Offseason (1)
During the remaining vacation period, Ha-young and Seona stuck together constantly.
With only the two of them in the dorm, they had no choice but to do everything as a pair.
They played Eternal Combat together, and whenever they got tired, they'd shut off the game and wander around the neighborhood for fun.
They hit up a coin karaoke bar, strolled through cafe street, played air hockey at a nearby arcade, or grabbed food at the department store court.
Most outings were led by Seona, who took charge since Ha-young had no idea what to do.
And on the last day of vacation today, the two came back from another outing, Ha-young's face flushed with excitement.
"It was so much fun! I had no idea something like this even existed!"
"Right? It's even better with a big group. Let's all go together next time!"
"Yeah! Thanks, Seona!"
"Have fun, you two?"
"Coach!"
Ha-young lit up at my voice. Over the past few days, she'd grown much warmer toward me.
Probably because I took her to the aquarium.
"Seona and I went to this escape room cafe!"
"Nice. Good spot."
"It was so much fun! If I'd known about this, I would've done it way more!"
Ha-young excitedly boasted about how she and Seona had spotted the tricks and escaped safely.
As I listened and chimed in, the practice room door opened.
"It's been forever here... Oh? Ha-young and Seona are back? Coach too?"
A tall woman with a black ponytail walked in and locked eyes with us.
"Yuna, you're back. Have fun?"
"Fun? Aside from one day off, I was working out, walking, doing Pilates the whole time..."
"You're addicted to exercise. That's not healthy at that level."
"What? You think I can't manage that? I'm following a proper plan."
"Good, then."
In truth, Yuna managed herself even stricter than me on days off. Sometimes I wondered if she was an exercise addict, but she'd loosen up with some beer and chicken or join me for late-night pork soup and soju, striking a perfect balance.
Soon after, Eunjae returned too.
"Hey, I'm back! Coach, I'm here now!"
"Yeah, come in. We'll talk once all five are here, so rest or play games till Sera arrives. Good vacation, Eunjae?"
"Yup! Watched my dance sisters' performance, hit up some food spots..."
"And clubbing at night?"
"No way! I don't go to clubs anymore!"
"Sure. And pigs don't fly?"
Eunjae puffed her cheeks when I didn't buy it, then pinched my side.
"Ow! Why'd you pinch me!"
"I really didn't go! Sis wanted to, but I said no 'cause you told me not to—and you don't believe me!"
"Okay, okay! I believe you, so let go! It hurts!"
Only then did Eunjae release me.
And the last to return was Sera.
The others perked up at the practice room door lock beeping.
"Sera's here."
"Come in, our cute gloomy maknae. Your big sis will hug you with her bountiful heart—"
Seona rushed to the entrance first, arms wide. But as the door opened, she froze mid-sentence.
"...Sis, what're you doing there?"
Sera, opening the door, blinked at the dumbstruck Seona.
"...Who's this?"
"Sis, why's Seona acting weird?"
The others dropped what they were doing and headed to the entrance at Sera's voice. They all gaped at her like Seona.
"What're you all doing clustered there? Zoo visit? First time seeing Sera? Move aside—"
And I joined the stunned group.
It was definitely Sera at the door, but not our Sera.
The usual blank-faced Sera, always in a deep-pulled hat, baggy tees, and the same jeans every day.
She didn't doll up—didn't even know basic makeup—and pitied eyes from Seona, Eunjae, Yuna who loved glam.
But here she was in a skin-tight tank top and dizzyingly short dolphin shorts. Hat still low, chest modest so less sex appeal, but her exotic beauty plus the revealing outfit drew stares from everyone on the street.
And makeup. I'd never seen her made up outside matches—now it was elaborate, flashy work.
Skin smoother, whiter with glow; contrasting heavy shadow and liner gave a killer vibe.
I knew women's makeup was scary, but seeing our bare-faced Sera go full glam hit hard.
Her transformation was dazzling, breathtakingly pretty.
"You Sera?"
"...Yeah."
"Oh my god, look at that makeup! You knew how and just hid it? Total wasted potential?"
"Whoa, insane... I didn't know Sera was this pretty."
"Those legs are smooth af. Kinda jealous?"
"Heh heh, pity the chest is still humble, Sera. If sis wore it, that tank would've ripped sideways."
"...What."
"Sera, got a boyfriend? What's all this? Full glam?"
Ha-young's question made Sera shake her head.
"No boyfriend."
"You do your own makeup?"
"No, my aunt did it. She bought the clothes too."
