Judith walked beside Travis, keeping her gaze fixed on the floor as they made their way down the hall. The chatter of other students faded behind them, replaced by the faint echo of their footsteps against the tiled floor. She kept a small gap between them, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, but her eyes would occasionally flick his way before darting back down.
Travis kept his pace steady, not rushing her, the faint scent of shampoo from her hair drifting toward him whenever the hallway air shifted.
' She's so quiet… guess she's not used to this kind of attention, ' he thought, glancing at her with a faint smile.
' Why does my chest feel tight…? It's just a walk to the changing room, stop overthinking, Judith, ' she told herself, sneaking another quick look at him.
As they neared the changing room doors, the distant hum of voices and the faint squeak of sneakers on gym floors grew louder, grounding them back into the moment.
Travis turned towards her, his eyes drifting just above her head. The number above her head caught him off guard. It wasn't just friendly… it was something warmer, more personal.
『 70 』
' Woah… so I could kinda just date her right now. Damn, what was I thinking before? I could have bagged a bad bih this early! ' he thought, shaking his head in disbelief at his past game self. ' Man, my in-game brain had no rizz. '
They walked side-by-side until the hallway narrowed. The faint scent of chlorine from the nearby pool mixed with the cleaner's sharp lemon smell. The change room was just beyond the boys'—in the game they were right next to each other, but here, there was an entire stretch of hallway separating them.
When they finally reached the door, Travis pushed it open and the faint echo of dripping water greeted them. Their eyes immediately caught the sight of a wide water puddle spreading across the tiles.
Without a word, Travis stepped forward, bending his knees slightly before leaping over it in one smooth motion. His sneakers landed with a soft thud on the dry side. Judith followed, but as she landed, her foot skidded against the slick tile.
"Ah—!" she yelped, her arms flailing slightly.
Instinct kicked in—Travis spun and caught her by the waist, pulling her forward before she could fall. Her body pressed into his, her chest soft against him, and for a moment, neither of them moved.
"Oh, thanks, Travis," she breathed, her cheeks burning as she looked up at him.
Travis caught the quick flicker of her eyes—how they darted down for a split second before she pulled away, suddenly flustered. She smoothed her skirt awkwardly and hurried ahead, trying to pretend nothing happened.
Travis chuckled under his breath and stepped inside after her, letting the door swing shut. His gaze swept over the walls.
"Damn… so much graffiti. This place is the complete opposite of the boys' locker room," he said, shaking his head at the messy scrawl of names and doodles.
"You can change in one of the stalls," he added casually, already reaching for his hoodie's hem. "I'll do it right here."
He peeled the hoodie off in one motion, the fabric pulling his T-shirt up with it and exposing the lean muscle of his torso. His abs caught the dull overhead light, the lines sharp against his skin.
Judith froze mid-step, her eyes locking on him before she could stop herself. ' Wow… ' she thought, her breath hitching slightly.
Travis glanced up, catching her staring. Their eyes met for the briefest second, and he let a slow smirk curve his lips.
"What's up, like what you see?" he teased, tilting his head slightly.
Judith's blush deepened. She spun on her heel so fast her hair brushed her cheek.
"I-I'll go ahead and change," she stammered, her voice small, before darting into the stall and shutting the door.
Travis laughed softly, shaking his head before turning back to change his clothes, his smirk still lingering.
After that, he waited for Judith, leaning casually against the wall, still catching his breath from earlier. A minute later, the door creaked open and Judith stepped out, hurrying toward him. Her steps quickly turned into a light jog, which, to his immediate distraction, made her breasts bounce up and down with every movement.
"Wow, you really have large knockers," he said, eyes locking on them with zero shame.
Judith's cheeks flared a soft pink, and she instinctively crossed her arms over her chest, the movement making her hair sway slightly.
"Do you not like them?" she asked in a sweet, almost childlike tone, tilting her head slightly. That innocent glint in her eyes hit him like a freight train, and in his mind, he felt the classic anime-style nosebleed bursting out.
"No, in fact, I think they suit you," he replied, his voice smoother than normal thanks to the Smooth Talker skill quietly working in the background. "Plus… they really compliment your eyes."
Judith's blush deepened, but she giggled softly and stepped closer, her perfume subtly reaching him. "Do you really feel that way?" she asked again, her hopeful smile warm enough to melt steel.
"Yeah, but let's talk about this when we're done, okay? We should hurry and go," he said, forcing himself to turn away before his self-control slipped.
Judith followed, the sound of her footsteps quick as she closed the door behind them.
'Huh, that was too much stimulation,' he thought, the vivid memory of her breasts bouncing replaying in his head like a looped clip. It was almost torturous, his imagination running wild.
'My drive is on high right now. I need some water or I'm gonna go crazy,' he thought, resisting the urge to turn around and just motorboat her right then and there.
They stepped outside, and the sun's warmth immediately washed over them. The girls were already gathered on the field, their voices a soft hum of chatter and laughter. Some stood with hands on hips, others stretched with arms overhead, the movement making their torsos twist and flex. Their extra-short shorts clung snugly to their hips, showing just enough thigh to make Travis's pulse quicken. The tight shirts didn't help—they left little to the imagination, hugging every curve.
Travis cleared his throat and forced his gaze up, trying to focus on anything else.
"What do we do here again?" he asked Judith, his voice casual but his eyes betraying a quick flicker back toward the group.
"Just your normal exercises, I guess," she replied with a shrug, though her lips curled into the faintest amused smile as if she'd caught him peeking.
Coach Bridget's sharp voice rang out before they could continue. "Alright, you all will be running three laps around the grounds. Travis, however—" her eyes narrowed slightly, "—will do five. Now start!"
Travis glanced over the large field, the grass swaying gently in the morning breeze. The track looped around it like an endless circle, and his shoulders sagged.
'Damn, this is going to be torture,' he thought, already feeling his legs ache just from looking at it.
Still, after a deep breath, he pushed off the starting line. His sneakers thudded against the dirt path, the soft crunch of gravel underfoot syncing with his breathing. A lap was 400 meters—five laps meant 2,000 meters in total. The number rolled in his head like a bad joke.
But after a few hundred meters, his body settled into a steady rhythm. His arms pumped, his breathing evened out, and the field no longer seemed so intimidating.
By the second lap, movement behind him caught his attention. Ronda was closing in, her ponytail swinging behind her like a whip. Her eyes were locked on him, brows furrowed in quiet determination. Her strides were longer than before, her breathing sharp and measured.
'Travis came back to school, and he's even faster than before,' she thought, her competitive edge flaring. 'Not sure if I should be happy… or feel threatened.'
Travis smirked, recognizing that look instantly.
'So, it's a race now? Fine by me.'
By the end of the third lap, something shifted in him. His earlier reluctance melted away, replaced by a desire to win. Not just finish—win. Beat them all.
He leaned forward and pushed harder. His strides lengthened, his feet slapping the track faster and faster until the world blurred around the edges. The wind tore at his hair and shirt, the pounding in his chest no longer from exhaustion but adrenaline. He shot past the other girls one by one, the sound of their labored breathing fading behind him.
By the time he crossed the final lap, he felt like a loaded spring snapping free.
Coach Bridget stood frozen, her whistle halfway to her lips, eyes wide. She had expected an average jog at best. Instead, she'd just witnessed him blitz through the field like a seasoned sprinter.
'I see a potential athlete,' she thought, a slow smirk tugging at her lips.
"Hey, kid! Come here!" she called, her voice carrying a hint of something between curiosity and excitement.
TO BE CONTINUED