episode_0088

After eating lunch similar to yesterday, I briefly parted ways with the kids to participate in the soccer game.

There is a bit of an absurdity in saying that we broke up because we were going to meet at the stadium right away.

“F.”

“Oh, I’m here now.“

I looked around the waiting room with a puzzled look.

“You came early.”

“But it was too late.”

When I entered the waiting room, everyone was gathered except me, even though the broadcast had not yet aired.

Since when have these guys been so diligent… .

The captain, who confirmed my arrival, gathered everyone in one place.

“I’m talking about today’s final opponent. Class O guys. Probably playing pretty dirty.”

The captain crossed his arms and leaned against the pillar.

“Dirty?”

The captain frowned at someone’s question and continued speaking.

“It means that you have to go to any lengths to win. Tactics are the same, but the most dangerous thing is you.”

Then the captain pointed at me.

“Me?“

When I questioned it, the captain added further explanation.

“Yes. There is a high possibility that subtle foul attacks will be focused on you and me.”

“It’s a foul… .”

Intentionally stepping on someone’s foot, pushing them harder than necessary, or pulling their clothes… .

These are things that immediately bring to mind a frown.

“No, what… Are you going to such lengths to win at sports day?”

“They were like that from the preliminaries. Their argument is a bit like that.”

This time too, it appears that the student on the soccer team is the captain of the opposing class.

The J class I met yesterday… … What was your name? Anyway, unlike when he was talking about Class J’s captain, his expression was not very good right now, so it seemed like a pretty bad relationship.

As I was thinking about Class O’s captain, the captain added something.

“I’ve been through that a lot so I’m okay? But Lee Jin isn’t you.”

“That’s right.”

What I was saying was that such checks would be familiar to the captain, who would have always been in the position of an ace as he played soccer from a young age, but for me, who had no such experience, it could be a significant blow.

I sighed, having become the target of the other person’s attention for no reason.

“Should I have been a little gentler yesterday?”

“Tsk tsk. In any game, you have to work hard. I think their methods are wrong, but I think their mindset to win cannot be ignored.”

Like Hong Yeon-seo, this guy seems to have the values of doing his best in everything he does.

Of course, I try my best to do that, but that doesn’t mean I want to be a target like this.

“Anyway, be careful. If a physical fight approaches, protect your body first, even if it means hitting you first. Did you understand?”

I nodded and answered the captain’s words.

“I originally value my body the most.”

“Okay. Then, let me explain the tactics. Nothing much will change, but they will come up with defensive tactics. Accordingly, we… … .”

The captain gave me a look of trust and then looked at everyone else and started explaining the strategy.

Unlike the previous tactic where the captain was the lone top player, the tactic changed to one where he used me as the top 2 player and gave me more space.

I felt like I was being given a role that was becoming increasingly heavy on my shoulders, but since today was my last day, I was determined to work hard and win.

* * *

As we entered the field, we were met with a cheering enthusiasm that was completely different from yesterday.

Even though it’s a sports day, it’s still the finals.

Even though the game was well-watched on TV, the audience seats were full.

I looked around the audience to find out where Se-ah and the children would be sitting today.

Lee Se and Lee So-yoon are not very distinctive when seen from a distance, but Hong Yeon-seo and Seong Yu-rin’s red-haired and blond hair stand out and are easy to find.

They were looking at me and pretending to know me, so I also raised my hand and waved it.

“We get along well.”

“… what. That’s right.”

The captain who was walking next to me must have seen the scene and said with a hearty smile.

“Ah~ I’m jealous. Don’t I have a pretty girlfriend?”

“… Aren’t you pretty popular?”

I don’t know, but I think there are a lot of kids who would follow that guy because of his physical appearance.

“That’s right.”

As expected, there was no denial.

If you look at comics and animations, the aces on the sports team tend to be very popular.

Although he usually appears as a senior character.

As I was warming up by kicking the ball, I felt a stinging gaze.

A gaze filled with mixed emotions, especially malicious emotions, was felt along with a unique bad mood.

I looked up and, sure enough, it was different.

