Crushing Peacemaker
Just like in set 1, we steamrolled our opponents in set 2 to seal the victory.
The grueling efforts to rebuild our team synergy were finally paying off.
Our players' skill and item combos were crisp and efficient, without any wasted moves. Even without words, they instinctively knew exactly what each other needed in the moment.
Captain Ha-young didn't have to call out every little thing. The focused training on developing broad situational awareness—knowing the best judgment for when skills hit or miss—had taken root perfectly.
Peacemaker, the team that handed us our first official match loss.
After that, internal issues wrecked their synergy during the off-season, leading to loss after loss in scrims.
We'd never beaten them before, but today, for the first time—and in an official match, no less—we did it.
"Niiiice!!!"
Yuna, who harbored the deepest grudge against Peacemaker, let out a ferocious roar like she'd just won the league title. She high-fived the others so hard it felt like her palms might catch fire.
The rest couldn't hide their joy either, even if they weren't roaring like Yuna. The pain of that first loss was still fresh, and this felt as big as clinching our promotion to the Division 3 playoffs.
"Everyone did great!"
"That's what a team looks like!"
"Aww, we rubbed salt in their wounds!"
"You all did awesome, unnies."
The players, drenched in sweat, patted each other's shoulders or hugged, sharing the thrill of victory.
From the opposite capsules emerged the equally sweat-soaked Peacemaker players. Their faces were grim from the loss, but there was no regret or lingering what-ifs—just disappointment in their own shortcomings.
They were a formidable foe. Even in tough spots, they made optimal calls and executed clever comebacks.
Honestly, if we hadn't spent the TIC period studying top teams' strategies, debating them, and sharpening our game sense, we could've been toyed with and turned around at any moment.
From the summer season VODs I analyzed, they were in a deep slump back then—way worse than this. But after getting humbled and dropping to promotion matches, they'd awakened into a solid Division 3 contender.
Of course, we were even stronger for beating them.
As our players reveled in victory, the Peacemaker squad approached our capsules.
Sensing them, our girls paused their hugs and stared over intently.
"Hey."
Jeong Yujin, Peacemaker's carry and captain, spoke first.
"...What?"
Yuna scanned her up and down, snapping back curtly.
"You guys are good."
"Huh?"
Expecting trash talk, Yuna was thrown off by the unexpected compliment.
"I'm pissed as hell about losing, but damn, no regrets like this."
"Uh..."
At a loss for words in the heavy atmosphere, Yuna stammered. That's when our captain Ha-young stepped forward.
"That makes it 1-1, right?"
"We swept you in scrims, though?"
"Who cares about scrims."
"Fair. Won't lose round 2?"
"Doubt it. We'll win next time too."
They locked eyes for a moment, then chuckled. Yujin extended her hand first.
"Congrats."
"Thanks."
Ha-young gripped it firmly, and the captains shook on it.
"While we're at it, take down Bloody Rose for us. Help us climb up."
"Half-noted. We'll crush Bloody Rose, but we're the ones promoting."
Back in the lounge, the players grinned ear-to-ear, flashing V-signs at me.
"Ta-da! We won!"
"We did great, right?"
"You really did. Just keep playing like today. Best match I've seen."
"Hehe, thanks."
"No rewards for such pretty players who played so well?"
Seon-ah propped her chin on her hands, batting her eyes like a flower.
"Always after the rice... Fine. I'll ask the director about dinner."
"Yesss!!!"
"Before that—Seon-ah, Eunjae, you two wasted time throwing again, huh? No menu picks for you at dinner."
"Nooo!!!"
That night, we celebrated at a nearby barbecue joint.
It had been ages since a proper team dinner—internal drama had killed our bonding time. First one since the workshop.
"To Shining Star's unbroken streak ahead!"
"Cheers~!"
Yuna's soju glass clinked against the others' sodas and my water. We all downed our drinks.
"Ahh~ booze hits different. Feels like a weight's lifted."
"Hey, why can't I drink? You giving me water like I'm a kid?"
I griped after chugging water. I'd tried ordering a shot with Yuna, but they all shut me down—no booze for me.
"Coach can't handle liquor! Remember last time you passed out and we cleaned up? Brutal."
"Ugh..."
I blacked out, so no comeback there.
"Yeah, you collapsed and we suffered."
"You grabbed the card and bolted after paying!"
"D-did I...? Haha, no memory..."
"Senile old man. Go paint shit on the wall."
"Hey!"
