Chapter 209: Wrecking a Rom-Com I Don't Recognize with My Muscle Cheat
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 209: Wrecking a Rom-Com I Don't Recognize with My Muscle Cheat
I felt a strange sense of déjà vu while playing soccer.
It was like being back in the military, when the company commander got the ball and the enemy defenders would part like the Red Sea.
"Agh! Get out of the way!"
It was like being on the highway when an imported sports car appears, and all the domestic cars naturally clear a path for it.
"Save me!"
It was like when a giant monster appears in the city, and the police desperately try to buy time until the Earth Defense Force shows up.
Wait, is that last example a bit different?
"He's coming! Block him with your lives!"
"You cowards from Class 2-B! Bringing in an asymmetric strategic weapon like Kim Yoo-Sung!"
In any case, I was running wild all over the wide field.
For someone like me, who competed with pure physicality rather than technique, positions like striker, winger, or midfielder didn't mean much.
In that sense, it seemed our team captain, Shimamura, had a sharp eye.
"Move it!"
As I neared the goal, I gave a warning before taking my shot.
I knew the ball would burst if I kicked it with all my strength, so I was going to hold back, but I couldn't guarantee what would happen if a person got in the way.
My warning seemed to work, as the defenders blocking my path jumped back in surprise.
Only then did I kick the ball, relieved.
BOOM!!
*
"Did his foot just make a cannon sound?!"
"How are we supposed to block that!"
The soccer ball, spinning violently, curved through the air toward the opponent's goal.
Seeing this, the class president of 2-D screamed at his team to block it, but the goalkeeper, frozen in front of the net, couldn't move a single step.
A moment later, the ball shook the back of the net.
Peeeeep!
The gym teacher, having confirmed the result, blew his whistle and raised his flag.
"1-0!"
I was in top form.
*
In the end, the match against Class 2-D ended in a landslide victory of 7-1.
Honestly, even I thought it was a bit much, so I barely played as a forward in the second half. Still, it seemed my mere presence on the field was incredibly intimidating.
"Thanks! We breezed through the preliminaries because of you! I'm counting on you for the semifinals and the finals, too!"
I let out a hearty laugh as Shimamura hugged me with a look of pure emotion, then turned to Ayase, who was managing the entire event schedule.
"So, where to next?"
"Among the morning matches, the best one for you to participate in as a mercenary would probably be this."
Ayase showed me a diagram of a rectangular court with six circles drawn on it.
I rolled my shoulders leisurely and asked, "Dodgeball?"
Ayase shook her head.
"No, volleyball."
*
And so, my next job was decided.
Event number two: 'Volleyball.'
Truthfully, volleyball is a sport where teamwork matters more than individual skill.
Of course, it wasn't without its star players, but unlike soccer or basketball, one person couldn't do everything. Working in sync with the other team members was crucial.
"I'm counting on you today."
"Yeah."
Nagasawa Kanna, a member of the girls' volleyball team and the tallest person in our class besides me.
We rarely had a chance to talk, so this was the first time we were speaking face-to-face.
"Yoo-Sung, you're tall and have long arms, so you'll be the middle blocker."
"Middle blocker?"
"Yep. It's the position in the center that mainly blocks the opponent's attacks."
It was a role practically made for me.
Before the match, I got a crash course on the rules of volleyball and different attack methods. Before I could even memorize it all, I was thrown into a real game.
Our opponent in the preliminaries was Class 2-E.
Unlike soccer, volleyball was a co-ed team sport, and honestly, they didn't look very strong.
The preliminary match began on one of the courts in the auditorium.
Peeeeep!
"Match start!"
Class 2-E had the first serve.
The volleyball soared into the air with the setter's serve.
...It's slow.
A normal person might have thought it was fast, but unfortunately, compared to the movements of the people I'd fought until now, it was no contest.
I didn't even need to rush. I could block it just by reaching out my hand.
The opposing team's hitter, a look of panic on their face, hastily received the ball, but my casually swung arm sent it right back over the net, scoring a point anticlimactically.
All of this happened within about five seconds of the match starting.
My teammates behind me stared at me in disbelief, but since I hadn't really done anything amazing, I just rubbed the back of my head awkwardly.
*
Kim Yoo-Sung.
