After competing against Cambridge for a few days, we were obsessed with training.
"It's the first time I've ever been so humiliated in my life."
The massive scoring obviously fueled Tennessee's competitive spirit.
"I endured even the insult to my grandfather to get revenge through rugby. We must win no matter what!"
Jack also made a firm resolution and ran day and night.
I worked just as hard, sweating profusely.
To diversify our offensive tactics, I focused intensively on kicking.
Of course, I know how to kick the basics.
In rugby, when you reach the goal with the ball, you get a bonus kick, much like an extra free throw in basketball.
Since no one defended, I also managed to score quite often.
'Steve could kick in any situation.'
If I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't know.
Having witnessed Steve's level, I knew I had to make an effort.
As a result,
Bang! Bang! Bang!
I had to kick the ball until my instep hurt.
It didn't end with individual training.
After each of us addressed our weaknesses, we gathered again to practice scrums.
Just as a team strong in rebounds can shoot freely,
A team skilled in scrums can advance from anywhere.
Fortunately, our team had an authority(?) in scrums.
"Line up."
The authority, no, the absolute master of scrums, Devon!
When the three of us formed a scrum, Devon alone faced us.
"Are you not using your strength?"
Heh heh heh.
"Are you sleepy?"
Ahhh!
"Are you sleeping?"
But the moment Devon stepped forward,
Crash.
From shoulders to knees, we collapsed instantly.
Honestly… Devon alone felt more solid than three from Cambridge!
'Does that even make sense?'
As I lifted my head in disbelief,
'What's impossible about it?'
Devon shrugged his shoulders.
"How about we just give up on scrums?"
At his question, both Jack and I shouted, "That's not an option!"
Then Devon looked silently at Tennessee.
"You giving up?"
"..."
Tennessee bent over at the waist for a scrum, silently giving his response.
"It's not just about using strength. Of course, if you had enough power to neutralize everything, that would be an exception. But you guys aren't at that level, are you?"
Yes.
Next, the guy with a head cut like a nuclear warhead.
"Try again."
We soon formed a scrum and collided shoulders with Devon.
Even as everyone exerted all their strength, Devon continued to explain calmly.
"Ever seen an air show? Planes fly in very tight formation, like a single body. That's how you need to be!"
Ahhhh!
"Ever seen furniture that fits perfectly together without a single screw?"
Heh heh heh!
"These guys won't answer again."
As Devon advanced demonstratively, we collapsed once more, helplessly.
Damn!
Faces in the grass, legs wobbling.
"Think you can win sophomore year like this?"
"..."
"If it's too hard, just stop."
"No!"
"Tennessee, did your neck break?"
The only teacher in school who dares to talk back to Tennessee!
Thanks to Devon's "efforts," we had to keep rolling on the ground again today.
***
Saturday morning.
Today is a day off from training.
Most students went home because Devon didn't come in.
Being pushed every day, a day off would help with muscle growth.
But though the exercise stopped… work couldn't be halted.
I immediately called Tennessee's room.
"Come out."
(What?)
"They say the sample uniforms made from Vicuna are out. We need to check."
(You can do it yourself.)
"How can I know? They were made based on your recommendation, so you need to check them."
Clearly, this guy hasn't even eaten.
"Let's eat breakfast on the way."
(...)
"Tired of pizza, how about burgers?"
(...)
"No?"
(See you at the main gate in 10 minutes.)
Tennessee came out wearing an ultimate jumper, unasked.
"If we're going to your store, isn't it proper to dress like this?"
He added the explanation.
Alright, let's agree that you're right.
First, we ate.
Tennessee, who used to skip meals, now frequents McDonald's easily.
When I asked for extra salt on my fries.
Grin.
He even secretly smiled up to his ears.
Anyway.
Full and needing to digest, we decided to walk all the way to Queensman.
It's a bustling area.
The streets are narrow, and since it's the weekend, it feels very crowded.
That's when it happened.
Girls coming from the opposite direction stared straight at us.
It wasn't surprising.
As if sunglasses could hide Tennessee's beauty.
He has a face worth staring at, regardless of gender.
I was just thinking it must be that.
But that thought was short-lived.
"Isn't that the guy?"
"Who?"
"You saw him earlier, over there."
Could it be my mistake?
Many glances among those passing by us were directed at me.
Maybe even more than at Tennessee.
"Seems right, doesn't it?"
"It's certain."
After a murmur, once again, eyes converged on me.
Initially, I denied it, thinking why would people look and whisper about me.
"Let's walk apart."
Perhaps conscious of the attention, Tennessee subtly distanced himself from me.
Still, the gazes kept converging on me!
'Why are they doing this?'
Could Carl have spread fake flyers?
Unless he plastered my face on a wanted poster for some major crime, why…
As I quickened my pace with these absurd thoughts.
'Wait!'
In front of a huge poster on a bookstore window.
"...!"
I instantly understood the reason behind all the gazes.
On a poster well over a meter tall.
Crack!
My photo was prominently displayed.
***
10 minutes later, at Queensman.
