Kiss the Ground

His body felt refreshingly alive. Waking up to the sound of birds outside the window, Chahyun immediately realized that he was in fantastic condition today.Despite having set an alarm the previous afternoon, Chahyun woke up at dawn, much earlier than planned. His vision was clear, his mind sharper than ever, and his limbs felt as if they had been on vacation for weeks. He felt light enough to jump two meters with a single bound.After blinking a few times at the brightening blue sky outside the window, Chahyun realized he was firmly embraced by someone from behind. As he sat up in bed, Misha’s still-sleeping arms tightened around his waist.Misha was shirtless, and Chahyun himself was completely naked. Had he fallen asleep without clothes…? Absentmindedly, he rubbed his bare chest, which suddenly stung, causing him to look down at his body in shock.“Gasp.”His chest looked like a paint palette. Seeing the bruises and disturbing marks, the memories of last night came rushing back. Despite having no hangover, Chahyun recalled drinking a glass of high-proof alcohol the previous night. And then, getting very drunk and…“Am I crazy?”Remembering his disgraceful behavior, Chahyun slumped his shoulders in a daze. He had a vague memory of saying something stupid like, “We’re bored, so why not kiss?” and then pouncing on Misha and groping him. He had made a terrible mistake… Chahyun ran his hands down his face.The self-imposed 50-hour lock had been shattered by a single drink. Misha, lying next to him, was breathing softly. Seeing his lover’s face, peaceful like a sleeping beauty, a surge of guilt overwhelmed Chahyun. It was such an inexperienced and clumsy act… He should have remembered that Misha was the most unfamiliar and special presence that had entered his life. He had apologized multiple times for his mistakes, but last night, Misha had been genuinely angry.“Misha…”Unable to articulate his feelings, Chahyun gently stroked Misha’s cheek with his fingertips. The thin eyelids opened slowly, and soft eyes gazed at Chahyun through narrow slits within seconds.“Oh… Did I wake you? I got up too early, so…”“Yuan.”As Chahyun awkwardly tried to explain, Misha looked up at him briefly before tightening his grip around his waist. Far from still being angry, Misha gently pulled Chahyun closer and kissed his bare waist, whispering in a voice as sweet as honey.“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”“Huh? Oh, yeah.”“How do you feel? You can sleep a little more if you’re tired.”“No… I’m okay, but…”This was quite confusing. While Chahyun sat there in a daze, Misha sat up and began kissing his shoulders. As Chahyun received the shower of kisses on his back, he rolled his eyes, utterly bewildered.He had no idea what was happening, but Misha seemed to be in a very good mood. Extremely good. Chahyun had passed out from fatigue and intoxication last night, so he had no clue what had made Misha so softened. He vaguely remembered doing something scary and unmentionable, but his memory after that was as blurry as wet paper.Did they reconcile through physical intimacy? As he placed a hand on his stomach, there was no soreness typical of post-encounter. Accepting the kisses trailing down his back, Chahyun cautiously spoke first.“Misha… Last night, I…”“Yes?”“What, what…”“Don’t you remember?”Misha quietly asked, his lips still against Chahyun’s skin. Stricken with guilt, Chahyun fell silent, and Misha whispered softly, leaving a melting kiss on Chahyun’s spine.“It’s okay. I remember everything.”Then, after tenderly caressing Chahyun’s back and shoulders, he pulled off the blanket and got up.Chahyun’s head automatically turned to follow the movement of the sheets. Misha’s face, as he turned for the first time today, was slightly flushed with a smile that could make one’s heart race.Chahyun, mouth half-open in a dumbfounded expression, stared at him.“Yuan, you like having warm soup in the morning, right? Rest a bit more. I’ll make breakfast… I saw it once, so I can do it.”Misha’s ideally sculpted back was turned to Chahyun. No, this was too much to let slide… Driven by an inexplicable urgency, Chahyun hastily added,“Misha, where are my clothes…?”“They’re being washed because they were wet.”