Ren stood in the center of the garage, staring at the pile of clothes he'd bought with the last of his spare cash. It was 5:45 PM.
What do the gym rats even wear? he wondered, scratching the back of his neck. In his old life, he'd only seen the "cool guys" from a distance, the ones who walked around campus with gallon jugs of water and tight shirts. Compression shirt. Simple. Classic. Let's go with that, Ren thought.
He pulled the gear on. As the fabric stretched over his chest, he caught his reflection. He didn't feel like Ren Camry; he felt like he was wearing a costume of the man he was supposed to be. Fake it 'til you make it, he told himself, checking his phone. Smell fresh, look dangerous.
The clock hit 6:00 PM as Ren pushed through the glass double doors of the Academy gym. He walked with a deliberate slow stride, another trick he'd copied from the athletes.
Karin was waiting by the turnstiles. She was wearing tight black shorts and an oversized university tee. As they greeted each other, Ren pulled her into a friendly hug. The moment her soft frame pressed against his hard chest, he felt a jolt. Without the bulky dress, he realized Karin was hiding a spectacular, petite body.
Wait, she's actually hot? Ren's mind raced.
"You look... different outside of the classroom," Ren murmured, trying to sound as smooth as he'd practiced in the mirror.
Karin's face turned pink. "I could say the same about you Ren."
He chuckled. "You'll have to forgive me if I'm a bit slow. This is actually my first time in a gym."
Karin let out a melodic laugh. "Right! With a body like that, you expect me to believe you've never lifted a plate?"
Ren just smirked. On the inside, he was relieved. She thinks I'm being sarcastic. Perfect. Just keep the 'cool guy' act up.
As they moved toward the mat area, Ren felt the weight of a dozen gazes. It had been less than a week, but the "Scholarship Titan" was already the talk of the Academy.
"Why is everyone staring at us?" Ren asked in a low voice.
"They aren't staring at me, Ren," Karin whispered. "They're staring at you."
It's working, Ren thought, a surge of adrenaline hitting him.
"How did you happen to have two different assignments ready this morning?" Ren asked as he helped her with her sets.
Karin hesitated, then laid back into a sit-up position. Ren moved to hold her toes, his large hands anchoring her small feet.
"I had different ideas for the data," she said, her voice strained. "But... I didn't give it to you just to be nice. I wanted to ask for a favor."
[Ding!]
[Physical Contact Detected: Karin]
[Resonance: 40% — The System is feeding on her proximity.]
"A favor?" Ren prompted.
Karin finished her set and stayed on the floor. She looked up at him, her glasses slightly fogged. "I'm a virgin". And I don't want to be anymore. I've seen the way people look at you. I want you to be the one to break me."
Ren froze. Is this a prank? Is there a camera? His old insecurities screamed for a second, but then he felt the heavy, thrumming heat in his blood. The System wasn't a prank. The girl's racing heart wasn't a prank.
"Okay, Karin," he said, his voice dropping into that deep, "Sovereign" tone that came so naturally now. "If that's what you want, I'm not going to say no."
The rest of the workout was a blur. Ren felt like he was walking on air as they headed back to the garage.
[Ding!]
[System Objective: The Virgin's Tithe]
[ENGAGE]
When Ren rolled up the door, Karin stepped inside and gasped. The "Sovereign's Den" was now a fully furnished sanctuary. The leather couch, the soft lighting, and the expensive scent of the room made her eyes widen.
"This is where you live?" she asked, walking toward the center of the room. "It's... it's amazing, Ren. It's like a hidden palace."
"It has its perks," Ren said, closing the door behind them and sealing out the world. He pointed toward the partitioned bathroom. "The gym was hot. You might as well use the shower here first."
Karin nodded, her face flushed with a mix of nerves and excitement. As she disappeared behind the bathroom door and the sound of the water began to hiss, the System roared to life.
[Ding!]
[Objective Trigger: The First Offering]
[Target: Karin (The Scholar)]
[Status: Target vulnerable. Proceed to claim]
Ren sat on the edge of the bed, his heart hammering against his ribs. He was about to take something that could never be returned, and for the first time, he realized just how much power the System had truly given him.
The steam from the shower hung, blurring the glass door and mirror. Karin had only been under the spray for a couple of minutes, her back to the entrance as the hot water sluiced over her shoulders. On the bed, Ren's System prompt pulsed insistently in his vision:
[Engage]
He stood, shedding his clothes in a silent heap on the floor, and padded toward the bathroom.
The door opened without a sound. Karin, eyes closed as she ran her fingers through her wet hair, didn't hear him over the drumming water. The next thing she saw were palms flat against the fogged glass, caging her in. Her heart gave a violent, leaping thud against her ribs.This was it.
She felt his hard dick press against her upper back. Then he smacked his hand on her ass, a possessive crack that made her gasp. The sound dissolved into a shaky, "Aahhh…"
He spun her around and said to her ear "Are you ready?" and she replied with a nod. He lowered his head, his mouth capturing hers in a deep, consuming kiss. Her arms flew up, wrapping around his neck, her fingers tangling in his damp hair. She was turned on.
Ren's hand left the glass, with his hand slipping down her stomach all the way to her pussy. He began to rub up and down her clit without inserting his finger inside, and she broke the kiss with a sharp inhale, exhaling hard into his mouth.
He stopped, leaving her aching. He reached past her, turning the water off. The sudden silence was heavy, broken only by their ragged breathing. Then he guided her down until her knees met the wet tile floor. She understood, looking up at him with wide, drenched eyes. When her gaze dropped to his cock, standing thick and veiny. The reality of what she'd asked for, of its sheer size, seemed to crash down on her.