Academy League Summer Season (3)
“Then promise me one thing.”
“What is it?”
“Don’t add your own commentary to the map instructions or play however you want. If you don’t break that stubborn in-game playstyle of yours, there’s no point in me teaching you.”
“During training, my word is law and truth. Promise you’ll follow only what I say without question during training sessions.”
“Whoa~ Implementing a human rights eradication policy, huh?”
“Don’t like it? Then forget it. Even Ha-young would be tough to coach.”
At my words, Seona pouted and grumbled.
“Who said I don’t like it? But after practice, I can voice my complaints, right?”
“Sure, that’s fine. In fact, think about what you don’t get during practice and what direction bothers you, then spill it all at the end. If you’re right, I’ll happily back down.”
“Deal! So when do I start my special training? Today? Tomorrow?”
At that, I grabbed the calendar nearby and circled a specific date with a pen.
“Next Tuesday.”
“Huh? There’s still a few days left! Why not start me right away?”
“Because I’ve got plans with Ha-young.”
“What? Can’t you skip a day or two?”
“Nope. Go ask her yourself to back out. She’ll probably say no.”
“Ugh, that’s unfair! Favoritism coach! At least schedule the closest available day then! From now on, alternate between me and Ha-young!”
With that, Seona snatched the pen from my hand and marked the calendar her way, writing ‘Seona♡’ every other day.
“So I get no time at all?”
“Whoa? You said even if we practice our asses off, we might barely make Division 1. We’re trying to practice too, so you can’t slack off either, Coach.”
Hmm, she’s got a point, but it still feels unfair. I’d already dominated at the absolute pro pinnacle for years, so my experience and training efficiency were on another level compared to them.
Of course, Seona wasn’t wrong, so I had no choice but to shrug and let her pick her special training dates.
Looks like my personal time was about to shrink even more.
That evening, I cut the players’ solo ranked practice a bit early and gathered everyone in the meeting room.
Once all five were seated, I pulled up the screen I’d prepared in advance.
“What’s this?”
“Analysis on BlueLight, the team we’re facing in a few days.”
BlueLight. A bottom-tier team even in the Academy League.
Their offlaner, Choi Jaeyeon, held her own decently and occasionally set up sharp initiate angles for good teamfight setups, but that was their only real strength.
After analyzing every Academy League team’s replays over the past two months—along with each player’s solo ranked habits and tendencies—I’d reached a conclusion.
We could absolutely beat them.
I replayed key moments from BlueLight’s Spring Season games on loop, prompting our team to share thoughts on both sides’ movements.
What were the win conditions when BlueLight won? What caused their losses? Reasons for each player’s paths and positioning.
The four except Sera actively chimed in whenever their laners appeared, while Sera only spoke briefly when I called on her directly.
After showing a few of their recent games, I asked the players,
“Who’s the BlueLight player you need to watch out for most?”
Yuna shot her hand up.
“That offlaner, Choi Jaeyeon.”
“Yeah, same here.”
“Honestly, everyone else doesn’t even seem human.”
“Not underestimating them, but yeah, I think so too.”
“Good eye, Yuna. So what’s their win plan?”
“With their skill level, I don’t see other options. They just eat shit all game and fish for a teamfight reversal. And Jaeyeon’s the one initiating.”
“Spot on. As you can see, they suck hard in lane, but their 5v5 teamfights are decent. Jaeyeon sets up the angles well.”
“Then we just crush them before that, right?”
“Don’t underestimate the enemy. Even bottom-tier Academy League teams survive for a reason—they’ve got real match experience. Unlike us newbies with nothing.”
The players tilted their heads, not fully buying it.
“We’ve got experience too, though? Auditions had a ton of people, and we weren’t even nervous.”
“Hell, I even fought the previous team right before my match.”
“Hearing you say that makes it super convincing, sis. But you gotta tone down that temper.”
“Enough chit-chat. You think real matches feel like auditions? You haven’t experienced it yet, but the pressure’s on another level.”
“If you hit even 80% of your practice performance, that’s elite. For rookies like you, half is enough to get ‘prodigy’ hype. Crush before teamfight? Sure, if it goes perfectly, BlueLight’s easy. But this isn’t bot lane practice. Real games have endless variables. We’ve got the skill edge, but it won’t always play out clean. So the key for this match is—”
My eyes met Yuna’s in the air.
“Cha Yuna, you.”
“Ehhh~ I have to match up against that offlaner?”
“Yeah. They’ve been in Academy League over two years. You and the rest of us? Total rookies. Makes your role—same position as their ace—even more crucial. Thoughts on Jaeyeon’s play?”
“Holds lane okay, but that’s it. Just survives without CS, so she falls behind in growth. Teammates are worse, no synergy. She eventually gets items and initiates, but it’s slow to me. Faster timing would’ve been better angles, but she hesitates and misses.”
“So you could do better in the same spot?”
“Whoa~ Harsh words, Coach. Why compare me to her? Watch me. I’ll show you real offlane.”
Yuna, miffed at being compared to Jaeyeon, huffed lightly and muttered ‘just watch’ over and over, firing herself up.
Reactions to the upcoming match varied.
“Ughhh, heart’s pounding so hard! Tomorrow, the world learns Kim Seona’s name!”
“I... I’m a bit nervous. We can really do this, right? Win?”
“Me too, kinda shaky. Practiced dances tons, but first real stage. Sera, you nervous?”
“A little.”
Fired-up Yuna and Seona. Slightly tense Ha-young and Eunjae. Unreadable Sera.
The players awaited tomorrow with varied expressions.
Then Yuna raised her hand high.
“Question!”
“Shoot.”
“If we win tomorrow or do well, no team rewards?”
“Pros are paid to perform. What, expecting bonuses? What do you want? Let’s hear it.”
“Electric guitar... The Shine’s gotta have some, right?”
“Ooh, me too! Gold bar if we win!”
Seona jumped in.
“Tiny thing already money-grubbing...”
“Th-then Netflix subscription for me.”
“Clothes shopping for me?”
“...Auntie likes samgyetang.”
Look at these kids. Haggling bonuses before even being pros—I was dumbfounded, almost absurd.
They get salaries to perform, yet already bargaining for extras.
Innocent girls new to pro life—cute wishlist, I guess.
“I’ll talk to the manager. But don’t get hopes up—likely no. Lose, and nothing.”
“Yes! We’re winning tomorrow! My guitar’s on the line!”
“One win and you snag all that? No conscience.”
“Tch, how many wins for wishes?”
I held up my index finger.
“League 1st place. Nothing less.”
Meaning no rewards without max effort.
But right after, the status window above my head dinged.
I’d hidden the text since it cluttered views of everyone’s heads, but that damn sound was unavoidable.
Fulfill the goal you set yourself.
Goal: Women's Academy League Regular Season 1st Place
Reward: Passfinder
Failure: All players' Mental stats and Teamwork plummet dramatically.
You bastard! Warn me ahead next time! I’d have just said ‘don’t finish last’!!!