Chapter 3: High School Football Tournament Final (1)

Although my family couldn’t come to cheer in person because of the early morning game time, they left supportive messages in the group chat.
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-Mom: Son, you can do well, so don’t worry and just play like you always do. Fighting!

-Nuisance: Mom, he’ll manage. He’s not a kid.

-Mom: Is that how you talk to your older brother? By the way, Mi-na?

-Nuisance: Huh?

-Mom: Aren’t you in class at school right now?

-Mom: Mi-na?

-Mom: Put your phone away and study while I’m asking nicely.
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“Kekekeke.”

“What’s so funny?”

Lee Tae-yang gave me a strange look as I laughed while looking at my phone.

“Tae-yang.”

“What?”

“…”

“Hey, if you called me, say something.”

“…”

“Jeong Tae-woo, are you possessed by a ghost?”

“…”

“Hey, you b*stard. Say something.”

“Let’s go quietly back there!”

Lee Tae-yang jumped in surprise at the coach’s shout and lowered his head.

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

Then he glared at me and whispered in a small voice.

“You’re so dead later.”

Ah, is it because I’ve become younger?

My mental age seems to have regressed too.

Why is teasing so much fun?

***

[Hello, I’m Lee Seong-jun, in charge of broadcasting the high school football tournament.]

[This is Yu Jeong-hwan. I’m really looking forward to today’s match.]

[Yes, that’s right. It’s the high school football final, a showdown between Pungwol High and Inha High. These two schools have a very long rivalry.]

[Indeed. It’s like watching Barcelona and Real Madrid. The atmosphere in the stands is also intense.]

[Last year, Pungwol High won after a penalty shootout, didn’t they?]

[That’s correct. But it’s a bit different this time. It’s being called the ‘Clash of the Crown Princes’.]

[Ah, you mean the first-year players Jeong Tae-woo and Yu Hui-seong. I heard they were famous since middle school…]

[That’s right. Both players gained attention for their amazing skills since middle school. I heard they even caught the eyes of pro scouts.]

[Exactly. And they’re still showing incredible performances in high school.]

[Player Yu Hui-seong, 12 goals and 5 assists in 10 matches… Is this really a high school student’s record?]

[Player Jeong Tae-woo is also amazing. 9 clean sheets in 9 matches, with only one penalty conceded in one game.]

[Wow, the more we talk, the more astounding these records become.]

[Ah, yes. While we were talking, the players are entering.]

[Players Jeong Tae-woo and Yu Hui-seong are visible on the broadcast screen… Wow, they’re really handsome. I heard they were famous for their celebrity-like looks since middle school…]

[They look just like I did when I was young, haha.]

[Oh, is that so? Viewers, how about looking up Yu Jeong-hwan’s high school photos? He probably looked exactly like our players Jeong Tae-woo and Yu Hui-seong.]

[Why would they look that up!]

[Don’t we have a duty to show the viewers the truth?]

[Ahem… Well, let’s focus on the game. Kick-off is about to begin!]

***

Inha High came out with a 3-5-2 formation, intending to dominate the game’s flow by increasing ball possession.

On the other hand, our Pungwol High countered with a 4-2-4 formation, an extremely offensive tactic utilizing four strikers.

‘The coach must be trusting me and focusing on the attack.’

Just before kick-off, I noticed a particularly striking player among Inha High’s attackers.

It was the novel’s protagonist, Yu Hui-seong.

‘Wow, this kid is incredibly handsome too.’

Yu Hui-seong had a different kind of charm from me.

If I were the cool, handsome type, Yu Hui-seong had a cute yet handsome face?

“Hmm, but I guess it’s because it’s a novel. There are a lot of people for a high school game.”

In the setting of Manchester United’s resurgence era, high school football receives almost as much public interest as the K-League.

“Kyaaaah! Tae-woo oppa, you’re so handsome!”

“Hui-seong oppa! Look over here!”

Famous high school players like this often have fandoms.

‘If they’re this popular since high school, they could become arrogant.’

Maybe because I’m playing as a goalkeeper, I’m a little nervous, but what could possibly go wrong?

In a fight between these kids.

However, something went wrong very quickly.

3rd minute of the first half.

Was it because our bodies weren’t fully warmed up yet?

Or was it because of the novel protagonist’s buff?

Yu Hui-seong’s movement came into my sight.

He exchanged quick one-two passes with a teammate and charged into our defense.

Yu Hui-seong approached the first defender.

The ball flowed from his feet as if alive. In the blink of an eye, the ball slipped through the defender’s legs.

The second defender attempted a tackle, but Yu Hui-seong was already past him.

It was Yu Hui-seong’s signature phantom dribble.

Even the third defender was toyed with by Yu Hui-seong’s footwork.

The rhythm created by his feet was so fluid it was reminiscent of a Brazilian player.