This was the first time she had ever spoken to him.
In truth, she had known about Kim Yoo-Sung since their first year.
It was hard not to, with all the grim rumors surrounding him—that he was an elite yakuza, the heir to an assassination art—spreading throughout the school.
But for her, who spent more time practicing in the club room than studying in the classroom, it wasn't a problem that felt particularly real.
Besides, they were in different classes, so they never crossed paths.
That all changed when they moved up to the second year and ended up in the same class.
I was scared at first.
Nagasawa Kanna was 186 cm tall.
Far taller than the average high school boy.
It was why her nickname in elementary school had been Crane Legs.
Whenever the boys picked on the girls, she was always the one to step in and save them, the classic prince role.
That didn't change in middle or high school, and her superior physique got her scouted by the volleyball team almost immediately.
To be honest, before she met him, she had never once felt afraid of a boy.
But then—
Kim Yoo-Sung was the first boy I'd ever met who was taller than me.
The situation had changed.
For her, who had always been the one looking down on others, the simple act of looking up at someone was a fresh experience.
And contrary to the dark rumors, the side he showed in class was that of a model student.
He respected the teachers and was a good person who tried to help whenever someone asked.
Of course, some students overreacted to his every move and blew things out of proportion, but from her perspective, watching from afar, it was all just a misunderstanding born from his appearance.
In any case, this was a rare opportunity.
She had never been able to talk to him because, despite his intimidating looks, he was actually quite shy. But now, they were on the same team, so they could talk naturally.
As Nagasawa looked at Kim Yoo-Sung's dependable shoulders standing in front of the court, she felt her heart inexplicably calm down.
Is this what it feels like to find someone reliable?
For some reason, she felt like they couldn't lose any match as long as he was with her.
Kyun♥ Kyun♥
Her heart pounded with excitement.
Without realizing it, Nagasawa flashed a dashing smile and shouted.
"Kim Yoo-Sung! The next play is a quick attack!"
*
Peeeeeeeeep!
"Match over! Class 2-B wins!"
The moment the volleyball slammed onto the opposing team's court, the sharp sound of a whistle echoed through the auditorium.
"We won!"
Drunk on the joy of victory, the team members hugged each other.
I was standing at the very back, watching them with a pleased smile, when I sensed a presence beside me and turned my head.
It was Nagasawa, our team's ace.
"Good work, Kim Yoo-Sung."
"Ah, thanks."
I took the towel she offered and wiped away my sweat before asking for her honest opinion of the match.
"You were brilliant."
"Aren't you laying it on a bit thick?"
"No, seriously. I've never seen a better blocker in my life. Your talent is almost a waste."
If you're ever interested in volleyball, just let me know. I'll teach you.
Nagasawa patted my shoulder before walking over to her fan club members who were watching from the stands.
Watching her go, I let out a wry smile as I recalled the game.
That was incredibly easy.
Our team had a volleyball club member, and the other team didn't. That was a factor, but overall, they felt like a disorganized mob.
Well, it wasn't a real tournament, just an event where they pulled random students from each class, so I guess it couldn't be helped.
Anyway, following soccer, we had now achieved a landslide victory in volleyball as well.
There were still about three events left, but it wouldn't be strange if other classes started to protest.
Honestly, me participating in these games was like an adult joining a children's fight.
And just as I expected, when I went to participate in the third event, baseball, I was told that other classes had filed a complaint about fairness. I was banned from all remaining ball sports.
"This is a problem."
"Tch, a miscalculation."
Ayase bit her nails, disappointed that her perfect plan to coast to victory using me as an all-purpose mercenary had been foiled.
"Still, the teachers were considerate enough to let you stay in the relay race and the cavalry battle. We should be happy with that."
I couldn't participate in the next rounds of soccer and volleyball, but the fact remained that we had breezed through the preliminaries.
Unlike the other teams, who must have been exhausted from consecutive matches, our team had basically been sitting back and relaxing. That alone was a huge advantage.
When I pointed that out, Ayase finally let out a deep sigh and seemed to accept it.
"Well, what's done is done. But I can expect you to shine in the remaining events, right?"
"Of course."
When I said that with a grin, Ayase scratched her head with her pen and spoke in a deliberately gruff tone.
"Don't smile. I might get attached."