Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: High School Girl VS Dance Team (2)
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Pat pat pat.
A paper cup fills with soda.
Round glasses reflect off the surface of the liquid.
The tense face behind them belonged to Park O-yu-na.
"G-Guys... Want some soda...?"
The sweat-drenched dance team members lit up.
"You bought more drinks? We told you it's fine."
"O-yu-na's too nice for her own good."
"It's not O-yu-na, it's O-yu-na. It's a Mongolian name."
"Such a unique and pretty name!"
"Heehee... Thanks..."
Lately, O-yu-na had been joining the dance team's practices.
Not to practice dancing, of course.
Go Eun-ha had just hired her as a temporary manager.
There was no salary or anything.
Still, O-yu-na was happy.
"O-yu-na, let's do a TingTok together."
"C-Can someone like me join...?"
"Of course. You're an honorary dance team member."
'I'm an honorary dance team member?!'
The dance team was the place O-yu-na had always admired from afar.
A place she never dreamed of stepping into.
Yet here she was, an 'honorary member.'
"Buhihit-!"
She couldn't contain her ecstatic laughter.
"Everyone rested up? Let's start practicing again!"
The practice was led by the dance team's leader, Pyo Hye-in.
When the dancing began, O-yu-na would squat in the corner and watch.
Sometimes she'd browse communities or watch NyuTube to pass the time.
Today, there was a video she wanted to check out.
It was the day a certain fight league uploaded new content.
O-yu-na glanced around casually before plugging in her earphones.
The video she played was from a small fight league.
It started with a verbal spat.
The defector fighter Gye Geum-ok was provoking the acupuncturist Shin Ji-young.
The insults flying back and forth were on a whole other level from typical trash talk.
Thump. Thump.
The tension between the two fighters felt like a rubber band about to snap.
O-yu-na, just watching, felt scared herself.
'It's so tense... but so exciting...!'
An extreme emotional battle.
That was the strategy of the Fight Club league.
"Whatcha watching?"
A sudden voice from behind.
"Kyaek!"
O-yu-na jumped like a cat spotting a cucumber.
The voice belonged to Go Eun-ha.
"Why so jumpy? It's just a fight video, right?"
"Yeah... but it's a minor league..."
"Underground group?"
"Y-Yeah."
Go Eun-ha stared at the screen impassively.
After watching for a bit, her take was:
"It's an above-ground group pretending to be underground."
Not underground, but above-ground.
The reason was obvious.
"I thought underground meant Vale Tudo or something with no rules, bare knuckles. But they're wearing gloves. How's that underground?"
"True, but they trash-talk a ton, the rules are pretty loose, and they hold events in sketchy abandoned buildings..."
"Not abandoned—they're dressed up like abandoned buildings. There are spectators; no way it's a real one."
"Huh...?"
"Rules are normal too. Just no rounds or judging."
No rounds.
No time limit.
Thus, no decisions.
Fight until one passes out or taps.
It had the appeal of forcing exciting matches no matter what.
"Sounds fun."
Go Eun-ha's reaction was positive.
O-yu-na perked up.
"New video next week... W-Wanna watch at my place?!"
"Nah."
"Oh..."
"Don't watch at home. Let's go live."
"Eek!"
Park Hikikomori freaked at the word 'live.'
Go to that terrifying place in person?
Fun from afar.
Scary up close.
"I spent all my money on drinks... Live event's too much..."
Go Eun-ha replied like it was no big deal.
"If I fight, they'll let one friend in free."
"Huh...?"
With that, Go Eun-ha rejoined the practice line.
O-yu-na sat dazed, thinking.
'Did I hear that wrong?'
Go Eun-ha fighting in Fight Club?
Logically, no reason she couldn't.
There was a women's division.
Plus, three months until High School Fighting King finals.
But.
'Yeah! Must've misheard!'
O-yu-na hoped so.
To her, Fight Club was too scary and intimidating.
Time flew, and sports day arrived.
Soccer, dodgeball, relays, balloon busting, etc.
Scenes straight out of a youth movie flashed by—
"Guys. Time to change soon."
And that moment came.
"Shit."
I check myself in the mirror.
Top exposing my midriff completely.
Pants so tight they dig into my flesh.
More skin shown than covered.
'Way too slutty.'
Have to perform on stage like this?
Dizzying.
Tried to change the outfits somehow,
'But orders were already placed, and I picked the design...'
Such were the circumstances.
"Whoa. Go Eun-ha! You look fucking gorgeous right now!"
"Size feels off."
"What? It fits perfect. Oh, chest a bit tight? Your boobs got bigger?"
My reflection was impressive in several ways.
Could pass for a pro idol.
Wouldn't look out of place at Waterbomb.
'This is overwhelming...'
Driving me crazy.
My already big chest and hips were even more emphasized.
