Chapter 86

86. Today... I hope you can put on a smile.

"Sis, while watching TV... whenever the Sea Kid appears, she says she wants to switch places with him and me..."

"Ah..."

Siwoo and Heo Min-guk acknowledged that the child had every right to be angry.

Heo Min-guk asked,

"So, were you upset? How old is your sister?"

"Fourth grade."

"Did your sister come here today?"

"Yes."

The boy pointed towards the cheerleading section.

When Siwoo looked over, he saw a girl holding a cheer sign that read 'Our Sea Shushu.'

"Sis really likes Siwoo~ If you end up wrestling with Sea Kid Siwoo, what will you do? Will you definitely win?"

"Yes! I'll win really strongly!"

"Our friend is nine years old, and Siwoo is seven, right?"

"..."

"Two years younger? He's in kindergarten."

"Are you in kindergarten?"

"Yes."

"Then... since he's younger... I'll win gently without hurting him."

"Right. Haha. So cute."

After a brief interview with the children, it was finally time to see the results of the ten-day special training.

Siwoo and Our Kid team put on blue belts around their waists with the help of the staff on the sandpit.

Director Heo Min-guk gathered the children.

Two cameras were closely filming the Our Kid team as they planned their strategy before the match.

"Kids, we decided on the order of appearance on the bus, right? We'll stick to that, okay? But... Siwoo, let me ask you one more time. Are you really going to give the eraser chance to Jin-goo?"

"Yes!"

Siwoo answered brightly in front of the camera.

The eraser chance was a one-time opportunity to erase a defeat.

Siwoo had earned this chance by correctly guessing the competition event during the first filming, but he insisted on giving it to Jin-goo. PD Kim Jeong-soo was preparing to display a subtitle praising Siwoo for his considerate nature.

"Phew, this kid... even though he's only seven, he's so deep inside."

A moment later, Director Heo Min-guk, Lee Gi-joon, and Shin Na-ri, who had no idea they were about to witness the devil of the wrestling mat, were praising Siwoo for being so kind and gentle.

The Our Kid team's Director Heo Min-guk and Yanghwa Elementary School's director exchanged the lists with the children's order of appearance.

"We're using the eraser chance for Go Jin-goo."

"Go Jin-goo... he's in third grade, right? And he's the last player, so he's the best... No, that's not right. Isn't this kind of chance usually given to the kid who got the quiz right? That's what I've seen on TV."

Director Heo Min-guk waved his hands at the Yanghwa Elementary director, who suspected foul play.

"No! It was originally for Yoon Siwoo, but he voluntarily, really voluntarily, gave it to Jin-goo. He said he was grateful because his older brother took good care of him."

The Yanghwa Elementary director, who was looking at him suspiciously, spoke up.

"We should have given it to our best player. Oh, no, that's not it."

"What?"

"Thinking about it, we gave it to our best player too. We gave it to Kim Tae-seok. He really wants to beat Sea Kid and is very enthusiastic..."

"Ah, Tae-seok. Tae-seok is sixth, and Siwoo is fifth, so they might meet if things go well. But you said he's the best? He's in second grade?"

"Tae-seok is really good. He's not on the wrestling team, but he discovered his talent because of this show."

"Is that so? I'm looking forward to it. Our Siwoo is... not ordinary either~ The kids practiced really hard. Today is the day we end our losing streak. Hahaha."

"Let's see. I just want to say it won't be easy. Hahaha."

The Our Kid team, which had only been losing for almost two months, had developed a bit of a punching bag image.

After the handball match, the kids who cried in their mothers' arms after losing, didn't cry or lose spirit in the shuttlecock kicking match and just went home.

Director Heo Min-guk was deeply moved by their backs.

The two directors shook hands, mixed with some tension, and went down to the sandpit.

Director Heo Min-guk shouted to the children,

"Kids! Do you know what 'nationwide' means? All the viewers in our country are cheering for you. Let's win today! I'll buy you pizza and chicken later! Cheer up!"

Coach Lee Gi-joon asked,

"Wait, if the kids lose... you won't buy them anything?"

