Getting sweaty with Hana.

Hana's Affection score wont seem to budge for most of the afternoon. Realizing that it's driving you crazy, you decide to turn off real time score updates. It's about this time when you also realize that you've really slacked on your work for the day. Determined to prove yourself to Jan as a valuable employee, you focus up for the last few hours of the work day. A little after 5, you finish the report that you were working on and lean back in your chair.

Hana's soft voice comes from behind you, "You done, Frank?"

You spin in your chair to face her. She's already gathered her things.

"Were you waiting on me?"

She shrugs, "Thought we'd walk down together. Plus, I need to make sure you don't back out."

You laugh, "Think I'd ditch you? Come on, Hana. I'm definitely not regretting agreeing to this at all..."

Your desk mate rises to her feet and extends a hand to help you up. While you might be acting like going to the gym with Hana is a chore, it's anything but that. You've been looking forward to it all day. Fortunately, she senses your sarcasm and plays along.

"I'll drag you down there if I have to, Frank. You've got me invested in this now."

You take her hand and grumble while getting to your feet, "I suppose I'll just come quietly..."

She watches as you gather your things. Once you're done, she takes your hand again. You weren't expecting that.

She gives you a tug and says with a smirk on her face, "I'm debating whether or not to take it easy on you today... Since you've been so bad and all..."

You're a few steps away from your work area when you both seem to simultaneously realize that holding hands while walking through the office isn't a great idea. Hana sort of awkwardly releases your hand and takes a sidestep so there's a little more separation between the two of you. Did anyone see that? Seems like most of the office has cleared out.

As you head for the door, your eyes scan the office for your new friends. Jeremy and Bellatrix seem to be gone. Makes sense. Why would they wait for you? Maybe if their Affection scores were higher, they'd wait around to say goodbye.

Jan is at the receptionist desk talking to Faith. Your boss has her back turned to you but the young blonde notices your arrival. She gives a way too excited wave as you approach. Hana lingers behind. You'd love to introduce her to Faith.

Without turning to look, Jan seems to know it's you and says, "Frank, not now. We're busy."

You throw your hands up, change direction, and keep walking, "Sorry! Sorry! See you guys tomorrow!"

Jan ignores you but Faith calls out, "Bye! Nice meeting you!"

Hana snickers quietly by your side until you're out of earshot.

"Really pushing it, aren't ya?"

"Eh... I'm growing on her. I can tell."

"Well, the new secretary seems to like you at least."

You laugh, "She's the type that likes pretty much everyone. I'll have to introduce you two soon. I also mentioned that we workout in the gym most days after work. I think she might join us next week."

Hana frowns, "But this is kind of our thing, isn't it?"

This catches you off guard.

"Oh... Well... I guess that I could uninvite her."

Hana waves her hand dismissively, "No you can't do that. Whatever. It's no big deal. I'm sure that I'll like her."

Once you're near the gym, Hana gives you a shove away from the door you were heading towards. Without realizing it, you were following Hana into the women's locker room once again.

Clearly amused, Hana says, "The men's locker room is for men. That means you, Frank."

"Sorry! I just always get the little stick figures on the door confused..."

Hana laughs and gives you a playful look as the door swings shut behind her. You gather yourself for a moment in the hallway before heading into the decidedly less fun locker room. You're dressed in a flash and find yourself waiting for your new workout partner.

Hana emerges wearing her trademark running shorts and a t-shirt. You really wish she'd sexy it up a bit. You'll wait for her to have a maxed affection score before suggesting something like that. You smirk to yourself while thinking about asking her to wear more revealing workout gear.

"What are you grinning at?"

Hana's question brings you back to reality.

"Oh, you know, just happy to be here with you."

She smiles bashfully and takes you by the hand, leading you into the gym. You quite like her new habit of leading you places by the hand. The two of you settle in a cleared area by the window wall looking out into the courtyard. She starts to lead you through stretches.

"So, how are you feeling? Still pretty sore from yesterday?"

You've loosened up a bit as the day progressed but decide to play it up.

"Yeah I'm kind of worried that I might have overdone it."

She frowns, "Well, we can take it easy today but tomorrow we'll have to make up for it."

That's a relief. Although, you're not sure what Hana's idea of taking it easy is...

You smile at her, "Whatever my trainer thinks is best."

"Well right now I think you need to do a much better job stretching! Don't be so lazy with your form!"

She takes a step forward and helps you correct your form. This just encourages you to do a lousy job with each subsequent stretch. Hana's hands seem to spend more time on you than off. Once she determines that you're adequately loose, the two of you hop up on treadmills and walk side by side.

Hana, annoyed at the slow speed you set yours at, reaches over and increases it to 5 miles per hour. Unable to keep up walking, you're **** to jog.

Struggling slightly, you say, "I thought... we were... taking it... easy..."

She puts in her earbuds and says with a smirk, "This is easy, Frank. Plus, I can't have you talking my ears off. You need to focus and actually break a sweat!"

Maybe she's a bit too enthusiastic about this whole personal trainer thing...

After about five minutes, you're really struggling. However, you are doing better than you would have thought. Hana seems satisfied and reaches over, decreasing the speed on your treadmill, and allowing you to slow to a brisk walk. By the time you're done, sweat drips down your forehead and you're feeling a bit light headed. Hana grabs a towel from the nearby rack and wipes your face off for you.

The two of you try out some of the other cardio machines but it's clear that your workout is winding down. You can tell that Hana is holding back and going at your pace. Even though you internally feel like you're embarrassing yourself, she's nothing but encouraging.

"We'll skip weights today."

You groan, "Thank god..."

She practically leaps into your arms and gives you an enthusiastic hug, "You did great, Frank. I'm so proud of you!"

The hug ends all too soon and Hana takes you by the hand again, leading you to the gym door. By the look in her eyes, you can tell that she genuinely means what she said. Not wanting to let Hana down is as good of motivation as any. Back outside of the locker rooms, the gears in your head start turning again.

"You know, Hana, I don't know why I didn't think of this yesterday but you could just come into the men's locker room with me. Pretty sure that Jan wont catch us in there."

She snorts back laughter, "You'd think that after such a close call yesterday, you could bear being apart from me for more than 2 minutes."

"What can I say? I want to maximize my Hana time. We didn't get to talk much while working out."

She smiles and blushes cutely, "And I want the same... but let's not be dumb. Jan could..."

On cue, your boss arrives. First you hear footsteps coming down the hallway. You're pretty sure that she didn't hear what Hana was just saying. The look that Jan gives you as she passes is downright cold. She also does nothing to hide a clear look of disapproval when she looks Hana's way. Without a word, she leaves you and enters the gym.

Hana continues her thought in a hushed voice, "Show up at any time."

What do you do next? Are you really going to let Jan get in the way of more potential fun in the showers with Hana?

Note from the author: The next chapter will be posted in a week on March 1st. If you wish to read it early, it is available now on my Patreon.