I saw a male student glaring at me across the halfway line.

… no. Do I look like I want to dip it like that?

I felt a fighting spirit in them that was difficult to explain simply by thinking that they wanted to win the soccer game.

It seems like there is some other intention involved… .

It was that kind of look.

* * *

Just before the game starts, both teams gather at the half line and shake hands, promising fair play.

Class J’s argument… . What was your name? Unlike the military, the captain of Class O seemed reticent and did not make any trash talk.

After winning the coin toss, the captain called me as I stood up to prepare for kickoff.

“Seo Yi-jin. Be careful not to get hurt.”

“uh.”

Beep─

The first half of the sports day soccer finals game began with a loud whistle.

Class O’s defensive line, which they reflexively checked by passing the ball back for build-up, was literally like a spider’s web.

I could tell that today’s game was definitely not going to be easy as they looked like they wouldn’t even step on the halfway line until a proper counterattack opportunity came up.

“Tsk.”

The thought of getting tired makes me click my tongue.

The captain and I made eye contact once, and we simultaneously entered Class O’s defensive line.

* * *

“Woo. What kind of game are they playing like that?”

“Umm… . Even though I don’t know much about soccer, it seems a bit like that.”

Hong Yeon-seo showed her dissatisfaction.

Not only she, but most people watching the game probably have similar thoughts.

This was due to Class O’s management of the game, which showed the best of muddy defense by blocking the opponent’s attack with numerical superiority and breaking the flow of the game with fouls whenever it seemed difficult.

“What if Jin gets hurt like that?”

Lee So-yoon held both hands tightly and watched Seo Yi-jin with trembling eyes.

This is because the victims of frequent fouls were captains Kim Jae-woon and Seo Yi-jin, the two top two leaders of Class C’s attack.

Seeing the O class player putting strong pressure on Seo Yi-jin, Seong Yu-rin opened her mouth.

“… They, no. Especially that defender… . I don’t think they do it just to win the game.”

“Huh?”

“Eyes. So um… . Looks like a math teacher.”

“Ah.“

When they realized who the math teacher Seong Yu-rin was talking about, they let out a short exclamation.

He was talking about the bald teacher who would argue with Ji-Woo Yoon and Yi-Jin Seo every time they were in class.

“Do you harbor some kind of grudge? Jin is not the type of person who would do anything bad to anyone.“

Next to Lee Se-ah, who was in trouble, Lee So-yoon cried and said.

“Then, isn’t it really dangerous?”

Lee So-yoon’s face gradually became distorted and looked like she was about to cry.

Seong Yu-rin, who saw Lee So-yoon like that, urgently comforted her.

“Trigram, it’s okay. It’s binary.”

Se-Ah sighed deeply.

“I hope you don’t get hurt… .”

The four of them prayed in unison that the game would end safely.

* * *

“Ugh.”

Again.

This bastard sticks with me as a marksman and subtly taps me every time the referee looks away.

The methods also varied.

Sometimes I step on their feet, sometimes they poke me with my elbow.

“What are you?”

The words that naturally came out of my mouth were never polite.

“What?”

The defender’s face shamelessly scratching his head looked very disgusting.

How can you do this well without being a specialist in foul play?

As for his temperament, he felt like he wanted to put honey on his head.

‘Let’s focus on the game… .’

The only way to fairly get revenge on these guys was to win the game.

Not much time left until the first half ends.

When the opportunity to attack came back to our team, I figured out the path of the pass pushed by the midfielder, instantly shook off the marksman and ran to get the ball.

As I was looking around and trying to figure out where to throw the pass, I heard a startled shout from the captain.

“Hey! Seo Yi-jin! Damage!”

At those words, I reflexively kicked the ball in the direction I heard the voice, turned my body, and jumped.

Bah!

An unusual hitting sound was heard from below.

“Ugh!”

“Kwaaak!”

A tackle coming from behind touched my foot, causing me to lose my balance in the air and fall on top of the defender who tackled me.

I don’t know the details of how it fell, but the scream definitely wasn’t mine.

Beep ─

The game was briefly stopped by the referee’s urgent whistle.