Chapter 21: Olympic Finals (2)

Of the 16 teams competing in the preliminaries, only 8 could advance to the main tournament.

South Korea surpassed expectations, advancing to the main tournament as first in Group B, and their next opponent would be the second-place team from Group C.

Group C included Japan, Spain, Ivory Coast, and Australia.

The reason South Korea insisted on finishing first was simple.

They believed Spain would naturally take first place in Group C.

However, the world of football was unpredictable.

Japan overturned all expectations, defeated Spain, and topped the group with an astonishing three consecutive wins.

The resulting quarter-final matchups were as follows:

1. France VS Portugal

2. South Korea VS Spain

3. Japan VS Brazil

4. Germany VS Argentina

“This is twisted.”

Coach Joo Eun-gyeom nodded at Coach Cheon Mu-seok’s remark.

“Indeed. To think Japan would beat Spain and advance…”

“Even if Japan is called the ‘golden generation,’ beating Spain is beyond what I imagined.”

Japan was drawing attention in this Olympics, being called the ‘golden generation.’

The team, led by striker Tanaka Ryosuke, midfielder Nakamura Kenji, and defender Saito Hiroki, was showing formidable strength.

Tanaka unsettled opposing defenses with his blistering speed and accurate shooting, while Nakamura did so with his outstanding technique and creative passes.

Saito was key to balancing the Japanese team, possessing not only solid defensive skills but also build-up capabilities.

All were young, 19-year-old prospects from Japan, receiving as much interest from European teams as Korea’s Jeong Tae-woo, Yoo Hee-sung, and Lee Tae-yang.

Coach Cheon Mu-seok paused in thought for a moment, then spoke with a resolute expression.

“Either way, for us to meet Japan in this Olympics, we have to beat Spain, and Japan has to beat Brazil to advance. The chances are slim.”

He took a short breath and continued.

“So, we will first focus on Spain. This match will be an experimental ground. It will be the day we show Wave Pressing to the world for the first time.”

‘Finally, the tactic I’ve only conceptualized will be revealed to the world.’

During his coaching days in Germany, he had told many coaches about his tactics and philosophies, but everyone had dismissed them as impossible.

The day his tactic is unveiled to the world, his name, Cheon Mu-seok, will rise even higher.

‘I’m looking forward to it.’

“Eun-gyeom, therefore, we will find out everything about Spain in the remaining time. Down to their most trivial habits.”

Coach Joo Eun-gyeom nodded and replied firmly.

“Understood. Head Coach, I will personally take charge of the video analysis team. We will secure all recent match footage of the Spanish U-23 national team and analyze it thoroughly.”

“Good, do that. And also pay attention to managing our players’ conditions. Especially Park Seo-joon, Jeong Tae-woo, Lee Tae-yang, and Yoo Hee-sung. These four will be the core of our tactic.”

“Yes, I will ensure meticulous management of the players’ stamina and injury prevention. We will also adjust individual training programs according to the Wave Pressing tactic.”

Coach Cheon Mu-seok nodded in satisfaction.

***

‘Sigh, should I try contacting her again? But what would I say?’

I was still fidgeting with my phone, bothered by yesterday’s call with Da-min.

Just then, two senior players came into my view, approaching me.

“Tae-woo, what are you doing?”

“He’s clearly thinking about a girl.”

‘Huh, how did they know?’

“Hey, is Tae-woo the same as you? Only an ugly guy like you worries about girls. Women would flock to Tae-woo even if he just stood still.”

Senior Yoon Jae-hoon said suspiciously.

“That expression is definitely the same as mine when I’m thinking about a girl.”

“Haha, Senior, you’re quite the joker.”

“Hmm~”

‘Ah, I don’t know, let’s just go for it.’

“You two came just as I was about to contact a female friend.”

“Tae-woo, I’m sorry, but in this sacred national team, even messing around with girls goes by seniority. However, I–”

“Hey Tae-woo, I don’t think like that, so introduce me to some girls. You know a lot of girls, right?”

“Uh, wait a minute, hey Choi Woo-jin, I was about to say that. Me… me… introduce me too. Woo-jin is too ugly. Honestly, you need to be at least as good-looking as me. Don’t you think so, Tae-woo?”

“Hey, what are you talking about? I’m much better.”

“Yeah, no you’re not.”

‘It’s like watching myself and Tae-yang. But are these seniors serious?’

“Wait a moment, Seniors.”

“Hm?”

“Why?”

“You haven’t forgotten my age, have you? I’m a high school freshman.”

“……”

“……”

“This is a crime–”
Senior Woo-jin and Senior Jae-hoon quickly covered my mouth.

“Hahaha, Tae-woo, what are you talking about? As if we’d ask you to introduce us to a high school freshman. We were just wondering if you knew any older girls our age.”

“Jeong Tae-woo, looking at this, he’s just a comedian. Hahahaha.”