"Sir, how could we not use this photo?"
Lukash was quite assertive.
"Look at this. The upper body soaked in sweat. Maybe from rolling around the ground so much that the shirt turned green. And that's not all. The patches of grass on the face, and the subtly exposed muscles. You almost look like a wild beast."
Ha!
Yeah, the photo does look better than reality.
But to use my photo not only for the cover but also to create and distribute posters…
"You did give permission, sir."
"What?"
"Your article, sir. You clearly said it was okay to use it…"
Even so, this is too much!
Lukash seemed to have more to say in the midst of this.
"Thanks to you, sir, magazine sales have doubled."
"That's because of me?"
"What else could it be?"
When he puts it so bluntly, I'm at a loss for words.
"If your face is on the magazine, sales increase. To deny that? It would be akin to neglect of duty, even embezzlement…"
Come on!
It's not just the photo.
The only Asian student ever admitted since the Royal School was founded, the first student to enroll with a recommendation from the queen, and the first to introduce a modern emotion system to identify a Da Vinci work.
"Unique, first, pioneer… Why are there so many adjectives?"
"It's all true, isn't it?"
Lukash had the look of a grandmother wanting to feed her grandchild just one more spoonful.
Oh dear.
He did it for my sake, I can't even complain.
Then Tennessee, who was beside me, chimed in.
"This issue is a Park Ji-hoon special."
"How does it look to your friend?"
"It doesn't seem like there's anything particularly incorrect."
"Right? I told you I was right."
Sigh.
It's my fault for entrusting a cat with a fish!
Who else can I blame now…
Lukash said, not sure if he understood how I felt.
"Having such a great boss, and you keep telling me not to use it. Imagine how itchy my hands have been."
Enough of that!
"Show me the uniform quickly."
They said it was made from Vicuna fur.
Honestly, it looked quite ordinary.
At least to my eyes.
But Tennessee seemed quite satisfied, unlike me.
After rubbing the uniform here and there with the back of his hand, he quietly lifted his head.
"The quality is top-notch."
"Faber would be pleased to hear that."
"...?"
"Faber flew all the way to Florence to personally recruit the craftsmen. He'd be very proud of the effort he put in."
Hmm.
I followed Tennessee's lead and rubbed it with the back of my hand too.
They said it was the gem of textiles.
It certainly felt smooth.
"Shall we go ahead with production, sir?"
Just as I was about to nod,
"Ah, how about the thing I requested?"
"The clothes for your family, you mean?"
Since they mentioned it was a precious fabric,
Even if I didn't know, I had to provide it for my family.
That's why I had specially requested it.
"Since it's a coat, it seems to take some time. But we'll make sure the quality is excellent and get it made."
A trusting expression.
Ha!
As if there are reliable people in the world…
Lukash, knowing my feelings or not, just showed a bright and innocent smile.
After putting on a hat and sunglasses, I left the store.
As I headed towards the alley, Tennessee asked.
"Why not take a taxi?"
"Let's stop by the bookstore."
"Bookstore?"
"The magazines. I'm planning to buy them all."
The guy who usually doesn't smile.
"Kekeke."
This time, he burst out laughing openly.
The bookstore was stacked with copies of Queensman.
They said it was selling well lately, seemingly stocked at least 100 copies.
'Should I really buy them all?'
It was half-joking.
But seeing my face on the cover, my hand really moved towards my wallet…
'What's the point of buying them all? They'll just restock tomorrow.'
Just as I was sighing,
"Park Ji-hoon."
Tennessee called me from a distance.
"Look at this."
He was standing at a display stand where bestsellers were showcased.
"Found something interesting?"
Curious, I walked over, and oh, there it was, a magazine in the number one sales spot.
A special sale at one pound, and it came with a Dion lip gloss as a free gift.
Tennessee's comment on seeing this was,
"Looks like they really want to beat Queensman to be satisfied?"
Hmm.
Considering they used the top actor of the era as the cover model, they definitely seemed determined…
How about Queensman in comparison?
'The cover features Park Ji-hoon!'
Did they really spend millions just to compete with me?
Pfft.
I picked up the magazine with a small laugh.
It's absolutely impossible to keep releasing books at this price with such fancy gifts.
In the end, it's the content that needs to survive.
'Let's see how great it is.'
The first thing that caught my eye was the behind-the-scenes stories of the entertainment industry.
Rumors about who dated whom, all unverified.
Next, there was a wealth of information about stocks.
It introduced various theme stocks related to prominent politicians.
'Julian Burnett would like this.'
Similar content continued.
There were still salesmen in this era?
'It's just a magazine, so they write whatever they want.'
It feels like they don't really have a specific expertise…
Are they just writing anything to keep people's attention?
Perhaps reading my thoughts,
"That guy has always been like that."
"Huh?"
"Born to be a jack-of-all-trades. It's a long tradition, that."
Something must have happened between Tennessee and Carl.
Anyway.
'This is their attempt to beat
Well, why not.
Let's take them on with a magazine, why not.
I shrugged my shoulders quietly with a smile.