Adaptation training continued for several days. I even had time to practice in the actual stadium. And then, the opening ceremony of the competition began. I hadn't reserved a seat for the competition, so I was planning to watch it on TV from the hotel, but an association employee suggested I go to a seat for officials. I asked back, wondering if that was possible.
"Can I really go there?"
"You helped us a lot today, didn't you? Then you're a supporter."
Seeing the employee answer with a smile, I felt a bit shameless, but I accepted the favor. Well, it wasn't like it was a great seat or anything. Still, it was nice to be able to see the opening ceremony in person. A splendid stage appeared, and athletes from each country entered. Many athletes lined up, and the oath followed. I looked for Shi-u, who would be there. Even with my mana-enhanced eyesight, I couldn't see him well.
I wanted to see Shi-u standing there confidently and 멋있ge (coolly), but it was a shame.
Once the opening ceremony ended, the preliminary rounds would begin in earnest. Shi-u said he would be competing in the 200m and 400m freestyle. The competition was fierce, and there wasn't a strict age limit, so the age difference between the competitors and Shi-u was about 4-5 years. A kid whose body is almost fully developed versus Shi-u, who is just starting to grow... It definitely seemed tough. But what else could I do but cheer him on?
Even though it was just the preliminary round, the athletes had already been filtered out from each country, so they were said to be highly skilled. As a supporter, I was able to squeeze in among the coaches and watch the matches.
"Shi-u-ya, fighting!"
I cheered for Shi-u from behind the coach, and Shi-u sighed.
"Mom...."
It seems like he doesn't like that I came all the way here.
"Do your best!"
I pretended not to notice and just cheered him on. As Shi-u headed to his seat, the coach burst into a hearty laugh.
"He's still young, so he's embarrassed."
I replied with a smile. Indeed, it wasn't easy to see Shi-u acting so cute.
As the athletes stood on the diving boards, I became nervous too. Would Shi-u be able to achieve good results? At least, I hoped he would win the preliminary round and make it to the semi-finals or finals....
I was blankly watching Shi-u when Tang! the starting sound rang out.
The athletes jumped into the pool all at once in response to the starting sound. Shi-u's start seemed to be good. The athletes swam out in unison, but Shi-u's speed seemed ambiguous.
"Please...."
I put my hands together and prayed. Shi-u can do it! He can do it! I watched with a nervous heart. The race ended quickly. Shi-u came in second.
"D, did he pass?" There was a slight difference from first place, but still, second place seemed like a good result.
"Yes! Shi-u-gun is amazing as expected!"
Even in second place, he passed the preliminary round!? That was a relief. Shi-u seemed to know that too, as he clenched his fist tightly and rejoiced. As Shi-u approached this side, I immediately handed him a prepared towel to wipe his chilled body.
"Congratulations on passing the preliminary round."
"The world is at a high level."
"Second place is still good."
Wasn't passing the preliminary round in second place still good? Besides, Shi-u was young. He still had potential for growth.
"I'll have to go all out next time."
"Huh? All out?"
"Yes, this isn't enough."
Oh, my, I was dumbfounded. I was saying that getting second place was good, but that wasn't even his full power? Well, I'd find out later.
"Shi-u-ya, rest a bit. You know you have to go out for the 400m, right?"
"Yes."
"Don't let your body cool down too much, and loosen up lightly."
"I know."
Shi-u wiped off all the water, put on his clothes, and left the area. He had to vacate the seat because the next match was coming up right away.
Arriving at the waiting room, Shi-u lightly stretched his body.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
He has to wait more than 2 hours until the next match, will he be okay?
"Aren't you hungry? What do you want to eat?"
"It's better not to eat before a match."
I guess so? He has to move vigorously, so it would be dangerous to have something in his stomach. So, I took out something easy to eat from my bag.
"Here, it's chocolate."
"This is...."
"It's good because it's high in calories and won't burden your stomach."
Shi-u looked at the coach behind him.
"You can eat it. Sugar intake is important before a match anyway."
Even I, who didn't study well, knew that sugar is used as an energy source. That's why sugar intake is important before and after strenuous exercise.
Once permission was granted, Shi-u immediately took a few chocolates into his mouth.
