Unclear

Opposite the kitchen, a door stood centered between towering floor-to-ceiling shelves.

As Ethan rose to follow Edna, his gaze drifted to the sunken living area. The pit was medium-sized, featuring a large white leather wrap-around couch with built-in cup holders. A coffee table sat in the center, seemingly equipped with pullout extensions. A sleek, elongated TV stand lined one side, but the true focal point of the space was the massive TV, suspended by two thin steel cables.

Surprisingly, the pit also housed a gaming setup—and it wasn’t half bad. Colorful controllers, both vintage and modern, were neatly arranged alongside a sleek headset, creating a striking contrast to the futuristic, nearly all-white room. Though it lacked a proper gaming chair, the sofa seating looked inviting—aside from the fact that the leather-like cushions seemed destined to betray every spilled drink. Still, as a streaming setup, it was solid.

He drags his feet slightly, torn between his wariness of the training and the allure of the gaming setup.

“So…., Edna, is that a gaming setup?” Ethan asked, curiosity piqued.

“Oh yes, indeed,” she replied. “The Illuminance team wanted to provide you with various forms of entertainment during your off hours.”

"Off hours? You mean like... I'm gonna have free time?" His eyes light up at the mention of gaming, momentarily forgetting his earlier wariness. "Cause I could totally unwind after working out or whatever by gaming..." He casually bends down to run his hands along the leather.

“Yes. Rest is just as important as exercise for muscles to grow ans strengthen. So between the hours of 6 and 10 PM, you have the freedom to do as you please.”

“Really?Anything?”

“Yes. Whether you choose to play video games, watch movies, solve a crossword puzzle, or engage in sexual pleasure, we have all the necessary tools available.”

Ethan blinked. “Wait—what was that last part?”

Before he could get an answer, the door ahead quickly slid into the wall, revealing a vast room filled with the most high-tech gym equipment Ethan had ever seen. Even with his untrained eye, it was clear—this was top-of-the-line. The space itself was massive, easily rivaling his current alien studio-size space.

Ethan's mouth hangs open as he takes in the sight of the state-of-the-art gym. His earlier embarrassment is momentarily forgotten, replaced by awe. "Holy shit... This place is insane." He steps into the room, his eyes wide with wonder as he looks at the advanced machinery and equipment.

“Your instructor is waiting for you,” Edna informed him.

“Wait—hold on. What did you mean by—”

“Hello, and welcome to your personalized home gym, trainee!” a chipper male voice suddenly boomed.

Ethan turned to see a cartoonishly 80s-looking hologram standing in the center of the room, beaming at him.

Ethan raises an eyebrow, taken aback by the holographic instructor. "Uh, hi?" He looks around, half-expecting to see someone else in the room. "You're my trainer? You look like you stepped out of a bad 80s workout video."

“I’ll see you at lunch, Ethan,” Edna added, before zipping out of the room. The door slid shut seamlessly behind her, leaving no visible seam—just smooth, unbroken wall.

Ethan stared at it, dumbfounded.

Did… did that robot seriously just tell him he had full clearance to rub one out during his downtime hours? And that they’d even provided… equipment for it?

A flicker of warmth curled in his stomach, a heat he’d been trying to ignore ever since that bizarre porridge-slash-citrus meal earlier. He shoved it down.

The hologram grinned. “And what might your name be, trainee?”

“Uhh… Ethan. Ethan Callaway.”

He watches as the holographic trainer's grin widens, his neon spandex glinting under the gym's bright lights. "Ethan Callaway," the hologram repeats, "Great! Let's get started, shall we?"

Ethan stared at the suit laid out for him. It was grey with a black neckline, sleek, and—unfortunately—very form-fitting. He picked it up, stretching the fabric between his fingers. Incredibly thin, incredibly flexible, and absolutely not leaving anything to the imagination.

Ethan's face turns beet red as he looks at the skintight suit. "No way..." He mutters, picking up the suit and examining it closely. "This can't be serious... They expect me to wear this?"

“The performance suit will assist in muscle tracking and circulation regulation,” the hologram instruct named…Tom of all names, voice chimed in through the door. “Please put it on.”

Ethan sighed and examined the little back room. It was tiny probably because it catered to just one person…him. Complete with a tiny sink, shower, shower, a small closet packed with gym clothes and little area to change.

Ethan stared at his scrawny self in the mirror, gosh had his appearance quickly deteriorated these past few months. Granted he always been a lower tier looking guy but the various cancellations did more of a number on him than he had ever thought to assess. Deep eyebags held aloft by dozens of energy drinks, pimply irritated skin that hasn't been this bad since his high school days and a rats nest of hair that was too long to be simply be pushed away and too short to be held back by a rubber band.

“Gawd” Ethan muttered to himself truly taken aback by his….well his clearly incel appearance.

Hailey would have a field day if she saw him now

“Who am I kidding that bitch been having a field day these past few months” Ethan mutters as he looks down at his feet, only to be met with overgrown toenails staring back at him.

“Her and all those girls I messaged as well” He finishes. A small pang of irony hitting him in the heart.

And in the dim light of the tiny locker room Ethan thought had to wonder. He kind of had it good for a short while didn’t he? He even at one point though he was gonna hit home base finally…..before the scandal broke out

Suddenly he hears the bright voice of instructor Tom penetrate the tiny space of the locker room.

“Something wrong Ethan you’ve been there quite awhile? Want me to get Edna to help shimmy you into the suit?”

Ethan bristled at the comment “Nono Im fin Im almost done!” He yelled as he stripped down. Ethan strips down naked, muttering to himself. "This suit better not be see-through…

Shoving himself into the skin-tight polyester prison. The fabric clung to everything. He turned toward the mirror and immediately regretted it.

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