Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Hong Yeonseo #2
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[This station is Comprehensive Sports Center Station. Comprehensive Sports Center Station. The doors on the left will open for exiting passengers.]
"Jina. Let's get off."
As the subway's steady rocking was lulling me to sleep, the arrival announcement blared through the speakers.
Lee Sea shook me awake, my eyes half-closed.
"Huh? Yeah."
Still a bit groggy, I blinked and shook my head to clear my mind.
After stepping off the train, I stretched my arms wide, and Lee Sea scolded me.
"You fall asleep at every chance you get, Jina. What do you even do at night?"
"I'm just one of those people with sleepy genes."
"Pfft. You're joking, right?"
No. It's the honest truth.
Lee Sea took it as a joke, but I didn't bother arguing and just nodded along.
"Seo Ijin?"
As we tapped our cards and entered the concourse, Seong Yurin approached.
"Huh? What's up."
"Here, take this back."
What Seong Yurin held out was the transit card I'd given her earlier.
"Why? Just keep it. I wasn't gonna use it anyway."
"W-Well..."
"There's money loaded on it, so use that. If you're gonna hang out with us more, you'll need public transit sometimes."
"Hang out... m-more? Y-Yeah, I guess."
Hmm. Is she feeling burdened?
I added,
"Or just use up the balance and toss it."
Seong Yurin waved her hands in denial.
"No! I-I'll... treasure it..."
She clutched the card tightly and slipped it back into her pocket.
"...Suit yourself."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Stepping out of the station, rain was pouring down.
"Ah~ It's already raining."
Yoon Jiu pulled an umbrella from his bag and handed it to me.
"Hmm. It's earlier than the forecast said."
"That's how it always is."
I replied to Seong Yurin, who was muttering while looking up at the sky.
Weather forecasts are impressive when they're right at all.
I teased Yoon Jiu as he opened his umbrella beside me.
"Did you bring a parasol or what?"
His umbrella was that huge.
"Nah. Just in case someone forgot theirs. Figured we'd share, so I brought a big one."
A lightbulb went off in my head.
Of course!
This guy really is the rom-com protagonist.
Calculating for those event opportunities—terrifying, Yoon Jiu.
Still, it showed he was interested in the heroines, as expected of the protagonist.
Whether it was one in particular or all of them... who knew.
"Ooh~ Yoon Jiu."
Look, even Lee Sea was impressed.
Right in front of us, as we emerged from underground under our umbrellas, stood the Comprehensive Sports Center where Hong Yeonseo's game was today.
"That must be it? There's a banner too."
The small banner at the entrance confirmed it was the place Hong Yeonseo had mentioned.
"When does the game start?"
Lee Soyun asked.
"It starts at 11. She should be done around lunchtime."
Lee Sea checked the time and answered Lee Soyun.
We'd met at 10, taken the subway—thirty minutes—and had about thirty minutes until kickoff.
"There's a sign here. Gym's that way."
Yoon Jiu, leading the way, pointed to the directional sign.
We headed there and found a pretty big building.
At the entrance, staff were controlling access, but they let us in when we said we were there to cheer for a school friend.
Inside the gym, more people were seated than I'd expected.
Not packed, though, so we found seats with a good view of the court easily.
"There's Hong Yeonseo."
Warming up on the court were the players, and among them stood out a red-haired girl—Hong Yeonseo, more than anyone.
"Hong Yeonseo~ We're here!"
"Eek! Shh, be quiet. Yoon Jiu, you idiot."
Yoon Jiu's loud shout drew stares from around us. Lee Soyun panicked and shrank back, scolding him.
Thanks to Yoon Jiu drawing all the aggro, though, Hong Yeonseo spotted us and waved with a bright smile.
We waved back, and she refocused on her warm-up.
"You gotta make a bit of noise like that."
"D-During the game later, okay..."
I ignored the clash between super social Yoon Jiu and timid Lee Soyun, focusing on Hong Yeonseo.
I'd watched videos of her games a few times while running mornings with her.
But seeing her now in her uniform, tying back her messy hair tightly...
It felt different somehow.
...She's pretty.
Not just her looks, though those were stunning.
More than that—what caught the eye.
She was literally shining on the court.
Her talent, effort, and joy all shone through in her confident expression and movements.
That in itself was beautiful.
"...Jina."
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Lee Sea beside me called in a subdued voice.