“Wet?”At Chahyun’s puzzled question, Misha nodded slightly at the door. Then, he really did head to the living room, seemingly to prepare breakfast. The dog lying in the living room barked loudly, as if greeting the morning, wagged its tail, and followed Misha. It was a scene straight out of a luxury pet magazine.Chahyun sat there, his head a mess, staring into space.What on earth… Did he cry enough to soak his clothes while drunk, perhaps?“Sigh.”Whatever had happened, it was a relief that he had been forgiven. Deeply regretting his carelessness, Chahyun flopped back onto the bed. Never again, he swore, would he drink during the league. Even if it was a mistake. He swore fervently to the silent sky.On game days, the players of Winchester United FC would always gather at the club center, get ready, and travel together to the stadium in a limousine. It was essential to acclimate to the field and fully loosen their muscles before the evening game. Even for home games, warming up early in the morning was a given.“How was breakfast today? I only made it by watching, so the recipe wasn’t exact.”“It, it was really delicious. Very.”“Good. I was worried since it was my first time. I’m glad you liked it.”Even while leaving the dog with the sitter and heading to the center, as well as during warm-ups on the ground, Misha seemed excited. Perhaps it was just a feeling, but he seemed to be talking more than usual. Seeing him talk about the soup he made that morning with a blissful smile was so surreal that Chahyun felt a slight cold sweat.“Misha, you know…”“Yes, Yuan.”When Chahyun called his name hesitantly, Misha looked up at him with a radiant smile, responding in a voice full of affection. He seemed so happy that Chahyun couldn’t bring himself to ask.‘What exactly happened?’In the end, there was no opportunity to ask about the details of the previous night. They stayed close together until they arrived at the stadium. By the time they arrived an hour early, the stadium was already teeming with journalists and spectators, and staff members were constantly checking on the players’ conditions. By the time the warm-up was roughly over, tens of thousands of people had already filled the stands.Naturally, the two had to separate for their respective training according to their positions. Even as they were getting ready, Misha kept touching and caressing Chahyun’s arm and hand.This… this was it. Affection. Today’s Misha was overflowing with affection. No matter how he thought about it, Misha was full of love. Under normal circumstances, it might have been different, but behaving like this after last night made it hard to guess what had happened.‘I need to ask right after the game.’This couldn’t go on. Having made a mistake, he couldn’t just let it pass with relief. While straightening his uniform in front of the mirror, Chahyun recalled last night’s Misha. The dark, intense gaze that looked down at him was vivid even in his hazy memory. The heat and emotions that had driven Misha… but most clearly, he remembered the sharp sensation in his chest. Chahyun lifted Winchester’s red home uniform to his collarbone and looked at his reflection in the mirror.“Are you kidding me?”This time, it was directed at Misha. Chahyun’s chest in the mirror was colorful with vivid bruises. In the bright light, it looked much worse and more blatant than it had in the morning. The dotted red marks were sucking marks, the dark pink ones were from pinching and rubbing, and the most prominent were the dark red bite marks encircling his nipple.“This is crazy.”Chahyun sighed, looking at the neatly lined bite marks. These vibrant stamps and marks were the territorial signs left by Misha, who had been aggressive last night. There was nothing he could say, but like this, he couldn’t hand over his uniform to fans or even lift the hem to wipe his sweat during the game.That kind of mark would be tolerable. The biggest issue was the swollen nipples that were clearly visible through the uniform due to Misha’s excessive sucking. High-performance cameras would capture this embarrassing appearance perfectly and broadcast it back to his home country.There was only one solution. Chahyun reached for the first aid kit placed in the corner.“Yuan, come out as soon as you’re ready.”