He broke into a run, sneakers pounding the sidewalk. The salty air grew sharper the closer he got to the ocean. By the time he reached the beach entrance exactly one mile his lungs were burning, but the burn faded quickly thanks to his rapid recovery.
He found a wooden pull-up bar set near the public gym area by the boardwalk. Chin-ups were the hardest—his arms trembled by the last rep. Then came four full-court runs on the sand volleyball court, each sprint kicking up sprays of sand behind him.
Taking the wooden steps down to the sand, he spotted four girls playing volleyball near the shoreline.
The first had sun-streaked hair pulled into a high ponytail, her coral bikini top and black athletic shorts contrasting against her deep tan. She moved with quick, springy steps, her laughter carried away by the breeze.
Beside her was a girl with dark braids and a mint-green bikini top paired with white shorts. A silver ankle bracelet glittered with each leap, and she had a calm, confident air as she set the ball with precise hands.
Across the net, a lean girl in a fitted blue shirt and black tights crouched low in the sand, her hair tied back with a matching blue ribbon. She had sharp eyes that tracked the ball like a hawk, springing upward with explosive energy for every block attempt.
Next to her, a petite girl with light golden skin, expressive brown eyes, she's in a loose white shirt and black skirt layered over tights stood ready. The hem of her skirt fluttered in the sea breeze, and a strand of long, layered blonde hair tied into a ponytail kept falling across her cheek as she dove for saves, sand clinging stubbornly to her knees.
All barefoot, all moving with easy grace, they played to the rhythm of the ocean each hit, set, and spike echoing against the crash of waves as the ball sailed over the net.
Jordan shook his head with a faint grin. "Focus, man."Jordan tore his eyes away and pulled up his Daily Quest screen.
[Daily Quest – Set 1/2 Activated
Objective: Body Training
Your physical condition is currently below average due to inactivity. Despite being 17 again, this body hasn't exercised in over a month. Athletic performance has dropped.
Tasks:
50 Push-ups × 3 reps = 0/150
50 Squats × 3 reps = 0/150
50 Sit-ups × 3 reps = 0/150
25 Chin-ups × 3 reps = 0/75
25 Jumping Jacks × 2 reps = 0/50
4 Full-Court Runs = 0/4
1 Mile Run (to and from) = 1/2
Time Limit: 2 Hours
Rewards:
Strength +5
Speed +5
Acceleration +5
Jumping +5
Stamina +5
Punishment: Failure = -5 to all listed stats]
"Alright… let's get this done," he muttered under his breath.
He takes off his shoes on the sand and Dropping to the sand, he started on the push-ups. The grains shifted beneath his palms, making the movement harder, his arms burning after the first thirty. He stole a glance at the girls during a short rest two of them had paused to watch him, whispering and grinning. He smirked and got back to work.
Next were squats. He planted his feet in the sand, going low and driving back up. The resistance from the shifting ground made his thighs ache faster than expected. "Thirty… forty… come on," he grunted, finishing his first set.
Sit-ups came next. He lay back, staring up at the bright sky, knees bent. Each crunch brought the sound of the waves closer in his ears, the scent of the ocean filling his lungs. The girls' laughter occasionally drifted over, but he forced himself to focus.
When it came to chin-ups, he had to get creative spotting a thick wooden beam beneath the boardwalk, he jumped up and gripped it. Pulling himself up was harder than he remembered, his biceps trembling by the twentieth rep.
Jumping jacks felt almost easy in comparison, his body loosening up as he powered through them. Sweat rolled down his back, the sun warm but not unbearable.
The only thing left now was the run back one mile to finish the quest. He checked the time. It was just 4 pm. Plenty of room to spare… but he found himself glancing at the volleyball game again, debating whether to watch for a bit before heading off.
The ball soared high, and the mint-green girl leapt, spiking it with surprising force.
Smack!
It shot straight into the face of the blue-shirt girl. The sound made Jordan wince.
She stumbled back, covering her nose. "Oww Kayla, seriously?!"
Kayla the mint-green girl ran forward, her confident grin fading. "Oh my god, Mia, I didn't mean to! You okay?"
The smaller girl in denim shorts was already laughing. "That's what you get for talking instead of focusing!"
"Shut up, Lexi," Mia muttered, rubbing her nose, but she couldn't quite hide the smirk tugging at her lips.
The girl in the white shirt and skirt tilted her head. "Well, now we're one player short."
Kayla glanced around, eyes landing on Jordan, who's sitting and watching. She gave a little wave. "Hey! You play?"