"Ooh, Sera's aunt must've been a knockout back in the day. Turning our gloomy maknae into a goddess."
"Didja get hit on walking here?"
"Yeah."
"No way! With that face and body, guys just let you pass?"
"Yeah. I didn't give my number, so they left."
"That's getting hit on!"
Yuna looked baffled at Sera's reply. Sera seemed to think no number given meant no pickup.
"Lemme rephrase. How many guys asked for your number on the way?"
"That? Yeah, a few... Around seven or more."
"Kyaa, what! Sera's a total heartthrob! Jealous~"
"Not interested. In those guys."
Sera's eyes met mine from the back. Spotting me, she crossed her arms over her chest, glancing away shyly before mumbling.
"Coach... Do I look weird?"
"Nah, you look amazing. Your aunt must've gone all out to show off her niece."
I guessed what she meant asking me, but this time I gave my honest take.
Dodging for her sake would've been rude. She was that pretty.
Satisfied, Sera beamed, kicked off her shoes, and came in.
"I'm back."
"Yeah, welcome back everyone. Finish up any last bits, wrap games if you're in one, then head to the mat."
The players scattered to tie up loose ends. Fresh Sera went to unpack; others finished games or sat waiting.
Sera kept the shorts but swapped the tank for a shirt before returning.
"Eh? Where'd Sera ditch the tank top?"
"The... shorts are okay, but that top felt too naked. Weird."
"Really? With your small chest unlike sis, it shouldn't feel exposing... Ow! She hit me!"
"You deserve an extra smack every time you brag. Makes me mad too sometimes."
"You're always mad, sis."
"No I'm not! Wanna die?!"
"Look at this!"
"Enough chit-chat. Gathered to go over training plans and schedule. You know TIC starts tomorrow, right?"
The International Championship. TIC.
Gathering of Eternal Combat's world best teams, winner's prize over tens of billions won.
I'd qualified every year as pro; now a distant dream for all pros.
All nodded.
"Division 3 teams have varying vacations, so no scrims awhile. Till TIC ends, we'll watch every match. No reviews, but discuss what you feel. Why that choice? Better judgment? Free talk every match day. Post-discussion, I'll set the environment—you play it once blue side, once red, alternating.
Test your judgments in same spot, see if better results. Learn from top teams. Got it?"
Yuna raised her hand; I nodded.
"But those TIC matches—we watch to copy? They're world best... Even practicing hard, can't mimic perfectly."
"Good point. You're right. Can't copy their moves exactly, even grinding. They're guys—better physiques, skill specs, experience. So don't focus on raw movements, though try your best."
"Then what from replays?"
"Learn top teams' macro."
Ha-young clapped.
"That's why discuss and swap sides!"
"Exactly. Physicals like reaction don't grow easy by watching. But macro? You can mimic."
"If all could learn macro from TIC, wouldn't everyone be Division 1? Most can't, even watching."
"Simple. They ape champ usage mechanically, never ask 'why' on overall game. Don't think."
From my pro days, direct and indirect.
Many pros—even Division 1—endlessly repeated mechanically, rarely questioning 'why' to understand. Manual mindset: A situation = A answer. But AB or C? Brain freeze common.
Not understanding, just rote—superhuman physicals but 'brain physical' weak. Even patch notes, skill tips unread; coaches spoon-fed basics endlessly.
Why BlackWings dominated: Our physicals, but I dissected games, analyzed patches word-for-word. Vs rote players, slight twists = easy wins.
"Our team isn't free of non-thinkers..."
My eyes met Seona's. She exploded.
"Hey! You looked at me! Why me!"
"Ahem, point is: Captain-ify everyone. Not chaotic calls—train eyes and brains so anyone could captain. Better than Ha-young solo shouting. All understanding = perfecter teamplay. Get me?"
All nodded. Ha-young especially relieved as main caller/captain.
"Good. TIC starts tomorrow—treat as our games. Watch together, swap thoughts. Oh, tomorrow 3 PM: Korean eSports Association college reporter group interview. First group one—memorable. Dress up if you do."
"Sera's makeup wasted tomorrow? We redo it?"
"No. Feels stuffy masked."
"Aigoo, I'm suffocating. That face, no glam? World tragedy!"
But despite that, Sera started makeup often after.
Not aunt-level pro, but clumsy tries to pretty up, periodically asking my take after.
Pretty blatant now—honestly thrilled... but accept or not?
Ding-dong.
Accept?
Ding-dong.
No dating on our team, dude.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Post-contract, ban lifts—think serious then. If Sera still likes me.
Ding-dong.