“Oh, okay.”Jude poked his head around the corner and conveyed the summons. After hastily dealing with the issue, Chahyun stepped out of the locker room, and the staff who were moving around busily greeted him with tense looks. Although there were still about 30 minutes left until the game started, the cheers of the home crowd were already resonating loudly from the stands. The semi-final match, which was happening after a few years, seemed to be filling the fans with excitement.The hallway outside was lined with reporters. Answering ambiguous questions from all directions, Chahyun easily spotted Ilya at the far end of the hallway. He slightly lifted his camera and smiled at Chahyun. Considering he must have been nearby every day, it felt somewhat regretful that Chahyun had never noticed him. Chahyun waved slightly, greeting Ilya.Inside the waiting room leading to the ground, Ale City players and Winchester teammates mingled, exchanging greetings. Having already played several games together, there was a sense of camaraderie beyond competition. As he joined his teammates, exchanging handshakes with various players, someone called out Chahyun’s name loudly from behind.“Chahyun!”“Josh.”A friend with dark blonde hair walked over quickly and pulled Chahyun into a tight hug. Being the large center-back he was, he lifted Chahyun off the ground. As his body spun 360 degrees, players around them stepped aside to avoid being kicked by Chahyun’s swinging legs.“It’s been ages! How have you been? You look like you’ve lost some weight.”“I’ve been doing okay. You should have kept in touch.”“It’s more fun meeting during games! I was so excited to face you that I couldn’t sleep last night. It was like waiting for Christmas.”Josh laughed heartily and set Chahyun down. His half-moon eyes curved even more, giving him a particularly friendly look. Chahyun’s old friend had a personality that matched his appearance perfectly. With a build like a slightly slim bear, his feather-light, cheerful laugh melted away any apprehension others had. Chahyun, furrowing his brow slightly, asked seriously.“How’s your lineup looking?”“Pretty much the same as last time. What about yours?”“Pretty much the same as last time.”Neither could reveal any crucial details. When Chahyun gave the same answer he had just heard, Josh laughed joyfully. He then grabbed Chahyun’s shoulder for yet another hug. Known for his affectionate nature even among European players, Josh was particularly touchy-feely.“Oh, right, Chahyun. Have you played the new series that just came out? Your character model looks hilarious.”“Yours too, by the way. And it seems like your stats have dropped a bit. Shouldn’t you be working harder?”“Well, it’s good for your stats in the game!”“I’m good in real life, too.”They exchanged various small talk before the match. When the game they used to enjoy together came up, the atmosphere became even more lively. Amidst their conversation, escort kids entered the inner waiting room. From toddlers just learning to walk to relatively mature teenagers, children of various ages lined up according to height and took the players’ hands.This signified the approach of the match. They hadn’t realized how much time had passed while chatting. Josh clicked his tongue and looked at Chahyun.“Damn… I guess we’ll meet again after the game.”“Yeah.”The players, who had been scattered, gathered and lined up according to their clubs. Josh also took his place in the Ale City line, looking at Chahyun with a hint of regret.“Do well, Josh.”“You too.”Even though they were sharing a nostalgic moment now, once they stepped onto the field, they would immediately become rivals, fighting to steal the ball from each other. As Chahyun nodded and grabbed the hand of the boy standing next to him, he suddenly felt someone else’s arms wrap around him from behind.“Ah, Misha.”The familiar touch pulled Chahyun slightly into an embrace. It was the same affectionate gesture from that morning. Leaning into the arms, Chahyun looked up at Misha. Apparently, Misha had been standing right behind him the whole time. He bent down and whispered softly into Chahyun’s ear.“How’s your condition?”From the narrowing of Misha’s eyes, Chahyun could tell what he really meant. No one knew better than Misha that physical contact with him always improved Chahyun’s form. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Chahyun answered honestly.“Really good. I’m fine.”