Chapter 310
"Min-ha, you ran?"
"Really?"
"Yes!"
I hurt my ankle due to a system penalty along with a failed status mission.
The infirmary said there was nothing wrong, but I had no choice but to rest, so I will miss the relay race, the flower of the sports competition.
It would definitely not be easy to fill the void left by me, the true ace of Seleste's sports.
"Min-ha. You don't have to overwork yourself."
"It's absolutely not overwork! It's really completely fine!"
"....."
I stared at Yoo Min-ha, who was smiling brightly.
Yoo Min-ha is always full of passion and determination.
He has good concentration and is also outstanding in caring for the members.
However, his athletic ability is another story.
He didn't show much skill in basketball, which he really likes.
He didn't run very well in content like Heo Yu-bin's physical strength improvement project.
The four members who participated in the relay practiced running in a set order by splitting the time.
Even my position is the last runner who carries the team's fate.
In short, if Yoo Min-ha comes in instead of me, he will have to be the last runner.
"...I like it."
Ji Yoon-chul nodded and looked at Yoo Min-ha with trusting eyes.
"Min-ha hyung is much faster than me and Yoo Bin hyung, so I think it's right for him to do it."
"That's true."
"Hey, there's really no one else but you. Min-ha!"
Kang Si-yoon slapped Yoo Min-ha's arm and grinned.
"You can do it, right? You have to receive the baton well."
"Oh, the baton is a little unstable. Should we practice now?"
"I've heard something in my life, a sudden strike is definitely effective. Let's go over there and practice receiving the baton quickly."
I continued to look at Kang Si-yoon and Yoo Man-ha, who were immediately going into practice mode.
Chae Eun-gyu put his hand on my shoulder and gently squeezed it, perhaps sensing my worries and concerns.
"You don't have to worry so much. We should win at least one gold medal without you. That'll save our pride."
I smiled faintly at my eldest brother's words.
"No one knew that Siyoon would fall right away in the jumping jacks."
"I fell in the first round of table tennis, too. So we definitely have to win the gold medal in the relay. Aren't we in second place right now?"
"Yes."
We were currently in second place with only the three gold medals and one silver medal that we won.
Intown was in first place with three gold medals, two silver medals, and one bronze medal.
The main reason was that they won the surprise gold medals in table tennis and badminton.
However, the rankings could change at any time in the last relay.
Chae Eun-gyu rubbed my shoulders and stretched at the end.
"Anyway, Karis, it's not your fault, so don't worry so much. Okay? I'll win the gold medal."
"You're trustworthy."
"Hahaha! I am the oldest, so I should show this kind of side sometimes."
The members said a lot of good things, but I still didn't feel at ease.
My personal circumstances. Even for reasons I couldn't explain to others, everyone had to suffer....
But I couldn't do anything about it.
All I could do was quietly watch Yoo Min-ha and Kang Si-yoon warm up while practicing baton touch.
"Hyung, why do you look so worried?"
Yoo Min-ha, who had been warming up passionately for 20 minutes, grabbed a bottle of water and sat down next to me.
The sound of him gulping down the water was impressive.
"I feel like I've caused trouble to everyone so strongly."
"Trouble, hyung! You should never say such things!"
Yoo Min-ha spoke to me in an unusually mature tone.
He went even further and hit my buttocks hard.
"Hyung-nim won three gold medals on his own, how can you be a nuisance? If I can't even step up for Hyung-nim in this situation, that's a nuisance."
"No. I should have done better."
"Hey! Hyung-nim! Tsk!"
Yoo Min-ha deliberately exaggerated his gestures to tell me not to say that.
"Hyung, are you worried that I might not run well?"
"I'm just worried that we're in a very desperate situation, with barely any time to practice."
"Absolutely not. And...."
Yoo Min-ha blinked, shaking his hand at my words.
There was not a single trace of playfulness in his serious eyes.
It was as if he was making a firm resolution right before going up on the big stage.
"This is a total pinch. Before going to
Yoo Min-ha bent down and tightened his shoelaces.
At that very moment.
Golden waves rippled in front of me and Yoo Min-ha's status window appeared.
Name: Yoo Min-ha
Age: 20
Singing: B
Dance: A-
Stamina: A-
Appearance: A
Talent: A+
Characteristic: Passion (Blooming in Progress)
Status Abnormalities: None
The even stats that show the all-rounder's appearance well.
Also, the words 'No abnormal status' that seem to represent Yoo Minha's usual upright and righteous personality catch my eye.
However, what surprised me the most was the indication that his special ability was in progress.
'Chae Eun-gyu was the first to have his special ability bloom.'
Chae Eun-gyu, who had his special ability bloomed while burning with the will to catch up with Connex.
Now, Yoo Minha is the second Seleste member to have his special ability bloomed.
The reason for the special ability blooming is.... Is it because of his will to save Celeste who was in a crisis?
Before I knew it, I was looking at Yoo Minha's eyes that were burning with passion and will, and I smiled without realizing it.
Really, this is the condition for blooming that only Yoo Minha can achieve.
"Minha, I won't say much. Don't get hurt, and definitely."
"Definitely?"
"No matter what happens, win and come back."
At my words, Yoo Min-ha's face brightened.
The positive energy radiating from him seemed to melt my anxious heart.
"Just leave it to me!"
The
The relay that would decorate the finale of the festival.
A total of 8 teams were selected as the top 4 through the preliminary round, and those 4 teams would compete in the final round.
I shouted out to the members heading to the track for the preliminary round 1 match.
"Seleste, fighting!"
"Fighting!"
"Hyungs, cheer up!"
Heo Yu-bin and Ji Yoon-chul also shouted loudly next to me and waved their hands wildly.
Meanwhile, I felt like the other groups were gossiping because I, who had emerged as the biggest star in this competition, was not participating in the relay.
