Judo Club's Jeon Seon-bae
I arrived 30 minutes before training started, afraid someone would complain about me being on time again. Yeoju left a message in the group chatroom where Eugene and Dami were, saying she was there first, and then leisurely changed into her uniform.
"Oh, sir!"
"?"
I was leaving the locker room and heading to the training ground. I heard someone calling in the empty space. I turned around and saw the freshman who'd collapsed from menstrual cramps yesterday—no, Ajin—walking toward me with an excited expression. Instead of entering the training grounds, I waited until she was closer. Ajin smiled shyly and handed me the doll she was holding.
...doll?A thin, arm-length puppy doll with fluffy, light brown fur. The heroine, wondering why he was giving it to her, looked around, then looked surprised when Ajin suddenly bent down.
"Thank you for helping me yesterday...!"
"...."
"It's my first time training at a university, so I don't know much... No, I won't make excuses!"
"...excuse me,"
"I heard you were on your head until the end of training! Is it because of me...? I'm so sorry!"
"no,"
"Actually, the only talent I have is making cute things with my hands, so sports don't really suit me! But I don't know how I got into this school! I'm sorry!"
"You're not listening. Yeah, you're not listening." Yeo-ju looked embarrassed as she watched A-jin repeatedly bow toward her. If anyone saw this, they'd probably be scolded for being a jerk to the new student who just came in.
I thought I should calm the child down first, so I grabbed Ajin's shoulder, but Ajin grabbed my hand instead, leaving me helpless. Ajin, who was about 150 cm tall, looked up at me with wide eyes, and Yeoju averted her gaze with a flustered expression. ...Cuteness is dangerous. No one noticed, but Yeoju's earlobes were red.
“Even though it’s a doll I made with my limited skills, please accept it…!”
"Uh, uh... Okay, let's put this aside for now..."
"I really... I don't know how much I cried when I went home yesterday! I'm really sorry to you, senior, and I'm grateful... Yesterday's situation was really scary, but I've decided that if I live from now on, I want to live like you, senior!"
"That seems a bit far-fetched."
"Please be my role model from now on, senior!"
Oh, what's this kid... Is that the kid who almost died from a stomachache yesterday? His Power E tendencies rivaled Eugene's, and I broke out in a cold sweat. With great force, I managed to pry Ajin's arm free. Yeoju could only smile awkwardly at his gaze, filled with profound emotion. And then she did what she did best: "that."
"...Yeah, are you feeling better?"
Right, change the subject.
"Yes! I steamed it all day yesterday and took some medicine today, so I'm fine now!"
"That's good. I had a day off yesterday, so I'll work out hard today. Thanks, doll. That's all for now..."
As I quietly finished my sentence and entered the training ground, Ajin grabbed the closing door and walked in with me. Oh, right. She was in the judo club too.
"Senior! Please be my role model!"
"...If I say I'll do it, will it be okay?"
"Yes! Of course!"
"Then I don't like it. I don't want to do it."
"Huh? Why!"
"What do I gain by doing that?"
"Me! You can get me!"
"...."
They weren't communicating. It was almost like a reason promotion. While Eugene would just stammer out whatever he wanted to say, Ah-jin would say things that defied common sense. Like... pointless stuff, that kind of thing.
"...Okay, do whatever you want."
And the heroine knew how to deal with someone who didn't communicate well. Ignore them or show it through your actions. This time, the choice was the former.
"Wow! Really?! Thank you, senior! Thank you!"
"...."
"Wow! I'll really take good care of it! Thank you!"
...I guess I'll have to wait a little longer to see if I made the right choice.
* * *
"Why are you here?"
"...yes?"
"You're just standing there like yesterday. What you need most right now is patience."
"...."
I didn't realize the aftermath of the levy would be this long. He called out the female protagonist, who was standing in line, and told her to do a handstand against the wall like yesterday. He said what the female protagonist needed most was patience.
The female protagonist looked at the levy with a dumbfounded expression, but it was impossible.Aren't you going quickly?I finally walked back to the spot where I had been standing yesterday, facing the officer who was glaring at me with a fierce gaze.
"ha...."
I've been in a handstand for three hours now. The muscle pain I felt yesterday is back. The rush of blood to my head is making my vision dizzy, and the weight of my injured hand is making my arm numb. ...There's still an hour left before Group B arrives.
Group A uses the training room from 8 to 12, and Group B uses it from 2 to 6. The rest of the time, they're free to use the training room or attend lectures. Yeoju couldn't forget the gazes of Group B members staring at her after her handstand yesterday. They were like, "Why did you come so early?" and "Why are you here?" Whatever, I just hope it's over before they see me.
"Huh? Hey, what are you doing up at this hour? It's not even Group B time yet."
"I was going to come early and stretch. Why? There must be some reason why I can't come first, Dol Dol-."
"There's no such thing!"
Someone had arrived. The training ground suddenly became noisy. Cheerful laughter could be heard, along with the occasional meaningless chatter. Regardless, Yeo-ju simply stared at her watch, waiting for Group A's time to end. She figured the guards would be exhausted by then, too.
I heard footsteps coming towards me. It wasn't the police because it wasn't the same sound I'd always heard. Who is it? The female protagonist rolled her eyes and met my gaze.uh...I made a stupid noise. Without realizing it, I let my core strength drain, and my legs began to tremble. I tightly closed my eyes, knowing I was 100% going to fall if this continued. Then, someone grabbed the female protagonist's ankles and slowly lowered her to the ground.
"Emergency room."
"...."
"Why are you doing this?"
Even though she was safely lying on the floor, the heroine didn't dare open her eyes. Well, maybe it's true that she couldn't. The person she met eyes with seemed familiar, but the voice she heard didn't. More precisely, the pitch was frighteningly low.
"Emergency room."
"...."
"Goyeoju."
Ah... The female protagonist finally opened her eyes at the sound of her name coming out of his mouth.