Chapter 24: Pushing Limits

“Umm…”

In front of me was a women’s sportswear site, and beside it was a call with Song Chae-hyun.

I sighed and looked at them before leaning back in my chair.

“Unni… do I really have to exercise…? I’m not having any trouble in my daily life anyway…”

[No. Looking at your current condition, you really need to do it.]

Right after the broadcast where I had attempted—no, failed—to do push-ups, I received a call from Song Chae-hyun.

• … Hello?
• Hey, Ihyun, let’s go work out together.
• … What?

“Ugh…” I should have properly refused back then.

… No, if it were Song Chae-hyun, she probably would have pushed through somehow.

Since middle school, she had a personality that never took ‘no’ for an answer.

· Okay… then please help me choose some clothes. I don’t have any workout clothes…

Sure.

After a brief silence, she replied and soon sent me the women’s activewear site to look at together.

[Still, since you’re the one buying it, let’s work out together at least once. Okay?]

“Yeah…”

Still, the person paying had some sincerity. I couldn’t refuse.

“So, what should we buy? I think I’d like shorts that come down to my knees. Full-length training clothes are just not pretty… what do you think—”

[Leggings.]

“What?”

Her very firm tone made me pause momentarily.

After a brief silence, Song Chae-hyun suddenly flustered and continued speaking.

[W-well, even if you think leggings might be uncomfortable, they’re made with better materials these days, so they’re not uncomfortable at all. In fact, they’re so breathable that it feels like you’re not wearing anything. Okay?]

But why does she sound so desperate?

“Umm… but I feel like leggings might be too embarrassing.”

[Ah, then you can wear something on top. That should make it okay.]

“Ah, great. So, what should I wear? Knee-length shorts—”

[Black shorts.]

Once again, due to her firm tone, I nodded absentmindedly and said I understood.

Then, a few days later, in the afternoon as the sunlight began to fade, it was just me and Song Chae-hyun.

I followed her firm suggestion and wore black leggings, shorts, and a tight-fitting black long-sleeve t-shirt.

“Um, sis… I feel a bit embarrassed…”

I said while trying to cover my upper body.

In contrast to my thin limbs, my chest seemed quite voluminous for some reason, so the snug black shirt was making that area very prominent.

Moreover, my collarbone, back, chest, abdomen, and sides were all clearly visible like bare skin.

I was really glad that I had been conscious about my eating habits recently.

This was the first time I wore such tight clothes since becoming a woman, so I felt even more resistant.

“Not at all. You look really pretty and cute, I hyun.”

She said while grabbing my shoulder.

“…”

The shirt was made of tight material, so it felt a bit strange when her hand touched my bare shoulder.

“R-really pretty?”

Even so, hearing that compliment seemed to boost my confidence little by little.

“Yeah. Want to try straightening your back? It’ll look even prettier.”

“Straighten up…”

I said as I straightened my back.

Song Chae-hyun remained silent for a moment.

“You’re amazing…”

She continued to look at me.

I felt a bit good about it.

Though her gaze seemed somewhat intense.

“Alright, let’s do some warm-ups before we run.”

As she spoke, she stepped a few paces away from me.

Then, I noticed her outfit at a glance.

She was wearing a similar outfit to mine.

However, it was a bit more revealing.

She had on a tight-fitting sports tank top and knee-length spats.

While very similar to my outfit, hers had a higher level of exposure.

I tried not to look, but I couldn’t help but keep glancing at her.

Between the pitch-black outfit above and below, her pure white straight abs, collarbone, and freshly exposed armpit were visible.

…

And the overall volume.

I don’t think I’m lacking in the upper area, but it felt like I couldn’t compare to her at all.

For some reason, I was feeling…

“Uh? Why?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

I said as I turned my gaze away.

“What’s with that? Come on, let’s finish the warm-up quickly and start running.”

“Yes…”

“Haah… Haah… Haah…”

Moon Ihyun desperately followed Song Chae-hyun.

Through her, I could see the setting sun gradually.

The golden sunlight shone on her skin and clothes.

‘What the…! You said you’d match my pace….’

Moon Ihyun gasped, sacrificing her breath and cried out.

“Uh, sis…! Haah… you said you’d match my pace…!”

“Yeah? This is matching your pace!”

Song Chae-hyun turned around and said while running backward.

But still, she was faster than Moon Ihyun.

Moon Ihyun felt a little pride wounded but tried to say again.

“Ca-can’t you go a bit slower? It’s too, haah… hard…”

Her breathing was getting more erratic.

“No way. If we go any slower than this, you won’t build stamina. So let’s keep running, okay? Just don’t talk.”

Despite saying that long sentence, Song Chae-hyun’s breathing was still very steady.

“That’s a lie…”

Moon Ihyun said with a half-hearted laugh, and truly thinking she might fall behind, she followed her words and gritted her teeth in silence.

But in reality, Song Chae-hyun was discreetly checking Moon Ihyun’s pace with her side-eye.

She adjusted her pace to be just enough for Moon Ihyun to keep up.

Just enough so that Moon Ihyun wouldn’t die.

Thus, Song Chae-hyun and Moon Ihyun ran through various parts of the street.

Whenever it seemed like Moon Ihyun couldn’t run anymore, they would take a short walking break, during which Song Chae-hyun would chat to keep things from getting boring.