"Doesn't it feel good to eat something sweet?"
He nodded repeatedly. He's still a kid, after all? As time passed, we headed back to the stadium. This time it was 400m, so it was twice as long. Proper pace distribution was important? It was said that stamina was more important than in the 200m, which was disadvantageous for Shi-u.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, it's better to swim all out in the 200m, so Shi-u can compete."
I see....
The 400m match was also held in the same stadium. Is it because it's the preliminary round? The progress was quite fast. It's already time for Shi-u's turn....
I wondered if two matches in one day wouldn't be too hard, but Shi-u didn't show it. He was just quietly concentrating. I couldn't disturb Shi-u's concentration, so I just watched from behind. I was thinking of a surefire joke to ease the tension, but I can't use it.
"Shi-u-gun is amazing! Really amazing!"
"Is that so?"
I talked to the coach a little further away.
"Of course, being able to concentrate so calmly in a competition like this is also a skill."
"I see."
"I even had the experience of flying because I was too nervous at the national competition."
What's flying?
"What is flying?"
"Um, should I say it's a false start? It means starting before the starting signal."
"Ah...."
That's definitely a serious matter....
"Because I was too nervous, I couldn't hear the surrounding sounds and mistook a small noise for the starting signal."
"I, I see."
"They say a Korean athlete also flew in the previous match."
"Really? That's a shame."
"Yes, flying is an immediate disqualification, so it'll be frustrating."
The coach's words made me a little scared. What if Shi-u does that? While I was getting nervous, Shi-u headed to the starting block. Shi-u stood in front of the starting block, looking dignified and calm.
All the athletes stood on the starting block and took their positions.
"I'm nervous."
I've watched Shi-u's matches several times, but I can't get used to this moment. When the starting standby signal came on, the athletes prepared... and I closed my eyes. I hope nothing happens....
Before the starting signal came out, I heard the sound of water.
"Flying...."
Could it be Shi-u? I opened my eyes at the coach's words and assessed the situation. Fortunately, the person who jumped into the water wasn't Shi-u. That athlete went a little further, then realized his mistake and stopped, hitting the pool with his hand.
Some athletes were slightly smiling, happy that a competitor had been eliminated.
While the athlete who flew left the stadium and they were reorganizing, the athletes temporarily came down from the starting block.
"It must be tough."
"Yes?"
"They must have been in a state of extreme concentration right before the start, but it was broken."
"Ah...."
"Some people can quickly regain their concentration, but others can't concentrate and make mistakes. That's why once a flying occurs, it can happen in succession."
The coach's words were true, as another flying occurred. I was worried about Shi-u, whose concentration had been broken twice in a row. On the third try, everyone started properly without anyone making a mistake.
"Shi-u-ya! Do your best!"
The match progressed at a considerable speed. Shi-u quickly took the lead in the beginning, but he was gradually caught up with at the point of two laps.
"Pace distribution failure!?"
The coach was also feeling sorry. The match was approaching the end, but something was strange. Shi-u, who I thought had been caught up with, was barely ahead.
"Huh? Huh?"
"Shi-u-ya!"
Thinking that there wasn't much left, Shi-u suddenly sped up and touched the wall first.
"He did it! First place!"
With this, he also passed the preliminary round for the 400m. After confirming that he was in first place, Shi-u raised his arm high and rejoiced.
"Ehehe, Shi-u did it!"
The coach was also happy. After passing the preliminary round on the first day, many athletes joined the team with a gloomy atmosphere. Next to them, the coaches were patting their backs or cheering them on, saying there's always next time.
"Ah...."
Are those the people who didn't pass the preliminary round... Seeing them, my heart ached, and I couldn't recklessly rejoice. Shi-u also returned to the team, looking like a triumphant general. Some people approached and congratulated Shi-u on passing the preliminary round.
"It's still the finals. I have to go to the finals."
"Y, you unlucky bastard! You're good at it!"
Shi-u was receiving enthusiastic congratulations. Behind him, there were also envious glances mixed in. It couldn't be helped... Shi-u's schedule was now the finals in two days. Even if they fell in the preliminary round now, they said that tickets to the finals remained, and they would focus on training to grab them.
