Chapter 55: Esports Club Recruiting
Early on Monday morning. The bell rang, announcing the end of the first period. While the teacher grabbed his stuff and the other students started whispering amongst themselves, Ouyang couldn’t contain his excitement any longer. “YES!” he shouted at the top of his lungs from the back of the classroom where he sat, “One more week until Worlds! Only one more week!”
Every student had turned around. They were all looking at him. They turned back around a few seconds later, shaking their heads. They were all thinking the same thing. He’s hopeless. To the majority of the class, Ouyang was just another League obsessed idiot going crazy about Worlds.
“You’re right, Worlds really is only a week away,” Yang Fan said while adjusting his glasses. Then he let out a melancholic sigh and continued, “Time really does fly. It feels like it was only yesterday that we were talking about it being a month away…”
Yang Fan probably had more to say. The dramatic trail-off and pause had all the makings of a prelude to an epic monologue about the vicissitudes and vagrancies of time, living in the moment, and celebrating their youth. But before he could continue, Lin Feng misunderstood the dramatic pause as a moment to interject.
“It’s also almost National Day! [1] We get a week-long break!”
Ouyang rolled his eyes. “Pfft! You’re still such a kid! The break isn’t what’s important. What’s important is that Worlds is starting at the same time! We can chill all day at the internet cafe and watch the games together!”
Yang Fan raised an eyebrow and asked, “You’re going to watch Worlds at an internet cafe?”
“Duh!” Ouyang blurted out, incredulous. He couldn’t quite understand why Yang Fan would ask this. Then he raised his finger and wagged it back and forth. “It’s Worlds, guys! Worlds! Are you telling me you were planning to watch it at home? Alone in your room? Fuck that! How can anyone possibly enjoy such a big event by themselves? This is an experience you have to share with others! With your friends! Imagine it! The three of us, and plenty of others, all having drinks and cheering our team on! Is there anything more exciting than that?”
“Having drinks and cheering our team on?” Yang Fan adjusted his glasses again. “I thought those kinds of bar events were reserved for real sports. You know, like football. Or basketball.”