Chapter 53 : Chapter 53
Chapter 53: Athletic Meet (3)
"Then, we will begin the main event in one hour!"
The Master of ceremonies voice rode the speakers and resonated throughout the entire gymnasium.
"Then, lastly, please confirm the personnel participating in the tournament."
As soon as the Master of ceremonies words ended, a buzz spread among the classes gathered in each zone.
Among them, Year 2 Class A was especially the most noisy.
"Come to think of it, did we decide on our class's participants?"
"That's right. We didn't decide!"
"Did they say maximum 2 people per class?"
The children's gazes naturally gathered towards Yoo jin.
Sparkle!
Opening their eyes wide, a few people stepped out in front of Yoo jin.
"I will go out, Teacher!"
The one who shouted first was Jo Seong-hyeon.
Seong-hyeon raised his hand high and declared before anyone gave permission.
"I will win and become the main character of the main event! Watch me, Ju-hee!"
Yoo jin was about to open his mouth but stopped.
At that moment, the voices of the twin brothers burst out simultaneously.
"I will go out!"
"No, I will!"
The gold earrings of the twins shouting alternately flashed.
"I have a debt to pay!"
"I will definitely beat Kang Tae-wook!"
At those voices, all gazes in the classroom headed to Kang Tae-wook.
Tae-wook, who usually hid his emotions, remained consistent with an expressionless face, but.
Everyone knew.
The participating personnel allocated to each class was only two people.
That one of them would unconditionally be Kang Tae-wook.
Even if Yoo jin didn't open his mouth.
Even if no one said it, they knew well that that alone would not change.
Therefore.
"I will go out!"
"I really want to go out!"
"I want to become the main character!!"
Seong-hyeon and the twins were shouting frantically within Yoo jin's view to contend for the remaining one spot.
However.
"Our class's participants are already decided."
At Yoo jin's voice, Seong-hyeon and the twins' expressions paused.
Soon after, they lost strength like deflated balloons and drooped onto the floor.
"Just when......."
"When......."
Powerless voices headed towards Yoo jin.
"What do you mean when. From the beginning, no, to be exact, from a very long time ago."
Grin.
The gazes of the twins looking as if they couldn't understand Yoo jin's expression, which had the corners of his mouth raised high.
And that was the same for the other children.
"You mean it's not the twins?"
"Not Jo Seong-hyeon whose form has returned either?"
"Then, is there a person to go out in our class?"
They couldn't get a sense of who the remaining one person was at all.
At that moment.
The electronic display board brightened and attracted their gazes.
"Then, we will reveal the main event participants and the match bracket."
Behind the Master of ceremonies voice, the photos of the participants were listed on the huge electronic display board.
Familiar faces coming out in succession.
And lastly.
When the photo of one student side by side with Kang Tae-wook filled the electronic display board.
The expressions of the Class A students all became the same.
"Jin-ho?"
"Jin-ho is going out?"
The buzzing children rushed towards Jin-ho.
"Wow, I couldn't even imagine it, Jin-ho."
"It seems you changed these days, but will you be okay?"
"There has never been a time a D-Rank went out in the main event?!"
"You aren't Jin-ho, right."
"My spot...... Hand over my spot......."
Unlike the children's reactions, Jin-ho was only laughing while scratching the back of his head.
The main event of the Athletic Meet, and the greatest matter of interest.
The participants of the match to determine the strongest of Taewoon High were announced.
Cheers and buzzing rose from here and there in the spectator stands.
And unlike the past matches, this time many voices were heard even from the VIP seats which had been quiet meanwhile.
"Only 16 people came out for this tournament?"
Although everyone from Year 1 to Year 3 could apply, most of the Year 1 students did not.
Although they only took classes 1 or 2 years earlier, that difference was enormous.
In the case of Year 1, it was like that every year.
But this time.
"Year 2 and 3 are also very few."
It seemed to have decreased by half compared to last year.
"I came to see this, it's a pity."
"Well, you guessed roughly, didn't you, Mayor."
"Well, that is true."
They also grasped to some extent the reason why many did not apply.
Powerful candidates for the championship.
No, effectively a 2-strong system.
As soon as the introduction of participants ended, the match bracket filled the electronic display board.
― Ooh!
The exclamations of the spectators rang through the gymnasium.
