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chapter 92
Afternoon, after lunchtime.
I headed to the gymnasium to continue watching the interschool matches.
Although a soccer match between the second and third years was scheduled to continue on the field, the first-year students were going to play basketball and table tennis inside the gym in the afternoon.
Oh, and as a side note, the e-sports events were taking place at a nearby PC cafe, but I had no intention of going to watch them. Honestly, it would be hard to properly spectate from there anyway.
“Geonwoo, which events are you participating in this afternoon?”
“Huh? I’m done with soccer.”
In fact, I hadn’t planned to play soccer either, but our grade didn’t have enough people, so I was basically pushed into it.
But basketball and table tennis were different.
Soccer requires eleven players per team, but basketball only needs five. And table tennis is a singles competition, so there’s no issue with lacking participants.
“…”
“Don’t look at me like I’m being bullied or something.”
“Ah, fine then.”
I said that to Arthur when he gave me a strange look. Usually, I get along well with everyone.
“But… seeing you act like that during the soccer game, it looks an awful lot like bullying…”
“…”
Well, if someone shows up on the soccer field with their whole body tied up claiming a handicap, it wouldn’t look weird if people thought they were being bullied.
Beep…!
Lost in such thoughts, the basketball game had already started.
Even though it was middle school students playing, not tall adults, there were still exciting moments like occasional dunks.
Bang!
Oh, of course, the court dimensions and hoop height followed international basketball regulations.
That meant these middle schoolers were jumping up to a hoop about three meters high to slam dunk.
By the way, dunking wasn’t for show. Everyone was jumping higher than the hoop, so if someone tried a three-point shot from afar, it was almost always blocked.
It wasn’t just their jumps; their speed dribbling toward the opponent’s hoop was fast too.
‘At least soccer had a wide field… basketball is…’
To put it nicely, it was flashy; to put it harshly, it was chaotic.
The player with the ball would rush toward the opponent for a dunk, and whether it succeeded or failed—or if the ball was stolen mid-play—it would quickly move back to the other side.
Given the nature of basketball, this was normal, but the speed was so fast that spectators had to constantly turn their heads left and right.
“Ah… my neck hurts…”
“I’m dizzy…”
Because of this, people watching the basketball game complained of neck pain and dizziness. The school nurse anticipated this and cast a light healing spell on the spectators.
Judging by how familiar she seemed, it looked like she did this every year during the interschool matches.
“(Even back at the academy, I was impressed. A school with a dedicated healer for recovery magic…)”
“(Hmm? What’s up, Rachel?)”
“(Well, in England, unless you’re part of a dungeon raid team, getting healing magic personally usually requires going to a hospital and waiting for hours. Fortunately, they don’t charge extra here.)”
“Oh, that… yeah. Korea’s medical system is pretty well set up.”
Rachel and Arthur were having that conversation. For Koreans like me, having a school nurse—especially at a specialized awakening school or academy—cast healing magic was natural, but for them, it seemed unfamiliar.
Amid this interesting chat, I enjoyed watching the basketball game, and then the table tennis match as well.
“The winner of this year’s interschool matches is Geonwoo’s school.”
Once all the matches in the gym ended, Yeon Mirae murmured this.
She probably assumed our school won soccer and basketball, while the opposing school won table tennis. But…
“That’s not certain yet.”
“Huh? Really?”
After all, there were not only these three events but also e-sports…
“We don’t know the results for the second and third years.”
“Ah…”
The wins in soccer and basketball only applied to our grade—the first-year students. I had no idea whether the second and third years won.
‘… Honestly, I’m not expecting much.’
Our upperclassmen, the second and third years, weren’t particularly strong. Perhaps they weren’t physically trained because they didn’t undergo combat training in middle school, but I hadn’t seen anyone with especially outstanding physical ability or talent.
Compared to the opposing school’s second and third years, it might be different, but honestly, it wouldn’t be surprising if both grades lost.
Time passed, and the interschool closing ceremony began.
All students from our school and the opposing school gathered as the results were announced.
‘… I thought maybe the second and third years lost some events, but I never expected a total defeat.’
The first-year students won soccer, basketball, and e-sports, but the second and third years lost all their events. Even one win would have been nice…
‘Well, thinking about it, the only ones running around the school grounds regularly were us first-years.’