“Let’s win today.”Misha’s soft voice caught Joshua’s attention, making him turn his head to look at them. Misha’s words were provocative, though unintentionally. Joshua, meeting Misha’s gaze, smiled habitually and gave a polite nod. Watching this subtle exchange, Chahyun felt an odd sense of anxiety. It was a tension different from the usual pre-match nerves, as if something was about to happen.With that brief moment of eye contact over, the staff from the league committee signaled the teams to get ready. Amidst the thunderous cheers and shouts from the audience, both teams moved forward side by side. As they followed the three referees holding the ball onto the field, Chahyun had a hunch that this match would be far from easy.Lined up in the center of the field under the roaring crowd, the players of both teams shook hands. Joshua, making his way down the line, finally grasped Chahyun’s hand, squinting his eyes as he squeezed and released his palm playfully.Would he really want to joke around at a moment like this? Despite being rivals on the field, the presence of an old friend slightly eased Chahyun’s tension before the big match. After Joshua’s playful antics, Misha took Chahyun’s hand next.“……”“……”Thanks to their brief encounter in the locker room, their handshake before the match didn’t seem as awkward as usual. However, the sight of Joshua’s usual cheerful grin and Misha’s faint smile looked somewhat peculiar to Chahyun, as if they were two dogs—a tail-wagging Great Pyrenees and an elegant brown Irish Setter.After the young coach of Ale City and Blue’s hug, the 22 players took their positions on the field. Standing not too far from the forward position, Misha glanced back. Don’t get hurt. As Chahyun mouthed the words, the referee’s whistle tore through the evening sky.The players of Ale City were accustomed to the Champions League semi-final stage. Their movements, shaking Winchester’s defense and probing for gaps, were nothing short of seasoned. Despite their rising spirit, the young players of Winchester, who had little experience in such crucial matches, were visibly burdened by the formidable opponent.The ball rarely rolled near Ale City’s territory, where Chahyun was positioned. Less than 15 minutes into the opening whistle, the match had turned into a so-called half-court game, with most of the action confined to Winchester’s side of the field.Blue had anticipated that the first half would play out this way. In countless seminars, he had emphasized counterattacks—finding and exploiting gaps in Ale City’s territory amidst their relentless assault. It was a straightforward tactic, but there were no other options.With nothing much he could do, Yoon Chahyun, who had to receive the ball and drive it in when it came his way, could only stand idly by, watching the skirmishes from afar. Winchester’s defenders were preoccupied diverting Ale City’s attacks to the sides, and the goalkeeper was busy making tense saves against their onslaught.‘At this rate, it’s just a matter of time before we concede…’There had already been several dangerous defenses. Without checking the numbers, Chahyun could feel the ball possession was vastly in Ale City’s favor. Unlike Bronham, who was also inexperienced, or Umbertide, who relied on tactics rather than skill, Ale City was undeniably a superior opponent.Chahyun’s fears were quickly realized. As Winchester’s defense showed a brief lapse, Ale City’s star striker fired a long-range shot that swiftly flew into the net. It was impeccable. The cold atmosphere in the stands was palpable, contrasting the jubilant celebration of Ale City’s players in their black uniforms.1:0. It was fast.Although conceding a goal in the first half was simulated, the timing was much earlier than expected. It was clear from their restless movements that Chahyun’s teammates were feeling anxious.It was a bad atmosphere. Another goal and it would be hard to recover. Wiping the sweat from his brow, Chahyun assessed the situation.Misha, crisscrossing the midfield and forward lines, was undoubtedly the busiest player in this match. Despite his delicate appearance, he was known for his seemingly limitless stamina and was playing multiple roles. His quick movements, pushing back attacking players and swiftly turning the ball, were impressive for someone who had recently recovered from an injury.