Where does a hangover begin and end?
When I opened my eyes, my stomach was churning, making me naturally regret the enthusiastic drinking I'd done yesterday.
Jaemin had bragged that vodka causes less of a hangover than soju because the additional distillation process that increases the alcohol content filters out the hangover-inducing components.
That turned out to be completely meaningless.
My head was throbbing, and my stomach was turned inside out. Thanks to the spicy sauce and green onions from the chicken, at least I wasn't feeling nauseous. Still, my stomach burned and my mouth felt parched.
Come to think of it, how did I even get to bed? Did Gabi help me? Or was it Jaemin? Either way, it seemed like someone had lain beside me for quite a while before leaving.
...Thinking about Gabi made me feel like her scent still lingered in my nose. I'm not sure if "refreshing" is the right word for it. But I could recall Gabi's fresh scent mixed with body wash, and my face flushed even though I was alone in bed.
As soon as I realized I was alone, I rolled over to where Gabi had been lying and took a deep breath.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find any trace of Gabi on the blanket or bedsheet. I'm not a dog, after all. It would be difficult for the scent of someone who just lay down briefly to remain. The sweet scent coming from me was unavoidable, though.
After rolling over, I started to feel a bit more alert from the movement. The hangover hadn't disappeared yet, but I thought some ramen broth might help.
So I managed to get up and turned on my phone. I wondered if Gabi and Jaemin had made it home safely. They probably drank less than me, but I should still check on them.
As the host, I couldn't even see my guests off properly. It was embarrassing enough that I passed out first.
- Yoon Noel: Sorry, guys... I fell asleep and couldn't see you off...
- Yoon Noel: Did you get home safely?
After getting up and sending a message to our group KokoaTalk chat, I finally noticed the time. When I saw it, I bolted upright with a shock.
12:30 PM.
What time was the tryout again? Two o'clock...?
And where was the meeting place?
I should have contacted the coach yesterday to confirm the location, directions, and travel time. But I'd been so distracted by drinking with my friends that I completely forgot.
Well, not exactly forgot. "I'll check later" had turned into "I'll check after I wake up tomorrow." And how long could a drinking session between three women last? We'd probably go to bed around 10 or 11 PM at the latest. Then I'd wake up by 10 or 11 AM at the latest.
That was my calculation. Then I'd wash up and quickly figure out the route. Even in a wheelchair, I could get anywhere in Seoul within an hour. That meant I'd have enough time to play a round of League of Champions to warm up before heading out.
But 12:30 PM? This was cutting it too close. I wasn't sure if I'd make it on time even if I just washed up and left immediately, let alone playing a warm-up game.
Since becoming a woman, a shower takes at least 20 minutes. With longer hair, it takes that much time to wash thoroughly.
That left about an hour. But considering variables like delayed subway arrivals or traffic jams if I took the bus, even that time was uncertain.
Look, it already takes 50 minutes to get from my home to the location the coach provided. If I miss just one subway or bus? That's another 10 minutes gone.
"Sigh... Do I have to leave like this?"
I finally had to stumble out of bed. Even if I couldn't shower, I needed to at least wash my face before leaving.
Fortunately, since my skin isn't oily, my hair wasn't greasy despite not washing last night. I just dampened my messy hair to tame it and quickly washed my face with soap.
Perhaps because of the weight of my long hair, it settled down more easily than when I was a man. Still, the disheveled look of someone who just woke up remained.
...What could I do? It's better to arrive on time looking unkempt than to be late after a complete shower. Better yet to arrive early.
Honestly, for other jobs, I'd need to dress formally and make myself presentable before arriving on time.
But in the gaming industry, wouldn't this kind of impression work better? Looking somewhat disheveled might make me seem like someone who focuses solely on gaming.
Of course, that was just my delusion and self-justification. Even if I were a gaming coach or manager, I'd prefer someone who looks decent over someone with poor self-management. While gaming skills would be the top priority, if all else were equal, I'd choose someone sensible to avoid team conflicts.
