The Hijacked Steak Date
September had arrived, and though the heat hadn't fully retreated, the mornings and evenings were starting to feel nicely cool.
The TIC 2052 had wrapped up with the European Union powerhouse Rattlesnake Esports claiming victory, walking away with over tens of billions in prize money and the champion's throne.
It was still a distant stage for us, but it had been a huge help.
Every day during the matches, we'd pored over footage of the TIC teams, incorporating their strategies into our own training. The results were clear—our skills had skyrocketed.
We were on a winning streak in scrims against most Division 3 teams. Rumors were spreading through the lower leagues that we'd be battling for first place once the season started, and I agreed completely.
I knew better than anyone that my girls had outgrown Division 3 level—I was the one coaching them, after all.
With all my knowledge and expertise passed on, and our team now mimicking—even if imperfectly—the operations of those TIC squads, we were riding this momentum, just waiting for the season to kick off.
Today, Seona had been called away for a team photoshoot in the afternoon, so no scrims or bot games. I was personally overseeing the remaining players' training.
After an intense afternoon session, the players emerged from their capsules one by one, drenched in sweat.
"Huff... huff... G-good work, everyone..."
"Ugh, sweat stink. Gotta shower ASAP."
"I'm going first!"
"Hey, Lee Ha-young! Wait your turn! Don't you know it's by age?"
"No idea?"
Ha-young stuck out her tongue and dashed off to the dorm first, with the others chasing after her.
In the meantime, I pulled up the training logs for a detailed review, noting their current issues and improvements.
Knock knock knock.
About 30 minutes later, deep in my analysis of their movements, someone knocked on the meeting room door.
"Come in."
The door creaked open, revealing a girl with sleek black bobbed hair.
It was Ha-young, fresh from her shower and changed into clean clothes.
"Coo~ach~"
She approached with a playful, cutesy lilt in her voice, grinning.
"What's up? Something to say?"
"Coach, don't you wanna eat some steak?"
Steak out of nowhere?
"Why, you craving it?"
She nodded vigorously, bobbing her head up and down.
"I've always wanted to try it, but it's too pricey. There's a steakhouse nearby the dorm, but going alone feels weird. Wanna come with me? I won't ask you to pay or anything. Please? Pretty please?"
"The others coming too?"
"Well... uh... they said no thanks! So come with me at least!"
What could I do if the others weren't interested? My stomach was rumbling anyway—steak sounded perfect.
"Sure, why not. What time?"
"Now! Training wiped me out—I'm starving! Hurry!"
Ha-young kept tugging at my sleeve, urging me on. Now that she'd mentioned it, I was getting hungry too...
"Alright, alright. Get ready. Lemme grab some water and hit the bathroom first."
"Yay!"
I passed Ha-young humming happily on the living room couch, made a quick bathroom stop, grabbed water from the fridge, pocketed my wallet and cards, then called out to her.
"All set. Let's go."
"Yeah, hurry! Hurry, hur—oh."
Ha-young, who had been excitedly pushing my back, suddenly froze, staring at the entryway.
There stood Sera, showered and changed, looking just like Ha-young had moments ago.
"Coach? Ha-young unnie? Where you going?"
"Oh? Grabbing steak for dinner with Ha-young."
"......Just you two?"
"Yeah. You guys said no interest."
Sera stared hard at Ha-young, who squeezed her eyes shut and avoided the gaze—but since she was behind me, I didn't notice.
"...I see."
Sera's expression soured. Was she jealous, thinking this was some date? It was kinda cute—and flattering. When did I last get jealousy from a girl like Sera?
Sera suddenly huffed, blocking the doorway with a declaration.
"I'm coming too."
"You said no interest—changed your mind already?"
Sera shot another glare at Ha-young.
"Just did. Anyway, I'm coming."
"Fine, whatever."
"Ah..."
Ha-young let out a disappointed sigh, gripping my collar a bit tighter.
"I'll ask Yuna unnie and Eunjae unnie too."
Sera fired off a message in the group chat, and soon Yuna and Eunjae chimed in that they'd join.
They were gonna go anyway—why make us wait by saying no first?
That was my take, based only on what Ha-young had said. I had no idea how crumpled her expression had become behind me.
"Ugh, then we'll have to wait for those two anyway. Tell me when they're ready. I'll just wrap up what I was doing inside."
"Okay."
Once Yuseong returned to the meeting room, an awkward silence hung between Sera and Ha-young.
"Unnie, why'd you lie?"
Ha-young flinched at Sera's icy tone, then grabbed her hand with an apologetic look.
"S-s-sorry, Sera! I just wanted to eat something tasty with Coach..."
"...That's really all?"
Ha-young flinched again. She was a year older, but guilt had flipped the dynamic.
"Y-yeah..."
"...For real?"
"Yeah..."
"Fine. Whatever."
Sera had been seriously pissed, thinking Ha-young was sneaking off on a date with Yuseong. Hearing it was just about food made her buy it—for now. But her wariness toward Ha-young ticked up a notch.
We're not mooching off unnie or anything—why sneak away? Is Ha-young unnie trying to seduce Coach? No way that's happening.
In the end, everyone except Seona—who was still at her shoot—ended up at the steakhouse near the dorm for a pricey dinner.
Ugh, beef... Beef is something you shouldn't eat even if it's free!
Only Yuna poked at her food hesitantly, while the others devoured their steaks like fish to water.
Ha-young, who had suggested it first, didn't look all that happy, though. No idea why.
By the time dinner wrapped and we headed back to the practice room, Seona finally returned from her team shoot.
"Aigoo~ I'm dying~"
Ha-young greeted the groaning Seona.
"Seona! Back already? Shoot tough?"
"Hiiing, I'm wiped out. Ha-young, hug me~"
"Hehe, sometimes you seem younger than Sera. There, pat pat~"
"Haa, healing... But seriously, for promo standees at The Shine, why not just use our agency's idols? Why drag me into it? Coach! Can't you tell them to knock it off?"
Seona, now lying with her head in Ha-young's lap, grumbled at me.
It wasn't unfounded. Ever since the first group profile shoot, the league office had been calling us every 3-4 days for various photoshoots.
Offseason meant empty schedules, so we could manage, but it disrupted team practice—the shooters were busy, and the rest of us were stuck on solo queue.
"I'll talk to the manager. Good work on the shoot. Bet you'll feel proud seeing your standee at The Shine's entrance later."
"Ugh, I don't need that— just stop bothering us."
"One last annoying thing coming up. Hang in there till then."
"Whaaat? Again? What is it? What, what?!"
"Not just you—everyone, including me. Might not even be annoying. Could be fun."
All five pairs of eyes locked onto me.
"What is it?"
"Group workshop. At a pension in Chuncheon."
"A pension?!"
Ha-young's eyes sparkled. Made sense—it'd be her first time at one.
"Yeah. Two nights, three days, starting two weeks from this Friday. Don't expect much—it's basically like a school trip.
Team bonding: hang out, kill time, do some dumb company games during the day, group dinner at night, that kinda thing. I'll check with the company for details and let you know."
"Haven't done something like this since college OT."
"Pension's a first for me too."
Brimming with anticipation, time flew by until our group workshop began.