The next day, Kristine woke up early and strode into the family gym. She was determined to prove to her father that she was strong and capable enough to attend military high school with her brother. She had always been athletic but had mostly focused on cardio in the past. But now, she was ready to take her training to the next level.
She donned a green sports tank top and set to work on her physique. Her hair was tied into a ponytail, and her headband was ready to catch the sweat from her body as she worked out with renewed determination and focus. She started with a warm-up of stretching and cardio, her muscles already starting to burn. Then, she moved on to weightlifting. She started with smaller weights and worked her way up, feeling the burn in her muscles as she pushed herself to lift more and more. As she progressed, she was finally starting the bench press.
Kristine grasped the barbell weighing 130 pounds firmly in her hands, her arms trembled as she lowered it towards her chest. With a deep breath, she pushed the barbell up, her back arching as she extended her arms fully. The contours of her back muscles were clearly visible as her spine curved. She repeated this motion with a steady pace, her body moving in sync with the weight. Sweat poured down her face and her muscles trembled with each rep.
The servants watching her were a little worried and concerned, and they didn't want her to become a muscle woman and lose her elegant beauty and charm. They knew the boys at the military high school would be drawn to her beauty and feared for her safety. They didn't want to put her in that situation, and they tried to persuade her to stop working out and focus on her music and studies instead.
But Kristine was determined. She knew she was as strong and capable as her brother. They shared the same cheat system after all.
She pushed herself stubbornly, but she still couldn't help but doubt herself. Her body ached and her muscles burned with fatigue. She was just as talented at fighting as her brother thanks to the system, but he had been training his physical abilities since their reincarnation, while she had been neglecting hers. She wondered if she would ever be able to catch up. She felt like giving up. Focusing on her studies and musical career to gain Love Points would be the easier option.
"I can do this," she muttered to herself. "I am just as strong and capable as Christopher. I won't let myself be treated like a little girl."
Kristine pushed herself to finish this last set of reps as memories of her past life flooded her mind. She remembered how she used to be a man and an online troll. She would troll women online using phrases like "trad wife" and "stay in the kitchen." The hypocrisy of it all made her even more determined to prove herself, to show that she was just as strong and capable as any man.
When she finished her last set of bench presses, her body finally gave out. She could feel the bile rising in her throat. She knew she needed to get to the restroom fast.
Kristine rushed past the concerned servants and into the bathroom. She barely made it before she vomited, emptying her stomach's contents into the toilet bowl.
She remained on the bathroom floor hunched over the toilet, tears streaming down her face as she heaved and retched, her stomach empty but still convulsing. Her workout clothes were drenched in sweat and her muscles ached with exhaustion. She had pushed herself too hard and now, she was paying the price.
As she sat there, she couldn't help but think about how she had changed since being reincarnated. She had been a man in her past life and had looked down on women and belittled them. Now, as a girl, she was experiencing firsthand the inequality that she had once ignored or denied even existed.
She leaned her head against the cold tile wall and closed her eyes, trying to catch her breath.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Suddenly, the bathroom door opened and Christopher peeked in. "Kris, are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
Kristine looked up at him with a tear-streaked face, "No, I'm not okay," she said, her voice breaking. She tried to wipe the tears away, but they just kept falling. "Everything sucks."
Christopher walked into the bathroom and sat next to Kristine, pulling her into a comforting embrace as she leaned her head on his shoulder. "Kris, why are you pushing yourself so hard? You're already earning tons of Love Points with your looks and music. "
Kristine's voice cracked as she started, "I don't care about Love Points, Chris. I want to prove to myself and others that I'm strong and capable, just like you. We were the same person in our past life, there's no reason I can't do what you can."
She was struggling with gender dysphoria for years but thought she was over it. But the emotions and feelings that she thought she had overcome were now rising to the surface once again.
Christopher shook his head. "You don't need to prove anything to anyone," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "You're already talented. Even with the system, your musical talent is superior to mine. You don't need to push yourself so hard."
Kristine took her head off his shoulder and looked her brother in the eye, feeling a mix of gratitude and frustration. She knew he loved and cared for her, but she also felt he didn't understand her struggles and desires. "I know you mean well but I can't do that, Chris," she said, wiping away her tears. "This is something I have to do for myself."
She pushed herself off the chilly bathroom floor and left, leaving behind Christopher who sat with a frown on his face.
**
Kristine continued to work out but Christopher made nonstop attempts to discourage her from attending military school. He would often mock her training routine and post pictures of her looking pale and sick on social media. He made comments and jokes about her muscular physique, suggesting that it was unattractive and unappealing. He believed that Kristine should focus on earning Love Points with her beauty and musical talents instead of putting herself through something as dangerous and unproductive as a military school.
Some people at school would agree with Christopher. They didn't like the changes in her body and thought that she was losing her elegant and graceful beauty. Even her own music students, Peter and Anne, expressed their disapproval of her transformation. They preferred her previous elegant and graceful appearance as it suited her piano playing better.
But others found her more attractive and desirable. They liked her tanned skin and toned muscles, and they thought that she looked hotter than before. They found her more relatable and approachable, and they were more willing to talk to her and be friends with her.
Christopher scrolled through his feed on this world's social media website and smirked. He already crafted the next troll post directed toward his sister. He snapped a quick picture of her working out in the gym, flexing her newly toned biceps, and captioned it with mock disappointment and sadness. "Looks like my elegant sister has turned into a muscle head " he typed. He added a sad face emoji before hitting send.
Kristine was unfazed by her brother's attempts to get a rise out of her. Instead, she decided to return fire with a post of her own. She posted a photo of herself, pulling up her shirt to show off her defined abs and toned physique, with a caption that read "Who needs elegance when you can have this #strongnotskinny"
Christopher's post had been shared and liked by many, but Kristine's post had set the internet on fire. Comments like "AWOOGA" and "I would drag my..." flooded her post, and it was clear that Kristine had won this round.
As Kristine's post on social media began to gain more attention and engagement, she received a lot of comments and replies from people online. They were very divisive. Some of the comments were positive and supportive, expressing admiration for her dedication and determination. Others, however, were negative and dismissive, echoing Christopher's concerns about the impact of her physical training on her appearance. Some of these comments came from her fans who had attended many of her concerts in the past.
But as the engagement on her post grew, the attention became too much. A moderator removed the post after they realized Kristine was only 14 years old and still underage. But Kristine just laughed it off, knowing that she had made her point.