Still, it's better than being late for the appointment. So I need to leave now.
- Celesti: Haha, Noel just woke up?
- Celesti: Didn't you say you had a tryout? Are you leaving now?
- Ju Gabi: I got home safely! You were sleeping so deeply, you didn't even notice someone carrying you~
- Ju Gabi: Good luck with your tryout!
Hearing my friends' encouragement gave me strength and the vague feeling that I'd do well on the test. I wasn't sure what the test would involve, but I'm fine with any kind of game.
"Huh? Do I need to be here too? Isn't the person testing today a top laner?"
In a practice room lined with five computers, a young man trying to leave was stopped by Coach Taehyun, who was trying to persuade him.
"Hyunseok. You're our top laner, so your eyes would be more accurate than mine. Whether recruiting this person would strengthen our team is something we all need to discuss together."
"Well, if they reached Challenger in solo queue, they must be good. But joining the team right away? That seems a bit radical. Of course, if they're good with knife champions, we could swap strategically, which would be nice. But isn't that difficult in the current meta? Top lane influence is pretty low these days. Wouldn't it be better to bring in a sixth man for mid lane? Since Jinseok is an aggressive mid laner, I think we need someone more steady."
Taehyun studied Hyunseok's expression. Though he seemed to be speaking objectively, he couldn't be happy about bringing in a potential competitor who might replace him.
And strategically, Hyunseok wasn't wrong, so Taehyun remained silent for a moment. He had counterarguments, but some things were difficult to say directly.
Kang Hyunseok. Thirty-one years old.
Although Jinseok from mid lane was the team captain, Hyunseok had been a steady top laner with a long career in the pro scene. He was also good at boosting team morale as the eldest when spirits were low.
But Hyunseok's biggest weakness was his declining reaction speed due to his age, and his limited champion pool.
It was true that when matched against rising stars who were active in the first division and had even lifted championship trophies, he could hold his own without giving up kills, only falling slightly behind.
But that was it. Hyunseok couldn't become a catalyst for creating variables. A team without top lane-focused strategies inevitably becomes predictable in their victory plans, making it easier for opposing teams. They could just abandon the top lane and focus on the bottom side to shut down the victory plan.
But how could he tell someone that they're getting older and weaker compared to the new pro gamers? That would hurt anyone's pride. Hyunseok probably knew this better than anyone, so Taehyun didn't bring it up.
In the end, only Noel, who was coming for the interview today, could convince Hyunseok. Only by showing overwhelming performance in the test would Hyunseok accept and give up his position.
"But isn't she a woman? Is it okay for her to move into our dorm?"
At that moment, a young man who was already settled in the practice room, rocking in his chair, spoke up. The bespectacled man next to him agreed.
"I'm not saying this because I'm the support, but Dongkyu has a point. This isn't about not allowing women, but honestly, she might feel uncomfortable living with a bunch of guys. That's what concerns me."
"It's not certain she'll make it yet. But the organization is considering that. Since Noel is a woman, we'd need to provide separate facilities. There's a cost to that, so we need to determine if she's worth it. That approval needs to come through before she can join the team."
"Ah, so she's skilled enough for a tryout, but her chances of actually joining aren't that high."
Unfortunately for Taehyun, the team members' reactions weren't very positive. These players weren't thoughtless—they were uncertain whether having a woman on the team would cause discord.
Would Noel be valuable enough as a player to justify overcoming such prejudice? With a mix of anxiety and expectation, they waited in the practice room when, 10 minutes before the appointed time, the person coming for their tryout appeared in the hallway.
A girl in a wheelchair. A young face that looked barely fifteen. But her disheveled appearance and decadent gaze made even the players in the practice room and Coach Taehyun feel a bit unsettled.
"Wow, she's pretty, but she looks like a total gaming addict."
Only after Noel passed by the practice room and disappeared did Dongkyu speak up. No one contradicted him, but they all seemed to be thinking the same thing, slightly nodding their heads.