episode_0006

I went out early in the morning to buy gym equipment.

After all, without the equipment, I wouldn’t be able to satisfy my first customer, Miju.

There was a gym equipment store not far from my house.

I bought dumbbells, barbells, and a slide here.

At that time, I bought them through an online order, so I didn’t have to come in person.

“I don’t have time right now.”

I inevitably visited the store.

“Phew, I’m nervous.”

My heart was pounding for no reason.

Isn’t that a thing?

As soon as I entered, I felt anxious about what the store staff would think of me.

It felt like I had to buy something for no reason.

That’s exactly how I felt right now.

“Don’t be a sucker.”

Swish!

I smacked my cheeks and walked into the store.

Ding!

At the same time, a system window popped up.

[Buy Equipment]

“Good gym needs good equipment, right?”

[Recommended Purchase List]

[Sit-up Board]

[Sportswear, Sneakers]

[Extra Workout Towel]

[Yoga Mat]

[Foam Roller]

[Gym Ball]

[Reward: HP 10, Additional Content Open]

So many things.

Do I really have to buy this much?

It was impossible to carry them all with my hands.

Should I have rented a car at least?

I regretted not doing so.

“Welcome!”

The staff’s booming voice woke me up.

He had a muscular body in tight-fitting clothes.

Maybe because it’s a gym store.

He looked more like a trainer than a salesperson.

“What are you looking for?”

The staff asked with a smile.

“Oh, that’s right.”

I called out the items listed by the system.

“I’m looking for sportswear and a sit-up board.”

“Oh, you’re looking for a sit-up board. Come this way.”

His eyes were shining.

Maybe it’s just my mood?

“We have the most equipment in this area. The sit-up board as well. First, take a look at this product…”

The staff introduced the sit-up board.

It was a common equipment that can be easily found in gyms and parks.

There was a board where one person could lie down diagonally, with a small bar to place your feet on top.

Most of the basic structures were similar.

Of course, the more expensive ones had various additional features attached to the basic structure.

“It seems like you’re new to exercising, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then I recommend this product. It’s not only for sit-ups but also adjustable, so you can use it as a bench press or a dumbbell chair, and even for push-ups if you want. It costs around 850,000 won.”

One equipment for multiple exercises?

I hesitated.

“Is it okay?”

I was about to nod.

[We do not recommend this product.]

The system popped up.

[This equipment requires a lot of HP for upgrades.]

Upgrade?

Before I could even question it, the next message appeared.

“At your current trainer level, it may be difficult to use. We recommend this product at your current level.”

At the same time, a red arrow pointed to another sit-up board.

It was a simple item.

Specifically for sit-ups and crunches.

I trusted the system more than the staff.

“What about this one?”

“Oh, that product?”

The staff said with a hesitant expression.

A missed opportunity.

That’s exactly it.

“It’s a cheaper product at 100,000 won. But there are some defects in the equipment…”

“I’ll take this one.”

“Do you like this one? It doesn’t have adjustable angles.”

“I’ll take this one.”

Once I decide, I don’t change my mind.

There were too many things to buy anyway.

It was unrealistic to spend all my money on just one sit-up board.

“And I need some sportswear.”

“Sportswear? What size are you?”

“My size? Oh, well…”

I realized I didn’t know Miju’s size.

She wasn’t extremely thin, but I didn’t know for sure.

“If it’s for a customer, she should wear a large due to her height.”

“Oh, it’s not for me. I’m looking for women’s sportswear.”

“Oh, are you buying it for your girlfriend?”

“No, it’s not…”

“Please tell me your girlfriend’s size. There are many types of gym clothes, but there are items specifically for women like this.”

I encountered a barrier I hadn’t expected.

It doesn’t seem like it’s extremely thin. Would a medium size be okay?

If it’s too big, it might be too loose…

“There are various types of gym clothes, from slightly boxy ones to items that emphasize the body. It’s somewhat in the realm of personal preference…”

Baggy clothes made it difficult to guess the size.

Clothes that accentuated the body had a small fabric area to cover.

“Hmm.”

Roughly speaking, a medium size should be fine.

“I’ll go with a medium size. As for the color…”

I thought of Miru.

She was like a bright sunshine.

The first color that came to mind was yellow.

I dressed the imaginary Miru in a yellow gym outfit.

It suited her well.

“I’ll go with yellow, please.”