Excited voices continued even on the podium where the guests were gathered.
"Huh? If it goes like that, they will meet in the semifinals (Top 4), not the finals?"
"For the two championship candidates to all be in one camp......."
"I know, right. The opposite side is truly lucky."
1 on 1 showdown.
Tournament method.
The two spots for the final match in the center.
The faces of the participating students were visible on the left and right sides.
And, the top and bottom of the left camp.
The faces of the two championship candidates whom everyone predicted were stuck there.
Year 3 Student Council President and Kang Tae-wook.
Everyone was distracted by that place.
"If it becomes like this, effectively the semifinals is the final match?"
"Whoever wins between Kang Tae-wook and that Student Council President will probably be the champion."
"Ey, the organizers have no thoughts. They should have separated the two completely to be fun. To meet in the finals."
They predicted like that.
That the semifinals were effectively the finals.
That anyway, one of either Kang Tae-wook or the Student Council President would be the champion.
Most of those in the VIP seats thought so.
That is, in other words.
It means not everyone.
The long line of VIP seats.
One group in the very front row.
Only the guests who came from the Ignis Guild were thinking differently from them.
And among them.
"Iya....... Whoever made it, the bracket is killer."
Anticipation was twinkling on the face of the man wearing sunglasses.
"Iya....... Whoever made it, the bracket is killer. Didn't it become truly like a movie?"
Yoo jin's voice rang out.
Other people might not know, but the Year 2 Class A students who were nearby had no choice but to make blank expressions at Yoo jin's voice.
It is a bracket with poor balance no matter who looks at it, so why did he look at this and say it was like a movie?
At that time when the children were only blinking their eyes.
Among the children making blank expressions, the movements of two students were seen.
Ye-na and Seong-hyeon.
That is.
They were the children who had watched the protagonist's efforts closer than anyone else.
Their hands were placed on one child's shoulder.
"You're right. It became like a movie."
"Since it's you, I yield. Go and win then come back."
At those voices, a crack occurred on the face of Kang Tae-wook who did not reveal emotions.
And eyes that did not miss that.
Yoo jin smiled looking at his painful finger.
"Right. If it's you, you can do it. Go and come back, Jin-ho."
A mischievous smile had spread on Yoo jin's face which captured both Kang Tae-wook and Jin-ho in his view.
Everyone might be distracted by only one side, but that will be forgotten soon.
"As expected, in a tournament, the underdog is the real flavor."
"For prompt and safe proceedings, the match time is limited to 5 minutes. In case of exceeding, the winner is decided by the judges' vote."
When the short announcement ended, the Master of Ceremonies announced the first match.
"Main event first match, starting right away."
The protagonist of the first match was Student Council President Lee Gang-cheol.
"Wow! From round 1, it's awesome!"
"Student Council President, fighting!"
"Lee Gang-cheol!"
"Lee Gang-cheol!"
Cheers burst out not only from the spectator stands but also from each class.
Lee Gang-cheol, possessing a flashy appearance and overwhelming power, was the idol of the students attending Taewoon High.
Female students.
And Year 1 students harboring dreams.
The voices towards Lee Gang-cheol were full of hearts and awe.
Center of the stadium, the head referee who was a Year 3 Homeroom Teacher approached the players.
Lee Gang-cheol smiled with composure, and the opposing Year 2 student already had terrified eyes.
"Go easy, Gang-cheol."
When the head referee requested with a small voice, Lee Gang-cheol nodded lightly.
"Then, start!"
Simultaneously with the start signal, the stadium fell into a strange silence.
"......."
"......."
As his fingertip lifted upward, the metal spear that was the opponent's weapon melted down in midair just like that.
Following that, even the iron cores hidden in the stadium floor soared up.
The moment the metal rotated around his body and changed forms into a sword, whip, and shield—.
The Year 2 player was already after having fainted.
A few seconds later, cheers burst out awkwardly.
"Winner is Lee Gang-cheol!"
The end of one hand gesture.
Although the spectator stands were filled with cheers, the head referee threw words mixed with a sigh to Lee Gang-cheol.
"I told you to go easy......."
Then Lee Gang-cheol's magnified face was reflected on the electronic display board.
He shrugged his shoulders and said.
"I did go easy. Because I didn't even use 10 percent."
