Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Sports Festival #5
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After wrapping up a practice session disguised as a three-legged jog with four legs, we took some time for feedback.
"So, the issue is that you've got way too much energy."
Hong Yeonseo was tugging at my left foot, trying to sync it with her right one and our tempo.
Just like always, I'd barely managed to tie down her legs—which seemed ready to launch her into flight—and cross the finish line.
"You can keep up with this much, can't you?!"
"No... I'm fine, but Yurin would get exhausted."
At that, Seong Yurin, who had been squatting to my right untying the strap around her ankle, jolted in surprise and plopped down on her butt.
"...Huh?"
"...Why? You said you wanted me to call you by name."
"Oh, right... I did..."
"......Hmph."
The atmosphere turned awkward in an instant.
Truth be told, even I felt a bit strange saying it.
But I'd get used to it eventually, stuff like this.
"Anyway, try toning it down a bit. I can match you to some extent."
"Got it, whatever."
Hong Yeonseo pouted.
I hoped she'd unleash that potential in the relay where she could run solo, after untying the straps from our legs.
For now, though, coordination was key in three-legged races.
"Alright, that's settled. Let's head out now. We're cutting it close on time."
With the constraints of jogging tethered together, it had taken longer than usual.
Not enough to make us late for school, but dawdling too much would leave us short on time to prep for the day.
"Yeah. So, meet up again this evening?"
With that, Hong Yeonseo bolted off toward school.
...Hey. Hold up, who decided that on their own?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In the end, I couldn't argue against Hong Yeonseo's straight-shooting logic in the group chat that followed: we needed more practice time to fix the issues we'd spotted.
She'd armed herself with the argument that more reps were essential to correct her own flaws from the session.
This girl might actually be pretty smart, huh?
...Plus, Seong Yurin wasn't opposed to more practice either, so we naturally agreed to meet up in the evening too.
Not that it changed much—only two days left until the sports festival anyway.
After finishing my morning routine, I joined up with the others and headed to school.
"Lately, it gets hot as soon as daytime hits. That's why there's talk of advancing the summer uniform start date."
"When does it usually start?"
"June. Might pull it forward by a week or two."
This was intel from Lee Sea, who attended regular executive meetings as class president.
It had gotten way hotter this year than last.
If morning temps rose just a tad more, summer uniforms would make sense.
Still, with big diurnal swings, mornings stayed chilly—no rushing it.
"We can probably mix summer PE uniforms for the sports festival too."
"Then I'll go summer."
Lee Soyun, standing beside me, muttered softly at my words.
"It's cold in the shade... I'll stick with spring-fall."
That's 'cause you hardly have events to compete in...
Before long, our chit-chat brought us to school.
As we entered the classroom, Hong Yeonseo blocked our path.
"Ijin! That cosplay festival thing—when did you say it was again?"
"What's this out of nowhere? Uh... next Sunday."
"Ah! I'm screwed."
Hong Yeonseo clutched her head upon hearing the date.
No point blocking the way forever, so we moved to our seats.
"What's up?"
Lee Sea asked Hong Yeonseo, who slumped into the window seat beside me, looking dejected.
"Ugh. I've got a practice match scheduled, and the dates overlap."
"Ah, too bad."
Regrettable, but neither schedule was changeable.
Hong Yeonseo reacted strongly to my words.
"Ugh! I wanted to go watch!"
I'd shown my cosplay characters to Hong Yeonseo and the others before.
Maybe because of that, even kids with no interest in this stuff had been hyped for my cosplay day.
"I'll take tons of pics."
At Lee Soyun's consolation, Hong Yeonseo hopped up from the window seat and dusted off her butt.
"Can't be helped, I guess... You gotta show me later, okay?"
"...Pics will have to do."
"Aww~ come on~"
Hong Yeonseo tried her awkward cute act to beg.
"We'll see."
"Tch. Talk later then."