"No, no, no! I'll buy them even if they lose!"

"Will you buy for the other team's kids too?"

"Of course, I will."

"What about the hardworking staff?"

"PD, please turn off the camera for a moment."

* * *

Despite the Yanghwa Elementary cheerleading team supporting the same school kids—

and the Our Kid cheerleading team supporting the familiar kids they've seen on TV rather than the unknown kids from the same school—

the cameras started rolling as the two cheerleading teams cheered enthusiastically.

The match was a relay-style competition where 11 children from each team took turns, and the winner would face the next opponent.

The order of appearance was generally 1st to 5th graders for 1st graders, 6th to 8th for 2nd graders, and 9th to 11th for 3rd graders.

The Our Kid team had a kindergarten member who joined as a mascot and supporter but was later added as a player due to viewer opinions, which was a handicap they had to bear.

Actually, being born in February, there wasn't much difference in age.

The first player for the Our Kid team was Se-jin, a kindergartener born in February.

"I'll be back~"

Se-jin waved cutely to Siwoo and his teammates before climbing up to the sandpit. As soon as the whistle blew, he stumbled and fell on his bottom.

"Ah~"

A sigh of disappointment erupted from the Our Kid cheerleading team.

It was a best-of-three series, so one more chance remained.

"Se-jin~ cheer up!"

Siwoo cupped his hands and shouted.

Before going up, he had secretly given Se-jin some advice, but it didn't help much due to his lack of athletic ability.

Beep—

This time, Se-jin gritted his teeth and tried hard not to fall, but he eventually tripped over his opponent's foot and tumbled to the side.

Splat!

While the victorious Yanghwa Elementary 1st grader ran around the sandpit celebrating, Se-jin quietly got up and headed down.

"You should say goodbye~"

The referee called Se-jin and his opponent to shake hands and then sent them down.

"Se-jin, are you okay?"

Siwoo tried to comfort Se-jin as he came down, but Se-jin's eyes were already filled with tears.

"I tried my best... but I lost..."

Coach Shin Na-ri hugged Se-jin.

"Don't cry, Se-jin. The important thing is to try your best. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose when you try your best. But if you don't try your best, you always lose. You tried your best, so it's okay."

Seeing Se-jin, the youngest member of the team except for Siwoo, cry, the eyes of the Our Kid team members changed.

Jin-goo, a 3rd grader, shouted to the team,

"Let's win today!"

PD Kim Jeong-soo's heart also felt a bit heavy at Se-jin's tears.

The program was supposed to progress with wins and losses, but the unexpected losing streak had been going on longer than expected.

The ratings had also started to drop at this point.

'I didn't think about such obstacles when planning the kids' program. I'm not a professional baseball manager, but I'm feeling the stress of a losing streak.'

If they keep losing, the kids will be sad.

Initially, viewers who felt sorry for the kids and cheered for them will become uncomfortable and change the channel.

The ratings will drop.

Advertising revenue will decrease.

They might face a cold wind during the program's revamp.

A lot was at stake in the kids' matches.

Even without considering these complex situations, PD Kim Jeong-soo was deeply upset when his nephew-like kids lost and cried every day.

"Today... I hope you can put on a smile."

PD Kim Jeong-soo muttered to himself and signaled the referee to continue the match.

Thanks to the strengthened resolve of the Our Kid team, the subsequent matches were closely contested.

The close matches intensified the cheering, and when the 1st grade girl, Eun-ji, from the Our Kid team, who was right before Siwoo, used the leg-tripping technique to knock down two Yanghwa Elementary 1st grade boys in a row, the cheering reached its peak.

Eun-ji, the daughter of a famous professional soccer player who had even played in Europe, had exceptional leg strength.

Eun-ji high-fived Coach Lee Gi-joon and Coach Shin Na-ri, and then bumped fists with Siwoo, who was standing next to her.

"I'll win them all! Siwoo, you just rest!"

"Okay! Got it!"

After answering, Siwoo quietly started to stretch.

Eun-ji had outstanding athletic ability, but the next opponents were 2nd graders, one year older.

