Summer Finals (3)

Durandal: Watch Seju's ult.

Oz: Jax has no flash.

Luca: Look for the finish.

Durandal: Good. Bring the minions.

Oz: I'm fine, I'm fine! Lucian ult is down!

Rapid: Drop the locket on me.

Durandal: Huh? Yeah, yeah.

Luca: Arin! Arin! Arin!

Oz: Waaaaaaaaah!

Jimin: Oh, nice.

Rapid: Whoa, I almost died.

Luca: We won.

Oz: Waaaaaaaaah!

Durandal: Ah, damn. Hahahaha.

Rapid: Whew.

Jimin: Our team is seriously good.

Luca: Nexus! Nexus!

Oz: Waaaaaaaaah!

Jimin: Ah, we won!

"Kyaaaaaaaaaaah!"

A scream of pure celebration, nearly a shriek, rose from the P1 section as confetti cannons fired in honor of the champions.

Players hugged one another, laughing and shouting. The coaching staff rushed out onto the stage to join them.

Champions and runners-up bumped fists, marking the official end of the match.

"One, two!"

Then the trophy went up together. Fireworks burst again overhead.

The cameras kept finding P1 fans in tears. After years of grinding through the hard times, the salt in those tears ran deep.

Players changed clothes. Casters kept talking. And still, the moment approached at its own steady pace.

"The 2031 SCK Summer Split Grand Final! The glorious champions are P1! Let's give them a huge round of applause!"

"Waaaaaaaaah!"

Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!

"We'll meet the entire squad! Congratulations!"

SCK's flagship female announcer, Song Hyuna, opened the championship interview.

"Our last game of the day, Set Three, and a pentakill! Jimin, who just became a Royal Roader by winning in his debut season — how does it feel to take ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the title right out of the gate?"

The interview began with the top laner.

"Uh…"

Jimin's face made it obvious he was nervous. It wasn't that he'd never done an interview before — once or twice, sure — but there were just so many people. And somehow, he was still riding a high of his own.

"Just… yeah. Winning feels amazing."

"Hahahaha."

On the Rift he had looked like a demon. Off it, he looked every bit the nineteen-year-old he was. The announcer laughed.

"Your play was excellent from Set One through Set Three, but especially that Set Three Akeli — scoring your first career pentakill in a finals, no less. How did it feel when you got that last kill? The teamfight opened up while you were down four-to-five."

"We were four-to-five, but our side had scaled so well, and a lot of their cooldowns had gone into Minhyeok hyung, so I never thought we were going to lose. Somehow I ended up with the penta, though, so first of all — thank you to my teammates for letting me have it."

"Confidence, and the heart to share with your teammates — we heard you loud and clear."

Jimin was quietly relieved he'd gotten through the interview without disaster.

"Oz! You're the only player on this roster who still wore the P1 jersey last year. With these new teammates, you've won SCK and punched a ticket to Worlds. How does that feel?"

"Ah… I'm so grateful to my teammates. For years it wasn't just about not winning the league — not even making Worlds, I felt so sorry to the fans. Being able to give something back… I'm just glad."

Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!

The fans didn't hold back for the franchise star who had carried the organization through its dark years.

"Well said. Congratulations on the win! And next — our reliable big brother, Luca!"

Top and jungle done; now it was the mid laner's turn.

"You conquered the Japanese stage and came back to SCK, and in your first season back you take the title. One word for us?"

"Coming back to Korea after so long, with our fans cheering so passionately, and with such strong teammates around me… I just enjoyed playing the game."

"The next stage is Worlds in Shanghai. As captain, any message of resolve?"

"We know the expectations on us are high. Yes — we'll bring the Worlds trophy home under the name of P1."

—Waaaaaaaaaah!

The championship was secured; now Worlds-hungry P1 fans roared at the promise.

"The fans must feel like such a solid wall of support. Congratulations."

"Thank you."

"And our Rapid!"

The announcer moved to Kang Jun, who had become a Royal Roader alongside Jimin.

"P1 fans had such high hopes for Rapid, and you really showed what you're made of. One word on the championship?"

"Even though it was my first season, there were a lot of moments I wasn't fully satisfied with. But the result was good, so… I'm just glad."

"When Jimin got the pentakill, you were on Kalista and didn't Rend the last kill — you left it for him. That got a lot of attention. Would you call that love for a teammate?"

"Honestly, I just didn't feel like the main character in that fight. Taking the kill would've felt shameless."

"Hahahaha."

The fans cracked up at Kang Jun's answer.

"We've just spoken with Royal Roader Rapid. Next up has to be Durandal, right?"