People who were going back to the hotel to rest and people who were moving for training were divided, and the coaches and supporters were also divided accordingly.
"What about Shi-u?"
I asked Shi-u, who had been quietly watching.
"I'm going to rest today."
"Really?"
I thought Shi-u would train until night... He's resting? Should I take Shi-u on a tour of Japan?
"Shi-u's resting?"
At that time, the Principal of the swimming class approached.
"Yes."
"Yeah, you can rest a bit. Rest with your mother and come back to the hotel before 9 o'clock."
He was giving us free time.
"Is that okay?"
"It's originally autonomous training time."
I asked for permission and left the team with Shi-u.
"Where should we go...?"
Actually, there wasn't much time. After the match and everything, it was already 5 o'clock. Touring would be difficult, should we just take a light look around?
"I'm hungry, so let's eat."
"Should we?"
He used his strength, so it was natural to be hungry.
"Is there anything you want to eat?"
"Um, I actually wanted to try Japanese Ramen."
"Ramen? You've had it before."
It was a food he had eaten when we ate out occasionally. I didn't really like it, and Shi-hyun didn't really like it either. But the kids liked it to some extent, so there were times when we went.
"The Hyungs said the taste is different in the original place."
It seems like someone among the representatives who had experience in Japan was bragging about it.
"Really? Then we have to go."
If Shi-u wants to go, we have to go! I roughly grabbed a taxi and asked them to take us to the best Ramen restaurant through a translator. The taxi driver said he understood and immediately left, and we arrived quickly. Listening to the words through the translator, this Ramen restaurant is said to be famous. Indeed, there were many people in line, and people of various races were standing there.
"Ah, come to think of it, it was during the competition."
It was a natural phenomenon since people came from all over the world. I left a word of thanks, paid the fare, and stood in line.
"Shi-u-ya, it seems like it'll take a while, are you okay?"
"Yes."
While waiting in line, Shi-u's stomach rumbled several times.
"Are you hungry?"
"It smells delicious too."
Is it because we're in front of the store? There was a subtle smell of broth.
"Have you thought about what you're going to eat?"
"I'm going to eat Tonkotsu Ramen with Chashu? I'm going to add meat."
"Really? Then Mom should order something else."
The most common is Shoyu? It was called soy sauce Ramen. When I go to Korean Japanese restaurants, Ramen doesn't suit my taste, so I eat덮밥 (rice bowl dishes)... Is the original place different?
After waiting for nearly 40 minutes, we were able to enter the store and ordered right away. I added Chashu twice to Shi-u's order. After ordering, Shi-u had a happy face. Is it that good?
"Are you excited?"
"Yes."
I hope it doesn't cause problems because it's too oily? Anyway, the finals are in two days, so it should be okay? It doesn't seem like 5 minutes have passed since I ordered, but the menu is already out. The employee said something in Japanese, but I didn't understand and just nodded roughly.
"I can only see meat."
Shi-u's Ramen was covered with something called Chashu on top, so I couldn't see the noodles.
"Hehe, it looks delicious."
"Let's eat a lot and cheer up."
"Yes."
I lightly tasted the broth. This is... honestly, I don't know what it tastes like. It didn't suit my taste. I put down the Shoyu and tasted Shi-u's Tonkotsu broth, but it was too thick and oily to eat.
"Ugh, it's really not my taste."
The noodles were still edible, but the taste of the broth that came with it didn't suit me. Shi-u was eating it at a scary pace, was he okay?
"Is it delicious?"
"Yes, it's a little fishy, but it's delicious."
It seems to suit Shi-u's taste well. Am I being picky? I slightly stole a bite of Shi-u's Tonkotsu Ramen, but it was still greasy.
While I was fiddling with it, Shi-u ate all his Ramen.
"Do you want more?"
I held out my Ramen.
"Are you okay?"
"Of course, Mom is full just watching her son eat."
I've already eaten about half of it, so it's not that I'm full, but I've soothed my stomach. Shi-u quickly ate the Ramen I left behind. He must have been tired from competing today. Besides, he'll be on a diet again from tomorrow evening, so he had to eat well now.
"Ah, I'm full."
There were still many people in line, so we had to vacate our seats quickly. When we finished paying and came out, the sun was starting to set a little.