Chapter 80

### Chapter 80: Tryout

* * *

I'm tired.

My body feels heavy.

“Ugh.”

Still, I have to get up.

It's such an important day today.

The sunlight shining through the window was the same as any other day, but today's routine was not the same.

“Get up and come eat breakfast.”

“...Can't I skip it? I don't usually eat breakfast these days.”

“You have to eat.”

Clatter, clatter. The sound of various dishes and the gas stove turning on, the familiar smell of food wafting through the air.

It was a busy morning, the kind that would make you think I was going to school or work.

Sitting at the table in a daze and drinking a glass of cold water, I finally felt like I was coming to my senses.

“By 2 PM?”

“Yeah.”

“Then I need to be there by 1 PM. It's not that far, but... it's better to go early rather than be late.”

The location of the YSG dorm is in Oryu-dong, Guro-gu.

It's not that far, but considering the traffic, it could take a while.

In that sense, I can understand why my mother was urging me.

Yeah, if it weren't for today.

“...Isn't it a bit too early, no matter what?”

8:00 AM.

Originally, as a night owl, this would be the time I was just falling asleep or in the middle of my sleep.

If it's only until 2 PM, can't I prepare a bit more leisurely? Is it really necessary to make such a fuss?

...I didn't say the latter part, of course.

I recently learned that needlessly arguing with my mother's actions wasn't very wise.

“It's an important day, right? Then you need to choose your clothes and visit a salon.”

“...Salon?”

At the appearance of this unfamiliar word, I blinked, and my mother sighed softly.

“You need to get your hair done and your makeup done.”

“...Me? Why?”

“You should look your best if you're going. It's an important occasion, right? How many times do I have to tell you that?”

“Mom, I think you might be misunderstanding something. The test I'm going to isn't a model test.”

Of course, I might pass a model test to some extent... but that's not the point.

“Eunjin.”

My mother's gaze became sharp.

*Crack.*

The dog in my heart lowered its tail.

“What have you been listening to so far?”

“...I heard everything.”

“No, you didn't. You said it's an important occasion. Then you should go with as much respect as possible.”

It is important, but... is a professional gamer tryout really that kind of occasion? Wouldn't it be more of a burden for the team?

“Anyway, that's what you should think. Going there looking sloppy is embarrassing for your parents.”

“Sloppy? I don't think I look that bad... and I don't look that bad no matter what I wear.”

Humans are creatures of habit, they say.

Even though I used to silence my mother with my hair straightener, she ignored it and gave me another sharp look.

*Crack.*

I lowered my tail again.

Various thoughts flashed through my mind, but unfortunately, I had no say in the matter.

“I'll leave around 10 AM, so get ready by then. Oh, Yurin, help her pick out some clothes.”

At first, I thought I woke up too early, but hearing the schedule, I wondered if I didn't have enough time.

“Ugh... Okay.”

My sister, who had no particular plans today, followed my mother's instructions without a word.

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, my sister looked at me with a strange expression and said,

“...Oh, right.”

“Huh?”

“That... League of Legends? You're going to a professional gamer tryout for that game, right?”

“Yeah, that's right.”

“Ah... What was it, she was quite persistent in asking. What tier is your brother, she asked.”

“Who?”

“You know. The one you were giving advice to. She said she got demoted and wanted some more advice, right? Anyway, that's what happened.”

...Now that I think about it, that did happen.

I had completely forgotten.

“Was it a pointless question?”

“What do you take me for? I told her I didn't know. ...And I really don't.”

Well, I don't go around boasting about my tier to my family, so it's natural that they don't know.

“You're so indifferent to me.”

“You never told me... and don't give me that look. I was a little hurt just now. What do you call it? The feeling of sinning as a human? Anyway, that's it.”

“Is that so? Sorry.”

“You don't look sorry at all.”

“That's true.”

I chuckled.

After this pointless topic and conversation, I finished a simple breakfast and started getting ready to go out.

Getting cleaned up didn't take long, but the real problem was what to wear.

If I were alone, I would have just worn my usual clothes, but unfortunately, I had a one-day stylist, Yurin, by my side.

There were several compromises.

“I don't like skirts. I absolutely don't like them.”

“Why not, can't you try them on? It's an important occasion, right?”

“...It's cold.”

The excuse I came up with was really weak.

“You can wear stockings. If you don't like that, you can wear leggings.”

“I don't like them.”

Skirts were out of the question.

There were no exceptions, whether it was a dress, a tennis skirt, or a long skirt.

“Can't you just try them on?”

“I don't like them. There are so many other clothes, why do you want to make me wear something I don't like?”

“Well... because you're so scared and don't like them.”

In other words, the reason she wanted me to wear them was because I didn't like them.

“...Are you trash?”

“Will you wear this if I call you trash?”

“No.”

In the end, the chosen outfit was a light, dark pink blouse of unknown material and black women's dress pants.