Lee Gang-cheol's voice rang through the gymnasium, and the cheers of the spectator stands became even hotter.
Like that, the main event started flashily.
"Iya, that guy has an interesting ability?"
Kang Si-wook, who was sitting in the VIP seats, shifted in his seat.
He, who was looking at the electronic display board with his eyes narrowed, muttered like talking to himself.
"It is a pity he is A-Rank. The Unique Skill is awfully interesting. To say he can control all iron......."
"......."
Unlike Kang Si-wook who showed interest, Vice President Kang Yu who was sitting side by side only looked at the electronic display board without revealing emotions.
Genius.
It is true that he is a talent whose future is expected.
To change his expression, he was an insufficient toy.
And the following matches.
Disastrous matches where his eyes didn't even go continued.
'Obvious.'
Special grade talents managed separately by the school.
Only the matches of the 3 Special Management Students were the only ones that caught his gaze.
Lee Gang-cheol.
Cha Jin-hyeok.
Kang Tae-wook.
However, a smooth victory as predicted.
No, overwhelming victories where a fight wouldn't even be established.
"......."
Even if there are guys who are just a little more outstanding in a kindergarteners' talent show, it was just a talent show.
Unlike the spectators.
The interest of the VIPs was gradually cooling down.
"I want to see Kang Tae-wook and Lee Gang-cheol's match quickly."
"Cha Jin-hyeok's match will be fun only in the finals."
Naturally, among them, Vice President Kang Yu cooled down a little more coldly.
However.
"Huh? Him?"
"Wasn't he D-Rank?"
"Why is it so thrilling?"
"I felt it during the class competition too, but as expected......."
The spectator stands rippled.
The VIP seats likewise.
Round of 16 last match.
When an unexpected figure was standing in the center of the stadium.
Kang Yu's eyes shone.
He had no expectations either.
Although he stood out a little, he didn't enter his eyes.
To be exact, he grated on his nerves, but he thought there was no need to care.
Things that couldn't even become toys.
The one at the very bottom among such bugs.
Because he heard he was D-Rank.
But.
Kang Yu's gaze stayed in one place and could not move.
Dash!
The moment the opponent charged, Jin-ho lowered his waist and dodged as if grazing the floor.
The following counterattack was concise, fast, and precise.
It wasn't flashy, nor did it look strong.
But it was accurate, and decisive.
Flare!
The blue flame wrapping the fist struck the opponent's abdomen hard.
The match, just like that.
"Winner is, Year 2 Class A's Jin-ho!"
Came to an end.
Jin-ho, who achieved victory, looked at the referee with a blank face, then bowed his head here and there as if flustered.
At that appearance, sounds of laughter were heard from the spectator stands.
Then soon.
Clap clap clap!
Applause like thunder and shouts filled the gymnasium.
"Cool!"
"Rebellion of the D-Rank!"
"I'll cheer for you!"
Unfamiliar applause, unfamiliar interest.
It is a hospitality receiving for the first time no matter who looks.
It had to be so, the face filling the electronic display board.
Because the victorious Jin-ho's eyes had become moist.
"......."
He could not understand.
No matter how much he thought about it.
Why such thoughts were entering his head.
Kang Yu could not understand no matter how much he thought.
Championship candidates.
Student Council President and Kang Tae-wook.
A-Rank talents.
Why, the thing that wasn't felt even from them.
Cursed D-Rank.
Called a bug.
Is felt from that child.......
At that moment.
Kang Yu's eyes shook.
'As expected.'
Following that, his head nodded by itself.
"You are......."
The D-Rank child who entered his eyes.
Next to him, the face of Yoo jin smiling was seen.
"I cannot give up."
It was Kang Yu who came to know the reason why he was attracted to that child.
.
.
.
.
And.
Kang Yu making an expression of falling for Yoo jin once again.
The expression of one child watching him like that was crumbling down.
'Why.......'
The expression he never showed to him.
The expression he desired so much was heading towards Yoo jin.
No, to be exact.
It was heading towards Yoo jin and Jin-ho.
'He's not looking at me.......'
Grind.
The thing he desired so much.
Was snatched away by a guy he thought was a bug.
Due to that, Kang Tae-wook ended up losing the string of reason he was barely holding onto.