Moreover, it was Kim Tae-seok, whom the opposing coach had praised for his talent.

Somehow...

'Should I step in and finish it?'

Siwoo decided to end the match himself.

Breaking the losing streak was the priority.

'If I leave a couple of opponents for a dramatic comeback, and somehow get a reverse sweep, the kids will cry again. Ah, I should have given the eraser chance to Eun-ji instead of Jin-goo, considering the order. If I win all the matches, Jin-goo won't get a chance to appear.'

Siwoo's gaze turned to the sandpit.

Two small kids were holding each other's belts and struggling cutely.

However, their expressions were very serious, contrary to what it looked like.

Eun-ji kept trying the leg-tripping technique she had practiced against Tae-seok, but she was caught off guard and fell backward.

The second round was the same.

Despite her strength, Eun-ji couldn't do anything against Tae-seok's technique.

"Wowww~! Sea! Sea, cheer up!"

As the next player was introduced, even the Yanghwa Elementary cheerleading team started cheering for Siwoo.

Tae-seok stood on the sandpit with his lips pouting.

Siwoo walked up to the sandpit, receiving a huge welcome.

In fact, most of the kids and teachers gathered here were here to see Siwoo.

"Wow, look at the popularity of our Yoon Siwoo. It's through the roof."

"Amazing! The most popular and famous child actor in Korea! Yoon Siwoo!"

Two comedians, who were providing commentary, were sitting in front of the camera, reciting Siwoo's profile.

Siwoo waved his hands above his head to the fans, drew a heart with his arms, and then walked to the center of the sandpit.

"Kyaa! Yoon Siwoo! Yoon Siwoo!"

"Shushu, power mode on!"

Following the referee's instructions, Siwoo knelt on the sand and glanced at the remaining Yanghwa Elementary kids.

'Three 2nd graders, three 3rd graders left. Six consecutive wins without using mana. It's going to be a bit troublesome.'

Siwoo also prepared himself seriously.

With the size difference, he couldn't afford to be complacent.

As they grabbed each other's belts and slowly stood up, Tae-seok said to Siwoo,

"If you were a 1st grader, I would have taken it seriously. But since you're in kindergarten, I'll go easy on you. I'll gently put you down, so be careful not to get hurt~"

"Got it. Big bro. I'll be careful."

Tae-seok, surprised by Siwoo's obedient answer, thought he might be a good kid and waited for the referee's whistle.

Beep—!

As the camera director filmed the two kids' match from right in front of the sandpit, the whistle blew.

Tae-seok lifted Siwoo in one go.

"Yah~!"

He tried to throw Siwoo to the side.

Or, he tried to.

Plop.

But Siwoo's foot, which was lifted, landed precisely on the sandpit again.

Something...

Something definitely happened, but he was back in the same position as when the match started.

"..."

Tae-seok lifted Siwoo again.

This time, he put more force into it, turning his body to throw Siwoo.

Siwoo's body floated in the air and then fell to the sandpit.

Plop.

Siwoo's two feet landed on the sand again.

"Right now, Kim Tae-seok is trying to throw the light Yoon Siwoo, but it looks awkward! He lifted Yoon Siwoo and just put him down! Hahaha! Kim Tae-seok, so cute!"

The voice of the comedian providing commentary from the makeshift booth was heard.

Tae-seok was bewildered.

'Why, why isn't he falling?'

Tae-seok tried again, but when Siwoo didn't fall, he whispered to Siwoo in a slightly panicked voice.

"Why aren't you falling? We agreed you wouldn't get hurt and fall."

"Falling means losing. Big bro said to be careful, so I'm being careful. I won't fall."

Ah... That's not what I meant...

The kid must have misunderstood because he's so young.

Tae-seok decided to use a technique since there was no other choice.

The most basic and advantageous for strong legged players, the standard leg-tripping technique!

The moment Tae-seok lifted his right foot to attack Siwoo's right leg, Siwoo's right shoulder moved quickly.

At the same time, the adults and children surrounding the sandpit gasped in surprise.

Oh.