A clean and neat look.

Anyone would think I was going to an interview.

‘...Well, in a way, it is an interview, isn't it?’

To sum up my reflection in the mirror in one word: “I look like a secretary.”

“Exactly, you look like a secretary.”

My sister's words, which came out at the same time as my thoughts, made me involuntarily flinch.

This is why genes are scary.

After a fashion show that lasted an hour, I came out to the living room.

“Hmm.”

“What's wrong?”

“...No, it's fine. You look pretty. Neat. ...Let's go now. Yurin, do you want to come?”

“Nope. It's too much trouble.”

“Okay, okay.”

My mother seemed a bit dissatisfied but didn't force me to go back to the dressing room with my sister.

It was a stroke of luck.

*

The place we arrived at with my mother was a high-end salon in Yeongdeungpo.

A salon that gave off an aura that I wouldn't even go near, let alone enter, if I were alone.

It wasn't the salon my mother usually went to, but apparently, it was better to go this way in terms of the route.

As we entered the salon, a middle-aged woman greeted us.

She seemed to be the actual manager of the salon, or the owner.

“Welcome. ...Oh my.”

With a short exclamation, the gazes of the people in the salon started to turn toward me one by one.

‘...I can't get used to this.’

In the past, I would have pulled up a hood to cover my face and hair, but unfortunately, my current outfit didn't allow for that.

No, even if I had something to cover my face, I wouldn't have done it now.

After all, if I was going to stand in front of the public as a pro, I needed to be able to handle this level of attention.

“Phew...”

“What are you doing? Let's go in.”

“Ah, okay.”

I naturally followed the owner's lead and sat in a chair...

It was like a magical flow.

“How would you like it done?”

“She has an important interview.”

“Ah, I see.”

My opinion wasn't included at all, but the designer seemed to understand and started working.

‘It is an interview, but...’

I gave up on further thoughts.

Even though I was just sitting, several people were working on me.

A makeup artist, a hair designer, and people who seemed to be assistants.

“Your hair is... really good. You haven't bleached it, have you?”

“Oh, you have baby skin.”

“You're so pretty.”

“Ahaha...”

An uncomfortable time passed.

Finally, after the makeup and styling were done, I looked in the mirror.

Hmm. I look pretty as usual.

No, a bit more than usual.

“...Oh my.”

The designers, seemingly very satisfied with their work, stared blankly at the mirror.

“...Is it done?”

“Ah, yes, yes!”

I was finally able to leave the salon.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Anything.”

We had a simple lunch at a nearby restaurant.

Because of the gazes of the people around us, I chose a restaurant with private rooms, and it turned out to be a good choice.

After lunch, I checked the time, and it was already 1 PM.

Since the route was already near the destination, it took less than ten minutes to arrive at the YSG dorm.

“Here we are.”

“Phew...”

My mother gave me a stern warning.

“Don't sign any contracts lightly. Bring them home and discuss them with your parents before signing. Got it?”

“Got it.”

“...What am I going to do with you? Are you really okay going alone?”

“I'm fine.”

Since I was only going for the test, I decided to go alone.

What should I say... going with my parents at this age... in the past, it might have been fine, but now, as an adult, it feels...

Anyway, that's how it is.

“Be careful. I'll wait here. Call me if anything happens. Got it?”

“Yeah.”

I tried to calm my trembling heart and took a step forward.

A skyscraper that made me feel intimidated just by looking at it. One of them housed the YSG dorm.

[YYY Building]

Of course, YSG didn't use the entire building. I heard they used one floor.

Arriving at the first floor, I exchanged a brief nod with the security guard and sent a message to Coach Park Tae-hyung.

[Just arrived. I'm on the first floor.]

[Okay, please come up in the elevator. It's the 9th floor.]

Whether it was because it was the day of the test or because Coach Park Tae-hyung was waiting for my message, the reply came unexpectedly quickly.

After getting in the elevator, I looked at the mirror inside.

It's hard to say it myself, but... if there were fairies or elves in reality, they might look like this, exuding a mysterious and beautiful aura.

‘Oh, right.’

I realized I forgot to mention the most important thing.

9th floor.

The elevator door finally opened, and a man in his late 20s was waiting in front of it.

It was Coach Park Tae-hyung.

‘Good thing I looked him up.’

Professional gaming teams are not public figures, but they are treated as semi-public figures, so the faces of the players and coaches are public.

If I hadn't recognized Coach Park Tae-hyung, it would have been a bit awkward, so I was very lucky.

“Hello.”

Coach Park Tae-hyung looked around for a moment, then realized he was the only one there and pointed to himself cautiously.

“...Me?”

“Yes, Coach Park Tae-hyung, right?”

“That's correct, but... um, why are you here...? Oh, are you a family member of one of our players? Please come in.”

“No, that's not it... I, um, came for the test.”

“...What?”

Coach Park Tae-hyung's face was filled with shock.

* * *