Judging my half-hearted vibe unswayable for now, Hong Yeonseo returned to her seat.
"No luck. Yeonseo was really looking forward to it."
Lee Sea whispered to me, watching her go.
"...For real?"
That much?
"Yeah. So show her at least once later. It's different from pics, right?"
"Fine."
Whatever, it's not like it wears out.
Besides, I'd outgrown that beginner cosplayer embarrassment level.
Not totally shameless, but I'd practiced thick-skinning my face plenty.
Moments later, the teacher entered and handed out notices.
"It's all the stuff Sea mentioned earlier."
Skimming the notice, it covered what Lee Sea had said on the way.
No firm date yet, but plans to advance summer uniforms, and permission to mix summer PE gear on sports festival day.
Having competent people around sure pays off in all sorts of ways.
...Not that I gained anything specific this time, but mentally, y'know.
Knowing info before everyone else gives that subtle superiority buzz.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "You kids, I get you're excited with the sports festival coming up, but don't forget your real job is studying."
Fourth period math, right before lunch.
Class kicked off with a jab from the balding math teacher at the podium.
Yeah, the one who always eyed me and Yoon Jiu suspiciously.
Good thing—no homework today. Relief.
"Then, practice problem 1... Alright. Vice president, come solve it."
The math teacher's sharp gaze fixed on Yoon Jiu.
Bet he called him knowing he's vice president...
At least it was an easy one—some shred of mercy?
Something solvable with the theory just explained.
But Yoon Jiu hadn't been paying attention, fumbling without solving it.
"Hey, hey. Mind's elsewhere, huh? Out back!"
Furious at Yoon Jiu failing a simple problem, the teacher banished him to the rear.
"Ha. Sh-"
Yoon Jiu muttered a curse heading back.
Most missed it, but a few nearby—including me and the girls—caught it and scratched their heads.
Even after, the teacher never called Yoon Jiu back, so his quiet swears drifted from the back sporadically.
Guy's mouth gotten filthier...
Luckily, or whatever, the teacher never picked me for problems.
Not that I'd mess up if he had.
Thinking on it, he probably wouldn't punish me like Yoon Jiu anyway.
Obviously—the teacher knew my midterm math score too.
Class ended; Yoon Jiu dumped his book and left with his usual delinquent duo, vanishing from sight.
"Math teacher's at it again."
"...Still, that problem should've been easy if he'd listened."
"True, but."
Hong Yeonseo and Seong Yurin chatted as they gathered; we headed out for lunch too.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Lunch done, back to class to grab PE uniforms and head to change.
The space before the showers—big enough to double as a changing room. Plenty of room to swap comfortably.
But right outside, we bumped into Yoon Jiu and his crew.
We exchanged odd glances, then turned and went our separate ways.
Made me wonder, for a sec: what does Yoon Jiu think of me?
Probably not good vibes, judging by last time.
Our feelings toward each other are likely miles apart.
Practice match today too, huh.
Slinging my small bag with cleats, I headed to the field.
Lunch break had a bit left, but folks were already gathering in droves.
Each class had its spot; I went to ours.
"Jina. Badminton?"
As I stretched solo, Lee Sea called from behind.
She held a racket and a tube of shuttlecocks from who-knows-where.
"Where'd you get those?"
"Teacher said to prep 'em for later. Not playing myself, but anyway! Time to kill—badminton?"
"Just us two?"
"Yeonseo and Yurin wanna join if you're in. Soyun's spectating."
"Tell her to move a bit..."
Glancing around, I spotted the trio approaching behind Lee Sea.
"Heh. You know Soyun well."
"That's why I'm saying it."
I took a racket from Lee Sea and moved to an open spot with few people.
I called out to Lee Soyun, who was slyly inching to sit.
"You play instead?"
"Th-there needs to be a referee."
"...I can ref."
"No! I'm good at reffing."
Ah, suit yourself...
I couldn't budge this pillbug in the end.