‘He’s flying around even without eating sweets.’Today, he was especially active. Misha, who had seemed unusually energetic since the morning, was running around the field like a dog in heat. His aggressive play, even engaging in tough physical battles with defenders, was almost worrying.Around the 40-minute mark of the first half, a corner kick from an Ale City forward was bounced back to near the half-line due to a ridiculous passing error from his teammate. Misha, nearby, intercepted the ball with lightning speed and turned it in the opposite direction. His eyes met Chahyun’s with a thrilling intensity.Scoring moments in soccer often came abruptly like this. It was also the counterattack opportunity that Blue had emphasized so much. Sensing the imminent pass towards him, Chahyun instinctively calculated the distance and backpedaled.I can score. Today is one of those days.Just then, Joshua, who was running nearby, closed in on Misha. What followed was an astonishingly intense physical battle. The red and black uniforms tangled violently. From the players’ movements, Chahyun realized that the cross-timing had narrowly passed. The shooting opportunity was lost.As their shoulders collided and legs entangled, Misha, advancing with the ball, tumbled forward dramatically.“……”Amidst the hushed silence, his lean body rolled pitifully on the turf. Preparing to receive the ball, Chahyun stood still, blankly watching the scene unfold.It was a shockingly hard foul.Misha, not Joshua Hartman.Amid the overwhelming sighs of the Winchester crowd filling the home stadium, Misha lay on the ground, curling his body tightly. Nearby players turned their heads in shock, and the distant referee blew a long whistle to check Misha’s condition.It was evident to anyone that it was a severe impact. As the field buzzed with murmurs, players from both teams swarmed the referee, pleading their cases. But Chahyun rushed to Misha’s side before anything else.“Misha, are you okay?”“……”Misha slowly turned his body towards Chahyun, who was gripping his shoulder in shock. Misha’s face contorted in pain as he held his thigh with his hand. Seeing such an expression, Chahyun’s heart raced. It could be a muscle spasm, a sprain, or in the worst case, a bone injury.There was no time to wait for the doctor. Kneeling on the grass, Chahyun lifted Misha’s right leg. He knew some simple first aid for moments like this. Sliding his hand inside Misha’s pant leg, Chahyun massaged the inside of his thigh muscle.“Just hold on a bit. You’ll be okay. Alana will be here soon, so just hang in there…”Why do they keep hitting this guy? All of them… Anger surged within Chahyun, and he gritted his teeth hard. At that moment, Misha’s eyes, half-mooned with a sly smile, met Chahyun’s gaze from between his hands covering his face.You little…“This is…”An act? Without moving his lips, Chahyun asked, and Misha responded with a wordless smirk. Seeing his brazen face, Chahyun was entirely convinced.It was all clearly an intentional performance. Just as Chahyun inhaled in disbelief, a massive cheer shook the air within the dome.The giant scoreboard in the center of the stands was flashing, announcing a foul against Ale City. Even after video review, Misha’s fall was so cleverly executed that the referee gave Joshua a yellow card. Joshua, hands on his hips, shook his head in disbelief.Misha, peeking through his fingers, saw that Joshua had fallen right into his trap. His narrowed eyes were filled with mischief. Chahyun whispered through clenched teeth.“Hey, I thought you were seriously hurt…!”“I’m fine. I practiced enough, so I won’t get hurt.”Misha answered, covering his mouth with his hand to avoid being caught on camera. It was a shameless remark, but he wasn’t wrong. Inducing a foul and pretending to be hurt just enough not to be obvious was indeed part of the strategy. Players even learned how to fall naturally at the right moment.While sometimes players overacted and received yellow cards themselves, Misha’s moves were flawless to the point where no one could complain. Perhaps what he had been practicing on the ground a few days ago was this very action. Since the scoring opportunity had passed, his decision to at least draw a foul was ultimately excellent.The only problem was that Misha had never done such a play before. He had always played cleanly, to the point of being considered honest. Watching the situation unfold with a blank expression, Chahyun was speechless.‘Unbelievable.’Chahyun, still massaging Misha’s thigh, slowly withdrew his hand. Soon, Alana and the medical trainer arrived with a large first-aid kit. As the doctor quickly examined Misha and then escorted him off the field, Chahyun stood beside them, dumbfounded, watching the scene.The referee’s whistle tore through the field, signaling the end of the first half.