The day after returning from the bookstore.
Unlike usual, Lee Han had felt oddly off since morning.
What Ri-u had said yesterday kept circling in his head.
I came today just because I wanted to be with you.
It wasn’t because of soccer, and it wasn’t because he was the captain and ace either.
It was just because it was him.
Lying on his bed, Lee Han stared at his phone screen and finally sent a message.
Sunbae.
A reply came a moment later.
Why?
Yesterday was fun.
Ri-u replied right away.
Me too. Next time, let’s go wherever you want to go.
Lee Han stared at that sentence for a long time.
Then he slowly replied.
It’s a promise.
But when he got to school, the mood was a little different.
Near the field, a stranger was talking to Ri-u.
It was someone he’d never seen before.
He was wearing black training gear, and he looked bigger than the school players.
From a distance, Lee Han watched the two of them.
"Ri-u."
"Yeah."
"Did you think about what I told you yesterday?"
"What did we talk about?"
"About asking you to be captain at our school."
Lee Han’s steps stopped.
Ri-u shook his head.
"Sorry, but I’m planning to stay here until I graduate."
"You still haven’t decided."
"I have."
"Why? If you come over to our side, you can play in a better environment."
"I know."
Ri-u looked out at the field for a moment.
"Still, I think this is where I need to be right now."
Just then, their eyes met.
Ri-u looked slightly startled.
"Lee Han."
The unfamiliar man turned to Lee Han.
"So he’s the ace?"
"Yeah."
"You’re younger than I expected."
The man walked up to Lee Han.
"You’re Lee Han, right? I’m from another school’s soccer team. Our coach watched your game footage and’s interested in you."
Lee Han answered calmly.
"Yes."
"If you come to our school, you can start right away. With much better conditions than now."
Ri-u’s expression hardened.
"People at other schools have already said that to him."
"I know. But we’re not just trying to bring him in as a player."
The man looked at Lee Han.
"Players like you, who can change the flow of a game all on your own, aren’t common."
Lee Han listened without saying anything.
Then Ri-u cut in.
"Lee Han, let’s go. Practice is starting."
"Wait a second."
Lee Han looked at Ri-u.
"Why?"
"Just because."
"I want to hear that conversation."
Ri-u was momentarily at a loss for words.
Smiling, the man handed Lee Han his business card.
"Think it over and call me."
When Lee Han took the card, Ri-u’s gaze shifted to that hand.
Then, without a word, he turned away.
"Sunbae."
"What."
"Wait for me."
"I’m not waiting."
Ri-u replied bluntly.
"I’m going first."
Lee Han watched his back, then put the card in his pocket.
Throughout practice, Ri-u was strange.
He was quieter than usual.
Even when he gave instructions during passes, they were short, and when Lee Han made mistakes, he just let it slide without a word.
In the end, Lee Han was the one who approached first.
"Sunbae."
"What."
"Are you mad?"
"No."
"You are mad."
"I’m not."
"Then why aren’t you talking to me?"
Ri-u picked up the ball.
"We’re in the middle of practice."
"You’re different from usual."
"How."
"You’re avoiding me."
Ri-u’s hand froze.
After a moment, he let out a sigh.
"...You said you might go to another school."
"We talked about that yesterday too."
"I know."
"Then why are you suddenly like this?"
Ri-u didn’t answer.
Lee Han took a step closer.
"Sunbae."
"I don’t even know why I’m acting like this either."
Ri-u finally opened his mouth.
"I don’t like you talking and laughing with people from other schools, and I don’t like you going there and playing with other people, and I don’t like you saying the same things to another senior that you said to me."
Lee Han’s eyes widened.
Ri-u also seemed to realize he’d been too honest and looked away.
"...Sorry."
"Why?"
"Because it feels like I’m interfering with your choice just because I’m the captain."
"That’s not it."
"Then what is it."
Lee Han asked quietly.
"You just don’t like me going to another school, do you."
Ri-u said nothing.
That silence felt like an answer.
After practice.
Lee Han waited for Ri-u.
He didn’t go home first like usual.
Ri-u, cleaning up the field, spotted Lee Han and said,
"You’re still here?"
"I waited."
"Why."
"Because I had something to say."
"What is it?"
Lee Han took the business card from his pocket.
Then he held it out to Ri-u.
"I’ll take it."
Ri-u’s expression hardened.
"...Okay."
"And I’ll contact them too."
"Yeah."
Ri-u nodded, trying hard to act like it was nothing.
But then Lee Han went on,
"But go with me too."
"What?"
"When I go look at that school."
Ri-u looked at Lee Han.
"Why me?"
"Because I don’t want to go alone."
"You’re the one making the decision."
"Still, I think it’d be better if you were beside me."
Ri-u couldn’t answer for a while.
Lee Han continued quietly.
"And I haven’t decided anything yet."
"...."
"I’m not thinking of leaving right away, like you’re worried about."
Ri-u’s expression softened a little.
"Then why did you take the card?"
"Because I wanted to check."
"Check what?"
"How far I can go."
Lee Han looked at Ri-u.
"And if I still want to be here after checking that..."
He paused for a moment.
"Then even if you don’t say anything, I’ll be here."
Ri-u let out a small laugh.
"You really do put people through the wringer."
"Why?"
"Earlier I thought you were leaving, and I felt bad. Now you’re saying you’re not going, so I feel better."
"Then that’s a relief."
"...But Lee Han."
"Yes."
Ri-u said carefully,
"I really don’t like you going anywhere else."
This time, there was no teasing, no captain’s sense of responsibility.
It was just one person’s honest heart.
Lee Han stared at Ri-u for a long time, then smiled.
"I know."
"Know what."
"Why you hate it."
"...."
"I feel the same."
Ri-u’s eyes wavered.
"What do you mean, you feel the same?"
Lee Han didn’t answer and headed out of the field first.
After walking a few steps, he looked back and said,
"Let’s go together next weekend."
"Where?"
"That school."
"Okay."
"And after that, let’s go eat what we couldn’t eat last time."
"What do you want to eat?"
Lee Han thought for a moment, then said,
"Whatever you like."
Ri-u smiled.
"And you?"
"I want to eat whatever you like too."
Leaving those words behind, Lee Han walked on ahead.
Ri-u watched his back and smiled softly.
There was still a feeling between them that didn’t yet have an exact name.
But one thing was clear.
Now, even after soccer ended, they were still looking for each other.