“Will it work out?”
Na Yuna, massaging her knee, muttered quietly.
Listening beside her, I quickly understood what she was asking about.
“I saw Seo Yoon entering the committee tent.”
“She probably requested a referee change.”
“It would be nice if it worked out well like that… but what if Eun Yuri refuses?”
I thought that possibility was low.
Neither Eun Yuri nor Seo Yoon prefers things to proceed outside of their plans.
Since Kim Seulbi’s tricks were carried out hidden from the two executives, they wouldn’t look favorably upon Kim Seulbi.
And as an Ojakgyo executive, Seo Yoon’s influence is quite strong.
Accepting Seo Yoon’s proposal would cause less trouble for Eun Yuri in many ways.
“Hoo, so you were here.”
Han Doa appeared behind us before we knew it.
Seeing her sweating, she seemed to have run.
“When I came out of the gymnasium, junior Noeul was nowhere to be seen, and you guys weren’t reachable, so it took a while to find you.”
“Sorry, there were circumstances.”
I explained the matter with Seo Yoon to her as well.
Han Doa listened silently to my explanation.
“Then we don’t have to worry about the basketball game?”
“At least they won’t commit foul play.”
“Now all that’s left is pure skill.”
The three of us looked at Kim Noeul, who was practicing shots at the basketball hoop on the field.
She bounced the ball on the floor, then caught it with both hands and jumped high.
The basketball, smoothly released from her hands, drew a beautiful parabola and passed through the net.
“Wow….”
“Is that 3 points?”
“Since she shot from outside the line, it’s 3 points.”
Kim Noeul frequently attempted 3-pointers.
It might be different for other students, but Kim Noeul’s shot success rate was bizarrely high.
‘Is Kim Noeul Haneul High’s core scorer?’
While the abilities of other team members are important, victory or defeat was highly likely to depend on Kim Noeul’s play.
“It’s almost lunchtime, shouldn’t we tell her to stop?”
Hearing Na Yuna’s words, Han Doa shouted towards Kim Noeul.
Hearing the shout, Kim Noeul looked back at us.
“Is it mealtime already?”
“Yes, it’s time to go get lunch boxes.”
We headed to the distribution center to receive the lunch boxes prepared by the committee.
Many female students wearing soccer uniforms were at the distribution center.
“The first game in the afternoon was soccer.”
“I debated whether to play soccer or basketball.”
Kim Noeul responded to Na Yuna’s words.
Indeed, Kim Noeul had continuously received love calls from students asking her to participate in soccer.
And the final event she chose was ultimately basketball.
‘Thinking about it that way, it’s a miracle she agreed to participate in the three-legged race with me.’
Although I pushed her relentlessly, Kim Noeul could have ignored my intentions and participated in soccer.
Perhaps feeling my intense stare, Kim Noeul looked back at me.
“Why?”
“…It was just surprising you accepted my proposal when you could have participated in soccer.”
Kim Noeul’s breathing became irregular.
“That’s just….”
“I thought it would be tiring to play both soccer and basketball in one day.”
“The three-legged race seemed manageable.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Kim Noeul avoided my gaze as if hiding something.
And she pointed towards Han Doa and Na Yuna, who were bringing the lunch boxes.
Two tuna mayo lunch boxes were held in each of their hands.
“Ah, the seniors brought them for us.”
“We couldn’t pay attention because we were talking.”
Kim Noeul immediately received the lunch boxes from the seniors, looking apologetic.
We went to an empty stand and started eating the lunch boxes.
“Woow, lots of chicken.”
Na Yuna devoured the chicken greedily, as if possessed by a beggar spirit.
“Is there a beggar in your stomach?”
“Doa, you’d become like me too if you received diet management.”
Na Yuna flared up at Han Doa’s nagging.
Because Na Yuna had been managing her body fat since the break until now.
“If not now, I can’t eat this kind of stuff.”
“That’s why I don’t do modeling.”
Kim Noeul inhaled the lunch box like a storm, as if talking about someone else’s business.
Perhaps finding the portion insufficient, she even brought the leftover extra lunch box and ate it.
She was a naturally big eater.
It was a natural step to maintain her physique.
Na Yuna stared intently at the stomach of the constantly eating Kim Noeul.
Even after eating so much, the 11-shaped abs were still showing off their presence.
“Life…”
As the lamenting Na Yuna trembled, her chest moved heavily.
This time, Han Doa stared intently at Na Yuna’s chest.
“…Haa.”
Han Doa sighed and picked at her lunch box.
The atmosphere of the two women quickly turned down.
However, that downcast atmosphere was broken by the students practicing soccer on the field.
“Rin, nice!”
“The ball’s sticking well today?”
The Hankook High soccer team was coordinating, and Je Galhwarin scored two goals in a row.
She was surrounded by students with a bright face.
“…Never seen her make that face before.”