***As soon as halftime began, Chahyun swiftly grabbed Misha’s arm as he entered the locker room. A meeting would start in one or two minutes, but Chahyun couldn’t hold back any longer. Dragging Misha’s arm, Chahyun pulled him into a corner of the hallway and pressed his large body firmly against the wall.“Yuan.”Misha looked at Chahyun with wide, rabbit-like eyes. His uniform, worn for less than an hour, was completely dirty with black dirt and grass, evidence of his dramatic tumble on the field. Wearing that, he tilted his head innocently, as if he didn’t understand why Chahyun was acting this way. Despite knowing exactly why… Chahyun took a deep breath and spoke.“Don’t induce fouls anymore. I was seriously worried because I thought you were hurt. You’ve never faked it before, so why now?”“But everyone does it. Blue even said it’s okay to do it at the right place. And the result was good too…”“No. Not you.”It was as absurd as when he had once told Misha not to cross to just anyone. But it was heartfelt. Even when the referee fell for Misha’s shameless act and wrongly gave Joshua a foul, all Chahyun could think about was Misha’s pained expression.Strategy or acting, it didn’t matter. Chahyun himself could handle getting hurt or falling as the striker diving into the goal. Misha quietly lowered his eyes before agreeing softly to Chahyun’s serious stubbornness.“…You’re worried about me, huh.”“Of course I’m worried! I don’t like it.”“……”“You could actually get hurt. You don’t know how to hold back… Regardless of how fast or smart you are, I don’t like seeing you play dangerously and getting injured even more.”It had been less than a week since the bruises from the quarterfinals had disappeared from his face. Getting hit and falling was part of soccer, but Misha always seemed to have it worse. Though Misha didn’t respond immediately, he eventually asked a surprising question.“Then, what about Joshua Hartman?”“What?”“Your friend from Ale City. Did you worry when he fell too?”What… again. The sudden mention of the name left Chahyun speechless, his jaw dropping. But within seconds, his bewilderment turned into a shout.“Why would I care about him, you idiot! I’m worried about you right now!”Far from worrying, Chahyun had been so angry he wanted to rush over and punch Joshua. If he knew his size was that imposing, he should play fair. Of course, once Chahyun realized it was Misha who had been unfair, his anger had been swallowed back down.—“Anyway, be careful in the second half. Don’t even think about doing anything dangerous. We can win without that.”“Alright. If you say so, I’ll do that.”Finally, Misha agreed compliantly. Leaning back against the wall, he wore a very peculiar expression. He looked both pleased and submissive, yet also like someone who had absolute confidence in something. It was a face that didn’t quite match the situation of being scolded. Just as Chahyun was about to say something more, feeling strange, he saw Blue and the staff, their foreheads damp with sweat, crowding into the locker room for the halftime meeting.It was time to go. Chahyun quickly made eye contact with Misha and gave him a swift reminder.“Stop getting hurt. Especially in front of me.”For now, finishing the game was crucial. Grabbing Misha’s arm as he stood there in a daze, Chahyun led him into the locker room to receive instructions.Having conceded the first goal, the halftime meeting was more intense than ever. Blue was waving his short arms, emphasizing the importance of maintaining composure. He warned that if they got scared and played into the opponent’s pace, they would lose.But the saying that a butterfly’s wing flap can cause a hurricane was proving true. The slight shift in momentum brought about by the sudden foul declaration had turned the game’s tide away from Ale City.After a fleeting halftime, the atmosphere in the second half changed completely. It was well-known that Ale City, with its older average age, tended to tire quickly, but the additional constraint of having received a yellow card now weighed heavily on their central defender, Joshua Hartman.The opposing defense, now hesitant to engage in aggressive body contact, couldn’t move as freely as they had in the first half. A rough block might result in a red card or a penalty kick.Seizing the moment, Misha tore across the field. His seemingly endless stamina and speed left even his own Winchester teammates struggling to keep up. Only Yoon Chahyun, stationed at the forefront, could match Misha’s movements instinctively.