Amidst the Pouring Love Calls (10)

In SUC T1’s practice room.

The atmosphere that had been orderly like the military became disorganized. All the players stopped practicing and gathered around the 80-inch large television.

Among them was Ninomiya Takuya, the Japanese player who recently transferred to SUC.

Takuya, adorned with flashy blonde hair, spoke haltingly in Korean.

“…Jaehyun.”

“Yes?”

“Pray.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“HaYoo-san. If not come SUC. I’m fucked.”

Seeing Takuya’s ashen face, Moon Jaehyun tilted his head.

“Why?”

“Uh…”

Takuya scratched his head as he thought of the Korean words.

Then, Jung Suhyuk, who had been listening to the conversation, blurted out an answer.

“If Han Yujin doesn’t come here, he’ll become a laughingstock. Someone abandoned their home team to come here for championships, while someone else rejected it for romance.”

“Ah.”

Takuya clasped his hands desperately.

“HaYoo-san must come here for me to live too.”

A few days ago, Takuya betrayed the Yomiuri Hawks, where he had been for 8 years, and transferred to SUC.

The reason he left behind the honor of being a one-club man and franchise star was simple.

Champions League.

It was the top tournament for clubs, where teams from all over the world participate.

He had already won his country’s individual league five times, but he always failed at the threshold of the Champions League finals.

And the team that consistently frustrated him was SUC T1.

Finally.

Takuya, craving for victory, gritted his teeth and made a decision. To transfer here.

‘If you can’t beat them, join them.’

Takuya said this at his signing press conference and was thoroughly bashed by public opinion in his home country.

In particular, one daily newspaper relentlessly slandered Takuya with aggressive headlines and black propaganda.

Yomiuri Shimbun.

It was the sponsor of his home team, which was like his hometown.

Literally, yesterday’s friend had become today’s enemy.

“Haah…”

Takuya bit his nails as he spied on the reactions on Japanese sites.

[2ch]

[Ninomiya bastard is shit garbage]

2024/12/8(Sat)

-First time seeing such a messed up bastard in my lifew

-The guy who called himself a samurai abandoned loyalty and betrayedwww

-I already burned the uniform of this trash bastard

└Trash uniform burning ceremony kitaww

-Typical traitor like Akechi Mitsuhide

-Don’t like his looks either, extremely Yankee-like

-The world isn’t something a bastard like you can easily steal

-If by any chance Mr. Ninomiya sees this, please die

-Excuse of bringing World Cup to Japan. Ugly creature itself

└This guy just betrayed because he wanted to win Champions League

└Excuses like motivation are ugly

-Umeboshi and friends get better with age

Ah, Ninomiya is different

This bastard betrays

└wwwww

└Ninomiya who ran away to brother’s country

“Oh, it’s starting.”

At 5 o’clock sharp, the broadcast screen changed and Han Yujin appeared.

Han Yujin wearing a two-piece suit.

The SUC players watching TV exclaimed in admiration.

“Wow.”

“She’s so pretty.”

“Please come to our team.”

“Should I confess?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I think it’d be nice just to look at her.”

Seeing that, Takuya checked the reactions on Japanese sites again.

And he couldn’t believe his eyes.

The temperature was starkly different from his own situation.

[2ch]

[Korea’s Decision Show]

2024/12/8(Sat)

-Wow she’s super cute

-HaYoo-san, it’s our first meeting but please marry me

-I want to become Korean

└Beautiful sister from the superior brother countryw

-Feels like she has a strong spirit. (˚∀˚)

-Want to protectw

└Be careful with pronunciation. Japanese “protect” and Korean “kiss” sound similarw!

└Want to kissw

└Gross

-My chest hurts because she’s too cutew

└HaYoo’s voice and looks are so healing

-As expected HaYoo-chan’s light makeup gives a rabbit-like cute feeling

└Simple makeup but stylish atmosphere

└Right, she’s a mysterious beauty

└On personal broadcasts she has a foxy button nosew

└Are there no subtitles for HaYoo-san’s broadcast?

└Subscribe to Hanyu Japan channel, already 100k subscriberswww

-Dangerously beautiful, clearly a peerless beauty

-Okay Korean brothers let’s exchange Ninomiya bastard for HaYoo

-What are the factors behind HaYoo-san’s popularity?

└Cute, pretty, a bit H, and good at games

└What does H mean?

└It means erotic you idiotwww

└She has big boobs you dumbassw

└As an amateur she beat most Korean pros

└Surprisingly, unlike her image, HaYoo-san is very strong in actual matches

-The builds she made are innovative! And she made three of themw

└HaYoo is truly a genius

-Jap who couldn’t give birth to HaYoo

That’s why we can’t win against Koreans

└Maybe we are the world’s lowest inferior race

-Japan failed generational change but Korea has a prodigy like HaYoo in younger generation

└Rumor is HaYoo’s younger sister is also a Gosu

└Genetically suitable for Galaxy War wwww

-The Decision Show right now is really interesting

If HaYoo-san chooses SUC she becomes a villain, if she chooses ELF she becomes a hero

└Will she become Darth Vader or Luke Skywalkerw

└Whatever choice she makes will be better than Ninomiya (laughs)

Takuya turned off his phone and once again clasped his hands to pray to God. Now he was even on his knees.

“Please. Please. HaYoo-san. Please come here.”

If Han Yujin goes to ELF,

It was clear as day that public opinion in his home country would tear into Takuya again.

*

The running time of this hastily organized special live broadcast program was 30 minutes.

The production team suggested making it an hour, but I didn’t want to drag it out.

It might be the best strategy from a marketing perspective, but from the standpoint of the chosen team, it would hurt their pride.

“Respected viewers. It’s great to see you. I’m caster Jeon Sangjun, hosting today’s Decision Show.”

