"Travis, do you… find me attractive?" Judith suddenly asked, her voice barely above the sound of running water.
The question snapped Travis out of his ranting inner monologue, his head jerking toward her like he'd just been slapped with reality. For a second he stood there stunned, the words hanging in the steamy air between them.
"Huh? Well… yeah. Of course you're attractive," he said finally, his tone honest but casual.
Judith froze, her shoulders trembling as if she was bracing herself for rejection. Slowly, she turned her head. A deep blush colored her cheeks, and her damp hair clung to her skin as her gaze crept up shyly from the tiles to his face.
"But… you're not hard," she whispered, embarrassed, her voice so soft it was almost lost under the sound of the shower.
Travis blinked, confused, then instinctively glanced down. In the blink of an eye, his length hardened, veins standing out as it reached its full, imposing 10-inch form.
"I was just… holding myself back. Didn't want to come off as a creep," he explained with a small, lopsided grin.
Judith's eyes widened. Her heart fluttered violently as she struggled to process what she was seeing.
What!? So big… and he actually suppressed himself because he didn't want to scare me? Her thoughts spiraled, cheeks burning hotter. He's strong… but so considerate. Such a gentleman. Oh no, I've fallen even deeper for him.
She pressed her hand against her chest, trying to calm her racing heartbeat. For her, this was it—one of the happiest moments she had ever felt.
Just then, a translucent screen flickered into view before Travis's eyes.
[System Notification]
Affection +10% — Judith's current affection: 70% → 80%
『80%』
Travis raised a brow.
' Damn. That was fast. If I really pushed right now, I could probably pin her down and it'd skyrocket even higher… ' he thought, biting back a smirk.
Judith looked away again, her voice shy. "O-Oh… okay," she muttered, turning back toward the shower stream to hide her flushed face.
Travis chuckled quietly to himself, shaking his head. He shut off his water, grabbed a towel, and dried off with a casual air, though his mind was still buzzing. Once dressed, he leaned casually by the door, waiting.
A few minutes later, Judith emerged. Her hair was still damp but brushed neatly back, and her smile practically glowed. It wasn't just happiness—there was a new light in her eyes, one that made her look… radiant.
"By the way, Judith," Travis said, keeping his tone light, "you might want to try wearing a bra. It could help with the bullying, you know?"
Her eyes widened slightly at the suggestion, but then softened. She nodded earnestly, clearly touched by the concern behind his words.
They walked out together, the hallway quiet except for the echo of their footsteps. At the doors, Travis paused.
"Also… why don't you wait for me outside after class? I'll walk you home," he offered.
Judith's face lit up crimson again, her lips parting in surprise. Then she quickly nodded, clutching her bag to her chest. "O-Okay…"
She slipped outside, a small, almost giddy smile tugging at her lips.
Once she was gone, Travis exhaled, his expression hardening as his mind shifted gears. With quick strides, he sprinted back toward Coach Bridget's office.
He knocked, and upon hearing her say, "Come in," he entered.
"Take a seat. We need to talk," Coach Bridget said, her expression serious as she gestured to the chair in front of her desk.
He took a seat, watching as Coach Bridget got up, retrieving two bottles of Gatorade from her cooler. She handed him one before returning to her chair.
"Now, Travis," she began, her tone serious, "I want you to understand that our school has reigned supreme in all kinds of sports for years. But this year, things have changed. The basketball team is trash, the football team is worse, and the boys' Olympic squad is a disaster. You, however, have a talent that I've never seen before. That's why I want you to join the team."
Travis took a sip of his drink, considering her words. "I get that, but what do I gain in the end?" he asked, meeting her eyes directly.
" Well if you win the track race, you'll win $10 000, also a passing grade. Now what do you say?" She said.
"That's still isn't enough, Coach. But I am open to something else... if you know what I mean," Travis said, a sly smirk spreading across his face as he leaned back in his chair, watching Coach Bridget's reaction.
She raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms, leaning slightly forward with a teasing grin. "Ohh, you want me? Well, I'm not sure if you could handle my unlimited sex drive," she said smugly, her eyes challenging him.
Travis shook his head, chuckling lightly. "No, I don't really care about that. Honestly, what I want is authority—to roam this school without any issues. I've heard that Mrs. Smith is pretty scared of you, so let's make a deal. You give me freedom in this place, and I'll run every race you want me to," he said, his voice steady, cutting through the playful tension with a clear offer.