‘Is that a high school student? He’s definitely good.’

I pretended to move forward to narrow the angle, while also conspicuously showing an open space to my right.

‘If a goalkeeper obviously shows an open spot, an attacker can’t help but overthink it.’

Ah, of course, ordinary goalkeepers would have found it hard to block in a one-on-one situation.

But I don’t know if my body is special, or if the God of Football gave me some ability.

The ball appeared to move slowly.

Thwack!!

Yu Hui-seong looked at me with a surprised expression, as if he hadn’t expected me to catch the ball.

Having only seen the despairing faces of goalkeepers when I scored as a striker, seeing the opposite situation is quite thrilling in its own way.

Seeing Yu Hui-seong’s bewildered face, the corners of my mouth unknowingly curled up.

***

Inha High’s coach, An Hyeong-jin, couldn’t help but wear an expression of disbelief.

40th minute of the first half.

Inha High had recorded an astonishing 8 shots on target against Pungwol High, but not a single one had gone in.

“No way, he blocked all of that?”

There were certainly many shots straight at him, and some that would be considered easy for a goalkeeper to save.

But blocking everything, including one-on-one chances and shots aimed at the corners of the goal, wasn’t that too much?

Right now, the Inha High players were performing not at 100% but at 120% of their abilities, executing his tactics well.

“But it’s still 0-0, does that even make sense?”

To think that all their efforts were being nullified by that one handsome goalkeeper from Pungwol High.

Peeeeep!

And just like that, the first half ended in a frustrating 0-0.

The Inha High players who entered the locker room all had their heads down.

They had clearly played well, yet it was still 0-0.

Honestly, looking at possession or any other metric, no one could deny that Inha High was dominating.

But precisely because of this situation, being 0-0 placed an even greater burden on their side.

‘Ah, don’t tell me we’re going to lose?’

‘Why aren’t the goals going in?’

‘We’re playing so well, why aren’t we scoring?’

As these thoughts began to take root in the players’ minds, anxiety and impatience grew, which could lead to a drop in concentration and performance.

Furthermore, if one mistake was made, it could trigger a chain reaction and cause the entire team to collapse.

The existence of a football coach was to prevent that.

Soothing the players’ psychology and guiding them in the right direction—that was the crucial role of a coach.

“Why is everyone hanging their heads?”

Coach An Hyeong-jin’s voice resonated.

“You all executed my tactics perfectly. You did absolutely nothing wrong.”

At his words, the players began to lift their heads one by one.

“We just need to do what we’ve been doing.”

“Well, is that Jeong Tae-woo kid a god or something?”

“No, sir!”

The players answered in unison.

“Right, that kid isn’t a god. He’s human. He’ll definitely make mistakes. He seems to be in exceptionally good condition today, but if Pungwol High has him, then we have-“

Everyone’s gaze turned to Yu Hui-seong.

“Yeah, if Jeong Tae-woo is over there,”

“We have Hui-seong!”

“Hui-seong, say something!”

Everyone held their breath, waiting for Yu Hui-seong’s response.

They all knew that a single word from Yu Hui-seong could boost the team’s morale.

Yu Hui-seong looked at his teammates.

“Everyone says Jeong Tae-woo and I are rivals,”

Yu Hui-seong began to speak.

“Honestly, I think I’m better than Jeong Tae-woo.”

Everyone listened intently to Yu Hui-seong’s confident words.

“More than that, I think Inha High plays much better football than Pungwol High. Let’s definitely win this!”

“Yeah, let’s get revenge for last year!”

One player shouted, and the other players chimed in, roaring in agreement.

The locker room was instantly filled with fervent heat.

Coach An Hyeong-jin stepped forward.

“Well said, Hui-seong. I also absolutely do not think Pungwol High is better than our Inha High. You are all players who fully deserve to wear the championship medals.”

A strong determination for victory shone in everyone’s eyes.

“Alright, let’s do our chant and go out!”

The players put their hands on each other’s shoulders and formed a circle.

A strong desire for victory could be felt in their eyes.

“One, two, three!”

“Inha’s passion! Tenacity for victory!”

“We are one! Inha High!”

Shouting their chant, the players headed to the field with determined expressions.

Their hearts, ahead of the second half, were filled with hope and confidence.

However, reality was far too different from their expectations.

[Uwaaaaaah! Goal! Goal! Goal! It’s a goal!]

The commentator’s excited voice filled the stadium.

[An unbelievable goal has been scored just 5 minutes into the second half! How is this possible?]

[This player… Is he really a goalkeeper? This is truly an unbelievable scene!]

The ball was rolling inside Inha High’s goal.

“No, didn’t they say that kid was a goalkeeper?”

Coach An Hyeong-jin’s voice trembled.

“How can a goalkeeper dribble that well!!!”