Chapter 223: Rowdy Sports Day (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 223: Rowdy Sports Day (4)
Berion and Spark, who had come to the front of the stage for an interview, exchanged friendly waves and greetings. Yur watched them from the center with a warm smile.
“We meet the ‘Idol Dynasty Annals’ combination again. Both teams must be feeling quite sentimental.”
“Especially since you’re here with us, Senior! It really feels that way!”
Everyone nodded at my words. Their reactions were so synchronized that one might have mistaken them for a single group. Yur burst into laughter.
“Berion and Spark sat near each other during the training camp and even formed a team during the position battles. How does it feel to meet as competitors this time?”
“We’ll think of it as a friendly competition and do our best…!”
Jeong Seong-bin handled the follow-up question well.
In the past, whenever he held a microphone, he’d get so preoccupied with the other members that he struggled to get his lines out. Seeing him now, I felt like I might tear up with pride.
While my heart was growing soft, Yur’s hosting continued.
“I heard our Hee-rang has something he really wants to say to the opposing team, Spark.”
At that moment, the microphone was passed to the athlete standing next to him. It was Hee-rang, Berion’s main dancer.
“Um, I-wol-nim…”
To my surprise, the person Hee-rang shyly pointed out was me.
When I placed a hand gently on my chest as if to ask, ‘Are you talking to me?’, Hee-rang nodded vigorously.
“When we were doing the Idol Dynasty Annals, I really appreciated the knee patches you gave me. They helped a lot.”
I had heard he was a foreign member, but his pronunciation was excellent. It was clear how much effort he had put in to debut in Korea.
“I also received the medicine case. I was so grateful that I really wanted to buy you a meal, but you always turned me down…”
An “Ooh~” rippled through the crowd. It was such a small thing, but I felt incredibly embarrassed. It was a crying shame that I didn't have a microphone in my hand to say, ‘Oh, it was nothing. We’re all in this together.’
“I kept following you around because I wanted to talk to you, but you always looked so busy that I couldn’t find the right moment.”
“Ah, so that’s why Berion kept wandering around Team D instead of Team B?”
Yur asked with a laugh. It seemed he had been observing the movements of all the groups from the MC booth.
Hee-rang and the Berion members nodded so hard it looked like their heads might fall off. From a distance, I could see Berion fans sending supportive looks toward their idols. Hee-rang, just how much did you follow Spark around…?
Watching the fresh friendship of his juniors, Yur spoke up.
“At this rate, I-wol, why don’t you take some time to chat with Hee-rang after the archery match?”
“It would be an honor.”
At my reply, the audience erupted like a reaction video of a couple matching on a dating show.
It was then.
+
[SYSTEM] The Party B’s ‘Morning Star Smile’ has been activated. A slight influence is generated.
+
A message appeared, adding fuel to my already burning face.
What the hell is a ‘Morning Star Smile’?
Is this supposed to be a guide provided to achieve the KPI? To capture the customers' hearts by smiling like a morning star?
You’re giving me this crap as a guide? System, you need to go back and get some OJT yourself.
Spark advanced to the finals after defeating Berion, thanks once again to Park Ju-woo’s stellar performance, Jeong Seong-bin’s contribution, and me doing my fair share.
That guy Park Ju-woo—I thought his nickname ‘Limited-Time Sniper’ only applied to his tongue, but he was actually good with a bow too. He won’t have a hard time with marksmanship when he goes to the military.
After the match ended, I had a private meeting with Hee-rang near the gym entrance as promised.
Hee-rang, who said he’d be right back after stopping by the waiting room, soon returned carrying a pristine shopping bag. He held it out toward me with both hands.
“This is…”
“What is this?”
“It’s a gift. I heard you like pear and bellflower root.”
Opening the shopping bag, I saw three boxes of ‘Enjoy with the Whole Family! Pear and Bellflower Root Sticks.’
“Oh my, you didn’t have to go this far.”
“No, it’s because I’m so grateful.”
With a shy face, Hee-rang insisted on handing me the bag.
“I’ll enjoy them. Thank you.”
“Yes! And…”
Hee-rang trailed off. As I waited quietly for him to continue, he spoke with some difficulty.
“Um, can I… can I contact you occasionally, along with the other guys?”
Seeing him like that, I suddenly remembered something Supervisor Song had said to me years ago after much hesitation.
‘Assistant Manager, if I ever feel like quitting the company, can I message you for some advice?’
In reality, Supervisor Song never actually reached out for advice.
It was a gesture. An expression that said: You are someone I can rely on.
I gave Hee-rang the same answer I had given Supervisor Song back then.
“Anytime.”
Hee-rang looked genuinely happy.
“I-wol, what did you talk about with Hee-rang?”
“I got a gift from Senior Hee-rang. We even exchanged contact info!”
The Sparklers were overjoyed at my words. They seemed happy just knowing that ‘their boy’ was being loved wherever he went.
Lee Cheong-hyeon, who was handing out lunch boxes to the fans, grumbled.
“Everyone, how can you be happy that I-wol-hyung is socializing with other idol seniors? What if he only hangs out with the Berion seniors from now on!”
“That won’t happen, Cheong-hyeon.”
“I-wol only has Spark in his head…”
The Sparklers said with gentle smiles. Damn right. All I see right now are you punks, you clingy rascals.
“By the way, Hyung, is it okay for you to be here? Je-ho-hyung was looking for you earlier.”
Kang Gi-yeon, one of the five rascals, said as he opened a shopping bag filled with fresh lunch boxes.
