Chapter 11

Time passed in a flash and no sooner than later was it 6:00 PM.

With this, I've probably set some foundation to become a big streamer quickly.

[Charlie: "Alright guys, I think I'm going to log off now."]

[wipL, Yvettel: "Wait, that quickly already?"]

[Reed: "Wait, what?"]

[Charlie: "Yeah, I've some things to do."]

[blacklily: "Aw man, when's the next time you're playing?"]

[Poodlefluff: "Yeah! Tell us the next time you're on. You can also always join if you see that we're on the discord chat."]

[bzoomster: "Yeah. It was nice meeting you."]

[Rykun: "Yeah. By the way, do you also stream? My viewers are asking."]

[Swabloon, LoafOfBread: "Yeah, tell us your channel."]

[Juliamn: "Wait what, who's leaving?"]

[Reed: "Charlie is."]

[Juliamn: "Wait. NOOOOOO, I'm the only one out of all of us that hasn't even been an impostor with him yet."]

I laughed.

[Charlie: "Okay, I'll inform you guys if I start streaming. Thank you all very much, and once again nice to meet you."]

[Everyone: "Byeeee…"]

I left the voice chat.

[bzoomster: "He's a cool guy. I like him."]

[Rykun: "Yeah, I hope he starts streaming soon."]

----------------

I text Reed a last message in gratitude.

Reed has gotten me into both of his friend groups, which I told him I am extremely grateful for.

I put down my phone and stretch my arms and legs.

Okay, I should organize myself now.

Since I got lucky enough to play with big streamers, I don't have to grind for months to finally get some recognition.

I could probably get some streaming and recording software and maybe a camera. I don't know about getting a camera yet though, since people recognizing me out in the streets might not be for my best interest.

If the system awards me achievement points even without a camera on, I'll just avoid using it then.

[Ding!]

Speak of the devil.

[The Achievement System congratulates the host on having the first big step in his life!]

[Host has gained slight recognition from a cumulative of 37,000 live viewers!]

[500 Achievement points have been gained!]

Holy mother of god, 500 Achievement points?!

[Host now has a total of: 530 Achievement Points!]

I wasn't even expecting to get a single achievement point out of this since it wasn't me that was streaming. I was just happy that I could start streaming easily now but holy, pardon me, shit!

This completely changes my plans! What the hell?

I check the shop.

Last time, I was pretty interested in Composition and Expression Manipulation. Now that I have so many other options I think I can get started to spend my points en masse.

If I'm going to be a streamer, I need to have a good voice, or else people will just be annoyed. My vocal cords are not very developed since Pangaea Charlie did not talk very much as an introvert. Even less from the past 11 months.

My throat is not developed and it gets tired easily. My throat was pretty sore after today from having talked so much.

I should first probably get something in the shop that's going to be beneficial towards my voice box and then I can worry about other things. Getting the stat point is a must, though.

[Ding!]

[Host has bought:

+1 Stat point: 150 pts]

The price jumped from 150 points to 1,500. I was kind of hoping it would go to 500 or 750 but I understand it.

[Host now has: 380 Achievement Points.]

I couldn't find anything else for my voice though. Maybe I have to search with different parameters?

[Singer's voice: 1,000 pts]

Okay, that's extremely expensive. I guess I'm just going to have to settle with training my voice normally.

But, when should I start streaming? I could probably start streaming next week after buying a few items. The most logical decision would be to start streaming and play with the streamers on a weekend. That's when most viewers are online and I'd probably just get carried along their train.

It's a Monday right now. I could probably do a few quick jobs and then use the money to buy the recording software.

The streaming platform is free and there's no fee I have to pay to stream there.

My computer is good enough to run Among Us and a few other things. It's not too well designed for gaming but it'll do. I don't plan on gaming too much either way.

I finish organizing my thoughts and scroll the catalog of the shop to see if there's anything.

[Great Body: 300 pts.

Description: Your muscles, tissues, bones, tendons, and nerves are upgraded. Nutrients are more efficiently absorbed.]

Well, I'll be damned. Though this might not necessarily directly return me achievement points after getting it, it'll be amazing to have. Having a healthy body is just for the best.

[Host has purchased:

Passive: Great Body: 300 pts]

[Host now has a total of 80 achievement points.]

I mentally prepared myself for pain, but contrary to that, I got the most pleasurable and euphoric feeling coming from everywhere.

Everything in my body feels so active now.

I felt my bones tougher and denser which felt a little weird to move around. The size of my muscles did not change at all but I felt that they got stronger.

I also felt my height go up by a little.

Honestly not sure if I want to get taller, I'm fine being a 6'3. It's still a positive though, so I'll take it.

I do have to gain some muscle quickly to avoid looking like a stick though.

I put on some shorts and a baggy oversized shirt which was the only one that would feel decently comfortable while doing exercise.

Putting on a pair of running shoes, I leave my room and inform my sister I'll be back by dinner time.

I search up the closest and best quality gym.

X Fitness. Sounds good.

I could just exercise at home, however, I'd like to just buy the gym membership and check out the quality of the place.

I take my earphones, keys, wallet, phone, and lock the door.