Na Yuna pointed at Je Galhwarin with her chopsticks while mumbling her food.
Indeed, Je Galhwarin wore a purely bright smile, not her usual annoying smirk.
“She belonged to the soccer club in 1st and 2nd grade.”
“After becoming a 3rd year, she quit, saying she’d focus on Ojakgyo activities.”
Han Doa half-closed her eyes as if recalling the past.
She too had 1st and 2nd grade years that I didn’t know about.
“Come to think of it, you know the Je Gal sisters well?”
Han Doa’s expression hardened at the question Kim Noeul threw.
“Since I was in the disciplinary committee, we clashed often.”
“It’s an unavoidable, tenacious ill-fated relationship.”
“…”
“…Though an even more tenacious ill-fated relationship still remains.”
“Oh~.”
“So that was the relationship~.”
Someone’s voice followed the end of Han Doa’s words.
It wasn’t one of us four.
The owner of the voice was looking down at us, smiling sweetly.
It was Je Galyeonhwa, wearing a soccer uniform similar to Je Galhwarin’s.
“Doa, I didn’t know you looked at us with such eyes.”
“I thought we got along quite well.”
“…I’ve felt this for a while, but why do you approach us so freely?”
As Kim Noeul growled, Je Galyeonhwa raised both hands.
“Stop, I didn’t come to fight you guys today.”
“Yuri and Seo Yoon are also in a mood to stay quiet, so I can’t act recklessly on my own.”
“Then you shouldn’t have appeared before us.”
Kim Noeul’s eyes glittered with hatred.
None of us welcomed Je Galyeonhwa, but Kim Noeul especially detested her.
“I came because I was worried seeing you guys staring at my little sister with such ardent eyes.”
“Aren’t you practicing soccer?”
Je Galyeonhwa’s brow furrowed slightly when Na Yuna asked the question.
Her attitude towards Kim Noeul and Han Doa was clearly different.
Others might not know, but I easily perceived that change.
‘She can’t look down on Na Yuna easily like before anymore.’
However, Je Galyeonhwa hid her feelings again, smiling slyly.
“I don’t need to practice hard.”
“It’s not like my participation is confirmed either.”
“Substitute?”
Je Galyeonhwa nodded when Na Yuna muttered.
“Right.”
“Running around for a long time in weather with strong UV rays like this damages the skin.”
Je Galyeonhwa fiddled with her smooth white thigh flesh and subtly glanced at me.
Her cheeks flush red.
“Maru~.”
“Where were you looking just now~?”
“What…”
I was so dumbfounded that words wouldn’t come out properly.
“If looking isn’t enough, touch…”
“Stop it.”
Kim Noeul shot up and glared at Je Galyeonhwa as if she could kill her.
Je Galyeonhwa sighed and took a step back.
“Can’t say anything….”
“Why are you interfering?”
“Interfering?”
“Is that what you call it?”
Kim Noeul stood blocking my front and continued speaking.
“I mean, don’t show your disgusting body.”
“That’s sexual harassment.”
“…That’s quite shocking.”
“It’s the first time I’ve heard such words in my life.”
She looked pitifully at me, as if she had genuinely suffered mental damage.
“Maru, isn’t my body better than that muscle woman’s?”
“Guys like white and soft bodies~.”
Actually, it’s unreasonable to call Kim Noeul a muscle woman.
Because from the outside, her muscles aren’t clearly visible.
“Disappear quickly.”
“Staying here longer won’t do you any good.”
As I advised in a flat voice, she too seemed to know it was time to retreat and turned her body.
“This should be enough for greetings.”
“I just came to scout, curious how you spent the break.”
She waved her hand and moved away.
Perhaps she had altered her sportswear pants, as their length was abnormally short and tight, clearly revealing the curves of her buttocks.
“Hey, where are you looking?”
“Maru, don’t look at such hideous things.”
“Junior Maru can’t take his eyes off big things?”
The three women glared at me with flat eyes.
I just looked at her retreating back, yet I felt wronged.
“…After soccer ends is the three-legged race, let’s practice our coordination.”
I changed the subject by suggesting to Kim Noeul.
After the meal, Han Doa headed to the gymnasium for the archery competition, and Na Yuna left to find Jeong Soyeon, saying she was worried about her.
Left alone with Kim Noeul, we focused on running practice.
“Alright, one two, one two.”
Matching Kim Noeul’s count, we moved our legs simultaneously.
Running with a bounce in our bodies, a strange rhythm dominated our bodies.
“This rhythm is good, right?”
“Let’s do it like this in the actual race too.”
Kim Noeul seemed happy that our coordination matched well.
The strength embracing my shoulder grew stronger.
“Don’t hold too tight.”
“It’s hard to run.”
“This way I can feel your rhythm well.”
“I want to hold tighter but I’m restraining myself.”
Sticking closely to Kim Noeul like that, we circled the small open space several times.
It felt like we hadn’t practiced much, yet the game time approached rapidly.