"Coach, want some meat? Say ahh~"
As Seon-ah and Yuna bickered, Ha-young wrapped a bite and held it to my lips with a smile.
"H-hey? Ha-young, just give it to me—I'm not a baby..."
"Ahh~"
"Nng..."
No choice—I opened up and took the wrap. Ha-young beamed, watching me chew.
"Hehe, tastier when I make it, right?"
"Y-yeah... thanks."
I glanced at Sera, knowing how she felt.
"......"
Sure enough, Sera's mood soured. She eyed me and Ha-young back and forth. No words—team harmony and all—but the shadow on her face was clear. Ha-young might've noticed too.
Not one to back down, Sera grabbed lettuce, slapped on meat, garlic, and sauce haphazardly, wrapped it roughly, and shoved it at my mouth.
"Coach."
"Eek? Ah, I ca—(Sera? Haven't swallowed yet...)"
"Ah."
Sera jammed it in like shut up and eat. Her eyes narrowed—pissed again.
I hurriedly chewed and swallowed Ha-young's wrap, then opened wide.
Sera stuffed it in bare-handed. Her slim fingers brushed my teeth.
As I chewed, her expression softened.
And it didn't stop there...
"Me too! I wanna feed you! Coach, ahh~♥"
Eunjae wrapped one lovingly, grinning mischievously as she offered it. I swallowed fast and took it.
"Mm, me too? Like this? Ahh~ for Coach."
Seon-ah, no wrap experience, botched the size—monster wrap incoming. I took it without protest, struggling to chew while the other four eyed Yuna.
"Unnie not feeding?"
While Coach munched Seon-ah's wrap, the others turned to me.
"Unnie not feeding?"
Wrap one myself and go ahh~♥? Like some drama heroine?
I wanna! Of course I do!
But how, with everyone watching? Even alone I'd die of shame—four pairs of eyes? Kill me instead!
I froze, fumbling. Seon-ah snickered.
"Yuna-unnie must not like Coach much. Can't even be bothered with one wrap."
Guh... she knows I'm like this and still...
Always plotting to mess with me, huh?
Kim Seon-ah... I'll kill you, kill you, kill you...
If I don't, they'll think I hate Coach?
But I don't! That's not it!
She believed in me through that promotion mess, held me together.
Better at games than me by miles.
Even crushes me at real sports like badminton.
Perfect guy. My ideal type. First time ever.
I really like her!
But this cheesy crap...
"Coach, Yuna-unnie doesn't wanna. I'll do another. Ahh~"
Seon-ah smirked at me openly, starting another mega-wrap.
Nooo! What if Coach thinks I hate him for real?! Can't have that!
Grrr, Kim Seon-ah, just you wait...
"Wait!"
I stopped Seon-ah mid-wrap, forced my hands to move. Lettuce out, meat, garlic, sauce...
Wrapped it bite-sized, squeezed my eyes shut, and thrust it forward.
"C-Co-Coach, ahh..."
Hands shaking, eyes twitching.
Aaaah, mortifying! Dying of embarrassment! Me, doing this...
It slid into a mouth. Too ashamed to look.
But my wrap-holding fingers didn't just brush lips—they went in, tongue too...
"Eeeek!?"
The wet sensation made me yelp high-pitched, yanking back and opening my eyes.
Seon-ah, cheeks puffed, chewing away.
Wait, Seon-ah?
"Munch munch... Mmm, yummy. Yuna-unnie wraps better than expected?"
"......Huh?"
"What was that squeal? Didn't know this unnie could make girlie noises."
"......"
Coach wasn't chewing—lips free. Seon-ah, mouth full, still munching.
What happened was obvious. Whose tongue licked my finger? Crystal clear.
Kim Seon-ah, you... you... BITCH!
"You!!!!"
After that, I recall beating the crap out of Seon-ah, Coach jumping in saying he'd eat mine so stop, me mustering huge courage for another wrap, and him eating it properly.
"Awoooo... so embarrassing..."
Back in bed after dinner, replaying it sent shivers—I kicked off the covers.
I'd always ragged on those drama/movie feeding scenes as cringey. Yet here I was, hand-wrapping for a guy.
Thinking of my finger brushing Coach's lips as he took it... spine still tingling.
Lying there, I raised my right hand, staring blankly at my index finger—the one that touched his lips.
Unthinkingly, I brushed it against my own lips. Seconds later, I realized, yanked the blanket over, and rolled side to side.
Kyaaah! Cr-crazy! Cha Yuna, you're insane! What am I doing...?!
Mid-December, and the room felt scorching.