Feeling for a slight warm-up, I jog towards the gym.

----------------

"Thank you for choosing X Fitness. Here is your membership card."

I thank the attendant and move into the equipment room.

Scanning the room, I notice dozens of people working out.

So many people but it's really quiet for a gym. It's a comfortable silence, though.

Well, the best way to start is to first strengthen my whole body simultaneously, and then start workouts that focus on specific parts.

Running, pushups, sit-ups, and crunches are the way to go.

They may be simple but they're the most effective.

I get on the treadmill and plug my earphones into my ears.

----------------

After a few minutes, I begin sweating heavily and my breathing is very rough. Never in my life, never, have I ever been this unfit and dying for my breath this quickly.

I feel a stare on me, but when I turned around nobody was staring.

I turn down the speed and walk for a minute before resuming the sprinting.

I repeat the process of running at max speed for five minutes and turning it down for a minute and going back to max speed until I reach 30 total minutes of running.

I collapse onto a chair heaving.

Though my muscles don't feel sore yet, I feel as if I have no energy anymore.

My brain feels slightly dull from the lack of oxygen and a little lightheaded.

I perform a few simple breathing techniques shakily while my heart is still pounding.

I once again feel a stare on me and scan the room but there's nothing.

Taking a towel from an attendant, I thank her and wipe my sweat.

I feel so exhausted. Have I said that I feel lightheaded yet?

Did I not exercise at all in this world? Damn, even like that I'm still so damn tall.

Slowly and surely I feel a little bit of energy coming back to me.

Normally, I should already be dead tired since I've never done any exercise and ran for 30 minutes straight. Not to mention I jogged here from home. Even with all this, I still have enough energy to force myself through it instead of collapsing.

I'm fortunate I bought the Great Body perk or I would've collapsed long ago.

Taking a sip from the sports drink, I stand up and move towards an empty spot.

I'll do four sets of 10 pushups first for a total of 40.

I'm looking to reinforce right now, not buff up. That comes later.

With my knees and arms shaking and trembling, I completed the last set.

My shirt is practically bathed in my sweat and heavy sweat drips from my face.

I continue.

Completing the routine, I collapse onto the floor after finishing the last crunches.

Sweat trails into my eyes but I let my eyes sting with no energy to think at all.

Everything disappears as I focus on regaining my breath.

My eyes stare into blank space and I feel something tapping my back.

Feeling dull, I merely turn my head to see a sweaty beauty adorning a smile.

I look up into her eyes and wipe my sweat.

"Natsumi?"

"Oh, so you do recognize me!"

She showed me her pearly whites.

My eyes turn into crescents.

"Hey… You go to this gym too?"

"Yeah, since a few years back. I've never seen you here before though, is it your first time?"

I wipe my eyes and face with the towel.

"Yeah, it's my first time. I haven't worked out in so long so right now I'm dying."

She sits down next to me.

"Yeah, you also look a little emaciated. You should take it slow and eat a lot before you do strenuous things."

I chuckle.

"Yeah, I guess I just really liked the rush of exercising."

She smiled and wiped her sweat off.

"So why'd you decide to come here?"

"Oh, it was the closest gym to home and it looked pretty good. How long did you say you've been here for?"

I feel my energy recovering as we speak.

Feeling a little more clear-headed, I become more engaged in the conversation.

"Yeah… I just finished my first work out routine ever. Just running for 30 minutes drained me of my energy."

"Oh, I just finished mine and was leaving until I saw you. I thought you looked familiar."

Her body language was a little weird as she said that but I mentally shrugged.

"Hey, that's pretty cool. I honestly didn't come expecting to see any familiar face. But we can be gym buddies now or something."

She laughed.

"Okay, gym buddy."

She started laughing more and I too started laughing.

"Pfft– gym buddy…"

We foolishly laughed at something that did not even have a hint of humor.

"I saw a drinks place right around the corner as I came in, you wanna go get one?"

"Oh! The NutriJuice place?"

"Oh, yeah."

"I always go there after my workout. Yeah, let's go."

I stood up while smiling at her and helped her up.

Helping her up, she started sniffing and her nose scrunched up.

I laugh at her face, "What's up?"

"You… smell weird."

My face reddened, I completely forgot to spray deodorant. I mentally facepalmed and bashed myself for forgetting the item.

In my defense, I didn't even think I'd meet anyone here.

"No like, not weird. You don't smell weird. You just– you just smell like... It's not a bad smell."

She sputtered out after seeing my embarrassed face.

Her last part just made it even more awkward.

I look away while thinking about how ridiculous this is.

We glance at each other at the same time and I quickly look away.

I look at her from the corner of my eye and then glance at her again.

We looked at each other for a few seconds and we abruptly began laughing.

"You're kind of a weird girl, Natsumi."

"Yeah yeah whatever Charlie, you're weirder than I am."

We smile at each other.

I can tell she's going to be a great friend.

[Author Note: 2,000 words this time. I'm really popping off right now guys.

Just hit an early writer's block which was solved quickly with a little planning. If the quality was horrible, that's probably why.

Thank you very much once again for reading.

Don't forget to vote! Thank you again and please comment what you think so far. I would really like to communicate with my readers.]