"Me?"
"Yea you"
Jordan blinked. "A little," he said, trying not to smirk.
"A little?" The one in the white shirt with the black skirt over tights raised an eyebrow. "You've been staring at the court like you're studying it for a thesis."
"We're short one. You in?" said Lexi
Jordan kicked off his sandals, stepping onto the warm sand. "Sure. But don't say I didn't warn you."
"Big talk. Let's see if you can back it up." said Kayla
Jordan wiped the sweat from his brow. His shirt clung to him already, his pulse just slightly elevated from the warm-up.
"Been a while since I played beach volleyball," he muttered under his breath, rolling his shoulders and flexing his fingers.
Beside him, his partner the girl in the skirt bounced lightly on her toes, her bare feet barely sinking into the hot sand. Her Blone hair fluttered in the breeze, eyes locked on their opponents with laser focus. She'd knotted her skirt to the side, revealing the sleek black tights underneath, the fabric catching the sunlight when she moved.
"You'll keep up," she said with a smirk, voice carrying just enough challenge to sting. "Right?"
Jordan chuckled, masking his uncertainty. "Guess we'll find out."
"Ohk I'm Naomi"
"I'm Jordan"
"I won't let us lose" said Naomi.
Across the net, the two opposing girls kayla and lexi.
[First serve]
Lexi tossed the ball high, her palm cracking against it with a satisfying pop. The ball cut through the wind, dropping deep into Jordan's side.
Jordon stepped forward, trying to line it up but the breeze twisted it at the last second.
"Got it!" he called, sliding low, digging his hands under the ball. Sand sprayed up as he scooped it high.
Naomi was already moving. She glided under the ball, steps light and efficient, and set a perfect arc for him.
Jordan leapt, muscles tightening, but the sand clung to his feet like it didn't want to let him go. His timing was just a hair late.
Thwack!. The ball kissed the top of the net tape and rolled back toward him.
"Tch." He clicked his tongue, watching the point go to the other side.
Lexi smirked. "Little heavy on that jump, huh?"
Naomi turns and looks at him Jordan start apologizing "i'm sorry."
She didn't say anything she just looked away.
[Rally Two]
Jordan served this time, aiming deep and low. Kayla darted in like lightning, digging it with a sharp snap of her wrists. Lexi stepped in, jumped then, instead of spiking, lightly tipped it over Jordan's hands.
"Short!" Naomi barked.
She was a blur, sliding forward, her bare feet kicking up golden arcs of sand. She scooped the ball inches from the ground, twisting her body mid-slide to keep it alive.
Jordan blinked her reaction speed was insane.
He scrambled forward, setting the ball high, and she was already airborne when he looked up.
WHAM!
Her spike sliced diagonally across the court, cutting through the wind. The tall opponent barely dug it, the ball spinning wildly back into play.
"Again!" Jordan called, moving back into position. The rally stretched on, sand flying, muscles straining.
By the fifth rally, Jordan's breathing had quickened. His calves burned from pushing through the sand's resistance. His chest rose and fell faster than he liked.
Every time he thought they had an opening, the other girls shut it down with quick pokes, precision digs, or brutal cross spikes.
And his partner? She wasn't just holding her own she was running the show.
Her jumps had more lift than his. Her sets were perfectly placed, even under pressure. Her spikes had that whip-like snap that sent the ball diving.
Even when he scored, it was because she'd set the stage.
[Match Point – 10–9]
The sun was dipping lower, painting the sky in streaks of gold and orange. Sweat trickled down Jordan's temples, stinging his eyes.
He bounced the ball twice, inhaled deeply, and served with everything left in him. The ball sailed deep, smacking the back line with a puff of sand.
Lexi girl dove clean save. The short one sprinted up, swinging hard.
Jordan read it early, leapt high, and blocked. The ball rebounded up and back into their court.
"Mine!" Naomi voice rang out. She was already under the ball, hands steady, setting it perfectly.
Jordan's legs screamed in protest, but he forced himself to push off the sand. He rose, his shadow stretching across the court.
Thud! The ball shot through the narrow gap between the defenders and buried itself in the sand.
11–9. Game.
Jordan landed hard, his chest heaving, legs shaking slightly.
Naomi turned to him with a bright, smug grin and raised her fist. "Told you we'd win."
Jordan knocked his fist against hers, forcing a smile.
Inside, though… he knew.
If it weren't for her, they'd have lost.
And that meant one thing he had a long road ahead if he wanted to get his body back.