"...Never mind. Nothing. You just seemed really focused."
At a loss for words, I scratched the back of my head.
Lee Sea stared at me in the brief silence, then turned back to the court.
What was that about?
A small question sprouted in my mind, but it withered without a clear answer.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The game ended in a overwhelming victory for Dawn High.
Of course, Dawn High's Handball Club was strong overall.
But at the center was Hong Yeonseo's monstrous performance.
The opposing team's dejected faces even made me feel sorry for them—you can imagine the impact.
Even clueless Yoon Jiu, who cheered his lungs out in the first half regardless, spent the second half sitting quietly, gauging the mood.
Hong Yeonseo flew around the court relentlessly, hurling handballs and toying with the opponents.
The ball curved wildly in flight.
I had no idea handball was such a wuxia-style sport.
Hong Yeonseo said it was because they applied something to their hands for that trajectory.
Whatever.
Her show made the one-sided game still thrilling to watch.
"Handball's pretty fun, huh?"
"Yeah. Super intense."
Even our group, not big on sports, watched with sparkling eyes.
After the game, the teams bowed to each other and exited to applause.
We waited until the stands were half-empty, then Hong Yeonseo appeared from the back.
Freshly showered and changed, she had a duffel bag slung over her shoulder, probably with her uniform inside.
"Hi hi~ Guys! How was it? Good view?"
"Yeah! You were amazing, Yeonseo. Totally cool."
Lee Sea took Hong Yeonseo's hand and said.
"N-Not bad... I guess."
Even Seong Yurin, who always bickered with her, praised her while hiding her embarrassment.
"Hee hee. Thanks for coming to cheer. Come again next time!"
"Sure, just call us."
Lee Sea nodded.
Yoon Jiu chimed in.
"Yeah. Didn't know handball was so fun."
"Right? Right?"
As chit-chat wound down, I stood from my seat.
"Alright, let's grab lunch. Western food okay, Hong Yeonseo?"
"Of course! You came to cheer, so I'm treating today!"
We followed the excited Hong Yeonseo, who pumped her arms as she led us out of the gym.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Plip plip plop
Rain hammered the plastic awning at the entrance.
"Eww! What, it's already pouring?"
Hong Yeonseo stopped at the gym door, grumbling.
She pulled a small umbrella from her duffel.
"Everyone has umbrellas..."
Yoon Jiu looked dejected, his plan foiled.
Lee Sea, following Hong Yeonseo, checked her phone.
"This way. Right around the corner."
It was about the restaurant for lunch.
A famous family restaurant nearby, apparently.
We walked single-file like ducklings after their mother, along the narrow sidewalk and alley.
The place was packed despite the rain, as expected of a popular spot.
Luckily, no line, so we got right in.
"Order whatever you want! I'll eat any leftovers."
...Was it okay for an active high school girl to say she'd finish any extras?
Well, we all knew Hong Yeonseo's appetite, so we nodded calmly.
Lee Sea got carbonara pasta, Seong Yurin and Lee Soyun hamburg steaks.
I ordered omurice.
...Yoon Jiu got the priciest steak plate.
Ugh. Clueless jerk.
We'd been subtly watching Hong Yeonseo and Yoon Jiu, but sighed in relief at her unchanged expression.
"And this too~"
Hong Yeonseo added salads, pilaf, and more to our orders.
"What should we do after lunch?"
Hong Yeonseo said, propping her chin.
"It's raining, so maybe head home..."
Mid-sentence, I caught Hong Yeonseo's death glare.
"...would be boring, so let's go somewhere? Haha... ha."
Her face relaxed into a beautiful smile, like nothing happened.
Stunning smile, but just as chilling.
"Great great~"
"What's with Seo Ijin not suggesting we go home for once."
"Uh... yeah."
You should've seen Hong Yeonseo's eyes, Jiu.
"Escape room cafe or karaoke? With indoor only, options are limited."
Lee Sea said, drawing attention.
"Both sound good? If everyone's okay, let's play till evening. Yeah?"
Hong Yeonseo was possessed by the ghost of unplayed fun—she wanted to go anywhere.
"...As long as it's not too active."
"Yeah, me too."
Lee Soyun and I said.
"I-I'm fine, decide without me. I got permission to come home late today..."
Seong Yurin agreed too.
Come to think of it, had she even been to places like that?
I wondered if I should ask, but our food arrived.