Pyo Hye-in, worried, hooked her fingers into my mouth corners and pulled up.
"Smile a bit. You really are pretty. Blow up the planet!"
"Why blow up Earth outta nowhere."
Yeah. It's just five minutes.
Get it over with quick.
"Haa."
But no matter what, my nerves wouldn't settle.
Hands shaking, stomach churning.
Face paler than usual.
'Is this the tension Park O-yu-na felt?'
Countless matches under my belt.
Never shook like this.
High school sports day dance > UFC ranking fight jitters?
Makes no sense.
'No good. Need to warm up.'
Whoosh— whoosh—
Shadow boxing in front of the mirror.
Misc thoughts faded.
"Suddenly fighting someone?"
"My inner self."
"You'll summon the Black Flame Dragon next."
Finish this, back to fighting.
Could test the choreography training method too.
'Wanna go spar soon.'
That anticipation kept me going.
High School Fighting King Season 2 winner, An Seung-ho.
He got downed by Go Eun-ha during Season 3 filming.
Rumors spread through the gym first.
"Whoa, who's this? Feminist Fighter An Seung-ho?"
Feminist Fighter.
An Seung-ho's trendy new nickname at the gym.
"Women that great? Sparring courtesy in front of cameras?"
"Wasn't courtesy. Damage accumulated."
"Sure it was. Heh heh."
Days later, still getting teased.
Of course, he's a pro fighter.
A pro downed by an active high school girl? Utter humiliation.
If roles reversed, An Seung-ho would've teased relentlessly too.
Then KFN's Jung Seung-hyun chimed in.
"Cut it out. Seung-ho's chill so he takes it, but a hothead would've snapped already."
Blood shield.
Jung Seung-hyun felt bad for An Seung-ho.
Promising talent, bright future ahead.
Yet airing him getting beaten by a high school girl nationwide.
Couldn't help feeling sorry thinking of the fallout.
"Boss, it's fine. My fault for sucking."
An Seung-ho seemed surprisingly detached.
"No. Not that you sucked—sparring, right?"
Matches and sparring differ.
Can't go 100% in sparring.
"Not just any sparring—you were holding back. Continuous rounds too."
Yeah, excuses aplenty.
An Seung-ho hadn't gone full power.
At least, that's what others thought.
But.
'I went all out. At least the last 30 seconds.'
A fact only An Seung-ho knew.
Last 30 seconds.
Against the high school girl, he'd poured everything.
And still got downed.
'Just luck? Or real skill?'
An Seung-ho was merely curious.
Did he lose on skill?
Or fluke luck stacked against him?
Unable to confirm, he'd been uneasy for days.
"Oh right, forgot to give you this..."
Jung Seung-hyun grumbled.
In his hand: T-shirts.
"What's that?"
"Qualifier gifts. Meant to give that day, but spaced out. Should've done it on-site for the feels, filmed it... Oh well, ship 'em."
Jung Seung-hyun seemed genuinely bummed.
An Seung-ho jumped in.
"Want me to deliver 'em?"
"Huh? You will?"
"Yeah. Live near Garam High."
"Thanks, man."
Perfect excuse.
.
.
.
"Hey, it's that guy from our school before."
"An Seung-ho the fighter. Here for Eun-ha?"
"Oppa, you're hot~ Can we take a pic?"
Grateful fans recognized him.
An Seung-ho did fan service diligently while scouting Eun-ha's location.
"Eun-ha? Probably prepping for stage... Main auditorium?"
"Thanks."
Tracked down the building.
But no exact spot.
Had to wander.
Strolling the hall, sorting thoughts.
'Weirdest part of sparring was the clinch.'
Recalled sparring with Go Eun-ha.
Strikes? Natural talent, sure.
But clinch was bizarre.
'With that weight gap, takedown defense should've been impossible.'
Clinched up.
An Seung-ho tried tripping her leg.
Weight difference made it tough for her to hold.
'But she held without the wall.'
Opponent didn't fall.
Incomprehensible.
Reverse it: Bantam An Seung-ho wall-less against welter or middleweight.
Knew from gym heavy sparring.
'I couldn't.'
Not that easy.
Never heard of such a technique.
Never even seen it.
'Ask her first thing.'
Doubt she'd answer straight.
But loser bows head first, who knows.
For growth, pride's disposable.
"Hm?"
Finally.
Spotted Go Eun-ha down the hall.
An Seung-ho's eyes quickly scanned her up and down.
'Why's she dressed like that?'
Exposed stage costume.
Cat ears on head.
Tail on butt.
"......"
Go Eun-ha spotted An Seung-ho too.
Her eyes narrow.
Then she whips around.
'Pretending not to see?'
As An Seung-ho approaches, she flees.
Like same poles repelling.
'Why keep running?'
Go Eun-ha's cat tail swishes as she runs.
An Seung-ho follows, mesmerized.