Even during regular days or vacation, I had never seen the second or third years playing soccer on the school field. Maybe unlike us, they just dislike running around.
‘… Actually, it’s not a big deal even if the school loses.’
Losing the interschool match didn’t cause any disadvantages. The education office wouldn’t cut the budget just because we lost. It was just a slight hit to the school’s pride.
“Ugh…”
“Hm?”
One of our classmates, Ryu Ah-Young, seemed anxious throughout the closing ceremony. She couldn’t hide her nervousness. But what was she so worried about?
“… Since our school lost… does that mean I have to date that annoying guy…?”
“……”
Oh. Right, that promise.
[Ryu Ah-Young…! If our school wins the interschool matches… you have to date me…!]
At that time, she had refused to answer properly, annoyed. But our school actually lost. Of course, if she had believed our school would win, she might have accepted the promise, but there was no obligation to honor someone else’s arbitrary rule…
‘Looks like Ryu Ah-Young hasn’t even thought that far.’
From her behavior, she probably couldn’t strongly deny it if the other side forced her.
“This concludes the interschool matches. Buses are ready, so students or parents wishing to use them, please proceed to the parking lot.”
With Ryu Ah-Young still anxious, the closing ceremony ended. Naturally, students and parents not driving themselves went to the buses.
‘If he’s late, he might miss the bus, so he won’t bring that up…’
“Ryu Ah-Young!”
“……”
Someone called her. Ryu Ah-Young flinched and cautiously turned her head. Others nearby recognized who called her.
Yes. The guy who visited our school during vacation, declared war on our students, and publicly confessed to Ryu Ah-Young.
“Ugh…”
Seeing him, Ryu Ah-Young trembled in genuine disgust and immediately hid behind me. Just like before, hiding behind me seemed safest.
It was a similar scene to the vacation confession. The difference now…
‘Even those who were going home noticed the weird atmosphere and stopped.’
Previously, only the kids who were going to play soccer, Ryu Ah-Young, and those who followed him witnessed the confession. Now, everyone attending or watching the interschool matches was watching.
“Shhh… Hoo…”
Speaking in front of this many people seemed burdensome to him. He took a deep breath and then…
“I’m sorry…!”
He apologized.
“… Huh?”
This wasn’t a continuation of his previous public confession. Those who witnessed it or heard about it were naturally shocked.
“I’m sorry for everything… what I did in elementary school… and for showing up during vacation and saying those things…!”
Did he grow or reflect over vacation?
“And…”
This time, he looked at me and said:
“Take good care of Ah-Young.”
“… What?”
Wait a minute.
“You can make her happier than someone like me…”
“What is he saying?!”
Before he could finish, Ryu Ah-Young, who had been hiding behind me, sprang out and kicked him in the groin. Cleanly. Even I was impressed.
Wham!
“Ugh?!”
The expressions of all the men around him turned grim. Ryu Ah-Young, aware or not, scolded him while he lay there.
“Geonwoo and I aren’t like that! And what do you mean by making me happy!”
Ryu Ah-Young vented all her pent-up anger at him, even though he seemed unconscious.
Someone apparently recorded Ryu Ah-Young’s actions, and the video spread across online communities.
Even if the boy she attacked was unknown, Ryu Ah-Young was a well-known precognitive ability user, so the video became a hot topic.
‘Worldwide ability users who care deeply for Ryu Ah-Young are suing the uploaders for violating image rights, but it’s probably impossible to erase a widely spread video.’
Thanks to this incident, Ryu Ah-Young got a nickname. Just like I was called “Artist,” and Yeon Mirae “Black Flame.”
Nut Crusher.
That’s the nickname Ryu Ah-Young received. …Though it feels odd for a middle school girl. Naturally, angry ability users worldwide are trying to give her a “prettier” nickname, but it doesn’t seem like it will change.
By the way…
“Perfect kick.”
“Did she study martial arts? No, right?”
“How can she kick so accurately at that angle?”
Even from a distance, Arthur, Yeon Mirae, and Ji-Hyung were impressed, believing she had a natural talent for martial arts. Yeon Mirae even asked me for permission to teach Ryu Ah-Young the combat techniques she learned from me.