Arriving at the sports field, we followed the teacher’s instructions, attached number tags to our backs, and waited for the game.
“Hoo….”
“If we just do as we practiced, winning a prize is certainly possible.”
Kim Noeul said, stretching her legs straight.
Letting her words go in one ear and out the other, I scanned the participants for familiar faces.
‘…Joo Wonyoung?’
Joo Wonyoung was visible on the Dowon High side.
He was the guy who faced social death after committing fraud at the TT academy.
Next to him was Moon Hyungmin, Lee Jihye’s close associate.
‘Those two were surprisingly close.’
The two were tying straps around each other’s ankles.
Perhaps feeling my gaze, their gazes also stopped on me.
Joo Wonyoung started hiccuping upon seeing me, and Moon Hyungmin immediately lowered his gaze.
It was an unexpected reaction from my perspective.
‘Thought they’d pick a fight, but they’re backing down on their own.’
At this point, I realized my own standing had changed significantly from the first semester.
The first semester was a period of proof.
So I fought with various students and resisted Ojakgyo with schemes.
Fortunately, my achievements spread widely throughout Hakdo, and now, unless a student had guts spilling out of their stomach, no one openly picked a fight with me anymore.
“So that’s Kim Maru…”
“Why is he messing with Ojakgyo.”
“They say he doesn’t lose even fighting girls.”
“If he acts up like that, won’t someone stop him.”
“Tied with Eun Yuri…”
The students’ murmuring voices could be heard openly.
Kim Noeul seemed displeased that I became the subject of gossip.
“They should just focus on the game, really have nothing better to do, everyone.”
“It’s fine.”
“It’s been happening since the beginning of the semester.”
I had already braced myself from the moment I came to Hakdo.
Since the actions of Haneul High, including myself, couldn’t gain everyone’s sympathy, hearing such words was natural.
“We just do as we always do, prove it with results.”
Kim Noeul blinked her eyes upon hearing my words.
“…Right, we always did that.”
Kim Noeul, perhaps sympathizing, walked towards the starting line with a determined expression.
Arriving at the starting line, we finished preparing and waited for the signal to start the race.
[3, 2, 1, Go!]
The teacher’s signal echoed, and the pairs of two shot out.
Kim Noeul and I used our large strides as a weapon and quickly surged forward.
[Wow! Haneul High is incredibly fast!]
[At that pace, they might tire out quickly though!]
The teacher acting as commentator expressed concern, but Teacher Chae Yubin, beside him, chuckled.
[Those two are students with extraordinary physiques, that won’t happen.]
[I guarantee it.]
As she said, we never once lost 1st place from the midpoint onwards and crossed the finish line just like that.
Cheers erupted from the Blue Team camp, including Haneul High.
[The winner is Haneul High!]
[The Blue Team is catching up in points again!]
Hearing the referee’s words, I looked at the electronic scoreboard.
Originally, they were 100 points behind the Red Team, but now the gap had narrowed to 50 points.
[In this case, the outcome will likely be decided by the high-point basketball game among the remaining events.]
[The basketball game will be held in the indoor gymnasium.]
[Seats might be insufficient, so secure your spots in advance if you want to watch!]
After the three-legged race ended, we rejoined the seniors.
“You both did really well!”
“Your coordination was so good it made me jealous.”
Na Yuna and Han Doa couldn’t hold back their smiles.
They were relieved that the Blue Team had made a comeback.
“While you were running, Doa also finished her match.”
“She got 1st place.”
“Really?”
“If the Red Team is still ahead even after we did this much, how disastrous are the other events?”
Kim Noeul sighed, looking at the scoreboard.
“I heard Seo Yoon’s performance was threatening.”
“Since her events almost don’t overlap with junior Noeul’s, you probably didn’t know.”
Indeed, the top scorers for each team currently were Kim Noeul and Seo Yoon.
Kim Noeul was 10 points behind Seo Yoon.
“To aim for the overall MVP, basketball is the only chance left.”
Kim Noeul shut her mouth at Han Doa’s words.
Kim Noeul must have also steeled her resolve for the basketball game against Seo Yoon.
“Don’t worry.”
“You saw my 3-point shot.”
Kim Noeul said so and gazed at Seo Yoon, who was warming up near the gymnasium.
Seo Yoon was practicing shots near the basketball hoop.
She ran towards the hoop and jumped high.
Her hand holding the ball almost touched the net, and it continued straight into a dunk.
Bang!
“Nice~.”
“Just do that during the game too.”
Choyeon High students encouraged Seo Yoon.
After finishing the dunk, Seo Yoon likewise looked towards our side.
Specifically, at Kim Noeul.
The gazes of the two women met in mid-air.
Before long, many surrounding students were also watching the spectacle.
‘The referee was changed too, so now it’s decided by pure skill.’
The game to determine the protagonist of this sports festival is about to begin.