Reality Quest: Lookism

Damn.. yall fast as fuck! Let's reach 30! For the next bonus chapter Hahaha.

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I started my stretches again, rolling my shoulders and loosening up my legs. After a few moments, I glanced at Dowan, who was still sitting there, watching me like some kind of puppy waiting for instructions.

"Are you just going to sit there and stare?" I asked, raising a brow. "Or are you going to get up and actually do something?"

Dowan scrambled to his feet, nearly tripping over himself in his haste. "Right! Sorry! I'm ready!"

I smirked, already envisioning how miserable he was going to be by the end of this. "Alright, rookie. Let's start with some warm-ups. Follow my lead."

He nodded enthusiastically, and we began a series of dynamic stretches. I kept an eye on him as he fumbled through each movement, his lack of coordination painfully obvious.

"Keep your back straight, Dowan." I said, correcting his posture during a lunge.

"Like this?" he asked, wobbling unsteadily.

"Sure, if you want to fall over and snap an ankle. Fix your balance."

We moved on to basic jogging, running laps around the park. While I maintained a steady pace, Dowan lagged behind, huffing and puffing like a steam engine on its last legs.

"Come on, Dowan." I called over my shoulder. "You're moving like you've got lead in your shoes!"

"I-I'm trying!" he wheezed, barely keeping up.

After a few more laps, I stopped by a tree and motioned for him to join me. "Alright, time for some strength training."

Dowan stumbled over, practically collapsing against the tree. "Strength training? Can't we...take a break first?"

"No breaks." I said, grabbing a thick branch. "You're here to train, not to nap."

I demonstrated a few pull-ups, my movements smooth and controlled. "Your turn."

Dowan groaned but obeyed, grabbing the branch with trembling hands. He managed one shaky pull-up before his arms gave out, and he dropped back to the ground.

"Pathetic." I said, shaking my head. "We've got a lot of work to do."

And so, the torture began. I had him doing push-ups, squats, planks, and anything else I could think of. To his credit, Dowan gave it his all, even though his form was awful and he complained every five minutes.

By the time we finished, he was sprawled out on the grass, gasping for air like a fish out of water. I, on the other hand, was just getting started.

"You done already?" I teased, standing over him.

"Y-You're a monster." he panted, his face drenched in sweat.

I chuckled, grabbing my duffel bag. "Get used to it, rookie. This is just day one."

Dowan groaned, covering his face with his hands. But despite his exhaustion, I could see a hint of determination in his eyes.

Maybe, just maybe, he'd survive this.

....

The sun hung higher in the sky as Dowan slowly started to improve. With every squat, lunge, and pull-up, his movements became slightly less awkward, his posture steadier. I kept correcting him, showing him how to engage the right muscles and maintain balance.

"Keep your back straight! You're not bowing to an emperor!" I barked as he wobbled during another squat.

"I-I'm trying!" he stammered, sweat dripping from his forehead.

"Trying doesn't cut it. Do it right, or don't do it at all." I said, crossing my arms. After a few more corrections, he finally started to understand, his movements smoothing out.

"See?" I said, smirking as I leaned against a tree. "It's not rocket science. Just takes practice."

Dowan huffed but gave me a faint nod. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Jeez, you're relentless."

I chuckled. "You're welcome."

While he caught his breath, I decided to drop a little wisdom on him. "You know, Dowan." I began, stretching my arms, "we're not that different from game characters."

Dowan froze, his eyes darting around nervously. "W-What do you mean?" he asked, his voice uneven.

I didn't pay much attention to his fidgeting. "Think about it. In games, you level up by grinding, right? You fight, you train, you gain experience. But here's the thing, those who rush the process, using shortcuts or cheats, might see faster results, but their foundations are shaky. It's the same in real life."

Dowan tilted his head, still listening but clearly confused. "Uh, okay…"

"Take training, for example." I continued. "Some people load up on supplements, steroids, or whatever to bulk up fast. Sure, they'll look strong, but their bodies are brittle, their stamina's trash. Now, those who train slowly, putting in the effort day by day, their results are solid. They don't just look strong, they are strong."

He nodded slowly, though his expression said he wasn't fully getting it. "So, slow and steady wins the race?"

"Exactly." I said, snapping my fingers. "If we were game characters and some system handed us free stat points, the smart thing would be to store them. Train naturally first, build up strength on your own, and then use those points as a bonus. That way, you're not relying on the system, you're building a foundation that can handle the upgrade."

Dowan's brow furrowed as he processed my words. I could see the gears turning in his head. He glanced down at his hands, clenching them tightly. "So…natural growth is like the real-life equivalent of earning your levels instead of being handed them, huh?"

"Exactly." I said, smirking. "In real life, that translates to proper food, sleep, and recovery. You work your body hard, then let it heal and grow stronger. That's how you improve without ruining yourself."

Dowan nodded, a flicker of determination in his eyes. But I could tell he was also thinking about something else, probably those bronze keys he had. He didn't know that I was planting this idea on purpose. I was curious to see if this Dowan would develop differently from the one I knew from the canon timeline.

For me, it didn't matter. My growth was on another level entirely. Watching him struggle through this journey was entertaining, and I was curious to see what kind of person he'd become if he relied less on shortcuts and more on his own effort.

"Alright." I said, clapping my hands. "Enough talk. Let's get back to it."

We trained until the sun began to dip below the horizon, the sky painted in hues of orange and pink. Dowan followed my lead, his movements still clumsy but undeniably improving. He was slow, sure, but I could tell he was giving it his all.

By the time we finished, he looked like a zombie. His shirt was drenched in sweat, his legs wobbled with every step, and his arms hung limp at his sides.

"I…think I'm…dead." he muttered, swaying like he might collapse any second.

I laughed, slapping him on the back. "You're fine. Just eat, rest, and do it all again tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" he groaned, his face contorting in horror.

"Yup." I said, grinning. "Spring break's just started, rookie. You wanted this, remember?"

He let out a defeated sigh, trudging away like a zombie on its last legs. "I regret everything…"

I chuckled, watching him disappear down the path before grabbing my bag. "See you tomorrow, Dowan." I said quietly, shaking my head.

As I headed home, I couldn't help but feel a little satisfied. Watching him struggle reminded me of where I started, and I wondered if he'd come out of this stronger, or just more broken. Either way, it was going to be interesting to watch.

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1243 words.