve.

“I think this time will last a little longer. I’m trying to have some patience and change myself a bit.”

Handled it properly.

It was nice to see his face, unable to show anger because of Miju in front of him.

“Oh really? Alright. Miju, I have something to talk to you about…”

“Hyung, sorry. I haven’t finished talking with Miju yet.”

“Is that so? Hmm, I see.”

Jongnam, who was looking at me with a displeased expression, went to the other female part-timers.

“Phew.”

The tension that had gripped my body was released with a sigh.

My body trembled.

I knew what was about to happen.

If I had known that arguing would be this easy, I would have tried it earlier.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes?”

“Jongnam hyung’s words. I feel like I interfered for no reason.”

“Oh, it’s okay.”

Miju, who was smiling softly, lowered her voice.

“To be honest, I don’t really like that senior. He’s too forward with girls. It’s really uncomfortable.”

Miju’s whispering voice was close.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Anyway, which gym do you go to?”

Miju asked.

Is this okay?

I felt a moment of guilt at Miju’s overly bright appearance.

But the 50% probability kept catching my eye.

The message that the 20% probability promotional text failed to send kept lingering in my mind.

“Well, you see…”

I hesitated for a moment and took a deep breath.

“I received a text message from that store.”

“Oh, really?”

[Would you like to send a text message?]

‘Send.’

[Sending a text message to Kang Miju.]

[To send a promotional text message directly, you need to show it to the trainer’s phone.]

My phone rang, and a promotional text message came in.

[♚♚New Gym☆ OPEN♚♚]

[Join now$$Get a free gym suit☜☜100% guaranteed※]

[♜Trainer♜Close contact mark￥Invest in your body]

[♜Diet♜Success opportunity￥Body correction@@@ 100% possible]

This is insane!

Show this promotional text message?

Did the girl who came with a trial at that time also receive this message?

‘That’s why the probability is 20%.’

It was strange that the probability was not 1%.

Damn it.

I’ve already decided to do it.

Well, let’s go all the way.

I’ve already spent the points.

If you draw a sword, you should at least cut tofu.

“Here.”

I handed my smartphone to her.

I closed my eyes tightly.

I must be crazy.

I saw Miju’s face, ready to get angry if she teased me.

Ring!

The alarm of destiny rang.

I was prepared to be slapped in the face.

But it was quiet.

“Huh?”

I quietly opened my eyes.

A small message window was in front of me.

[Success.]

[The gym’s level is increasing.]

[Gym level. 0 -> Level. 1]

I looked at Miju through the message.

She was looking at the promotional text with interest.

“Is the promotional text good? It says it can help with diet success and body correction. Did you change a bit because of that?”

Miju’s eyes seemed strangely unfocused. Is it because of my mood?

“Is it okay there?”

“Uh, yeah?”

“If it’s okay for you, I want to go too.”

“You want to go?”

“Yes. If they give lockers and gym suits, it doesn’t seem too bad.”

Miju’s voice was confident.

Filled with a desire to come right away.

Is this the effect of the status window?

“Oh, that’s what it is.”

“Are you feeling burdened? It might be a bit awkward to be at the same gym with someone who works the same part-time job.”

“Oh, no!”

I quickly waved my hand.

“It’s not that, it’s just that I thought you might feel uncomfortable, Miju.”

“What are you talking about? I said I wanted to go together. I saw that the trainer there seems to be really good.”

“Alright, I got it. Let’s go together tomorrow.”

“Sounds good. I’m looking forward to it.”

Miju’s smile was beautiful.

‘This is working out.’

I locked eyes with Jongnam, who was giving me jealous glances from a corner.

‘Busted.’

I didn’t avoid his gaze.

I was prepared.

I don’t have feelings for Miju to the extent of fighting with Jongnam, but if he starts something, I was ready to fight back.

Jongnam’s eyebrows twitched.

***

“Uh, what should I do?”

I muttered.

It wasn’t a stranger, but someone I knew.

To my home turned into a gym.

I had invited them, but I didn’t have enough equipment.

I only had some exercise equipment, like barbells, dumbbells, and an AB slide.

There wasn’t even a mat.

No common treadmill either.

Of course.

Our home wasn’t a proper gym yet.

Since I had invited a friend, it had to be a success.

‘Repeat visit.’

That word stuck in my mind.

The message that if the satisfaction is low, they might not come back.

To ensure success.

‘Let’s buy equipment first.’