Of course, Moon Ihyun couldn’t even reply.

They walked a bit to take a breather because Moon Ihyun truly felt like she might collapse.

Moon Ihyun wore a slightly sulky expression.

It seemed her pride was hurt by falling behind her.

‘She’s surprisingly competitive. Is it because she used to play games?’

I thought to myself, and to encourage her, Song Chae-hyun complimented her.

“Ihyun, you’re really doing well running. I couldn’t run like this when I first started exercising.”

Though it wasn’t true.

Moon Ihyun’s stamina was in a more serious state than expected.

She was walking about three times more than she was running.

After a moment of silence, and having caught her breath, she spoke.

“… Really?”

“Yep. It’s true. I’m really proud of you.”

Moon Ihyun fell silent for a moment at those words.

“Hehe.”

She laughed.

“Right? I have talent!”

“… Yes! Ihyun runs really well!”

As I said that, Moon Ihyun seemed to gain a little confidence and quickly sprinted ahead.

She passed by the walking Song Chae-hyun.

“Haah…! Haah!”

In her rough breaths, unlike before, excitement was bubbling up.

The golden sunlight illuminated her.

Song Chae-hyun looked at her fondly.

Slowly, her gaze lowered.

Underneath her golden hair, below the black long t-shirt,

the leggings and shorts that swayed with her running legs.

Song Chae-hyun gazed at her little swaying backside for a long time.

Gulp –

Unknowingly, she swallowed.

After dozens of seconds of silent time passed.

Moon Ihyun, who wasn’t running at her own pace, quickly fell behind, and the slowly moving Song Chae-hyun easily overtook her.

Leaving a hint of regret.

After some time passed, the distance between Song Chae-hyun and Moon Ihyun became visibly wider.

Moon Ihyun called out to Song Chae-hyun, hoping she might still hear her voice.

“Sis… I really can’t run anymore….!”

“Uhh, we’re almost done.”

“Thirty minutes ago, you said that…”

“Hahaha, no, this time I really mean it.”

As she spoke, Song Chae-hyun glanced at her Apple Watch.

• 2967m

The target was 3km, so there really wasn’t much left.

Not long after, Song Chae-hyun’s Apple Watch recorded 3000m.

She stopped and turned to look back at Moon Ihyun.

Where she stood was at the end of an unknown bridge crossing a river.

“Now, really…! Haah…!”

Moon Ihyun’s posture began to crumble gradually.

Song Chae-hyun waved her hand from the end of the bridge.

“Come on! If you make it here, it’s really over! Hang in there, Ihyun!”

She cheered for Moon Ihyun.

“Haah… Haah… Haah…”

Ten steps, five steps, three steps.

Moon Ihyun, with her form completely collapsing, desperately ran.

Suddenly, she collapsed against Song Chae-hyun.

Moon Ihyun landed on Song Chae-hyun’s chest.

“Oh my.”

Song Chae-hyun was slightly startled.

She gently stroked the head of Moon Ihyun, who was rapidly exhaling hot breaths.

“You did well, Ihyun. You’re so cute.”

At those words and the gentle patting, Moon Ihyun smiled comfortably.

“Hehe…”

Moon Ihyun and Song Chae-hyun sat on a bench facing the river below the bridge.

After a while, as they cooled down from their sweat, they sat close to each other.

For some reason, Moon Ihyun wanted that.

Song Chae-hyun smiled and stroked her while they sat close.

Tentatively, Song Chae-hyun spoke up.

“… How was it, Ihyun?”

Song Chae-hyun wanted to come out for exercise with Moon Ihyun more often.

But she was a little worried that if Moon Ihyun didn’t find the workout interesting, she wouldn’t want to come again.

After a brief silence tinged with tension, Moon Ihyun’s response came.

“It was hard…”

But then, Moon Ihyun smiled and looked up at Song Chae-hyun.

“Still… if I can do it with you, I think I’d like to come out again.”

“Ihyun…!”

Song Chae-hyun, touched, patted Moon Ihyun vigorously.

“Hehe, that tickles…”

Even so, Moon Ihyun enjoyed it.

“Okay, let’s go back.”

“Really?”

“I’ll buy you ramen too. You know that ramen after exercising is the best, right?”

“Then let’s eat at the convenience store over the crosswalk beyond the bridge.”

“Yes!”

With that, Moon Ihyun sprang up like a spring.

After that, she walked out quickly, looking excited.

‘She’s really serious about food,’ Song Chae-hyun thought, following behind her.

They started crossing when the traffic light turned green.

Even though Moon Ihyun was walking quickly, their natural stride eventually had them walking side by side.

But then, at that moment…

Whoosh—

A car sped through the green crosswalk at a blinding speed.

Song Chae-hyun looked at the car with a mix of disbelief and anger.

“Oh, come on, seriously…”

But of course, it was too fast for her to catch, so she muttered a curse that was too soft for anyone to hear and quickly turned to check on Moon Ihyun.

“Ihyun, are you okay?”

She wondered if Moon Ihyun might have been startled, but when she looked,

“… Ihyun?”

Moon Ihyun was collapsed in the middle of the crosswalk,

clutching her head with both hands, trembling all over.