Coach Bridget blinked, her smirk fading as she considered his words. "What? That's a simple matter," she said, almost surprised by how easy the deal was. "And don't worry, I'll still give you the money if you want it. " she added, with a wink and a lingering smile.
"Thanks," Travis replied, rising from his seat, his smirk still in place.
"But it's getting late, so... peace." He casually waved as he left the room, his pace picking up into a sprint the moment the door closed behind him.
As he rushed down the hall, Travis felt the thrill of the deal he'd just struck. Power and freedom—exactly what he needed to move through the school on his own terms. When he arrived at Ms. Okita's classroom, he found her hunched over her desk, diligently marking a pile of books.
He slid into the room quietly, but not unnoticed. Ms. Okita glanced up briefly, pushing her glasses up her nose.
"Travis, what brings you here?" Ms. Okita asked, pausing her grading and shifting her focus entirely onto him. Her tone was calm, but there was a subtle curiosity in her eyes.
"I got the code," he said with a bright, satisfied smile. The corners of her lips twitched slightly in surprise, but her face remained stoic, revealing little.
"Alright then," she said, her voice steady as she processed the information. "We'll head there after hours. Right now, she's in her office. She usually leaves at 6 p.m., so we'll have to wait a bit."
"That's cool," Travis replied, taking a seat and letting the minutes pass by quietly. The tension between them was unspoken, but both knew the weight of what was coming.
As the clock neared the designated time, they left the classroom, moving swiftly up to the third floor. They approached her office door, and after Travis punched in the code with a quick, precise motion, the door clicked open.
"Ah, it's so nice to be back in my lab," Ms. Okita said as they stepped inside. Her voice had a certain satisfaction to it as she surveyed the equipment and experiments she had been forced to leave behind. "I can finally finish up my experiments."
She walked over to a cabinet and retrieved a lab coat and a pair of goggles, handing them to Travis. "Here, you'll need these tomorrow. Make sure you're prepared."
Travis took the items, giving a short nod. "Got it."
"Now leave," Coach Bridget said curtly, not even glancing at him again. Her focus was already consumed by the chaos of notes, diagrams, and open books piled across her desk. "I need to recap where I left off."
Travis slipped out without another word. The heavy click of the office door shutting behind him felt like a weight off his shoulders. He made his way back to the classroom, stashing the lab coat and goggles neatly into his desk drawer. But his mind wasn't on school supplies.
' Oh—Judith. I gotta walk her back home.'
The thought jolted him, and he bolted for the exit.
Outside, the late afternoon sun cast a warm glow across the steps. There she was—Judith—sitting quietly on the stair entrance, her hands folded on her lap, her gaze distant. The way the light hit her hair made it gleam like strands of silk, and there was a soft patience in the way she waited for him.
"Sorry," Travis said as he jogged up. "Let's go."
Judith lifted her head, and her lips curved into a small, genuine smile. She didn't complain, didn't tease—just nodded, her eyes shimmering faintly as if his simple words were enough to make her day.
They walked side by side, the streets calm and the air cool. Houses and shops passed by, but to them, it felt like the world had quieted down just for their walk. Their conversation flowed easily—small jokes, questions about each other, little stories that carried more weight than either of them admitted.
With every laugh and every shared glance, Judith felt her chest tighten in warmth. She hadn't realized how natural it was to be with him. He wasn't just strong or dependable—he was attentive, careful, and made her feel seen.
[System Notification]
Affection +3% — Judith's current affection: 80% → 83%
『83%』
By the time they reached her house, Judith almost jumped in surprise. She'd been so wrapped up in their talk, she hadn't even noticed the distance closing.
"Alright, Jud, I'll see you tomorrow," Travis said with a smirk, hands in his pockets like it was nothing.
Judith's heart skipped. She fumbled with her bag strap, nodding quickly. "Y-Yeah. See ya."
Awkwardly, she turned, nearly tripping on the first step before rushing inside, her ears red.
The door shut behind her, and Travis let out a long sigh, shaking his head with a half-smile.
' Wow. Who knew she liked me thaaaat much?'
The system prompt still floated faintly in his vision.
『83%』
' Just from talking to her? Am I really that smooth… or is she just head over heels already?'
Hands behind his head, he strolled casually down the road, the evening breeze brushing past him. But as his thoughts wandered, another memory surfaced—Debbie's words from that morning.
' Right. Now that I'm done with everything at school… I should head to Diane's house.' He paused, rubbing his chin. ' Oh, and before that—I should probably grab a shovel.'
TO BE CONTINUED