Last came the support.

"Durandal, when you signed, you said how happy you were to come back to this team. Wearing the P1 jersey and winning with it — that has to feel special. You repaid the fans with a great performance today. Any message for them?"

"Yeah, heh. I was lacking a lot, so I never really got my chance in the Academy days. I had a good run in China and came back like this… Ah, yes! Just — winning feels really good!"

"Hahahaha."

Sangjin, long beloved by P1 fans for his enthusiastic fan service and easy talk, had the crowd laughing again.

"Now let's meet Coach Jang Yaohwan! Congratulations on the win!"

"Thank you."

The coach's turn had arrived.

"Today P1 completely dominated with overwhelming play. Was this the result you expected?"

"Everyone's form has been excellent lately, and we prepared thoroughly. So we had confidence — and it's good to see the result match that."

"And this is the question the fans want to hear. Any resolve heading into Worlds?"

"This roster is truly that strong. We'll prepare well and go all the way to a Worlds title."

"Congratulations!"

Announcer Hyuna closed out the interviews.

Of course, an important step still remained before the full trophy ceremony.

"…"

Ah.

Jimin had been looking for his mother — and finally found her.

"We've just received word that the Finals MVP voting has concluded!"

—Waaaaaaaaaah!

Players smiled. Fans celebrated. It was joy reserved for the champions.

"Should we stick around just for the MVP?"

Streamer Yu Dahye, live on air, asked her chat.

"Alright, alright."

For once, Dahye actually listened to her chat. Of course, on a finals broadcast day like this, even P1 fans who didn't normally watch her stream were tuning in.

"…"

She snorted a little laugh. The fans in the arena were already chanting Jimin's name in unison. P1 had played well as a whole, and everyone watching knew how the story had gone — but the announcer was milking the pause.

"Oh."

The obvious result. Dahye, still sprawled in a lazy posture, let out a dry little sound of appreciation.

They handed Jimin the trophy and the sponsor's necklace prize.

"Popular, huh."

Jimin! Jimin! Jimin! Jimin!

The fans in the arena were shouting so loud it came through clearly.

"Huh?"

Right as Jimin was about to give his Finals MVP remarks, Dahye's eyes went wide.

Jimin closed his mouth and didn't continue. The camera found his mother. Mother and son wore almost the same expression.

As soon as the words were out, eyes wet, Jimin dropped his head.

"…"

Don't cry! Don't cry! Don't cry!

The fans in the arena could be heard trying to comfort him. Teammates stepped in close; the female announcer patted his shoulder. And the camera caught Kim Eunhye too, covering her face with her hands as she cried.

"Ah, what the hell… You get an award and you cry like an idiot."

Dahye finished the sentence — and killed the camera at the same time. She was probably going to have to redo her makeup.

"Ah! Ah! Can you all hear me?"

Swallowing the embarrassment, he started the stream.

"Guess you can hear me."

Jimin was live — not from the P1 streaming room where he'd been broadcasting for months, but from his own bedroom. The same night the finals had ended. Right after dinner with his mom, no less.

Thanks to the advance notice, viewers flooded in almost instantly.

"Thank you, 10YearTopLaner, for the 50,000-won donation! I don't really know crypto, but I'm sure it'll turn around."

Jimin said it with a smile.

"Ah, sorry — I didn't even think about it. I don't have a camera at home. Man, I feel so dumb."

Back when he used to stream from home, he'd always gone without a cam. He'd completely forgotten for a second.

"Thank you for the 1,000-won donation. We're doing a proper victory party tomorrow."

Of course, the teammates who had already promised each other a drink were probably drinking right now.

"Ah, what?! Render hyung just sent 500,000! Ah — thank you so much!"

A former teammate from the past had suddenly dropped a small fortune on the stream.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Ah, yeah, hyung — when are we queuing together again?"

Jimin said it laughing. The donations and congratulations kept coming.

"Crow with 200,000! Ah, thank you so much. Your rank's gone way up."

When Jimin had faced him, Crow had been bouncing between Master and Grandmaster. He'd only dabbled in climbing, but he'd still hit Challenger and settled near the top of Grandmaster. And on his YouTube channel, the detailed breakdowns of Jimin's plays had quietly found a big audience among P1 fans, pushing his views up a lot.

"Thank you, everyone!"

So many viewers. So many streamers. Jimin thanked them all for the attention.

Huh?

Bzzzzzt.

"…"

A message from Dahye — the same Dahye who, last he'd checked, had already turned her stream off.

"I'm gonna hit the bathroom real quick."

Jimin stood up from his chair.