3rd Division Promotion Battle (1)
Time flew by, reaching the peak of summer heat in late summer.
The weather was scorching hot, but our momentum burned even hotter.
This was our final record in the league we entered for the first time since the team's founding.
"Aaaah! We won!"
"Promotion match, here we come!"
"Everyone did great! Our team was awesome!"
"You all did well."
"Hey, we're definitely going to 3rd Division! Got it?!"
After their final match, the players—who had grown quite accustomed to victories lately—cheered louder than ever, celebrating their triumph.
From early summer through the end of the season, they'd practiced relentlessly, sometimes enduring my harsh words and scoldings. All that hard work had paid off with a 17-1-0 record and 1st place—it was well deserved.
The Academy League had no playoffs; regular season standings determined promotion directly.
Taking 1st meant we'd automatically face the 10th-place team from 3rd Division.
Alongside Brilliant, who finished 2nd with 16-1-1 and +33, four teams would battle it out in the brutal 3rd Division promotion/relegation matches.
"You all did great! Really, really great!"
I burst into the players' waiting room with a beaming smile, shouting as they rushed in. Sure, it was a low-level league compared to the stages I'd played on as a pro, but victory was always sweet.
These days, watching these solo queue warriors—who had no pro experience—absorb my guidance and grow under my coaching as a rookie coach was surprisingly rewarding.
The players let out cheers and charged toward me. Eunjae was first, leaping into my arms.
I had to brace my legs and core to keep from toppling over.
"We won! We actually won!"
Seona followed, jumping in and hugging both me and Eunjae as she screamed.
"Aaaah! This is the best! Did you see!? We're in the promotion match!"
Yuna slapped my hand in a high-five so hard it echoed. Hayoung immediately pulled out her phone, texting her family about the qualification.
Once Eunjae and Seona let go, Sera sidled up quietly, tugging at my shirt collar.
She wasn't as expressive as the others—no wild jumping—but her slightly flushed face showed she was thrilled. Tugging my collar, she glanced up, then tilted her head just right for a pat.
I obliged, stroking her hair, and she leaned into it more, clearly pleased.
The excited atmosphere settled after a few minutes.
"You all worked so hard all summer! Honestly, I pushed you pretty hard for an Academy League team, but you followed along great—thanks. Hayoung, you're always reining in Seona and captaining while studying the game hardest. Really grateful."
"Ah, haha... I never thought I'd study games this hard instead of school."
"Sera. You've gotten better at communicating in-game, and you always farm safely and carry reliably—thanks."
"...Coach told me to talk more. I'll listen to everything Coach says."
"Eunjae. At first, I wondered what to do with your slippery playstyle, but your practice attitude's improved a ton lately. Lane management and jungling are coming along fast. Thanks for the hard work."
"Hehe. I listen to Coach now. Just tell me what to do—I'll follow anything."
Sera whipped her head toward Eunjae, but I didn't notice.
"Yuna. You handle the most annoying matchup but always hold strong, no fear, and open engages boldly. You get mad during games but let it go quick—thanks."
"Uh... that's praise, right? Anyway, just trust me."
"Seona. You die the weirdest, most frequent deaths, but not many players carry like that despite it. Most would tilt mentally, but you hold up—thanks."
"Hey? Why does mine sound like criticism!? Praise me too! I did great!"
"I did praise you."
"That's not praise!"
"Anyway. You all busted your asses for 1st in regular season, but it's not over, right? The real deal—promotion match—is next. Lose here, and it's all for nothing. You don't wanna reset all that summer sweat to zero, do you?"
It was a rhetorical question. No one would.
"Promotion's in a week, so rest tomorrow, then grind from the day after. Don't slack just 'cause you're 1st—keep it up!"
"Yes!"
"Still, gotta celebrate 1st. Told the manager already—dinner's on tonight!"
"Beef!"
"Chicken and beer!"
"Sushi."
"Pizza!"
"Gopchang, daechang, makchang!"
The dinner spot was a gopchang house, picked by Eunjae after rock-paper-scissors.
The sizzle of intestines—gopchang, daechang, makchang—grilling on the pan tickled the ears, while their savory aroma assaulted the nose. Just sitting there made your stomach growl.
"Hehehe, I've been dying to eat this. Nom... can't hold back. All mine!"
Eunjae, unable to wait, snatched half-cooked gopchang, dunked it in sauce, and shoved it in her mouth. That kicked off a frenzy as the players devoured everything.
"Hey, slow down! Leave some for me!"
"Boss, six more mixed platters!"
"A bottle of soju too!"
"Unnie Yuna always orders booze at dinners. Good?"
"Not 'good' exactly... it just calls to me?"
"I wanna try too."
"You nuts? High schoolers drinking? No way."
"Just one sip?"
"Selling booze to minors gets the shop shut down—wanna ruin the boss? No. Two years."
"Hmph, acting all grown-up drinking in front of us. I'm grown too."
Seona pouted. I snorted.
"You? Grown? Where?"
"Here."
She thrust her chest out proudly. With her killer figure—top among the girls—it made its presence known.
"Where'd you learn that weird shit? I'm your coach, but I'm a guy too. Not just us here—what're you doing?"
I bonked her head. She deflated.
"Ow! Why hit me!"
"'Cause you earned it. And you've been casually banmal-ing me sneaky-like."
"Ah, not even practice time—still no?! We've trained half a year!"
Coaches getting too chummy privately can mess up feedback—hesitating on tough love due to friendship.
BlackWings avoided that, but I'd seen teams where stubborn players grew worse from poor feedback.
So from recruitment, despite the age gap, I insisted on "Coach," not "oppa." They complied.
Honestly, with their looks and bodies, I sometimes wanted to say "Call me oppa from now on."
But I'm not ruled by my dick enough to tank the job over it.
Today, though—with promotion locked and good vibes—Seona treated me like a close bro, ignoring distance.
Not unwelcome. These girls could snag numbers on the street easy; instinct-wise, I'd have hit on them sans coach role.
'Yeah, like Seona said—not practice, end-of-season party... once won't hurt.'
Promotion high had me indulgent, so I leaned instinct a bit. Then...
Ding dong??? Status Window, you dudebro or what?
No reply, obviously.
"Fine, you're stubborn anyway—doubt you'd listen. Season's done, dinner vibes, so today only: permitted. Mood! Call me whatever today."
"Whoa! For real? Oppa?!"
Seona clapped gleefully. The server brought more food and Yuna's soju. Seona smirked, eyes gleaming, grabbing the bottle.
"Then! Shining Star 1st place celebration—and with permission! Truth game on our coach, Kang Yuseong oppa! Who's in?!"
"Me me me!"
"Sounds fun!"
"Yuseong oppa, first shot~ Answer our questions honestly, no lies. Can't answer? Down the shot! Got it? Not even asking my vote?"
"Hey! You started without me?"
"You said be casual first! Okay~ Yuseong oppa truth game start! Who first?"
Seona MC'd like a pro.
Hayoung raised her hand first.
"Um... Coach... no, Yuseong oppa... ah, haha... awkward. Anyway, oppa's ultimate goal?"
"Pro league?"
"Yeah."
"TIC championship."
"?!"
No hesitation. Hayoung's eyes widened. Academy kids aiming for Eternal Combat's top tourney, TIC? Shocking.
Others grumbled.
"Ugh, Hayoung—that's boring."
"Ehehe... sorry. First time."
"Next? Boring ones get vetoed! Huh? Sera!"
Sera raised her hand next. Her? Curious about me? Probably lame question.
But my prediction shattered instantly.
"Do you have a girlfriend?"