‘How can you act hurt so convincingly after rolling around like that?’Just when had he pretended to have a broken leg… But there was no time for such thoughts. When Misha maneuvered his way into a space with no more than two defenders, Chahyun raised his arm to signal his position. But Misha had already sensed where Chahyun was.With a powerful kick, Misha sent the ball flying. Just by the sound, Chahyun could gauge its speed and angle. He trapped it with his chest, spun swiftly, and took a quick shot at the goal. It was a natural, instinctive turning shot.Today was a day when every shot seemed destined to score.Without waiting to see the ball hit the net, Chahyun turned and ran towards the crowd. He could tell it was a goal from the feel of the shot alone.A couple of steps in, a thunderous roar erupted. Winchester fans flooded towards the barriers, and security in yellow jackets struggled to hold them back.The magic-like intuition had hit the mark again. In the 80th minute of the second half, it was a precious equalizing goal.“Yuan!”Dodging the teammates rushing to embrace him, Chahyun punched the air amidst the downpour of cheers. It was truly a perfect goal. He hadn’t been able to relish his previous goals, but this time, the joy of scoring engulfed him, boiling over with heat.As his teammates finally caught up and smothered him in sweaty hugs, Misha arrived from a distance, wrapping his arms around the group. Reaching through the myriad of heads, Chahyun patted Misha’s head in silent praise.The moment Ale City conceded the equalizing goal, their condition plummeted. The once-impenetrable midfield defense began to falter. However, Winchester, too, was weary from the grueling match.Throughout the remaining 15 minutes, Chahyun continuously sought a winning goal. But opportunities were scarce. Just a little more… Yet, time flew by mercilessly. The referee’s whistle cut through the air as a few tantalizing minutes of added time elapsed.“Haa.”As soon as the full 96 minutes ended, Chahyun bent over with his hands on his knees. The first leg against Ale City ended in a 1:1 draw.It was a tough game. A 1:1 score at home might seem like a draw, but it slightly favored Ale City, who had scored an away goal. It was neither a loss to despair over nor a score to be complacent about. They needed a win in the second leg.Exchanging handshakes with Ale City’s players, Chahyun felt a wave of fatigue. The incident with Misha in the first half had been particularly nerve-wracking. As he was catching his breath with his head down, someone approached and placed a hand on his shoulder.“Yuan.”“Ah… Josh.”“Good job. It was fun playing against you again after so long.”His friend, who had approached from behind, lifted Chahyun in a bear hug just as he had before the match. Shaken like a rag doll, Chahyun finally planted his feet back on the ground and looked sheepishly at his friend.He felt a bit guilty. It was common for players to raise their voices at each other during a match, but the anger he felt when he thought Joshua had attacked Misha was far from ordinary.Maybe this is what they mean when they say you naturally favor those close to you. Joshua, showing no complaints, smiled at Chahyun. Yet, he spoke with surprising firmness.“That guy is interesting, Misha Asplund.”“Ah… Misha? Yeah, he’s good.”“Yeah. Bold too. We did a lot of analysis, but we didn’t expect him to do a feint. You really have to play against someone to know them.”Honestly, even Yoon Chahyun hadn’t known about that. Joshua turned his head sharply to look at the subject of their conversation. Misha, not far away, was shaking hands with the other players. Joshua shrugged his shoulders and, with a typically direct question, threw an arm around Chahyun.“But are you as close to him as you were to me back in the day?”Chahyun rolled his eyes slightly before nonchalantly replying.“Why?”“Well, I’ve never seen you run to someone like that when they fall. Not even back in the day.”“We’re teammates, so that’s normal.”“You didn’t care at all that your friend got a card for it?”Listening to Joshua’s half-joking chide, Chahyun clicked his tongue. It’s natural for one’s heart to go towards what’s precious, player or not. The problem was that it showed.“I remember when we used to sync up so well. Seeing you two out there brought back memories. Remember how we used to come up with signals?”“Yeah, if we raised an arm it was a long pass, extended it was a short pass. Stuff like that?”