The seniors’ awkward laughter echoed around.

I suppressed my laughter inwardly, looking at their flustered expressions.

‘Come to think of it, if they had experience with girlfriends, wouldn’t they be able to explain this situation well?’

“But Seniors.”

“Hey, what’s with ‘Seniors’? Just call us hyung.”

(TL: Hyung is what a younger male calls an older male friend/brother.)

“Yes, well, Hyungs, by any chance…”

I hesitated for a moment, then mustered the courage to ask.

“Could you give me some relationship advice? I’m confused whether I like her as a woman or as a friend.”

“Hey Tae-woo.”

“This bastard.”

The Hyungs’ expressions instantly soured upon hearing my words.

“Shouldn’t you ask if we’ve even had girlfriends first?”

“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

‘Ah, if they had experience with girlfriends, they wouldn’t have asked a high school freshman to introduce them to girls.’

I had realized a tremendous truth.

These Hyungs were also ‘motae solo’ (solo since birth), just like me.

Just then, I heard Senior Seo-joon’s voice from afar.

“Hey, what are you three chattering about over there? Training is about to start.”

‘If it’s Senior Park Seo-joon…’

Senior Seo-joon was tall and handsome, with a cool personality, and he was the most famous among us here, so he must have had a girlfriend.

Suddenly, I felt a glimmer of hope.

Senior Seo-joon seemed like he could definitely give good advice.

“Senior Park Seo-joon!”

“What’s up, Tae-woo?”

“Um… could you give me some relationship advice? You seem like you have a lot of experience, Hyung…”

“Relationship advice?”

Senior Seo-joon looked at Jae-hoon hyung and Woo-jin hyung next to me, then said with a smile.

“Yeah, these guys wouldn’t have been able to help.”

“Hey, what do you mean by that!!”

“Hey, what do you mean by that!!”

The two exclaimed simultaneously with indignant expressions, but we ignored them.

“But this is unexpected. Tae-woo, you asking for relationship advice… I thought you’d have lots of girls. And ‘Senior’ is too stiff, just call me Hyung. So, go ahead and tell me. I don’t have a lot, but I do have some experience.”

I took a deep breath and began to tell him everything that had happened with Da-min.

Our friendship since childhood, the news of her girl group debut, and our recent phone call.

“So… Hyung. How Da-min thinks of me, and how I think of Da-min… I really don’t know. Whether this is affection between friends, or some other feeling…”

“Hey Tae-woo.”

“Yes?”

“Are you an idiot?”

‘Why is he suddenly saying that?’

“No, you’ve flirted a lot, and she’s expressed her liking for you a lot too. Why aren’t you dating?”

‘No, when did I ever flirt… And Da-min expressed her feelings?’

“Sigh, you really look like you don’t know.”

Seo-joon hyung lightly tapped his chest as if frustrated, then continued.

“Tae-woo. A girl doesn’t go all the way to a guy’s house to cheer him on if she’s not interested in him, man.”

“No, that’s because we’re childhood friends…”

“You ha… Hey, when that friend came to your house, you said, ‘You look pretty today,’ right?”

“Yes, that was as a friend…”

“No, that is flirting!”

‘No, I just said she was pretty because I couldn’t treat her like I treat the guys. Why is that flirting? I’ve never had a female friend before…’

“Wow Tae-woo, seriously? This is worse than me.”

“Right? We seem better off.”

Jae-hoon hyung and Woo-jin hyung, who were listening beside me, also looked shocked.

‘No, is this really something to be so shocked about? Among fellow ‘motae solos’?’

Seo-joon hyung sighed and said.

“Tae-woo, are you really that innocent, or are you acting?”

“No, I really don’t know.”

Seo-joon hyung sighed again and said.

“Sigh, then let me give you an extreme example. If that friend got another boyfriend, how do you think you would feel?”

Da-min getting a boyfriend…

For a moment, my chest felt tight, and my mind became complicated.

Imagining Da-min walking hand-in-hand with another guy, a strange sense of displeasure welled up.

“That would be… I wouldn’t like it.”

I replied, frowning.

“Right, that’s the feeling of liking someone.”

“So, I like Da-min?”

Seo-joon hyung’s expression brightened.

“Yes, that’s it. And your friend seems plenty interested in you too. If she’s not as dense as you, she probably already knows her feelings of liking you. So, confess after the Olympics.”

Park Seo-joon thought as he looked at the Jeong Tae-woo.

‘If, by any chance, it’s a misunderstanding and he gets rejected after confessing, it would affect his Olympic performance, so it’s right to do it after it ends.’

Seo-joon lightly patted Tae-woo’s shoulder and continued.

“Focus on the Olympics for now. You won’t be too late if you think it over slowly and act after that.”

However, Seo-joon hyung’s voice no longer reached my ears.

‘A confession. How do you even do that?’