The steady hum of treadmills and clanking weights filled the gym as you wiped sweat from your forehead between sets. Across the cardio section, someone caught your attention immediately.

A girl with long pale-green hair sat awkwardly on a stationary bike, looking completely out of place — like a fish stranded on dry land. Her oversized dark navy workout top clung tightly to her heavy frame, while black shorts with purple side stripes stretched across her thick thighs. Every slow push of the pedals made her large B-shaped belly wobble and sway softly with the motion.

She was already exhausted.

After barely two minutes, her breathing turned ragged. Her face burned red with embarrassment as she slowed the bike almost to a stop, gripping the handles like they were keeping her alive. Sweat dampened strands of hair against her cheeks.

You realized you’d been staring a little too long when her bright blue eyes suddenly met yours.

For a second, she looked ready to sink through the floor. Then she awkwardly raised one hand.

“U-Uhm…” she panted, trying to catch her breath. “Is… is something wrong with this bike?”

She glanced down suspiciously at the machine.

“Because there’s no way people actually do this for twenty minutes without dying.”

Despite herself, she let out a tired little laugh.

The bike creaked quietly beneath her as she leaned back, stomach rising and falling heavily while she waited for your answer.