After leaving the room, the first thing I did was brush my teeth
The bathroom was small with cracked tiles, a mirror with slightly warped edges, and a faint smell of old detergent that never quite went away
I rinsed my mouth, splashed water on my face, and stared at my reflection for a moment longer than necessary.
Still the same
Heavy body with Tired eyes
But at least now, I was awake
I quietly stepped into the kitchen, careful not to make too much noise. The house was silent at this hour, the city outside still half-asleep.
I grabbed an old plastic water bottle from the counter, rinsed it, and filled it from the tap
As I tightened the cap, I glanced toward the closed door of the bedroom
Aoi was still sleeping
Good
I slipped on my shoes, opened the door slowly, and stepped out into the hallway, closing it behind me just as quietly
The early-morning air hit me the moment I left the building
Refreshing
The sky was a deep black, just the whisper of dawn on the horizon. Streetlights hummed softly, casting light on deserted sidewalks and parked cars
I took a deep breath
Then started walking
At first, it wasn't too bad
My pace was slow, but steady. My footsteps sounded faint against the concrete; every single step felt too heavy. I could tell instantly that this body was in really bad shape
After ten minutes, my breathing grew uneven
After fifteen, sweat soaked through my shirt
I checked the time on my phone and stopped near a small convenience store, leaning against the wall as I tried to catch my breath
One kilometer
That was it
'That's easy, come on Ren, you've dealt with worse'I kept hyping myself hoping it would make this feel shorter
My chest rose and fell rapidly, my lungs burning as if they weren't used to this much effort which, honestly, they probably weren't
I rested for five minutes
Then pushed myself forward again
The second stretch was worse
Every step felt heavier, my legs sluggish, my feet aching from carrying far more weight than they were meant to but I didn't stop this time
I couldn't afford to
'Only a bit more'
At the thirty-minute mark, I forced myself into a brief sprint
My vision blurred slightly,then-
[DEX +1]
The moment the notification appeared, something shifted
It wasn't dramatic, but it was noticeable my movements felt smoother, lighter. The same effort carried me farther than before
I slowed back to a walk, breathing hard but smiling despite myself
So that's how it works
Encouraged, I kept going
Sweat dripped down my back. My shirt clung uncomfortably to my skin. My legs screamed in protest, but I ignored them
At forty-eight minutes, another notification appeared
[CON +1]
This time, the change was more obvious
The fatigue didn't disappear but it stopped feeling overwhelming. My body felt sturdier, like it had more room before hitting its limit
I gritted my teeth and pushed on
Step after step
Street after street
At fifty-nine minutes
[Mission Complete]
Walk 3 km within 1 hour
Rewards:+1 CON
The moment the mission cleared, my legs gave out
I stumbled forward and collapsed onto a patch of grass near the sidewalk, my chest heaving as I gasped for air. My head pounded, stars dancing at the edge of my vision
It took nearly a full minute before I could even think straight
When I finally managed to focus, I accepted the reward
[CON +1]
[New Title Unlocked: Perseverant]
Perseverant:Only those who endure to the end of a difficult task receive this title.
Effect: Tasks requiring sustained effort feel 10% easier.
I let out a shaky laugh
"That's… actually useful"
Another notification followed
[New Skill Acquired: Aerobic Exercise Lv 1]
Effect:Metabolism speed increased by 1% for 24 hours.
That one caught my attention
If this system really worked the way I thought it did…
No, I shook my head
One step at a time
After resting a little longer, I slowly pushed myself back to my feet and made my way home at a much slower pace
By the time I returned to the apartment, it was just past six
Aoi was still asleep
Good.
I headed straight for the bathroom, stripping off my sweat-soaked clothes and turning on the shower. Warm water washed over me, easing the soreness in my muscles
When I looked in the mirror afterwrd, I paused.
Something was different
Subtle but noticeable
My face looked… slightly better. Not thinner, exactly, but less bloated. When I stepped on the scale, the number confirmed it
149.3 kg
Down from 150
It wasn't much
But it was real
After drying off, I grabbed the scissors from the sink
Long, dry hair fell in uneven clumps as I cut it down. The movements came naturally my muscle memory from a life where I'd learned to do everything myself
And as my muscle memory kicked in
[Skill Acquired: Hair Cutting Lv 1 (+23 Proficiency)]
I raised an eyebrow
When I finished and trimmed what little facial hair I had, another notification appeared
[Buff Acquired: Hair and Beard Done]
+1 CHA (72 hours)
I nodded in satisfaction
It wasn't a miracle
But it was progress
Before leaving the bathroom, I checked my status
===================CharacterStatus===================
Name: Kuroda Ren
Title: Perseverant
Level: 01
HP: 50/50
MP: 90/90
Weight: 150 kg → 149.3 kg
STR; 4
DEX: 2 → 3
CON:C 3 → 5
INT: 9
WIS: 9
CHA: 3 → 4 (+1)
AGI: 2
LUK: ??
Skills: Aerobic Exercise Lv 1 Hair Cutting Lv 24 Walking Lv 1
Buffs: Hair and Beard Done
==================================================
My HP had increased
So the Constitution directly affects health
That made sense
My gaze lingered on the MP bar Still full
Still unused.
Still unanswered.
"…So when do I get to use you?" I muttered
{Insufficient access}
"Expected"i muttered
'I've read too many stories to not know of this cliche'
I sighed and off the screen.
One step at a time
For now, this was enough