Jeon Sangjun, wearing rimless glasses, greeted with an elevated voice.

“Hello, player Han Yujin.”

“Yes. Hello!”

Just then, Jang Bonggyu outside the set motioned drinking a beverage.

Seeing that, I asked for understanding.

“Just a moment. I’m nervous, so I’ll drink this before we start.”

I took out a lukewarm Pocari Sweat from my chest and gulped it down.

I wiped my mouth with my wrist and smiled, making a finger heart.

“Wow, drinking Pocari Sweat made my nervousness melt away like snow! What’s the best tonic drink?”

I put my hand to my ear while looking at the chat window on the monitoring screen.

-Answer: Halcas <Message deleted>

-HKS

-Decas

-Vita500

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Crazy bastards

-Front ad ** ㅋㅋㅋ

-ㅋㅋㅋ

-Now she’s blatantly advertising

“Yes. The tonic drink is Pocari Sweat! The combination of caffeine, taurine, and vitamin B is invincible. Just like me.”

Caster Jeon Sangjun smiled and read the cue sheet.

“It hasn’t even been two months… right? I mean the time it took for player Han Yujin to get here.”

“Come to think of it, that’s really true.”

Wow. It feels like I’ve been through hell and high water, but it’s surprising that it hasn’t even been two months yet.

“Let’s put player Han Yujin’s answer on hold for now. Can you tell the viewers about your future plans first?”

I rubbed my hands and answered lightly to Jeon Sangjun’s question.

“I need to give player Kang Yohan the Golden Mouse. Ah, I also promised to help player Hyun Junho win. I’ll make these two win first.”

Satisfied with my answer, Jeon Sangjun smiled broadly.

“Haha. If player Han Yujin provides side support, that would be very reassuring. Then what’s Han Yujin’s goal as a player?”

“Hmm…”

I touched my bangs with an embarrassed expression, making them flutter.

Goal.

A goal…

At some point, I had a plan in mind.

A story that people would have laughed at if I had said it just a month ago.

Suddenly I was curious about the reaction.

Whether they would still laugh now.

I started speaking in a confident tone.

“Of course, it’s victory, victory, victory. Starting from GSL, then GGP, Pro League, Champions League, I’ll win them all.”

I looked at the chat window.

-Wow

-Agreed

-Wow

-She killed it

-Go up

-Let’s go let’s go

-If you go to ELF you can’t win Pro League lol

-Do you believe it????? Yeahhh!!!

-If she comes to SUC all of that is possible

Now no one listened to my words as if they were an unrealistic dream.

Just then, caster Jeon Sangjun asked unexpectedly.

“Wait a minute. GSL and GGP are domestic individual leagues. Does that mean you’re excluding Team Solid, the American team, from the contract?”

“…Well…”

-Umm..

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-ㅋㅋㅋ

-OK confirmed

-Stupid ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-She got caught right away because she’s not smart ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-She’s cute because she’s clumsy ㅋㅋ

-I agree

-Yeah yeah let’s not go to the land of Uncle Sam

I cleared my throat and changed the subject.

“Anyway! I’ve set my ultimate goal!”

“Oh, what is it?”

I answered firmly.

“Winning the World Cup.”

Then caster Jeon Sangjun let out a deep admiration.

“Whew, that’s good. Korea hasn’t achieved any meaningful results in the World Cup for over 8 years now.”

That was actually true.

In the Galaxy War World Cup held every two years, Korea has been busy just getting by.

They’re always considered one of the favorites to win, but they’ve been eliminated disappointingly in the quarterfinals or semifinals.

Coincidentally, the World Cup was to be held next summer.

If I could lead the country to victory in this international competition…

Crazy. Just imagining it makes me happy.

Jeon Sangjun asked again.

“Then what’s your goal after that?”

“…I’m not sure.”

I hadn’t thought about anything beyond that.

-You should get married

-Marriage ending?

-Aim for GOAT

-Lifetime contract

-Real estate tycoon ㅋㅋㅋ

“If I achieve all that, wouldn’t people applaud even if I just play around for the rest of my life?”

“Haha. I guess that’s true.”

The writer sitting under the ENG camera showed a sketchbook.

[1 million viewers reached]

[5 minutes left]

[Please make your choice now]

Jeon Sangjun glanced at it, composed his expression, and spoke softly.

“Now, whatever choice player Han Yujin makes, we at Ingame.net and Twimer pledge to maintain strict neutrality.”

As if he himself was nervous, Jeon Sangjun took a long breath and opened his mouth.

“It’s time for the answer now.”

“Yes. My heart is pounding.”

It was nothing special, but my heart was beating like crazy. When I swallowed, my Adam’s apple bobbed.

“Player Han Yujin. Please make your choice. What is your decision?”

“…”

I smiled and brushed my hair back.

“Haah, this winter has really been eventful.”

I slowly stood up from the chair.

I went to the table with the three contracts.

All eyes are focused on me.

The writer, PD, camera director, and unnamed staff.

The chat window was also making a drumming sound, hiding the tension.

-Thump thump

-Thump thump

-Please!!!!!

-ELFELFELFELF

-Please ELF

-Let’s go SUC

-Yujin noona please..

-Thump thump

-First class belongs in a first-class team

-Go to SUC

-Curious

-Save my stocks Yujin

-Either SUC or ELF will hit the limit down as soon as the market opens next week ㅋㅋㅋ

-We’ll see

My eyes met with Jang Bonggyu, who was watching contentedly with his arms folded.

He smiled and gave a thumbs up.

I took out a pen from my inside pocket.

I picked up a contract,

Signed it,

And finally revealed the answer I had pondered for so long.

I unfolded the contract in front of the main camera.

“December 8, 2024. I will take my talent to ELF.”