I paid the most attention to the surrounding noise and only hoped for the members to do well.
'Min-ha should run well.'
I was constantly worried about Yoo Min-ha, who was not particularly athletic, but my worries were in vain as our members showed off their excellent skills and passed the preliminary round in first place in Group 1.
The fact that Song Hyung-bin, the first runner, defended the first place and smoothly passed the baton to Kang Si-yoon was very important.
Once the members reached the first place, they did not allow the other idols to overtake them.
And Yoo Min-ha also showed off considerable speed, making Heo Yu-bin and Ji Yoon-chul, who were sitting in the cheering section, extremely excited.
"What the, Yoo Min-ha! He runs well!"
"Hyung, you haven't been hiding your skills all this time, have you? Absolutely not, have you?"
"Hehehe! Ah, in times like this, it's more fun if I say I've hidden it, right?"
Yoo Minha's trait, 'Passion', seemed to be a great help in improving his skills.
It was further explained that when the 'Passion' trait is activated, the user's concentration is greatly amplified.
If this trait, which is still in the process of blooming, grows to the next level......
It can have an even stronger influence than it does now.
While watching the women's preliminary matches, the male players replenished the stamina they had used during the preliminary matches.
Even while resting, our members constantly communicated and devised strategies on how to win first place.
"Hyung is the most important. Since the second runner can enter the inner course, Hyung has to take the lead from the beginning so that the runners behind him can run comfortably."
"Okay, I'm confident in the start."
"And most of all, you have to pass the baton well. Did you see how they were disqualified because they passed the baton incorrectly in Group 2 earlier? You absolutely can't pass it out of the zone."
Will everyone's passion be rewarded with a gold medal?
I kept praying in my heart with my hands clasped together.
Please take all my strength and run well.
"Let's start the men's 400m relay final!"
All four teams that made it to the finals were not easy.
Jerene, who made it to the finals thanks to Owen's overwhelming skills as the last runner.
Intown emerged as a surprise star at this year's sports day.
Of course, the one who survived until the end is Connect.
It was fortunate that Chae Eun-gyu and Bae Min-seo did not meet in the third runner's lane.
No matter how much Chae Eun-gyu is armed with overwhelming mental strength compared to before, Bae Min-seo's very presence can be annoying.
'Instead, all attention will be directed to Yoo Min-ha....'
The lineup is overly flashy.
Starting with Owen, to Bae Min-seo, who won the silver medal in the 60m.
Next to him, Yoo Min-ha was getting ready, slowly exhaling while turning his ankle.
You have to run well without being intimidated.
The introductions of the teams on each lane were over.
The stadium became quiet, and the tension that seemed like sparks would fly at any moment hung over the track.
"Ready......."
I held onto Heo Yu-bin and Ji Yoon-chul's hands tightly and focused my gaze on Song Hyung-bin, who was about to take the first start.
Seleste's leader lowered his posture and waited for the gunshot to ring out.
-Bang!
The gunshot rang out, and the first runners all started running down the track.
"Hyung-bin hyung, run, run!"
"Run, hyung!"
My younger brothers next to me shouted so loudly that the stadium seemed to shake.
I didn't take my eyes off Song Hyung-bin, who was running steadily with his lips tightly shut.
'Please, please.'
Just as Song Hyung-bin had said earlier, his start was much faster.
He continued his acceleration and didn't fall behind the other players even in the corner.
He ran towards Kang Si-yoon, the second runner, without even encroaching on the other lane.
"Kang Si-yoon-!"
"Give it to me! Give it to me!"
Kang Si-yoon's extremely serious face, which was rare to see.
Kang Si-yoon, with his eyebrows tense, clenched his teeth tightly and ran with all his might while holding the baton that Song Hyung-bin had passed him.
It was as if he was trying to make up for the ridiculous elimination in the jumping competition that happened in the morning.
It's because he's overshadowed by me, but Kang Si-yoon also boasts a physique of a high level.
The kinetic energy gushing out from his long limbs gave Kang Si-yoon propulsion.
He immediately dug into the inner course and gradually widened the gap with the second place.
"Kang Si-yoon is doing great! Run, run!"
Heo Yu-bin, who started jumping around like a fresh fish next to me, took this opportunity to shout at Kang Si-yoon in an informal tone.
His words were not heard, but Kang Si-yoon kicked the ground hard and ran to the corner where Chae Eun-gyu was waiting.
'This is halfway done! If we keep going like this!'
The baton was passed to Chae Eun-gyu.
Chae Eun-gyu, who boasted that he was showing the will of the eldest brother, ran without looking back.
"Faster! You have to run faster, hyung! I'm following you!"
"It's dangerous. It's really dangerous."
As Ji Yoon-chul said, it is a very dangerous situation.
We are playing well without making any major mistakes, but the other teams are the same.
The third runners of Jerene and Connex, who quickly closed in on Chae Eun-gyu, chased after him, stepping on his shadow.
"Hyung, what to do? This will definitely be decided by the last runner!"
"......We have no choice but to trust Min-ha."
Now, all fate depends on the last runner of each team.
I looked at Yoo Min-ha, who was ready to receive the baton without blinking even once.
I can feel it even from far away.
That upright determination that comes from Yoo Min-ha's eyes.
A hot flame that does not easily go out.
A pure passion that has inherited everyone's hearts.
The voices of our seven members shouting in their hearts become a single ray of strength and are transmitted to Yoo Min-ha.
I shut my eyes tightly and shouted with all my might.
"Run, Yoo Minha!"
And at that moment.
Blue sparks flew from Yoo Minha's eyes.
[Trait, 'Passion' blooms.]
[Blooming trait, 'A Man Who Never Gives Up' is acquired.]
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