My Girlfriend Wants Victory

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U-19 National Team was called up, and before I knew it, a week had passed.

With just a week left until the final selection of players and 8 days until departure for the UAE,

Coach Han Gwangjong kept his word.

“I will now announce the roster for the upcoming practice match against Korea Industrial University.”

During the training over the past week, I had showcased outstanding skills and successfully made it onto the starting lineup for the practice match against Yonsei University on March 30th.

– Ho-woo: I’m set to start in the practice match on March 30th. I’ll probably join the tournament in the UAE too.

I immediately shared this news in our group chat.

The first to reply was Gyeouri.

– Han Gyeouri: OMG really?

– Han Gyeouri: You’re beating out the 4-year seniors to be a starter? Wow~ My boyfriend’s got skills!

Jokingly congratulating me, Gyeouri suddenly realized that the game was on a weekday and began to cry.

– Han Gyeouri: T____T But March 30th is a weekday… I can’t watch the game again T____T

– Ho-woo: I don’t want to go to the UAE. Should I just give up on the national team and go home?

– Han Gyeouri: What? Why? Is someone bothering you?

– Han Gyeouri: I told you to tell your sister! I’ll scold them!

– Ho-woo: No, that’s not it.

– Ho-woo: If I go to the UAE, it means the time we won’t see each other will increase T____T I miss you so much T____T

It was truly unfortunate. It had already been a week since I had last hugged Gyeouri. I felt like my little Gyeouri was slipping away from me.

– Han Gyeouri: Ohh~ It looks like Son Jinho’s been getting a bit more flattery~~

– Han Gyeouri: Well, it’s probably because I’m so pretty that you can’t stop thinking about me, right?

– Han Gyeouri: (kawaii emoticon)

But Gyeouri didn’t understand my true feelings. So, I threw in a dramatic line like it was all a joke.

– Ho-woo: Of course.

– Ho-woo: Gyeouri, can I ask you a question?

– Han Gyeouri: Sure? What is it?

– Ho-woo: Since when has our Gyeouri been so pretty?

After a long wait without a reply from Gyeouri, I started to panic. Did I say something wrong?

– Father-in-law: Ugh, why is it so noisy? Is there a deer crying in the house?

– Mother-in-law: Stop making deer sounds and learn something!

– Mother-in-law: Oh my. That Gyeouri is totally in love.

– Mother-in-law: The guy we have at home has never said anything like that in his whole life.

– Father-in-law: Hwang Mi-yeon, since when have you been so pretty?

– Mother-in-law: Jinho, don’t just imitate, do something original! Ugh. You’ve got no charm.

Father-in-law and Mother-in-law checked the chat and spread the word about how Gyeouri was loving it while making deer cries in her room.

– Father-in-law: Jinho, don’t blabber too much next time.

– Golden Shield: Our student Jinho is quite the romantic, isn’t he?

– Golden Shield: Truly a player fit for Arsenal.

– Ho-woo: Ah, seniors just found me, so I’ll contact you again later!

As soon as I saw Chairman Hwang Geum-soon opening the 46th Fight Arena, I bolted out of the group chat.

‘…I just quoted a drama line, so why is everyone reacting like this?’

After mulling over my family’s exaggerated reactions for a while, I realized that the drama hadn’t aired yet.

‘So this is how one becomes a romantic.’

Though I became a romantic by chance, it wasn’t so bad. After leaving Gyeouri in my past life, how many times had I regretted it?

My goal this life is to make Gyeouri happy.

I promised to grant her wish.

‘An idiotic Champions League victory…’

I wondered if this was really possible, but since I made a promise, I knew I had to try my best.

I had been pondering how to smoothly lift the Champions League trophy.

‘The best method is to join Manchester United during the winter transfer window of the 12-13 season, when I turn 18, and lift the Big Ear before they turn into a dark horse!’

I had come up with a plan.

‘But how do I join Manchester United?’

The process was lacking, that’s all.

*

March 30th.

The South Korea U-19 National Team moved to Korea Industrial University for a practice match.

You might wonder why we’re going to Korea Industrial University for a game against Yonsei University,

but there’s a backstory. Originally, our training partner was supposed to be Korea Industrial University.

[Korea Industrial University’s coach arrested for bribery and embezzlement.]

Recently, the coach of the Korea Industrial University football team got caught up in a scandal, prompting a sudden change in the schedule.

Well, it’s no longer surprising; it’s almost casual now. Given this kind of infrastructure, it’s odd that the South Korean national football team made it to the round of 16 during the World Cup in South Africa.

Anyway, when the U-19 National Team showed up at Korea Industrial University, the students warmly welcomed us.

“Go youth national team—!!”

“Let’s crush Yonsei University—!!”

I hadn’t realized back in my past life that I went straight to professional without knowing, but there seems to be quite a rivalry between these two universities.

Even though we weren’t competing against Korea Industrial University, the students jeered at the Yonsei University players.

‘Ah. So that’s why they just told us to use their stadium.’

I guess the pressure of being in a prestigious university comes with lots of academic stress.

