The Reluctant Chaperone
A good chunk of time had passed since the season kicked off. From right after the first week until the end of Round 1, we racked up win after win without dropping a single match.
We'd lost sets here and there, sure, but only twice so far.
That was a performance anyone could view pretty leisurely, but for me, it wasn't quite that simple. There was this nagging little issue.
Both losses were on me.
Up until that first set loss, opposing teams usually targeted our bot lane. It was objectively our weakest link, so it made sense. The problem was, our bot held up way better than expected.
They'd dig in to crack bot open, but we'd somehow hang on—and even if they broke through, the damage was minimal. No payoff meant pressure built up elsewhere, and we'd pull out the win.
That was one of our team's winning formulas: bot survives, topside carries.
Eventually, opponents started experimenting. After trial and error, they settled on targeting mid. My burst was higher, but Sharpness had way more stability.
My peaks in official matches were explosive, but these were teams we'd scrimmed against—they knew my lows were just as brutal. It was a viable pick.
Even if my recent form was solid, no one's perfect. Mistakes happened, and some teams capitalized. Up until then, we'd been sweeping sets, but in the last two matches of Round 1, we dropped one set each time.
So the big task at hand was designing around mid not getting breached. It might not hurt now, but it'd be a huge problem in the top league later.
"It's not that urgent, though. Honestly, I never dreamed we'd do this well right out the gate. Don't stress too much. Not saying slack off, either."
"Yeah?"
The coach was chill about it, but my scrim performances were still shaky, which worried me. Official matches brought out those explosive highs sometimes, but on average, I was just a middling mid laner.
"Don't you think opponents feel kinda robbed? You're meh in scrims but fly in tournaments. Some are saying you're sandbagging on purpose."
"That's bullshit. I'm not doing it on purpose."
If even the coach was saying that, it was ridiculous.
If I could control it like that, I wouldn't suck in solo queue so bad. Anyway, a win streak was a win streak. Team morale was sky-high.
So today, to celebrate wrapping Round 1, the whole roster got a day off. It wasn't standard, but our momentum earned it.
Heading down the dorm hallway, I ran into Yuseung, all dressed up.
"Day off and you're heading out somewhere?"
"Ji-cheol and Han-chae called. Gonna hang."
"You know Slice too?"
"Not super tight, but Ji-cheol invited me."
"Huh."
Didn't see that connection coming. Was it Ji-cheol's wide network? Yuseung wasn't the social type, but here he was, heading out with Starforce guys of all people.
"Think I'm some shut-in gamer like you? I hang with friends too."
"I do too."
"Yours is just me."
"I got others!"
"Who?"
"...Arang and Seohui."
Yuseung flashed this pitiful smile.
"Sure, sure."
"Asshole, wanna die?"
"Didn't say shit."
"You thought it."
"You a mind reader?"
Such a buzzkill. As we bickered in the hall, Arang appeared from down the way, slurping a drink through a straw.
"Oh, what? You two going somewhere?"
"Nah, just him."
"Where's Yuseung oppa off to?"
"Meeting friends."
Suddenly, I remembered Slice's—Kang Han-chae's—autograph request I'd blown off before. Arang was a bigger fan than I'd thought, and she'd been side-eyeing me ever since for forgetting.
This seemed like a golden chance.
"Arang, he's meeting Slice and Steak. Ask him to get you a signature."
"For real?!"
"Arang's a Slice fan? Sure, I can hook you up."
Yuseung had no reason to say no, so he agreed easily. I'd just started relaxing, thinking I'd dodged her nagging, when Arang started stomping her feet and clinging to him.
"Wait! Why just you three? Where you going?"
"Thinking bowling or karaoke, grab some food."
"Three adults being all wholesome."
Couldn't tell pros to hit shady spots, but still. As Yuseung opened his mouth at my snark, Arang jumped in.
"M-me! Take me too! I wanna see Slice! Let me come!"
"What?"
"Huh?"
"I know Steak too! Added him as a friend! So lemme join!"
What the hell, Arang?
My face probably looked dead serious. No way was I letting her crash a boys' hangout alone. Rude, too.
"Arang, barging in last-second is kinda rude."
"Just ask Steak."
"Well... fair point."
...But I couldn't picture him saying no.
"Still, it's guys-only."
"Not hitting weird places—just bowling or karaoke."
"True, but..."
Wait, déjà vu. Same argument.
Shit. No good way to block her.
Honestly, I couldn't think of a solid reason to. But sending her with three dudes felt off.
I nudged Yuseung behind my back. Say no.
He nodded and said,
"Wanna come along then?"
"Hey!"
"Shut up. Why?"
"Stop her!"
"Any reason to?"
Obviously!
"Can't send Arang with a bunch of big dark dudes."
"I'm cool with it."
Quiet, Arang.
"You were one half a year ago. You're overprotecting. She's not a kid."
"She's 17! Still a kid! Overprotection's fine!"
"Pudge takes offense."
Oof. Her rejection hit like a truck—I froze.
But I couldn't just let her go. Her mom had entrusted her to me, sorta. No way.
"Fine, I'll go too."
"You too?"
"Can't let Arang go alone."
"I'll be there."
"You're a big dark dude too."
"Fuck off."
"Everyone going? Yay!"
Even my pushiness thrilled her. That's why I can't hate you. Good she didn't bail.
Yuseung sighed, accepting me and Arang. Our trio's holiday turned into an unplanned group outing.
FYI, Ji-cheol was thrilled at Yuseung's text and welcomed us right away. Total pushover, as expected.
~
"So, Slice? Kang Han-chae—what's he like?"
"You've seen him. Why ask?"
"Curious. Didn't chat much."
Only memory was ignoring him calling me while I ran. Not close. Didn't wanna be.
"Slice loves working out, he's huge, total manly man. Loves sushi too."
Wasn't asking you, Arang.
"Arang, you've never met. How sushi?"
"Heard on stream. And his gameplay—total bulldozer. Pushes everything. So cool."
"That vibe?"
"He forces breakthroughs, but not Arang-level."
"Not gameplay—personality."
"Chill, bit dumb. Normally nice? Not weird. Ji-cheol's the odd one."
Dumb? Kinda worrying.
Arang's dumb too. What if they vibe weird? She's not that naive, but fave player? Who knows.
"Weird thoughts?"
"Mind your business."
"Pudge face is sus."
"Whatever."
We were on the subway. Pros got recognized a bit, but not Proud-level—no mob issues. Me... maybe more than most.
Rumor was Proud took team cars everywhere 'cause fans mobbed him walking.
Mid-chitchat to our stop, Yuseung's phone buzzed.
"Who?"
"Ji-cheol."
No call on subway—he texted. Then, awkward face:
"One more coming. Cool?"
"Who?"
"Uh... you know him. That guy from before. Chang-sik hyung."
...Bang Chang-sik?
The streamer?
Flashback to his stream sparking that Yuseung-girlfriend rumor. But real issue:
We met at the gym.
"Face weird."
Obviously. He'd... hit on me, sorta. Awkward to admit, but yeah.
He knows who I am now—no repeats. But the memory made meeting cringe. A lot.
Maybe bail now...
"Pudge?"
...Arang wouldn't bail for me. She'd never skip this. But still, seeing him again? Nah.
"Can't tell him no?"
"How? You guys crashed too."
"Ugh."
"Something happen? You're freaking."
Couldn't say he flirted with me. Half my assumption anyway—maybe not even real.
Worse if it was.
But ditching on him after we crashed? Rude.
I sighed.
"Whatever, let's go. Our fault for joining."
"Not me. I was invited."
"Shut up."