“Haha, understood. And for other items…”

[Recommended item.]

Once again, the system pointed out an item.

“I’ll take a look at each one.”

I pushed aside the employee trying to take advantage of me and looked at the items.

***

“Wow… You bought a lot.”

I looked at the new equipment that had arrived at our house through the delivery service.

Sit-up board, yoga mat, foam roller, and more.

New equipment had been added.

I had managed to fend off the employee trying to push something on me.

The power of the system was strong.

I felt proud.

I envisioned how I would train Miru with this equipment and gear in the future.

That’s when it happened.

[First purchase successful.]

[Obtained 10 Health Points.]

[New content unlocked.]

[New content – Equipment Upgrade.]

“There are many ways to purchase equipment. You can buy it with HP or save HP with money. However, items bought with money may have defects.”

“Additional content for trainers!”

“Equipment Upgrade.”

“You can spend HP to upgrade equipment.”

“Equipment… Upgrade?”

The message about upgrading had appeared when I bought the sit-up board.

Upgrade, huh?

How do you upgrade it?

It was as if it could read my mind.

“As a grand opening special, we will proceed with a one-time upgrade for 10 HP.”

A new message appeared as if in response.

So, it’s 10 points for one upgrade.

I looked at the equipment in the living room.

Dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, and the newly purchased sit-up board, among others.

If I were to upgrade something…

The sit-up board seemed like the best choice.

It seemed to have the highest utility when upgraded.

“I’ll go with the sit-up board.”

“I’ll spend 10 HP to upgrade the sit-up board.”

With that, the sit-up board glowed brightly.

Whoa!

The light was so bright that it filled the living room.

I shielded my eyes.

The light soon disappeared.

[Sit-up board +1]

A window popped up.

The effect?

[Great success!]

[Six-Pack Abs (B): 50% increase in the effectiveness of ab exercises.]

[Sleek Figure (B): Helps with body shaping.]

[To level up further, 50 HP is required.]

It seemed that abilities were added with each upgrade.

[Additional effects are enhanced with each level up.]

“Not bad, huh? So, do items bought with HP have better effects?”

“That’s correct.”

If I played my cards right, I could receive equipment upgrades.

Now, the only thing left is…

“I’ll let Miru know when she comes and practice the next workout.”

I could earn points too.

***

Miru looked at herself in the mirror while getting dressed.

“This outfit seems a bit too much. It looks like I’m overdressed.”

She wore a form-fitting skirt that went above her knees, paired with a knitted cardigan.

Who would wear such clothes to go exercise?

Nervousness was written all over her.

“I shouldn’t give the wrong impression.”

She changed her clothes.

Choi Jaeho.

He kept bothering her.

A man who kept his distance from women.

All the female part-timers, including her.

She even saw him looking awkward around female customers.

Gloomy and melancholic.

That was Kang Miju’s first impression of Choi Jaeho.

Somehow, he seemed hard to approach.

By chance, she saw Choi Jaeho doing the greasy dishes that everyone else avoided.

He took on the task as if it were nothing.

He even volunteered to do it himself.

As he did the dishes, he smiled.

He seemed to be enjoying himself, completely focused on his work, unaffected by his surroundings.

What could be so enjoyable about it?

She became curious.

He was a man who caught her attention.

She tried to approach him several times, but each time, Jaeho kept his distance.

It made her frustrated.

Then one day, something changed.

What could it be?

He seemed to exude a strange confidence and stood up straight.

It was obvious.

“He must be an interesting man.”

So she went to find him mopping the floor and asked,

“Jaeho, have you started working out?”

She asked without hesitation.

Where was he doing it?

Jaeho, who hesitated at her question, showed her a message with a funny phrase.

The phrases on the message intrigued her.

It felt like she had to go there.

Regret would follow if she missed this opportunity.

For some reason, she felt that urge.

She wanted to try going to that gym.

So she asked.

Why did he want to go to the gym so badly?

She couldn’t explain it.

“I don’t even like working out that much. It’s weird.”

But it was a promise she made, and she was still curious.

Jaeho’s unique personality.

“If this is it.”

A white t-shirt with casual pants.

And sneakers to complete the look.

Stylish yet not too flashy, a look that seemed effortless.

“Well, I’m going with the same part-timer anyway.”

A woman’s image is important, isn’t it?

Dressed up, Miju headed to Jaeho’s house, the agreed meeting place.