“Get lost, Yonsei University!!”

“…I’m from Yonsei University too.”

Of course, there are players on the U-19 National Team from Yonsei University, so some of them were wearing slightly awkward expressions.

Still, the U-19 National Team got to play an unexpected home game backed by the cheers of the Korea Industrial University students.

*

Just before the game started.

“Nothing is set in stone yet! Anyone who can’t perform properly on the field should know they’re out of the national team!”

Coach Han Gwangjong sternly warned the starting players before the match.

Being a starter in the practice match held just a week before our departure meant that unless I make a huge blunder in the game, it was almost a seal of approval.

Even so, this warning was essentially a reminder not to take it easy just because they had been picked, telling them to give it their all.

However, Coach Han Gwangjong’s words didn’t fall on deaf ears. As soon as his warning ended, the expressions of the starting players, who had been a bit relaxed, became serious.

As I watched them, I sneakily scanned the stands. Having spent most of my career as a midfielder, my side-eye had reached a level where I could blatantly look elsewhere while being obvious without getting caught during tactical explanations from the coach.

‘Oh. Looks like the reporters are here too.’

Seeing the reporters reminded me of Gyeouri, who was flapping with excitement over my name appearing in the news.

– Han Gyeouri: Wow! Amazing! Amazing!

– Han Gyeouri: Our Jinho’s name is in the articles!

– Han Gyeouri: What if Jinho becomes famous and ditches his sister? T____T

– Han Gyeouri: T____T Sister Gyeouri will work harder! Jinho, don’t leave me…T____T

– Ho-woo: LOL what are you going to work harder on?

– Han Gyeouri: Um…? Yummy things?

– Han Gyeouri: (shy hamster emoticon)

– Father-in-law: Daughter. Your father and mother are here too.

[Han Gyeouri has left the chat.]

Recalling that moment brought a smile to my face.

I figured I really had to score a goal and perform my celebration in front of them. That would get me in the news, and perhaps Gyeouri would be even happier?

“Coach, the youngest is smiling right now!”

Dongwon Chamsik’s whistle-blowing directed Coach Han Gwangjong’s sharp gaze my way. I quickly adjusted my expression and nodded along, as if I had been listening diligently to the tactical explanations. Dongwon Chamsik looked at me with an expression of disbelief.

“…Anyway, don’t get injured, and give it your all.”

Coach Han Gwangjong looked into my clear eyes, smiled satisfactorily, and finished speaking.

“South Korea!”

“Let’s go!”

The U-19 National Team gathered in a huddle for motivation and took their positions.

*

In the match against Yonsei University, the U-19 National Team went in with a 4-4-2 formation. On the other hand, Yonsei University’s formation was 4-2-3-1.

I participated as a central midfielder in this match as well. The game was smooth. Thanks to my remarkably baby-faced appearance, the Yonsei University footballers underestimated me and didn’t press hard.

“What are you doing, idiot!”

“Stop flapping your mouth at the back and try blocking me once, you jerk! This guy plays like crap!”

Or maybe it was just a difference in “level.”

Regardless, I easily shook off the pressure from Yonsei University and made a cheeky pass to the right-side midfielder.

As soon as the side midfielder picked up speed and charged through, the defenders’ focus shifted toward him.

I quietly moved toward the center.

Then, the right-side midfielder lifted his head.

“Here─!”

I stretched my hand out, asking for the pass.

The side midfielder looked at me, probably thinking, “Why is that guy here?” but still slipped a through pass to me.

Calmly watching the ball approach me, I steadied my mind.

The most important thing right before the goal is composure. I started to chant a mantra to calm myself down.

‘It’s perfectly fine if this shot goes ridiculously wide. I created this situation in the first place. No one will say anything if I fail to score. After all, I’m a midfielder, aren’t I?’

As I chanted my mantra, surprisingly, the burden of the shot vanished, and my mind relaxed in an instant.

Right. I’m the best box-to-box midfielder. I’m not a striker who has to score.

Feeling relaxed, I began to spot my surroundings. I could see the Yonsei University goalkeeper rushing out in a panic and the ball soaring after hitting a defender right in front of me.

I calmly kicked the bottom of the rising ball, sending it over the goalkeeper’s head with a shot.

“WAAAAAAAH─!!”

The ball soared past the goalkeeper and into the net. Leaving behind the cheers of the Korea Industrial University students,

“Ho-woo─!”

I dashed straight toward the reporters to show off my celebration.

Click—!

And then.

The dazzling flashes enveloped me.

*

Meanwhile, upon witnessing Son Jinho’s scoring scene, Coach Han Gwangjong looked as though he had discovered a treasure and began conversing with his coach.

“His composure in front of the goal is remarkable. Should we try him as a striker in the second half?”

“The forwards aren’t really great at capitalizing on chances either, so it would be wise to give it a test.”

And so the second half commenced.

Playing as a striker, Son Jinho squandered five ridiculous chances right before the goal, leaving Coach Han Gwangjong with a look of disbelief.

“What is this? Is this defiance?”