Reforming Training and the Road to Nationals
Geum-sun High's soccer team didn't take long to overhaul its outdated training system.
"Play like it's a real match! Like it's real! You gonna tackle that softly in an actual game too?!"
Honestly, whether Geum-sun High's training was backward or not had nothing to do with me. Sure, people say soccer isn't a solo sport, but at the high school level, I could grab the team by the collar and carry them to victory all by myself.
'As long as they don't refuse the ride...'
But watching these kids sweat buckets, grinding away with pro dreams in their eyes, I felt like sharing a tip or two. Maybe it was the mindset of a veteran on the verge of retirement.
'They say good deeds get rewarded... This'll pay off someday. Whatever.'
YouTube wasn't even fully mainstream yet. Smartphones had only been around for three years. Info on how they trained in Europe was scarce. In that era, the lessons from a regressor from the future shone like a beacon, salting the wounds of ignorance. The young players' skills grew slowly but surely.
"He's here! He's here! Our messiah has arrived!"
"Waaah! Training's finally over!"
See? Even the pint-sized rivals at my position, who used to subtly sideline me at first, were so impressed by my generous mentoring that they started calling my girlfriend Gyeowol the messiah.
"Training's over! Clean up! Anyone who wants extra, stay and do it."
The second I spotted Gyeowol, I called it quits. Obviously. To me, she came before soccer. Even after pro debut, that wouldn't change.
"Gyeowol—!"
I quickly tidied up with the team and headed her way.
"Ugh... You're late."
Like always, Han Gyeowol bolted from after-school classes straight to the soccer field the team used, eager to head home with Son Jinho.
"...The soccer field is way too far!"
The practice pitch was quite a hike from the main classrooms.
As a top private school nearby with great facilities and teachers, it drew plenty of academic stars. Complaints about sports teams disrupting studies led the sports-loving chairman to build dedicated facilities far from the main building.
Of course, shelling out big bucks for that naturally pissed off parents—"Why waste money on that?!" But the chairman didn't budge: "If you don't like it, transfer. This is my house I built." Legendary stuff.
Whatever. As someone who wasn't even a Geum-sun High student back then, Gyeowol couldn't verify the truth.
"Don't just hack wildly—check your teammates' positions!"
Spotting the practice field and hearing Son Jinho's voice, Gyeowol's heart pounded.
'I'll grant your wish, so come to England with me.'
February 20th. Manchester United vs. Everton. She remembered that day vividly.
Just thinking about it made her cheeks burn. And then, spotting her, Son Jinho yelled.
"Gyeowol—!"
At his shout, Gyeowol frantically switched her smartphone to selfie mode, fixing her windswept hair from the hurried walk. She checked her face.
'Do I look too cold?'
With her icy features, she'd always heard "pretty but bitchy." Her frosty expression bugged her.
'Maybe... smile a bit.'
As the thought hit, she curved her lips. The screen showed an awkward grin. She poked at her mouth with a finger.
While she fussed, Jinho finished cleanup and swept her into a bear hug.
Her fixed hair tousled again, his sour sweat stung her nose, but Gyeowol didn't care. She loved this moment. His heartbeat against her cheek told her how much he loved her.
'So warm.'
Hand in hand on the walk home, a natural, fresh smile bloomed on Gyeowol's face—nothing like her forced one earlier.
Days of repetitive bliss flew by until the National High School Soccer League opener loomed.
"Alright, listen up for the starting lineup. First, goalkeeper: senior Park Seong-ryong..."
After five grueling sprints for conditioning, Coach Choi Gi-hyeon announced the starters for tomorrow's match against Hanyang High.
"And finally, our team ace, Son Jinho. Don't slack just 'cause he's young—listen to him on the pitch."
"Yes sir—!"
As expected. Despite being a first-year, I made the starting XI. It looked casual, but snagging a starting spot as a freshman was tough.
Seniors might match or slightly trail skill-wise, but with college looming, they got priority.
'Parents' skirt-blowing doesn't help...'
To start as a freshman, you needed two things: overwhelming talent and connections to shield from external BS.
Luckily, I had both. Orphan with connections? Hear me out.
Geum-sun High's chairman Hwang Geum-sun was hometown senior-junior with my late dad. When my parents died young, leaving me orphaned, Gyeowol's folks became my guardians.
As chairman of a famed private high, his influence was vast. Thanks to him, I avoided the barbarism, hazing, and pad-lip in the cutthroat sports team life—no group bullying, no nonsense.
"Oh, and the chairman, who supports us body and soul, is coming to watch. Give it your all for the win."
Coach's glance my way screamed "hook me up with the boss."
Yeah. Even with a coach's iron rule in high school ball, the hired help can't outrank the homeowner.
That evening, I shared my starting spot news in the family group chat. Why so late? Got caught up flirting with Gyeowol.
The relentless teasing pushed Gyeowol to actually run away—for real.
Ding dong.
"Who is it?"
Right to my place.
"But won't this just fulfill Father-in-law and Mother-in-law's wishes?"
"Shut up."
The next day, we boarded the gold-shielded team bus to Madeul Stadium in Nowon-gu for the match. High school team with a luxury bus? Our chairman was dead serious about sports—soccer especially.
His support went beyond buses. Believing talent shouldn't quit over money, he fully funded our non-pro-youth team.
No dues, even snacks covered. Good results? He'd hand over his personal card for beef dinners.
Watching Coach tremble approving the receipt—though it wasn't his cash—was a sight.
Thanks to that backing, we arrived in peak condition.
"Aigoo! Chairman, how can a humble soul like me grace such a fine place."
"...Humble?"
We caught Coach Choi Gi-hyeon bending like a Three Kingdoms envoy, all flexible waist and flattery.