“It’s for basketball, right? I was just about to head over. Where did he go?”
“He said he was going to the waiting room first to change.”
“Then I’ll be going too. Everyone, enjoy your lunch! If you need anything, just tell the kids!”
“Kim I-wol, fighting!”
I left the pear and bellflower root sticks with Kang Gi-yeon and headed to the waiting room. Through the bustling crowd, I spotted Choi Je-ho’s towering head.
“Choi Je-ho, finished changing?”
“Yeah. Your clothes are over there.”
“Okay, thanks.”
By virtue of having the name ‘I-wol’ (February/Two), I was assigned jersey number 2. When I came out after changing into the black uniform with white stripes, I felt eyes on me from all directions.
“Should we stand a bit apart?”
“Why?”
“We stand out too much.”
Even though all the tall and handsome idols were gathered here, idols as tall as Choi Je-ho, with shoulders as broad as his and arm muscles like David’s, were rare.
Whether he had listened to my advice to always apply lotion after washing, his muscles were practically glowing.
Adding basketball shoes with a bit of height made him look like a literal dark telephone pole.
When Polo, also dressed in basketball gear, visited the waiting room, Choi Je-ho and I became even more of a focal point.
“Wow, you two look like actual pro players!”
“No, Senior. It’s just our height.”
“How am I supposed to get past you two to score? Maybe I should have ditched MYTH and joined Team D too?”
The senior’s comment was so unexpected that I didn't know how to react. I wasn't even drinking anything, but I almost choked.
To succeed in social life, I should probably step aside like the parting of the Red Sea, but I have too much at stake here. Please understand.
After the senior left, Team D went into their final meeting. Since the team was formed from several groups, we had met up a few times to practice even before the ‘Idol Unity Sports Day.’ It had been quite a task dragging Choi Je-ho around.
“We’ll stick to the positions as they are. Everyone okay with that?”
“Yes!”
The captain of Team D, who was checking everyone’s condition while making eye contact, pointed at my head.
“I-wol, the headgear!”
“Ah.”
Choi Je-ho, who was standing next to me, looked around, found the white headgear, and handed it to me.
How shocked everyone had been when all the basketball volunteers for Team D first gathered.
‘Is it okay for I-wol to play?’
‘Will his head be alright?’
Even though I attended with official clearance from both the System and the hospital, the concern from those around me was significant. It seemed the incident between me and Yu Han-su had been quite a big issue among idols. Thanks to that, I had to endure countless suggestions to participate in a safer sport instead of basketball.
But what can I do? Basketball is the only thing I’m halfway decent at. I had already mentioned playing futsal, and the dedicated team staff practically started foaming at the mouth.
After a long meeting, the ‘Idol Unity Sports Day’ organizers and UA set a condition: I had to wear headgear to play. Since the goal was just to keep the sides of my skull from shaking too much, I decided to wear a modified headgear with the top open.
‘If I get hurt after this, at least the broadcasting station and the company will have an excuse.’
From their perspective, I thought it was a wise response. Regardless, I wanted to play basketball, so I obediently accepted the protective gear.
I was also assigned the position of shooter. It was a consideration to keep me from getting caught in physical scuffles under the basket. I appreciated the kindness, but it felt like a heavy responsibility.
Choi Je-ho, walking toward the half-line for the jump ball, said in passing.
“Watch out for elbows.”
“Got it.”
He meant I should be careful not to get hit during the game. This old man’s head is perfectly fine, but I’ll be careful for the sake of your sincerity.
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After lunch, the number of Sparklers remaining in the central gymnasium had decreased by about half. This was because the Spark members had begun to split up to participate in various events.
Some groups went to watch Kang Gi-yeon’s sprint and Jeong Seong-bin’s vault, while others stayed to watch Kim I-wol and Choi Je-ho’s basketball game. Won Chae-hee was among the latter.
Park Ju-woo and Lee Cheong-hyeon, who didn't have matches for a while, headed to other gyms, saying, “Since the hyungs are playing together, we’ll go cheer for the members who are competing alone!” Kim I-wol had strictly warned them not to follow strangers around.
Chae-hee wanted to see more of Cheong-hyeon, but she couldn't miss the chance to see Kim I-wol playing basketball in person. She carefully closed the lid of her half-eaten lunch box and focused on the athletes entering the court.
Perhaps due to the nature of the sport, all the members coming out this time were lanky. And among them, ‘her boys’ were the tallest.
‘Those sleeveless tops are insane.’
Won Chae-hee, who had become a fan late, had only seen the video of them performing in volleyball uniforms on MeTube.
Even through the small smartphone screen, the Spark of that time were men of iron who looked like they belonged in a gym.
But reality was even better.
First of all, Choi Je-ho’s skin tone was a cheat code. His slightly tanned skin made him look like an athlete to anyone who saw him.
His pumped muscles, which were only occasionally seen in self-produced content, were on full display today, all the way up to his shoulders. She wondered if the CEO would have anything left after giving away so much for free.
Kim I-wol, who rarely showed skin unless it was for a stage, also had his arms fully exposed today.
Every time the gym lights hit him, gray shadows danced across his pale, lean arm muscles.
And what about those black bands fitting perfectly around his wrists? Even the protective gear on his head, while frustrating and pitiful, looked fucking good on him.
‘I hope they make it to the basketball finals and even do an encore stage…’
The game hadn't even started, but Won Chae-hee was already getting ahead of herself.
With the sound of a whistle, Choi Je-ho leaped to an incredible height and struck the basketball down with force.