Returnee 4

'That's enough for today. I don't want to fall back into old habits,' he stretched his arms.

As much as he wanted to keep watching anime, he knew time was a limited commodity. 

'What's that smell?'

Sniffing his T-shirt, he realized he didn't just look smelly—he was smelly. 

'I should really take baths more often. Water was hard to find during the first couple of years after the invasion.'

He started the bath, letting the warm bubbles rise before stepping in.

'I'm really lucky to have an aunt like her,'

A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he sank into the water, letting it cover him up to the neck.

'Maybe I'm remembering it wrong, but didn't she wink at me back then?' he muttered, squinting at the ceiling.

'No, probably just my imagination. That was years ago.'

Taking his time, he washed every inch of his body, even gargled the running water from the faucet, savoring the moment of peace.

Once finished, he stood in front of the tall mirror and took a good look at himself.

He was pretty thin, except for one thing—the most important part. It was long and thick, which, at least, gave him something to be proud of. 

'I need to put on some muscle… I'm way too weak,' he muttered, flexing his fingers. He could barely muster any strength.

It was the outcome of neglecting exercise and living an unhealthy lifestyle.

'It's a miracle I survived the first wave,' he sighed to himself.

Back then, the military rescued him, so he ended up reaching a nuclear bomb shelter in one piece.

'Yeah, I don't want to experience living in that place again,'

Without wasting any more time, he pulled on black joggers and a loose tank top.

The first thing on his mind was to gain some weight .

Though it would normally take an average person a long time to gain any, he had a surefire way to speed up the process—by up to 20 times. 

It was a technique he learned that allowed him to burn protein much faster, and the effects would be even more noticeable, considering his starting point was so low. 

'I will need a lot of meat and protein shake' he added, his mind already focused on the next step.

Once fully dressed, he walked toward the stairs, his mind briefly drifting to the house around him. 

As he walked down the stairs, polished wood creaked under his bare feet.

Past the rail, sunlight spilled across the living room, where clean furniture sat untouched.

To his right, the pool shimmered behind the sliding glass doors.

The four-car carport sat just a step away from the main entrance, offering easy access. 

This house had everything—space, comfort, even a personal gym—but it always felt too big for just three people.

Downstairs, the foyer opened up in front of him, with the main door just a few steps ahead.

"Terrence? What's wrong? Did you not like the food?" Effie asked, holding a vacuum cleaner as she went about her chores.

'She's really pretty, even when she's sweating...' 

She had everything most guys looked for, and his uncle was lucky.

Most girls that pretty acted entitled, thinking a rich husband meant they deserved constant gifts and praise.

But she was far from that. She diligently kept the house clean and maintained everything with care. 

As far as he could remember, there was no record of her cheating.

Then again, he didn't leave his room much, so he couldn't be sure. 

"Can I ask you a favor, Aunt Effie?" 

She turned off the vacuum and looked at him. "What is it?"

"I'm starting to exercise. Can we have steak for dinner?"

Her eyes widened slightly, then she smiled and clapped her hands, very pleased with his decision.

"Sure, I'll cook you steak for dinner. How do you want it, and how many pieces?"

"Medium rare is fine, and I want 10 pieces," he requested, knowing it was a bit much.

But she didn't question him; she simply nodded.

That was just how she was—always willing to give him whatever he asked for. 

"After I'm done cleaning, I'll head to the convenience store and grab some steak," she smiled, her eyes softening with genuine happiness.

She didn't really expect him to stick with it for long, but that didn't matter .

As long as he showed a bit of effort, she was more than willing to support him. 

"Thanks. I'm heading to the gym to get some exercise," he gave slight nod before turning away. 

Effie watched his small back, unsure what to make of the sudden change in his behavior.

The way he spoke, the way he moved—it was all different, and hard to miss

'Maybe this time he's actually serious about it,' 

The thought made her smile, and she quickly clasped her hand over her mouth to hide it.